Poor immune system since lobectomy

[Beaniesboo]

Hi, I had a lower right lobectomy last January and despite recovering well - back in work 4 months after the opI am beginning to struggle. Every time I get an infection or cold my body seems to refuse to fight it like it used to, I’ve even had Bell’s palsy. My immune system feels like it is shot! My last blood tests showed a very low white blood cell count. I am due a review CT scan any day now to ensure cancer has not come back. Has anyone else had similar issues?

[Frances4r]

hi

I had an upper right lobectomy in March and recovered well but have had repeated chest infections and feel like you no immunity from anything. Had a scan recently which was clear. Have been told I’ve developed asthma in my 60’s. I think they don’t give enough information about recovery and the side effects of the surgery. However I am extremely grateful to be here and still able to work and enjoy my family.

[Beaniesboo in reply to Frances4r]

Thanks for the reply, I couldn’t agree more about feeling grateful. Glad your last scan was clear hoping to have my next review scan this week, saw the Dr today, that in itself felt like a win as it is very hard to get a face to face these days 👍. Hopefully the steroids and antibiotics will help. Keep smiling 😀

[JanetteR57]

Sorry to read about your post surgical issues.... I initially recovered well and like you was back at work and swimming within a few months from open thoracotomy. Within 18 months I was struggling with a chest infection and fitness I'd initially gained seemed to evaporate.

I had bronchoscopy, imaging and investigations in case it had returned. The bronchoscopy revealed inflammation where the surgery scar/stump were . However that didn't stop me worrying that maybe they'd missed something. Eventually improved. I took my swimming to new levels raising funds for charity but on land, up stairs or inclines still struggled.

In 2015 (my surgery was Dec 2010) I couldn't get my breathing right for swimming so went to the walk in centre (Friday evening) who sent me for a chest x-ray. I was immediately hospitalised and stayed in for a week = chest infection. That seemed to trigger a run of serious episodes where I'd recover then go downhill again. That stay resulted in needing a trapped nerve released by surgery in the October then another infection hospitalised me in 2016 then pneumonia in Dec 2016 then pseudomonas hospitalised me for 14 days in 2017 and hospitalised with RSV in January 2019. In between those I've worked, travelled and kept active.

I've had umpteen tests to prove I don't I have asthma (I'd had it as a child and until just before I was 40 but initially my cancer misdiagnosed as uncontrolled asthma as a never smoker nothing more serious was considered despite chest x-ray clearly showing the 'large mass' as it was later described.

Thankfully the pandemic seems to have improved my immune system as I've had fewer infections than in recent years and not contracted Covid to date. Maybe mixing extensively as I did, using public transport, travelling for work, to cities in UK and Europe increased risks? Guess if I'd been socially active locally, the same would have happened.

Having had 2 chest infections since December I feel something is amiss but still thankful for every day...

Swimming - my regular exercise - which has suffered especially since 2019 may have been protecting me. When I'm unable to go, not only does lung health suffer but I also go down with more bugs or it may be coincidence.

I found the book 'cancer is a word not a sentence' by Dr Rob Buckman helped me stop thinking every symptom was related to the cancer. Keeping active has made a big difference and I feel worse when not active.

Fingers crossed they can sort you out soon. Those who know me when I'm well would not recognise how little I'm able to do when ill but with appropriate medication, I rally round.

Hopefully the tests will reveal the reasons behind your white cell count and the doctor advise how this can be improved. good luck.

[Bhoy67]

I had upper right lobectomy in mid January caught covid February then Pleurisy in March/ April so far May is quiet .

after my surgery I was dropped from my respiratory consultant without being told and my cardio thoracic surgeon has gone on indefinite leave