Cancer Survivors Network - Surgery - Comments

N/A

username32 — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 08:06:58 -0400

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chemo reaction

miss mable — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 17:04:08 -0500

Thanks Mawoni!
I did call the Dr. and went in yesterday. Am having a re-action to the Cisplatin. Had an IV yesterday, one today and one tomorrow. My blood pressure dropped to 80 over 50 before we could get to the Dr.'s. They are going to try a different Chemo next treatment.
I am feeling better but still not good. Am having sharp stinging pains and my stomach feels like I have been punched. On a good note my blood pressue is up to 129 over 62 so I can stand up without passing out.
After the IV today we even went to McDonalds and I got a fish sandwich.Ha! That seems to be my favorite food now. Also got some Boost, I really need some energy.
Thanks,Dorothy (Miss Mable)

chemo

Mawoni — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 01:01:57 -0500

Hi Miss Mable ... You need to call your Oncologist and tell him/her about what you are experiencing. Do this right away. Unfortunately a lot of the drugs they give us are NOT one size fits all and can do more harm than good! My Oncologist was very good about wanting to know every little detail of how I was feeling .. even the things that I didn't think were related.
Hang in there and keep trying to eat and get plenty of fluids. If you find you just can't make yourself eat, get some Ensure or Boost and drink lots of it. You need to work hard at boosting your damaged immune system now. Chemo really does a number on our bodies.
Hugs .. Deb (Maw)

chemo

miss mable — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 14:04:00 -0500

Am not feeling well at all today or yesterday. This is the fifth day after my treatment. Am having stomach pains and very light headed. Started taking Peptobismol yesterday has helped some. I think the Dexamethesone is doing something to my stomach. Am trying to eat and drink more. Does anyone have any suggestions that may offer me some relief?

lung surgery

miss kathy — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 03:37:57 -0500

I did not end up with lung cancer but had to have my right middle lobe removed. I had pnemonia three times before this and it also colapsed. When they took it out it was black and hard and full of pus. They also took out a wedge of the upper lobe because of two tumors. When I woke up I was in extreme pain even though I had an epidoral and morphine pills. I was hooked up with two chest tubes and some other machines. I was in ICU for three days and entire hospital stay of 12 days. I have had to take oxycodone for about six months and I have had to take hydrocodene to sleep at night for the last three months. Sometimes I feel like someone has kicked me in the rib. I understand it may be due to the fact that they had to take out one of my ribs to get to the lung. I am glad to hear that everyone has had a better time at recovery than what I have experienced.

Surgery and Chemo

miss mable — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 17:25:10 -0500

I had my surgery Dec. 15th and all went well. Had some pain but it was controlled with pain meds. Also had fluid build-up in left lung they removed the whole right lung. I did not have chest tubes so they suction the fluid and then I could deep cough and felt aa 100% better.
My breathing is much much better.
I just had my first of 4 Chemo treatments this past Thurs. Today I am feeling tired and my legs feel like I have run a marathon, a little nausea but not bad. I am taking Emend for nausea and Dexamethesone twice a day to combat side affects. So far so go. Now I look forward to my next treatment in 3 weeks.Ha! Then only 2 to go.
I am not noticing any after affects from the surgery.
I am trying to stay positive and doing my breathing exercises because I want to play tennis again.

surgery

bartswife88 — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 19:44:25 -0500

you posted this in november and i was just curious how your surgery went

miss mable

CHG — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 18:54:21 -0500

Hi Miss Mable,
It is good to hear that your recovery is coming along well. I had an upper right lobectomy three years ago. I did not have the VATS surgery. My surgeon removed my upper right lobe, twenty lymph nodes and one rib bone. Pathology was negative for all specimens and all margins were clean. I learned to take Alleve pain pills because the stonger stuff constipated me badly. I also drank fruit juices and water during the day. I had two cycles of adjuvant chem (taxol/carboplatin) after my surgery and I have had clean scans since. I still feel some numbness on my right side and I guess that will always be with me. I am very grateful to God, my doctors, family and friends.
Carol

Recovery

miss mable — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 15:44:01 -0500

Hi C.Abbott,

I think I am recovering well. My breathing is much better and the pain when I move and cough is not as severe. I have been taking Percocet but that really makes me groggy. So now I am able to take advil during the day and Hydocodone at bedtime.
We got a copy of the pathology report yesterday and it
has a lot of negatives on it, of course,
there is a lot we don't understand.I'm still preparing for the worse and hoping for the best.
I will post what I find out at from the Oncologist Tues.
Happy New Year to everyone and I hope we all get lots of good news this year.

LOVE Miss Mable

Thanks for the update!

cabbott — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 10:57:14 -0500

It sounds like you are doing great! They warned me several times at the hospital to try to stay ahead of the pain as much as possible. Don't be afraid to take the medicine they give you. If it causes any negative effects (loss of appetite, constipation), call your surgeon's team for advice. The nurses have heard it all and can tell you just what to do. Or you can check in here from some folks who have been there and can give their suggestions. Being in less pain usually means that you can be somewhat more mobile. Walking around the house until you can walk around the neighborhood is definately a step in the right direction. Mind you, if it is as cold where you are as it is where I live (Delaware), you need to stick with somewhere heated and inside. If it is too cold for a walk outside when you are ready for more than the length of your residence, a treadmill on very slow with the safety tag attached to your shirt isn't a bad idea. I was lucky enough to live near a near empty mall with benches for walkers like me that needed a flat protected place to stroll. The senior citizens in their 90's were lapping me like crazy at first but after a few weeks I could (almost!) keep up with them. Oh well, progress comes eventually! Just keep doing what you can and soon you will be able to do more.

They told me to stay hydrated too. If you get tired of water, you can flavor water with a little juice, try different kinds of teas, sip on hot bullion or chicken noodle soup with lots of broth, all that stuff. Your stitches won't pop if you cough, but it doesn't feel so good to say the least. Sometimes hugging a pillow, sitting up or bending over, pushing on your side,giving myself a two armed bear hug,or getting in a warm shower helped some when I just had to cough. The nurse told me to open a window or put a fan in my face if I felt short of breath. Oh, and stop crying. I had trouble doing that but she was rather no-nonsense about the fact that I couldn't give in to my tears even though I couldn't catch my breath and felt lousy. I was losing it and she practically came at me over the phone to quit it! It was the right thing for her to do though. Apparently crying makes coughing and breathing that much worse. Squishing clay, writing in a journal, or doing crafts were better stress relievers than crying. Good luck! I pray that your recovery goes well.

C. Abbott

post surgery

miss mable — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 11:42:21 -0500

No I did not have VATS. I did take a paain pill about 4 o'clock yesterday and again at 9:30
so I could get a good nights sleep, and it worked.
Mawoni, thanks for the encouragement and advice, I will up my water intake.

Recovery

Mawoni — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 22:36:30 -0500

Hi Miss Mable ... Two weeks post surgery now, huh? You are amazing! So glad you are getting by with Advil during the day. That's wonderful! Did you have VATS?
Be sure and stay hydrated and get in some walking when you can. Both very important. And very important that you avoid people who may have colds or flu.
Prayers for your speedy recovery .... Maw

SURGERY

hanmarmax — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 16:06:45 -0500

Dear Miss Mable:

It progressively gets better. You'll feel better!

Lisa

VATS SURGERY

hanmarmax — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 16:05:36 -0500

Dear Maw:

You know I actually starting moving my arm over my head a few months out and it released my pain funnily enough. I hadn't lifted my arm over my head b/c I guess I was scared or hadn't thought of it. So try stretching your arm over your head. Also, stand in a doorway and kind of walk through but put your arm on the doorjam like you're stretching. Does that make sense? Bend your elbow, but have your body go through. Believe me my surgeon didn't suggest anything post surgery. Felt like I was on my own. Have to go, but I'll get back to you.

Happy New Year!
Lisa

recuperation

miss mable — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 10:55:44 -0500

My cancer was non small cell lung cancer in the right lung.They removed the whole lung.
I am feeling much better than I had expected. I am still sore but no constant pain. I do take a pain pill before bed then just Advil during the day.It hurts to cough and am dreading the first sneeze.Ha!

Surgery

miss mable — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 19:34:33 -0500

I am schedule for a partial lung removal and wonder if anyone has had this surgery?
What can I expect?