Surgery Done- UPDATE

cb girl
cb girl Member Posts: 56 Member
edited March 2014 in Lung Cancer #1
My husband went in yesterday for his VATS on the RUL. They were able to remove the tumor/upper lobe with the robot, but there were cancer cells hanging out on his bronchus so they had to revert to a thoracotomy and cut the bad piece out of his bronchus and stitch the ends together. They were able to get NEGATIVE MARGINS so I am very happy in the moment. The doc also took out, as he said, a bunch of lymph nodes and we will wait and see what pathology holds. I'm hoping 4 months of prior chemo took care of those. Now it's cough, rest, and recovery and then go for the tumor in the left lung in 4-6 weeks. My husband looked great-narcotics definitely are our friend. He kept telling people he was just peachy and it was a lovely day for a Guinness. Always good to have humor in the day. Back to the hospital after a good night sleep. Thanks again for your support.
Tracy

Comments

  • mamacita5
    mamacita5 Member Posts: 254 Member
    #2
    Thanks for the Update
    Hooray! Keep us posted on his progress.
  • z
    z Member Posts: 1,414 Member
    #3
    mamacita5 said:

    Thanks for the Update
    Hooray! Keep us posted on his progress.

    Tracy
    I am happy everything went well, and it sounds like your husband is doing well. Yes the narcotics are our friend when we need them. I should have asked for something for the constipation when I was being given all the pain meds. You might want to ask the dr about that. It will be a lot more comfortable for your husband. Keep us updated and I wish you and your husband well. Lori
  • cabbott
    cabbott Member Posts: 1,039 Member
    #4
    z said:

    Tracy
    I am happy everything went well, and it sounds like your husband is doing well. Yes the narcotics are our friend when we need them. I should have asked for something for the constipation when I was being given all the pain meds. You might want to ask the dr about that. It will be a lot more comfortable for your husband. Keep us updated and I wish you and your husband well. Lori

    Definately!
    Go get the Phillips Milk of Magnesia NOW! The most painful part of the whole hospital procedure happened after I came home thanks to all those lovely pain pills. I will spare you the details. But you are definately right to ask about relief immediately. Prune juice and a high fiber diet help, but they may not be enough if he's on the same things I had. . .
  • cb girl
    cb girl Member Posts: 56 Member
    #5
    cabbott said:

    Definately!
    Go get the Phillips Milk of Magnesia NOW! The most painful part of the whole hospital procedure happened after I came home thanks to all those lovely pain pills. I will spare you the details. But you are definately right to ask about relief immediately. Prune juice and a high fiber diet help, but they may not be enough if he's on the same things I had. . .

    He's Eating
    but the "main event" has not happened yet. they have been giving him stool softeners since he was in SCU so hopefully when the big event occurs it won't be too bad. Have metamucil at home already and will get the other provisions you recommended. Whoever thought you would have these conversations with people you don't even know, but then again, who wants to talk about it with family :-) Happy hour won't be the same for awhile. LOL
  • cb girl
    cb girl Member Posts: 56 Member
    #6
    Going home today
    The chest tubes are out and we are getting ready to be discharged. Of course, hospitals are always slow to get you out the door. I think they are just trying to squeeze in every last charge for your insurance company ;-)He seems anxious. He's still wheezing some, but the surgeon doesn't seem concerned because of the extent of the work they did it's not uncommon-gave him an inhaler to use until we come back for follow-up next week. The second surgery for the lower left lobe is 2/18, but may push back a little depending on the follow-up. Seems overwhelming to think we'll be right back here in just a few weeks-about the time his bowels keep moving in a regular direction. LOL! I am getting really good at giving friends and family boundaries, though I'm not sure they are too happy about my assertiveness sometimes, by the next surgery I'm sure they'll have all kinds of names for me :-)Hoping to have pathology report on the lymphs when we come back-they said it is 7-10 business days.
  • z
    z Member Posts: 1,414 Member
    #7
    cb girl said:

    Going home today
    The chest tubes are out and we are getting ready to be discharged. Of course, hospitals are always slow to get you out the door. I think they are just trying to squeeze in every last charge for your insurance company ;-)He seems anxious. He's still wheezing some, but the surgeon doesn't seem concerned because of the extent of the work they did it's not uncommon-gave him an inhaler to use until we come back for follow-up next week. The second surgery for the lower left lobe is 2/18, but may push back a little depending on the follow-up. Seems overwhelming to think we'll be right back here in just a few weeks-about the time his bowels keep moving in a regular direction. LOL! I am getting really good at giving friends and family boundaries, though I'm not sure they are too happy about my assertiveness sometimes, by the next surgery I'm sure they'll have all kinds of names for me :-)Hoping to have pathology report on the lymphs when we come back-they said it is 7-10 business days.

    CB girl
    Hello, Its good to go home. I know when I went home I tried to walk a little everyday, and I would get out of breath, but by week 2 I could walk around my block. it takes time, but gets better. I am glad you have the miralax as it is really needed. Have a restful weekend. Lori
  • cb girl
    cb girl Member Posts: 56 Member
    #8
    z said:

    CB girl
    Hello, Its good to go home. I know when I went home I tried to walk a little everyday, and I would get out of breath, but by week 2 I could walk around my block. it takes time, but gets better. I am glad you have the miralax as it is really needed. Have a restful weekend. Lori

    thanks Cabbott and Z
    Things are going well and all the advice you have given us worked well- raised the head of the bed a couple of inches before we got home and that has helped with sleeping, giving him the stool softeners as well as the laxative has been very helpful, too. He's walking 2 blocks out and back, 3x a day and not taking his pain pills that often, tough I told him he doesn't have to be a tough guy on the med front. I've even managed to get some rest-in spite of the fact that he can snore and wheeze at the same time :-) You have made an unsure situation more manageable. Have a good week.
    Tracy
  • lekkerone
    lekkerone Member Posts: 199 Member
    #9
    cb girl said:

    thanks Cabbott and Z
    Things are going well and all the advice you have given us worked well- raised the head of the bed a couple of inches before we got home and that has helped with sleeping, giving him the stool softeners as well as the laxative has been very helpful, too. He's walking 2 blocks out and back, 3x a day and not taking his pain pills that often, tough I told him he doesn't have to be a tough guy on the med front. I've even managed to get some rest-in spite of the fact that he can snore and wheeze at the same time :-) You have made an unsure situation more manageable. Have a good week.
    Tracy

    Tracy
    That all sounds very encouraging Tracy. Your husband seems to be doing well. That walking will make him feel much better. It's made a huge difference to how I feel....physically and emotionally.

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