survived the surgery

ellenm4
ellenm4 Member Posts: 124
in Lung Cancer #1
Well here it is Sat. Morning and I have survived the removal of the left upper lope with all connecting tissue and lymph nodes. Took a good 3 hours, but all went well. Out of ICU and IMC now in a regular room. Hoping to head home today or tomorrow, just not sure when. Six days ago and this pain really sucks! No matter what they give me it stays about a 5, but if I can build enough up in my system I will sleep. They found a large air bubble the following day after surgery on the right side, that is when they started getting me up to moving....dang the pain! They said it is now gone, but they can't get my oxygen level up. I am staying at 9 with 1 unit, 98 - 99 with 2 and 87 without any. Will post more later my friends. Everyone is in my prayers

Comments

  • kado4
    kado4 Member Posts: 80
    #2
    Im so happy...your are making such progress !!
    Hi Ellen....Glad to hear you are out of ICU.Ask if you should be using the incentive spirometry. Its a plastic device that you suck in on to help open your lungs up. It may help.Ask your nurse. They may say it contraindicated at this time. But later in your recovery, it may help open your lungs up to get off the oxygen....

    Keep up the good work....Keep moving. you don't want to get pneumonia....

    Stay Strong, Cathy
  • ColoradoDani
    ColoradoDani Member Posts: 65
    #3
    kado4 said:

    Im so happy...your are making such progress !!
    Hi Ellen....Glad to hear you are out of ICU.Ask if you should be using the incentive spirometry. Its a plastic device that you suck in on to help open your lungs up. It may help.Ask your nurse. They may say it contraindicated at this time. But later in your recovery, it may help open your lungs up to get off the oxygen....

    Keep up the good work....Keep moving. you don't want to get pneumonia....

    Stay Strong, Cathy

    Glad it went well! Was
    Glad it went well! Was thinking of you. Here's to a speedy recovery.
  • z
    z Member Posts: 1,414 Member
    #4
    Ellen
    I am so glad your surgery is over and now the healing has begun. The more you get up and move the better. But take it slow slow slow, I went to fast and the nurse got mad at me, I didn't know that walking to far and fast would wear me out so quickly. I hope your oxygen level gets up soon, so that you may go home. I wish you well. Lori
  • ellenm4
    ellenm4 Member Posts: 124
    #5
    kado4 said:

    Im so happy...your are making such progress !!
    Hi Ellen....Glad to hear you are out of ICU.Ask if you should be using the incentive spirometry. Its a plastic device that you suck in on to help open your lungs up. It may help.Ask your nurse. They may say it contraindicated at this time. But later in your recovery, it may help open your lungs up to get off the oxygen....

    Keep up the good work....Keep moving. you don't want to get pneumonia....

    Stay Strong, Cathy

    Hey Cathy, thanks along with
    Hey Cathy, thanks along with the others. You all are great! I have been using the spiralmeter since day after surgery. I am using it every hour on the hour 10 times each hour. Oh yes it hurts, but we must do what we have to do. My lung Dr. Seems to think of cancer induced asthma. Anyone heard of this? He has ran all test today ans has found that asthma treatments and using an inhaler is working better that better than oxygen. Even the wheezing. Oh well none the less, they have been great here and I will be heading home tomorrow! I am excited about my own bed. Love all you guys.
  • PBJ Austin
    PBJ Austin Member Posts: 347 Member
    #6
    z said:

    Ellen
    I am so glad your surgery is over and now the healing has begun. The more you get up and move the better. But take it slow slow slow, I went to fast and the nurse got mad at me, I didn't know that walking to far and fast would wear me out so quickly. I hope your oxygen level gets up soon, so that you may go home. I wish you well. Lori

    Hi Ellen
    I had the upper right lobectomy in Sept 2009. That surgery is a bear, isn't it? UGH. It's a long recovery but healing will come. Keep doing your breathing excercises and follow doctor's orders. Best of luck to you.
  • ellenm4
    ellenm4 Member Posts: 124
    #7
    PBJ Austin said:

    Hi Ellen
    I had the upper right lobectomy in Sept 2009. That surgery is a bear, isn't it? UGH. It's a long recovery but healing will come. Keep doing your breathing excercises and follow doctor's orders. Best of luck to you.

    Thanks you guys. I know the
    Thanks you guys. I know the healing process has now started, but boy what a ride it has and will be! The doctors have decided to cancel the orders for oxygen at home. My levels have been dropping as low as 87 and up to 94. They now feel an inhaler should help much more. The oxygen makes your nose blèed and harder to tote around. I hopefully will be making my way homeward bound today. I miss and need my doggies, my bed and just the smell of fresh air outside. My pain level is bad never goes down below a strong 5, and they are only giving me meds every 3 hrs to help, which just eases it. So I shall keep ya'll informed.
  • catcon49
    catcon49 Member Posts: 398
    #8
    ellenm4 said:

    Thanks you guys. I know the
    Thanks you guys. I know the healing process has now started, but boy what a ride it has and will be! The doctors have decided to cancel the orders for oxygen at home. My levels have been dropping as low as 87 and up to 94. They now feel an inhaler should help much more. The oxygen makes your nose blèed and harder to tote around. I hopefully will be making my way homeward bound today. I miss and need my doggies, my bed and just the smell of fresh air outside. My pain level is bad never goes down below a strong 5, and they are only giving me meds every 3 hrs to help, which just eases it. So I shall keep ya'll informed.

    hi ellen
    Glad the surgery went well. The pain will beging to subside and you will beging feeling alot better. Don't be too anxious for your bed. You may be more comfortable on a recliner in the beginging. Hope you will get some sleep and the pain moves on.

    cathy
  • AlanRinHBG
    AlanRinHBG Member Posts: 121
    #9
    catcon49 said:

    hi ellen
    Glad the surgery went well. The pain will beging to subside and you will beging feeling alot better. Don't be too anxious for your bed. You may be more comfortable on a recliner in the beginging. Hope you will get some sleep and the pain moves on.

    cathy

    Way to go Ellen
    Ellen, you're amazing, those are great o2 levels. you knocked it outa the park, what a lady, I'm rootin for ya, you make us proud.
  • PBJ Austin
    PBJ Austin Member Posts: 347 Member
    #10
    AlanRinHBG said:

    Way to go Ellen
    Ellen, you're amazing, those are great o2 levels. you knocked it outa the park, what a lady, I'm rootin for ya, you make us proud.

    Sleeping after surgery
    Hi Ellen,

    For at least 2 months after my surgery I had to sleep sitting up as lying down was too painful. Be sure to get a stack of good comfy pillows or do what I did and get a chair-type pillow that sits on the bed. A recliner is also a great idea. Healing from lung surgery is a marathon, not a sprint race. All the best to you.
  • trft
    trft Member Posts: 48
    #11
    surgery
    Wow, I read your page. You are a true warrior. I was lung cancer with surgery and chemo. I was lucky, and from all that can be understood so far my cancer was definitely limited to the lobe they took out, upper right. I'm sorry you are having such a hard time of it, that can't be a good feeling. But hang in there. And know that people will bump into people who have gone through this and think "wow". I send you my best good-vibes. My prayers are kind of backwards, but you have all of them too. I really wish you well. trft aka Tim.
  • ellenm4
    ellenm4 Member Posts: 124
    #12
    PBJ Austin said:

    Sleeping after surgery
    Hi Ellen,

    For at least 2 months after my surgery I had to sleep sitting up as lying down was too painful. Be sure to get a stack of good comfy pillows or do what I did and get a chair-type pillow that sits on the bed. A recliner is also a great idea. Healing from lung surgery is a marathon, not a sprint race. All the best to you.

    In my guest room is a queen
    In my guest room is a queen size bed that the head rises as does the foot. This room was set up for someone with handicaps. So I have made the move to Home, to the bed and yes it is in a sitting position almost. I hit the wrong button on the remote and it started laying down flat and I was in tears! My husband had to gently reach down and sit me up until we could reset the bed. If I lay down flat I can not breathe not to mention the pain is horrible. Now to a subject I really do not want to talk about but I need a little help. I have informed the doctors and they have been no help. I really do not want to go back to hospital either.....kinda of sick of them! LOL I am talking constipation! A dirty word I know but I need to know what I can do. The hospital had me on Colace twice a day for 7 days, I continued this coming home. I have only been home 5 days now. Tuesday I stopped eating because I felt like I could not eat...stuffed and would throw it up. So the dr said get a bottle of citric mag something or another. They also use for clean outs. I did and took 1/2 the bottle as he said. Nothing, did an enima, nothing, drank the remaining bottle and still nothing. Did a triple dose yesterday of Miralax and finally a little this morning. Another oil base enima again this morning and a little more. I am still shall I say clogged up. Any suggestions? I am getting really hungry and hate this feeling.
  • kado4
    kado4 Member Posts: 80
    #13
    ellenm4 said:

    In my guest room is a queen
    In my guest room is a queen size bed that the head rises as does the foot. This room was set up for someone with handicaps. So I have made the move to Home, to the bed and yes it is in a sitting position almost. I hit the wrong button on the remote and it started laying down flat and I was in tears! My husband had to gently reach down and sit me up until we could reset the bed. If I lay down flat I can not breathe not to mention the pain is horrible. Now to a subject I really do not want to talk about but I need a little help. I have informed the doctors and they have been no help. I really do not want to go back to hospital either.....kinda of sick of them! LOL I am talking constipation! A dirty word I know but I need to know what I can do. The hospital had me on Colace twice a day for 7 days, I continued this coming home. I have only been home 5 days now. Tuesday I stopped eating because I felt like I could not eat...stuffed and would throw it up. So the dr said get a bottle of citric mag something or another. They also use for clean outs. I did and took 1/2 the bottle as he said. Nothing, did an enima, nothing, drank the remaining bottle and still nothing. Did a triple dose yesterday of Miralax and finally a little this morning. Another oil base enima again this morning and a little more. I am still shall I say clogged up. Any suggestions? I am getting really hungry and hate this feeling.

    the brown bomb suggestion
    take 120ml of prune juice or 1/2 of a coffee cup,add 2 Tbsp of Milk of Magnesia.mix together and warm in the microwave, and drink...you should go......good luck!Cathy
  • ellenm4
    ellenm4 Member Posts: 124
    #14
    kado4 said:

    the brown bomb suggestion
    take 120ml of prune juice or 1/2 of a coffee cup,add 2 Tbsp of Milk of Magnesia.mix together and warm in the microwave, and drink...you should go......good luck!Cathy

    good name
    That is a good name for that. lol. I will give it a try. I will try about anything at this point.
    I am having such bad shooting pains, like someone took a live wire and keeps poking me in different places for a few seconds.
    Not fun, so it can stop anytime now. My scar is about 9" and I do have several cracked ribs. They had to take the upper left lung intack with all surrounding tissues and lymph nodes, the swelling is still bad. Several Dr. Appointments next week so we will go from there
    Hug and prayers to all
    Ellen
  • ellenm4
    ellenm4 Member Posts: 124
    #15
    z said:

    Ellen
    I am so glad your surgery is over and now the healing has begun. The more you get up and move the better. But take it slow slow slow, I went to fast and the nurse got mad at me, I didn't know that walking to far and fast would wear me out so quickly. I hope your oxygen level gets up soon, so that you may go home. I wish you well. Lori

    Hey Z...slow slow slow is
    Hey Z...slow slow slow is correct. I walk like my grandmother did, humped over and slow! My daughter came over last night to help clean area and my 3 yr old grandson came running around the corner and stopped dead in his tracks saying " Whoa...Nana...did you fall out the tree again pick in pears?" I just had to laugh even though it hurt too do so! Hope all is well with you!
  • z
    z Member Posts: 1,414 Member
    #16
    ellenm4 said:

    Hey Z...slow slow slow is
    Hey Z...slow slow slow is correct. I walk like my grandmother did, humped over and slow! My daughter came over last night to help clean area and my 3 yr old grandson came running around the corner and stopped dead in his tracks saying " Whoa...Nana...did you fall out the tree again pick in pears?" I just had to laugh even though it hurt too do so! Hope all is well with you!

    Ellen
    Yes, I remember the constipation, and the pain medicine will cause that. I hope you have had some relief now after trying a few remedies.

    I also remember laughing and how that hurt. My sister came to stay with me and we always laugh together. It will get better one day at a time. I tried to walk a little every day, even if it was around the house.

    I wish you well and keep us postd. Lori
  • cb girl
    cb girl Member Posts: 56 Member
    #17
    ellenm4 said:

    good name
    That is a good name for that. lol. I will give it a try. I will try about anything at this point.
    I am having such bad shooting pains, like someone took a live wire and keeps poking me in different places for a few seconds.
    Not fun, so it can stop anytime now. My scar is about 9" and I do have several cracked ribs. They had to take the upper left lung intack with all surrounding tissues and lymph nodes, the swelling is still bad. Several Dr. Appointments next week so we will go from there
    Hug and prayers to all
    Ellen

    Hope the bomb worked
    My husband also had some problems after both his lobectomies-one on each side. Warm prune juice with a pat of butter helped also. If you aren't already, take a stool softener like dulcolax-there's store and generic brands- so when things do get moving they move a lot easier. He took them every day 3x a day while he was on his oxycontin for pain. Pain killers do have way of slowing everything down. Hope all gets to moving. You sound in great spirits. Keep up the great recovery
    Tracy
  • ellenm4
    ellenm4 Member Posts: 124
    #18
    cb girl said:

    Hope the bomb worked
    My husband also had some problems after both his lobectomies-one on each side. Warm prune juice with a pat of butter helped also. If you aren't already, take a stool softener like dulcolax-there's store and generic brands- so when things do get moving they move a lot easier. He took them every day 3x a day while he was on his oxycontin for pain. Pain killers do have way of slowing everything down. Hope all gets to moving. You sound in great spirits. Keep up the great recovery
    Tracy

    Thanks Tracy, things are
    Thanks Tracy, things are moving very slow here including me. You know everyone seems to think the brain is the organ in charge.....wrong! Let me tell you that when your butt clogs up....everything hurts. Needless to say it is in charge! lol I go Monday and Tuesday to doctors and I can not wait. I had the mediastinscopy done on Dec 28 and started coughing the next day. I had a hematoma from it and the cough was horrible. I coughed from Dec 29 up to the time they put me under on Feb 20 (this surgery). Boy when I woke up I was so afraid that I was going to cough. Guess what I did not until 4 days after it started coming back and today I am coughing so bad that my swelling is coming back and the pain is getting worse. What fun I am having. They need to find out what happened and get this cough to stop! It is not coming from my lungs it is coming from where they went in my neck for the mediastinscopy. I also get really bad indagestion same spot on a daily basis.
    I will keep everyone updated....until then have a great weekend my friends and God Bless!
    Ellen
  • catcon49
    catcon49 Member Posts: 398
    #19
    trft said:

    surgery
    Wow, I read your page. You are a true warrior. I was lung cancer with surgery and chemo. I was lucky, and from all that can be understood so far my cancer was definitely limited to the lobe they took out, upper right. I'm sorry you are having such a hard time of it, that can't be a good feeling. But hang in there. And know that people will bump into people who have gone through this and think "wow". I send you my best good-vibes. My prayers are kind of backwards, but you have all of them too. I really wish you well. trft aka Tim.

    HOpe everything is well with
    HOpe everything is well with you. I was constipated for 5 excuriating weeks lol. It was horrible. My aunts bran muffins work for me. Along with tons of colace. It was worse than the surgery. Did you have an epidural for pain during surgery? I wondered if that is what caused it, because I had other surgeries and never experienced that before.

    cathy
  • ellenm4
    ellenm4 Member Posts: 124
    #20
    catcon49 said:

    HOpe everything is well with
    HOpe everything is well with you. I was constipated for 5 excuriating weeks lol. It was horrible. My aunts bran muffins work for me. Along with tons of colace. It was worse than the surgery. Did you have an epidural for pain during surgery? I wondered if that is what caused it, because I had other surgeries and never experienced that before.

    cathy

    No Cathy I did not have the
    No Cathy I did not have the epidural for the pain. The last 3 surgeries I have had in the last 2 1/2 months, I have been given diladid (spelling?) for the pain. I was told by a nurse this time that this drug dehydrates the inside of your body really fast, so when this happens your organs and even muscles look for moisture where they can....bowels! Leaving the stools hard as rock. So I think this is what has happened to me. But then again I am not sure about anything anymore! lol

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