Thoracotomy - C hest tube agony

cinnamonsmile said:

Did they use an epidural with

Did they use an epidural with you during your surgery?They used an epidural with mine, but I was still in so much pain even though I had narcotis and the epidural. Mine was a also painful because they had to cut into tissue that was already in severe pain from nerve damage from my breast cancer surgery.

What I did, was ask for extra pillows, slep with the head of the bed up, and arranged the pillows in such a way that it left an open space for my surgical side. I still used that technique when I could finally sleep in the bed at home.

There are also different types of pain medications they can use. Talk with your surgeon before your surgery.

My respirations went too low when I hit the ICU after surgery and they didn't give me ANYTHING for pain for at least a day or two. I was out of it, so I couldn't tell them what to give me, and that they could at least give me vicodin. It is kind of fuzzy.

I went in for a lung resection where they took 15% of my lower lung and I only stayed from Weds morning to Saturday morning. They stopped the chest tube pump earlier than they took it out. I think they took it out of Friday finally.

You are lucky to get to stay in the hospital so long!! Although having the chest tube in longer would suck.

Yes, they used an epidural and its starting to wear offnow, it's nice to be able to feel my ribs. I couldn't really do the pillow thing cause it hurt to have anything touching the incision, even with the epidural.

The narcotics made me totally goofy. I don't like that.

My posture and bone structure are not right. I'm not straight. I feel like I could straighten out though when things heal up. I want to exercize, right now, no way.

I have to go back again, and basically have the same surgery to remove the lower lobe of my lung. I can't believe it's lung cancer. I never smoked. My late husband was a heavy smoker. Well, I know now . . .

Cigarettes are evil.

dennycee said:

Much will depend on the type

Much will depend on the type of surgery, the location of the incision and the type of tube used.  It is quite possible also that you were allergic to the type of plastic it was made from or the type of tape or bandage they use to tape it in to keep it sterile.  When you meet with the surgeon bring these things up.  If they are doing a VATS there will be several small incisions, probably with the placement of a pleurX catheter through two of the ribs.  There is little option in placement of tubes and incisions of course because the lobectomy or wedge will dictate those. 

Ask for the paper tape rather than the latex type.  If I think of anything else I will add it on.  Hoping your next recovery is smoother.  

 

If you have a recliner chair sleep in it.   Otherwise Cinnamonsmiles pillows are an excellent idea. 

We found out that I was allergic to Dialudid. I itched like hellfire.

I already knew I was allergice to latex.

They said the tube was held in with one stitch. They taped the piss out of it. No way it was going to come out.

One of the things was the amount of adhesive scum I have on me. Tons of it. I have the right product to get it off. I will have my son get it off my back tonite.

I just don't know how I'm going to make it thru the next surgery. My kids are like "YOU WILL MAKE IT," so I am like - o.k.

Having a baby was way easier than this.