side affects

Greggriggs
Greggriggs Member Posts: 132
edited March 2014 in Lung Cancer #1
I had my left lung removed in May of 2006. they did not tell me how I was going to feel or how long it would take to heal' My doctor told me I could go back to work in six weeks!!! I belived him . Three days after the surgery I took my first walk down the hall. My first thought was I don't want to live like this.
In ten weeks I was walkin a mile an a half.
then I started Chemo taxol an carboplaten it has been a year since I quit takin Chemo. I have gone through evry side affect I can think of an a whole bunch of differant Medicine I breath good considering an my oxygen level is 100%
BUT DOES THE PAIN EVER STOP??????

Comments

  • cabbott
    cabbott Member Posts: 1,039 Member
    #2
    I just had the middle lobe of the right lung out about a year ago. I am still coughing a bit every morning, but it does not hurt like it used to to cough. I have lots of areas both over my back and chest that are numb. The skin feels like a limb that fell asleep--but it never wakes up! I am sure that the numbness is caused by severed nerves and that the feeling will not come back totally. I do not have pain though the drain site gets a bit irritated if clothes are tight and rub. Tummy mint tea seemed to stop the cough best, though I'm not sure why. I have heard that chemo can cause symptoms of pain, esp. in feet and hands. You might talk to your doctor about what can be done and how long this particular pain of yours should be lasting. Good luck!
  • handle
    handle Member Posts: 31 Member
    #3
    Hi , I have small cell lung cancer,am also inoperable, am out 6 years now, had four chemo's and maximum radiation to chest , side and back. I have neuropathy in hands, arms , knee's to feet, it seems as if it has gotten worse and not better for me. I know the pain you are in, when I take a deep breath my chest hurts terrible, sharp pains, and the feet, legs and hands are a constant. I was given norantin but it didn't help me much and now I have just been putting up with it. I know how you feel and do get tired of the doctors looking at you as if you are a nut for trying to describe the pain you are in. I guess this is one of the problems we have to learn to live with to survive. I was never a complainer but the pain is a gnawling one and if anyone does have an answer I would appreciate it also. God bless and wish you well. Mike
  • jadjr
    jadjr Member Posts: 30
    #4
    I had my right upper lobe removed in Nov 2005. and chemo in Feb 2006. My experience is the pain in my chest and back have never gotten any better since I stopped taking pain meds a couple weeks after the surgery. Breathing has improved quite a bit but still a problem. Often have days of feeling completly wiped out which began following the first chemo and has never gone away. My solution has been pacing myself resting any time I feel like it exercise and resting any time I feel like it. Given the diagnosis I feel lucky to be here at all let alone be able to exercise and complain lol. Good luck and hang in there
  • jalexander
    jalexander Member Posts: 31
    #5
    You guys really do "feel my pain"!!! I'm a 46 year old 3B surviver coming up on 5 years without my right lung. Still have a lot of pain. Seems to be worst when I'm idle. I'm vary capable but run out of breath if I take on too much. I too am on neurontin, which seems to help. I also have Darvaset for weekdays and Vicodin for weekends. I try to avoid taking either, but sometimes I give in. The best thing for me has been physical therapy. My therapist has worked wonders with the scar and the underlying tissues. It has really loosened things up. I saw her weekly at first and now once a month. She specializes in cancer patients. I strongly reccomend this. After I see her I can go at least a week or more without the pain meds. Best of luck to you all.
  • Plymouthean
    Plymouthean Member Posts: 262
    #6
    Hi. I'm a six-year survivor of NSCLC, 3b, and I am in remission from non-hodgkins lymphoma. I had the upper 40% of my right lung removed, and, like you, I was initially scared about what my life would be like after surgery. Again, like you, I improved in my ability to walk longer and longer distances, which is important to lung function. But another important area, as jalexander points out, is physical therapy, in addition to walking. You don't necessarily need a therapist, but seeing one would help get you started. You can exercise on your own. Stretching, bending and twisting exercises helped me. Like you, I thought the pain would never go away. With exercise, I was relatively pain free in a few months. (2 - 3 on the funny face chart) After a year, I was (and continue to be) pain free. I feel that the exercises that I describe are critical to becoming pain free.
    Good luck, and remember... ya gotta believe!
  • Greggriggs
    Greggriggs Member Posts: 132
    #7
    Wanted to tell you all thank you very much for your personal experience of what you all went threw. I helps to know you are not alone.Thank you agin!!!
    Greg

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