Bending over post lobectomy causes significant shortness of breath?

Posted by pb50 @pb50, Dec 27, 2023

I’m 7 months from lobectomy of left lower lobe. By and large I do pretty well from a pulmonary function perspective. Not as great as the docs led me to expect, since I absolutely do not have 99% of my capacity back, nor do I see evidence the other lines are taking up the slack.
So that’s an “is”. But what I don’t understand is why bending over causes a severe loss of capacity.
I notice it just wiping up a spill or sponging off baseboards. Stuff like that.
Does anyone else experience that?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Lung Cancer Support Group.

pb50 | @pb50 | Dec 10, 2024

Good to know it's not just me !

Lisa, Volunteer Mentor | @lls8000 | Dec 10, 2024

In reply to @pigeonhead "Stairs and bending over definitely get me panting and out of breath, much worse than other..." + (show)

Welcome to Mayo Connect @pigeonhead. Did you have lung surgery? How long ago?

pb50 | @pb50 | Dec 10, 2024

I did. In May of 23. Left lower lobectomy. Stage 1, N0. Fortunate but we had been watching it slooooowly grow for five years.

pigeonhead | @pigeonhead | Dec 11, 2024

In reply to @lls8000 "Welcome to Mayo Connect @pigeonhead. Did you have lung surgery? How long ago?" + (show)

11/20 of this year...bilateral breast cancer 2005... both caught early; I am so lucky for that...but feel a little like there's a target on my back! LoL

whahoo | @whahoo | Dec 11, 2024

I had my right upper lobe removed a year and a half ago and still have minor pain issues.

Lisa, Volunteer Mentor | @lls8000 | Dec 11, 2024

In reply to @pigeonhead "11/20 of this year...bilateral breast cancer 2005... both caught early; I am so lucky for that...but..." + (show)

@pigeonhead , Sorry to hear that you've picked up another cancer. I'm not sure that the weight of that target ever really goes away, but hopefully it gets a little lighter over time. You are three weeks out from a major surgery. Make sure you give yourself time to recover. Hopefully your breath gets better as you heal.
I was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2020 and recently had surgery for breast cancer. I mentioned to a friend that I was enjoying being lazy, and she reminded me that healing is 'work', so I shouldn't think of it as being lazy. Now I tell others that I'm working as I'm laying around.
I'm glad that you found us, take care.

Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Dec 12, 2024

In reply to @whahoo "I had my right upper lobe removed a year and a half ago and still have..." + (show)

Hi, whahoo- My lung cancer goes back years, and for a lot of those years, I had muscle spasms right where my scar was. It takes a long time for the body to heal after chest surgery. And no matter what type of surgery it was, the topography of your chest wall was changed, and that's a biggy! I always found stretching exercises helpful and still do.

pigeonhead | @pigeonhead | Dec 12, 2024

In reply to @lls8000 "@pigeonhead , Sorry to hear that you've picked up another cancer. I'm not sure that the..." + (show)

That is a comforting thought! You do feel lazy napping and lying around , but now I will think of it as hard work healing! I am so sorry that you too are going "through" the cancers A-Z.... This is a lovely forum and I appreciate all the perspectives! Be well and thank you!

dave777 | @dave777 | Jan 17 2:47pm

I”m a 65 YO, 4 yrs post RUL lobectomy, 13 lymph nodes etc and chemo from stage 2B undiagnosed lung cancer and never smoker.
After first year of recovery I noticed loss of breath from bending over even for short periods of time but much more pronounced with longer periods while bending.
Yes it’s extremely annoying however I’m happy to be here.
Also experiencing shortness of breath when in longer type conversations and with limited physical activity but I guess those are the side effects of missing parts like this with aging.
I’m lucky to be in excellent physical condition with very good blood pressure and heart rate, but it is what it is.
Very interesting to read other survivor stories and how the individual challenges we face really aren’t that different.
All best!

pb50 | @pb50 | Jan 17 4:01pm

In reply to @dave777 "I”m a 65 YO, 4 yrs post RUL lobectomy, 13 lymph nodes etc and chemo from..." + (show)

I am 74, former smoker, pudgy, and almost 2 yrs post lower left lobectomy for a 1.5cm adenocarcinoma, no nodes.

From the moment I regained consciousness after surgery, I have had two complaints: persistent rib and/or intercostal inflammation & pain, and shortness of breath when I bend over - as in bending over to sponge a spill off the floor, or putting the dreaded fitted sheet on the mattress.

I don't know if it will ever resolve. But because the pulmonary function tests are normal when I am comfortably sitting upright in a chair, my unimaginative pulmonologist says it’s because I am overweight.

I don't think there's likely to be an answer that would trigger an action to stop it. So I'm just accepting it grudgingly.