How was your pain after a lobectomy?

Hi,
Because of where the nodules were, he had explained it would be a small incision to reach and biopsy them.
If cancer was found, he would make a larger incision and spread two ribs.
As he explained it, it was like getting punched in the ribs but that in one to two days, I would be fine.
The incision was 20cm plus the ports for the chest tubes. But was told I would have one and it would only be left in for 48 hrs once the drainage stopped.
When I was discharged, his associate surgeon said I would still have some drainage but it would subside, it did three days later, hence I was sent home on oxygen and still require it when I walk more than 10 mins. I’m used to running and or walking 3-5 miles a day so o be this incapacitated is again something I never thought about.
I’ve read different experiences, this is mine. So far I have seen 6 doctors because of the after effects of the surgery.
Each ask the same question: why was I not told I had fractured 4 ribs two that were spread and one above and below the two causing pain that I wouldn’t even wish on my ex husband.
Please research and if the surgeon is vague about pain, aftercare etc explain, your not a surgeon who has done this many times, your a person who is putting your trust in their hands for the best outcome.

Take care

I had 1/2 of my right upper lobe removed, resected, and about 6 lymph nodes. All done robotic. The cancer was removed . Surgery was about 4-5 hrs. . I awoke from anesthesia in horrible pain . I was sent home 4 hours later after chest tube was removed. (My surgeon said he found patients did better if they went home after surgery. The only pain med I was sent home with was tramadol and hydrocodone. 5 days later, I ended up in the ER. I couldn’t walk from one room to the other without giving out and short of breath . O2 level dropped to 74 while taking a shower or walking as advised by my surgeon. Smaller hospital sent me by ambulance to the large teaching hospital. I spent 5 days in the hospital , on oxygen, 24/7. U entered the hospital for my surgery with O2 levels of 95-98 on average . I wasn’t able to shower without oxygen and I was in panic mode while doing so. A resident came into my room late at night and said he thought I was having anxiety. Fast toward , 3 weeks later , my follow-up with my pulmonologist , he prescribed Xanax . I was in his office attached to my oxygen tank, crying my eyes out. After my second dose, I could actually breathe without oxygen. Diagnosis was that my pain was not controlled , so I wasn’t breathing as I should have which caused my shortness of breath. Whether that is true or not , I still don’t know. It has been 16 weeks since my surgery and I’m so fatigued, I do nothing . I do not take pain meds unless I’m miserable and I still have sharp pains in my chest. If your surgeon says you will go home a few hours after surgery , find another surgeon !

My surgeon said there would be extreme pain but I had NO idea just how bad the pain would be. It is the spreading of the ribs alright. That was 25 years ago. I still have achiness especially stormy weather. It isn't just the spreading of the ribs but it also pinches the nerves around the ribs. I grew up on dairy farm and been hurt around big animals and machinery and I've had appendix and hysterectomy surgery but that pain was a Sunday picnic in the park compared to thoracotomy.

@yellowstonelady
I had a lobectomy by robot assist a little over a year ago. First off my drainage tube was in for 10 days and caused more pain than child birth. A year later and I still have rib pain and can see my ribs poking from my body. Not a nice picture!

I had 1/2 of my right upper lobe removed, resected, and about 6 lymph nodes. All done robotic. The cancer was removed . Surgery was about 4-5 hrs. . I awoke from anesthesia in horrible pain . I was sent home 4 hours later after chest tube was removed. (My surgeon said he found patients did better if they went home after surgery. The only pain med I was sent home with was tramadol and hydrocodone. 5 days later, I ended up in the ER. I couldn’t walk from one room to the other without giving out and short of breath . O2 level dropped to 74 while taking a shower or walking as advised by my surgeon. Smaller hospital sent me by ambulance to the large teaching hospital. I spent 5 days in the hospital , on oxygen, 24/7. U entered the hospital for my surgery with O2 levels of 95-98 on average . I wasn’t able to shower without oxygen and I was in panic mode while doing so. A resident came into my room late at night and said he thought I was having anxiety. Fast toward , 3 weeks later , my follow-up with my pulmonologist , he prescribed Xanax . I was in his office attached to my oxygen tank, crying my eyes out. After my second dose, I could actually breathe without oxygen. Diagnosis was that my pain was not controlled , so I wasn’t breathing as I should have which caused my shortness of breath. Whether that is true or not , I still don’t know. It has been 16 weeks since my surgery and I’m so fatigued, I do nothing . I do not take pain meds unless I’m miserable and I still have sharp pains in my chest. If your surgeon says you will go home a few hours after surgery , find another surgeon !

@mmga
How horrendous. Please tell your primary you cannot see that surgeon again after such treatment but you need someone to see for follow up visits.

My journey:
I had my left lower lobe removed for a Stage 0-1, 14mm Adenocarcinoma in 2023. I stayed in hospital a few days before they yanked the chest tube and sent me home. But I still had massive drainage so i refused to leave until I had a case worker and documentation of the condition I was leaving in. . I couldn't reach the wound, so asked home health to come change my dressing.

I don't do narcotics and can’t take Ibuprofen. Gabapentin was worthless. So I finally convinced them to give me old fashioned Flexoril - a muscle relaxant and that was the only reason I got some sleep.

To this day I have excursion pain when I take a deep breath. Prednisone - which i rarely take for RA Flares - is the only drug that eliminates the rib pain. That would suggest it is inflammation pain. It is more background pain now but is never gone.

So even under good circumstances it is still a journey with ups and downs. Get a good doc you have confidence in and don’t give up until you do.

Best wishes. Post when you need a shoulder or just to vent.

@pb50
So sorry to hear you have gone through so much. A change of doctor is good idea.