Had lobectomy 3 days ago: What's your post-op pain experience?

Hi I had rll lobectomy last year July I'm still in a lot of pain.... The cancer was early stage last scan 6 months ago showed no spread... On pain management I had robotic assisted operation... I'm told the pain will eventually ease think nerve damage doesn't help. Keep chin up in sure you will get better soon.

Are you sleeping in a recliner or using a wedge pillow in bed? Be sure to tuck other pillows around you.

My doctor gave me gabapentin. The first dosage way too strong and we reduced it from 900mg three times a day to 100mg twice a day.

@easmith surgery is always a lot to go through - even when it's "less invasive". I'm sorry you're still having pain. I hope the changes your doctor made with your medication will help. keep us posted on how you're doing.

Hi @easmith,
I’m sorry you are in pain, and feeling sad, all of this is not fun to say the least.
Hoping the med changes made by your Doctors will be effective asap.
Meanwhile, like denzie asked, I used pillows along my sides, I’m not sure why that helped with pain, but it did.
When the pain during those first few days got intolerable, I found that getting up and walking slowly around my house helped relieve it quite a bit.
I’m almost at 6 weeks, it does get better, I noticed a big improvement a few days ago.
You and your body have just gone through major trauma, you are healing. Unfortunately pain comes with that, sending positive thoughts your way, hugs easmith 🤗

I had an upper left lobe lobectomy on February 24 , had a tube in for six days once they got that out the pain was a lot less after about eight weeks. I’m back to doing everything I wanted to do still soreness and tightness but that’s OK with the cancer being out , it was stage one.

Dear easmith- You are so fresh from surgery! When I got out they gave me hydromorphone, 800mg ibuprofen, 500mg Tylenol, Robaxin and Lyrica. I took all for a week and right on schedule. I slowly got off all but the Ibuprofen. That is what worked the best. I also walked and walked and walked, and followed the directions of NOT LIFTING anything heavier than a gallon of milk. I have an adjustable bed and still sleep with my head elevated. Use pillows or whatever you have as that is so important to help when getting in or out of bed and also helps to relieve possible coughing. Lying flat is NOT good. I cant sleep in a recliner because I’m a side sleeper but many people mention that worked for them.
As for being sad, it is perfectly normal! It’s a wave of emotions leading up to these surgeries. Then waking up is a relief. Right now you are having a surge of emotions and it’s a little confusing and a little depressing all at once. Just think of how lucky you are to be writing on here and just being alive. Look out your windows at something pretty. Notice nice things you hadn’t really noticed before. The sadness will fade. Talk to a friend or family that know what you’ve been through and let them in on what you are currently feeling. It really does help! If you don’t have those people, WE are all here to help you through! Good Luck and God Bless You!🙏🥰

I am almost 3 mos from a RAT rt. lower lobectomy. I had a very difficult time managing my pain, starting in the hospital. They wanted me out, but I just could not make it to the door of my room let alone walk in the hall. The team finally changed my meds to Gabapentin and it worked. At home, I was still in terrible pain (I had been prescribedd 100mgs) 3 X's a day.) I had to gradually go up to 400 mgs 3X's a day and that helped a lot to get me ("up and going). I am doing my household chores except vacuuming. I tried to "play" in my garden, in spite of the tolerable pain, but paid the price the following 2 days. I don't want to up my Gabapentin, so I am living with tolerable pain during the day. When I went for follow-up appt with my surgeon, I was told the numbness under the breast will be permanent. I was told the pain could take up to 2 yrs to go away bc nerves take a lot of time to heal. I have just decided to live my life with gratitude. I am fortunate the tumour (3.2 cm) was found incidintally. I am fortunate I qualified for the RAT surgury. I am fortunate that I am cancer free at this point. I am fortunate I live in a country that I was able to have this surgery without having to put our house on a 2nd mortgage. I could go on and on and on. I feel that I am not "special" Millions of people are walking around with a worse prognosis than me. So, I believe your pain will become less as your team tries different solutions. It's really hard when you first get home. Your body has been through a LOT. Don't be afraid to tell your Dr. or nurse about your pain by calling them, (daily if required). It's important to communicate openly. In time, you will have less and less pain as you heal. As someone else said, it's difficult to see anything positive when you are in a lot of pain. That will change as your body heals and your pain starts to subside. I'm sending lots of positive energy as so many others here are. We promise, it will get better, regardless of how many extra days it may take.

Hi @easmith, it's not uncommon to come out of anesthesia with a bit of the blues. Through a cancer diagnosis on top of everything that your body is going through, and it's expected to feel down to some extent. If it continues, make sure you let your oncologist know. They may be able to refer you to palliative care or a social worker. For me, I can hold it together through the diagnosis and initial treatment, but eventually I know I need some mental processing time too. How are you feeling with an additional week gone by?

Hi easmith. I had a left lower lobectomy on April 15th. Very painful at first but hang in there, it will feel better every day. It has been about 5 weeks since surgery and I thoughtvid be completely free of pain by now and back to my old self but my body has other plans. I am currently taking Lyrica. The gabapentin didn't work as well for me. I can say that the more I move the better I feel. I set my alarm clock on my cell phone for one hour intervals. I walk around my house 5 times. I can feel the tightness start to loosen up with the walking. I would like to walk outside but the Lyrica has me slightly dizzy so I'm not ready for outside yet. Im hoping to start taking less Lyrica next week and two weeks after that, less, until I'm off of it and probably just on advils. This is hard and the anesthesia that you had and whatever drugs you use for the pain can effect your emotions. Please hold on. Have patience. You will be feeling like yourself very soon. Warmest regards to you.

This is a long one. I had a lobectomy April 15th. Was put on gabapentin for nerve pain. At post op for lung surgeon, nurse practitioner gave me a prescription for one month and said good-bye, we are finished with your care. So I went to my internist and had a visit and requested Lyrica since the gabapentin, even at a high dose, really wasn't working. He gave me a one month prescription of 100 mg. ,3xa day and said that's it, I don't feel comfortable prescribing this. Now I have absolutely no doctor caring for me and I would like to try getting off of the drug but it says it must be done slowly with your doctor. Only having 100 mg. Tablets, I'm not sure how start cutting down. I am calling my lung surgeon's office and see if they can recommend a pain management doctor. I feel a bit lost.