What can I expect after lung surgery? What is recovery like?

I had a RLL lobectomy in 2023 when I was 68 and had very little pain. In fact, I never needed more than Tylenol and that was only for under a week. Bottom line is that everyone is different. You'll do great!

Had robotic surgery 7/25 lower right lobe, just before my 78th birthday. No real pain issues, took Trazodone infrequently. Once home, slow walked around the house a couple of days and gradually full mobility.
Don’t rush it and you’ll do great.

Hi, Cynthia!
I had a robotic lobectomy of my middle lung in Dec 2022 at the age of 68. The surgery went well and I was home two days later. Tylenol was my most effective pain killer. I really didn't have too much pain to be honest. I purchased a wedge pillow so I didn't lay flat for several weeks. Otherwise I was mobile and carried on. I still can't believe the ease of the surgery. I've got some very small incision scars but who cares?
Best wishes for a comfortable recovery. Don't worry.

Can I ask if anyone was a smoker?
Also were you in good health before the surgery..

Thanking everyone in advance

Hi Cynthia, I was a smoker up to 2019. Kept quitting for years. Started using a vape pen (nicotine only), Had to quit that and did it a month before my surgery. Used the Patches. Those are the only things that actually worked for me. I had an Upper left segmentectomy (more than a wedge, less than a full lobectomy) in March of 2023. I stayed in the hospital 2 days, was up walking around the day after surgery, with my catheter, IV bag, and chest tube all attached. Walking is the most important thing you can do to get your muscles and lungs moving. They gave me a patch, everyday, in the hospital to make sure I could stay up on those. I walked around inside my house for a few days, then went outside and walked around our driveway a day or two and then up the driveway(its a steep incline) and about a block, then back and just kept pushing further and further. Slow and steady at first. Now I speed walk 1 1/2 miles every night after dinner,
I was pleasantly surprised when I woke up from surgery and was breathing on my own! Yes had oxygen but only for a day or 2 as my lung was having a little trouble expanding back up all the way. It did by the second day and they unhooked me from everything. The chest tube was uncomfortable. It kept hitting a nerve in my back which made my arm in extreme pain, but they didn’t know that until I figured it out by sleeping on the opposite side and putting a pillow under my left side. (Just some info in case that happens to you). The best pain relievers for me were the 500 mg Tylenol x2, an 800 mg Ibuprofen, and A Robaxin (muscle relaxer- not strong), and the walking. A little bit of depression about a week or so later but thats usually all the meds leaving your body and people not needing to visit or call as much. But be strong and have faith! I am now 61 and just got off a 7 day cruise and have been able to do everything I used to. Best of Luck! Yes also use a wedge pillow or recliner or adjustable bed. You do not want to lay flat as it makes it extremely painful on your incisions and muscles trying to get up or down from laying. I do still get pain under my breast area and bras don’t help that at all! Let us know how you are! God Bless you and keep you in His care!🙏❤️

Anyone with upper left lobe removed by robotic surgery. How many incisions did you have?

@cynthia19591965

Yes, I was a smoker, and so were my parents, and their parents...
At the time of my lobectomy in 2022, I had already been diagnosed with severe emphysema. But other than that I'm in very good health.

@esk123 - Hi, I had VATS ULL in 2023. I have 3 or 4 little incisions, not even an inch, and 1 (where they remove the lung from) that is about 3 inches long. They are almost no longer visible.

@esk123 I had a lower left lobe lobectomy and have 5 small incisions. The largest was under my left breast.