← Return to Pain after robotic assisted lobectomy: How long does it last?

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@kkckkjm

It's been 7 days since my robotic lung surgery, removing my right lower lobe. I'm doing well but curious as to how long I'll feel as though I am getting a hot knife in my gut whenever I try to use my abs or move even slightly the wrong way? I can't lay flat because I can't sit back up, even being in a recliner is difficult. I wish I could sleep standing up!

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Replies to "It's been 7 days since my robotic lung surgery, removing my right lower lobe. I'm doing..."

Welcome @kkckkjm. I'm tagging fellow members @cindyjk @vic83 @pat3017a and @stanleykent who also had robotic lung surgery to make sure they see your question about recovery and finding a comfortable position to sleep.

It's been a few days since you posted about your experience. Have things improved somewhat?

6+ months ago, I had VAT surgery on right lung but only wedge resection not removal of lobe. At 7 days I stopped all pain medication. I could also drive then. I kind of kept my right arm attached to my chest instinctively and favored that side for a couple of weeks. Each week I felt a little closer to normal but caught Covid a month from surgery which slowed my recovery down. (Despite my self-isolation I caught Covid!).
The three incisions all healed nicely. The nerve pain and sore rib lasted two months. However, three months from surgery I started to get a slight soreness when taking a deep breath. The rib is a little sore and may be the cause. It has increased but nothing showing up on my last two CT scans to explain it. Not a big problem, just wonder why.

I'll be 70 soon and I had VAT upper right lobectomy in 2019 and VAT wedge resection on lower left in November 2021. I'd think VAT recovery is similar to Robotic surgery but that would be a doctor question. For me, the lobectomy was more painful. I think most of the pain getting up was related to the incisions It was very painful and for awhile, couldn't get out of bed. It was slow recovery but day by day there was improvement. By 6 to 8 weeks I felt pretty normal or I should say "new normal" A mild cough lasted a few months but gradually improved. Even though it was 2019, I still have a bit of discomfort or tightness on the right side when I take in a deep breath and the skin is still a bit "tingly" near one of the incisions.
Through the recovery time and after I had shortness of breath. Going up the stairs would get me winded. Later in 2020 Cardiology and lung function testing indicated I was out of shape. I had blamed it on the surgery but I should have exercised more. I took it too easy through that Minnesota winter and then 2020 covid isolation started and did not exercise.
I hope you are improving. Let us know how you're doing. Thanks

Hello and welcome. I'm sorry that you are still uncomfortable but I think that you will be uncomfortable for the next few to several weeks at least. I had my right lower lobe removed by open chest surgery- "the old fashion way" because robotic surgery wasn't in use then for this kind of surgery. All surgeries that take place inside the chest wall interrupt the lung's topography. Most chest surgeries hurt afterward. It's been 10 days so give yourself a break, rest, move slowly, take slow deep breaths, and baby yourself.


Use youtube to find out how to do different tasks. You should have had some form of PT while you were in the hospital and they should have given you directions on all of this. And every day you need to get up and walk. This will help keep you from getting pneumonia and get you back to your life sooner.

Are you having any problems like coughing up blood or seepage that is very worrying?