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

I have had two lobectomies, the first in December 2019 to treat a large single tumor (RUL) and the second (LUL) in March 2020 to treat multi-focal lung cancer that showed up six months after the first lobectomy. I had pain (pressure-like) and a persistent cough, especially when I spoke, after the first lobectomy. Six weeks after the surgery, I started acupuncture, which at first improved and then completely resolved both issues (appointments every week or two over possibly two or three months; I can't find my old wall calendar, which I was sure I had kept). I had read that acupuncture is commonly used in China for both pain and coughing after a lobectomy and I was lucky to know a talented acupuncturist (who had once successfully treated tendonitis in an ankle).

Oddly, I had very little pain (which resolved quickly) and no persistent cough after the second lobectomy (both done by the same brilliant surgeon). I guess practice (by the patient) makes perfect. Both surgeries were VATS.

Thank you Lidja. Planning on talking to my oncologist about the cough but it helps to know it's not just me. Wish you well!

I also had a lower left lobectomy in March 2022 and still have a feeling of constant phlegm in my throat and need to clear with a cough. Was told that it is common post surgery and that it should get better but may not go away completely. Have follow up CT scan at end of month and will revisit this issue. Good luck to you!

I don't have feeling if constant phlegm, just coughing. Sometimes worse than others. Thank you for responding Felix. Best of luck to you as well

Just a note about my husbands cough from pleural mesothelioma/resolved pleural effusion being treated with ipi/novo immunotherapy. He was prescribed over the counter Zyrtec which resolves his cough for 12 hour or more. He takes one at night and sometimes one in the morning. He also uses Halls Breezer cough drops which can quiet the cough if it happens during the day. No RX cough meds helped. Might ask your physicians if it’s okay to try.

I am 5 weeks post surgery, I have a constant cough. Dr is starting me on a short steroid pack

I had a robotics assisted left upper lobectomy in November 2022. Acute pain subsided pretty quickly but like clockwork, I woke up with pain at about 2:30 AM. Nothing relieves it except oxycodone. I took 1-2 per night. The pain subsided 6 or so weeks post op. I have no discomfort now. Hopefully, yours will resolve soon.

I am 3 weeks post-op. The pain is starting to be very manageable. Quit oxy a week ago. I have a periodic cough and a lot of phlegm. How long does that last? I still wake up at night. CBD helps with sleep.

I had a video assisted lobectomy in 2020, it was profound but would have been worse without the video involved. The problem I had was that they insert a tube in your chest post surgery and it comes out in about 3 days but for some reason my tube had to stay in for 3 weeks. As for my recovery it was slow but tolerable, I am 71 soon to be 72 amen. Last year they found another nodule that was cancer but they couldn’t do another lobectomy so they did a procedure called Micro Coil localization, a wire is put into the lung and through help from a computer they can locate the cancer and take it out in a wedge segment. This is a remarkable process with less pain afterwards, a huge difference from the first surgery. I’m due for another ct scan and worrying myself crazy. I was told that surgery is not going to be an option anymore so I will probably have to go for radiation treatment. I know my last treatment is relatively new and a great advancement in the battle against cancer and I hope this news will give others more hope with their fight, amen.

So sorry for your pain, I wish I could tell you. I had my surgery 7 weeks ago and still have shooting, and very sharp pain all around my midriff, from the middle of my chest to my belly button, and also by my ribs and my back. 3 days ago it seemed to subside all of a sudden, but today it came back with a vengeance. I was told the other day I have pleural effusion, which with be drained at the end of the week. I’m hooding the fluid is causing some of the pain, so if anyone else know whether this pain eventually goes away, I would also be interested in hearing about it. Good luck to you. I hope we both get this pain under control. I’ve been living on ibuprofen (hate opioids)