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Pain after Left Upper Lobectomy

Posted by spikeb1 @spikeb1, Dec 4, 2022

I had my LUL removed via minimally invasive surgery on 11/14 and was discharged from the hospital on 11/16. I am progressing well and have only mild shortness of breath after going up stairs. I am the primary caregiver for my 91 yo mother so am pretty active. My only pain is at night and it’s mainly in my back, eventually radiating to beneath my left breast. It is relieved eventually by 10 mg. of oxycodone. I have tried ibuprofen 800 mg every 8 hours hoping that would carry me through the night but like clockwork, I still awaken between 2-3 AM. I have also used a heating pad without much success. I really don’t want to rely on opioids. Any suggestions? Thanks.

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freitag | @freitag | Dec 7, 2022
In reply to @spikeb1 "Thanks so much for your reply. I’m not quite clear on the tube you had. I..." + (show)
@spikeb1

Thanks so much for your reply. I’m not quite clear on the tube you had. I assume it was external and hooked to drainage but it would be odd to have one outside of the hospital. My primary tube was removed on post op day 1 and. “Pigtail” was left in place. Shortly thereafter, I started to have pain as you described. Got lots of meds and was able to return to bed. Looking back, I’m sure the pain was related to the position of the tube and had I been able to move and get back to bed, it would have resolved. After removal, no 10/10 pain. Hope you are well.

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The tube that went to my shoulder was internal. I didn't even know it was there. It was reduced at the exit to a smaller tube which is where the drainage came from.

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2 replies
spikeb1 | @spikeb1 | Dec 7, 2022
In reply to @freitag "The tube that went to my shoulder was internal. I didn't even know it was there...." + (show)
@freitag

The tube that went to my shoulder was internal. I didn't even know it was there. It was reduced at the exit to a smaller tube which is where the drainage came from.

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Hmmm, not sure what that’s all about. I am a retired nurse and not familiar with an internal tube after lobectomy. But then, that wasn’t my area of expertise. Thanks for taking the time to respond.

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1 reply
freitag | @freitag | Dec 7, 2022
In reply to @spikeb1 "Hmmm, not sure what that’s all about. I am a retired nurse and not familiar with..." + (show)
@spikeb1

Hmmm, not sure what that’s all about. I am a retired nurse and not familiar with an internal tube after lobectomy. But then, that wasn’t my area of expertise. Thanks for taking the time to respond.

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It was very creepy to see when they took it out in one giant tug. A little like the movie Alien.

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spikeb1 | @spikeb1 | Dec 8, 2022
In reply to @marshall8318 "@spike1 My surgery was a thoracotomy with lower right lobe removal in April 2020. My upper..." + (show)
@marshall8318

@spike1 My surgery was a thoracotomy with lower right lobe removal in April 2020. My upper back pain started in the hospital. I found I could not lie down even in the hospital bed and slept in the chair at the hospital or I would wake up in horrible pain. At home I found sleeping in a recliner after surgery where I was not laying flat helped. Once I started sleeping in bed I used some large pillows to sleep at a 45 degree angle. I actually still sleep that way. I have found laying flat to sleep causes me to wake up with upper back pain. I take gabapentin and am scheduled to see a pain doctor at Mayo to see if anything else can help. I hope your pain soon goes away or you find the right medication to manage it.
Take care,
Juliette

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Thank you so much for your response. I initially slept in a recliner but didn’t want that to be my norm so propped myself up in bed. I’m only 3 weeks out so hoping this will resolve soon.

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spikeb1 | @spikeb1 | Dec 8, 2022
In reply to @dianemusic "In May I had a left upper lobe lobectomy with robotic surgery. My pain — which..." + (show)
@dianemusic

In May I had a left upper lobe lobectomy with robotic surgery. My pain — which was intense — was from nerves that were activated. I did what you are doing, but also found that sitting in a shower and having the warm water flow over the impacted area was soothing. Good luck. You really will start to feel better

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Thanks so much for your response and the encouragement that this will get better soon.

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1 reply
dianemusic | @dianemusic | Dec 8, 2022
In reply to @spikeb1 "Thanks so much for your response and the encouragement that this will get better soon." + (show)
@spikeb1

Thanks so much for your response and the encouragement that this will get better soon.

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The pain felt like it lasted forever, but in actuality was only weeks. Another suggestion is that you see a pain management doctor. I did, and I think the cocktail of meds he gave me helped get me through the worst.

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1 reply
spikeb1 | @spikeb1 | Dec 8, 2022
In reply to @dianemusic "The pain felt like it lasted forever, but in actuality was only weeks. Another suggestion is..." + (show)
@dianemusic

The pain felt like it lasted forever, but in actuality was only weeks. Another suggestion is that you see a pain management doctor. I did, and I think the cocktail of meds he gave me helped get me through the worst.

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Thanks so much. I am 3 weeks out and although ai am uncomfortable, it’s only at night and usually relieved by oxycodone. I just didn’t want to rely on that. I have zero pain during the day and overall, it hasn’t greatly impacted my life. I am grateful that my outcome was good. Stay well!

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kkckkjm | @kkckkjm | Dec 8, 2022

Another thought (from my experience)...so much of my post surgical pain after the lobectomy was from build up of fluid in the pleural lining due to a chyke leak. This is identified thru an xray. I had 2 procedures to remove the fluid before it resolved. I also slept as upright as I could and sitting up was challenging.

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Dec 17, 2022
In reply to @spikeb1 "Thanks so much. I am 3 weeks out and although ai am uncomfortable, it’s only at..." + (show)
@spikeb1

Thanks so much. I am 3 weeks out and although ai am uncomfortable, it’s only at night and usually relieved by oxycodone. I just didn’t want to rely on that. I have zero pain during the day and overall, it hasn’t greatly impacted my life. I am grateful that my outcome was good. Stay well!

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How are things going, @spikeb1? Is the pain subsiding?

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spikeb1 | @spikeb1 | Dec 17, 2022
In reply to @colleenyoung "How are things going, @spikeb1? Is the pain subsiding?" + (show)
@colleenyoung

How are things going, @spikeb1? Is the pain subsiding?

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Thank you Colleen for checking. I am happy to say that I am pain free and even able to sleep on my left side without any discomfort. It has been 33 days since my surgery and I am thrilled and surprised to be feeling this good.

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