Adenocarcinoma Robotic RLL Lobectomy: Does age affect outcome?

Posted by bbtn @bbtn, May 16, 2023

Hello all,
I've been diagnosed with NSCLC adenocarcinoma. The nodule is approximately 2.5 cm I'm told. I'm scheduled for a right lower lobectomy next week on the 26th at Vanderbilt. I'm really getting crazy anxiety about this and would love some input from people who have had this procedure. I'm 64 and wondering if my age is going to affect the outcome.
Any advice is appreciated
Bunnie

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@bbtn

Update, chest tube out and home recuperating. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences with this. It really helped hearing your experiences and tips and tricks to make everything better. I'm cautiously optimistic about using minimal pain meds but so far so good. I do have quite a bit of crepitus though. Right side back, shoulder, back of neck, and back of upper right arm. Anyone have any experience with that?

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From what I understand that sometimes happens after surgery, but make sure you let your Dr know at your check up. Glad you’re home! Good luck with your healing. You should feel better soon!
Cindy

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@bbtn

Update, chest tube out and home recuperating. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences with this. It really helped hearing your experiences and tips and tricks to make everything better. I'm cautiously optimistic about using minimal pain meds but so far so good. I do have quite a bit of crepitus though. Right side back, shoulder, back of neck, and back of upper right arm. Anyone have any experience with that?

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I hope you feel a little better each day! Has the crepitus gotten any better? Does your doc expect it to resolve soon?

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@bbtn

Update, chest tube out and home recuperating. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences with this. It really helped hearing your experiences and tips and tricks to make everything better. I'm cautiously optimistic about using minimal pain meds but so far so good. I do have quite a bit of crepitus though. Right side back, shoulder, back of neck, and back of upper right arm. Anyone have any experience with that?

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What is crepitus.?

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@lls8000

I hope you feel a little better each day! Has the crepitus gotten any better? Does your doc expect it to resolve soon?

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Hi Lisa,
Its almost gone...it got way worse before it started getting better. Couldn't even see my collarbone. But yes its almost gone. Thank you for asking 🙂

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In reply to @ladycricket60 "What is crepitus.?" + (show)
@ladycricket60

What is crepitus.?

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Its where (from what I understand) air from surgery or an air leak after surgery gets under your skin and until it is absorbed by your body it causes swelling and if you touch it sounds like tiny rice krispies under your skin.

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I just had my second VAT surgery three weeks ago and while the first time was a walk in the park, this time I have a lot of nerve pain. I noticed one of the three incisions is in a very different place, so incision placement may be part of the issue. I had shoulder/arm pain but that has gotten better. The nerve pain felt like a tight belt around my chest. I am now taking gabapentin (total 900mg/day) which has helped but I still have significant nerve pain - back and especially in the front. It hasn't improved in the last week. They said to continue with Ibuprofen and Tylenol (the first surgery they only gave me Tylenol, no Ibuprofen). I find that Ibuprofen does nothing, Tylenol maybe a little. Anyone else had to deal with nerve pain after VAT surgery? I just bought a cream with 4% Lidocaine so am trying that.

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@vic83

I just had my second VAT surgery three weeks ago and while the first time was a walk in the park, this time I have a lot of nerve pain. I noticed one of the three incisions is in a very different place, so incision placement may be part of the issue. I had shoulder/arm pain but that has gotten better. The nerve pain felt like a tight belt around my chest. I am now taking gabapentin (total 900mg/day) which has helped but I still have significant nerve pain - back and especially in the front. It hasn't improved in the last week. They said to continue with Ibuprofen and Tylenol (the first surgery they only gave me Tylenol, no Ibuprofen). I find that Ibuprofen does nothing, Tylenol maybe a little. Anyone else had to deal with nerve pain after VAT surgery? I just bought a cream with 4% Lidocaine so am trying that.

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Hi Vic,
Wow second VAT...I'm not sure I could do a second one. I haven't had any pain although I really expected it. I'm just having major shortness of breath which landed me back in the hospital for a night although my oxygen numbers are good. Seeing my gp and oncologist both on Monday...hoping if this doesn't resolve by then that they can give me something for it.

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@bbtn

Hi Vic,
Wow second VAT...I'm not sure I could do a second one. I haven't had any pain although I really expected it. I'm just having major shortness of breath which landed me back in the hospital for a night although my oxygen numbers are good. Seeing my gp and oncologist both on Monday...hoping if this doesn't resolve by then that they can give me something for it.

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I have always had shortness of breath. My oxygen levels drop with exertion. I am told to walk, walk and walk

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@vic83

I have always had shortness of breath. My oxygen levels drop with exertion. I am told to walk, walk and walk

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Thats what the surgeon says...before my surgery I was walking about a mile a night. Now 2 weeks from surgery im lucky if I feel like walking to the mailbox. I guess I thought I could just pick up where I left off 🙂. I hope your nerve pain gets better, I've heard that's frustrating and painful to deal with daily.

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@vic83

I just had my second VAT surgery three weeks ago and while the first time was a walk in the park, this time I have a lot of nerve pain. I noticed one of the three incisions is in a very different place, so incision placement may be part of the issue. I had shoulder/arm pain but that has gotten better. The nerve pain felt like a tight belt around my chest. I am now taking gabapentin (total 900mg/day) which has helped but I still have significant nerve pain - back and especially in the front. It hasn't improved in the last week. They said to continue with Ibuprofen and Tylenol (the first surgery they only gave me Tylenol, no Ibuprofen). I find that Ibuprofen does nothing, Tylenol maybe a little. Anyone else had to deal with nerve pain after VAT surgery? I just bought a cream with 4% Lidocaine so am trying that.

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I had robotic upper left lung lobectomy. I had lots of nerve pain . It’s been 6 weeks and it’s slowly getting better. Still taking gabepentin. My surgeon said sometimes it takes months. I used aspercreme roll on, alternated Tylenol and Advil.

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