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Mucinous adenocarcinoma of lung Stage 1
Lung Cancer | Last Active: Jul 29 4:34pm | Replies (18)Comment receiving replies
Dear PB50 - I know your feeling...
1) I had VAT surgery (wedge resection) on 5/19. In the beginning I had a lot of pain and took Gabapentin which helped. I am now off of it. I have occasional needle pricks, and I am still sore with a violent sneeze, and my chest feels stiff when I take a deep breath. Also I have very numb feeling under breast and to side - my Mayo surgeon told me it can take up to a year for nerve pain to go away.
2) This was my second VAT surgery and my breathing was not quite the same after the first. I could do lots of walking on flat ground without much issue, but I get short of breath if I am moving and bending. This is now a bit more pronounced. I don't really think it will go back to "normal". Can be heart as well as lungs when it comes to shortness of breath.
I have several oximeters and check my oxygen levels. At rest I am very good but with exertion my oxygen level goes down even below 88
3)I took an international trip before second VAT - no problem. I did check with my Pulmonologist before and did an oxygen titration test on a treadmill. I needed temporary night oxygen after both surgeries, and then went off of it at 3 months. I did overnight oximeter test to be sure.
4) What else to do? WALK and take good care of yourself
Replies to "Dear PB50 - I know your feeling... 1) I had VAT surgery (wedge resection) on 5/19...."
Vic83. The surgeons all say the pain will go away after a year, but it is the patient that goes away I think. LOL.
Just to follow up, I saw my pulmonologist last week. My pulmonary function tests were not as strong as a couple of years ago when I last had it. But not bad considering I lost 20% of my total physical capacity. I am distributing sufficient oxygen to my body so I think I should be ok to fly.
My ribs from under my breast to the bottom of my side remains stiff and tender when I take a deep breath. Sneezing and yawning doesn’t seem to work right. I’m having a follow up CT in two weeks so maybe if there is inflammation or hairline fractures it will show up. I don’t really expect it to show much.
It ain’t gonna be original equipment ever again. I will just have to get used to it. 🙄
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Thank you so much!! I do walk. And I have few problems with walking a continuous 1/4 - 1/3 mile. Beyond that I do need to stop and catch my breath. My heart rate gets up to 120-130 just changing a fitted sheet but my O2 gets higher as my heart rate increases. Must be due to hyperventilating I guess.
My nerve pain - largely across my breast and upper abdomen on the side of the incision - is still a bit present - more now as numbness than sharp pain, though occasionally I will get that electrical type pain.
I’d hate to think I’ve gotten about all the recovery in lung capacity I’m going to get, so I will stay after it.
Again, many thanks.