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After Lobectomy/Thoracotomy and Saline solution for inhaling
HI everyone, I recently had Thoractomy (open surgery) and I'm wondering if anyone here had the same operation on their lungs here? If so I'd like to hear about your experience and any information in this regard. How long your full recovery was? etc. Again Not VATS but open surgery/thoracotomy.
I am experiencing lot of pain after surgery and recovery is been very tough. I need to cough up and bring mucus but it's hard to cough with incision and when I was in hospital I inhaled saline through a mask which helped a lot to bring up stuff and also easier to breathe after. Please let me know If I have to purchse the solution by itself or can i but it with the mask? I have a nebulizer and wondering If I can just but the solution and use it.
Also does any saline solution work or has to be specifically for inhaling? Thank you!
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I nebulize using 1tsp of salt to 8oz distilled water. It helps a lot bringing up mucus.. where did you buy the mask? I’m looking for one to wear in crowds.
@taya Hi there. I like the disposable N95 masks made by 3-M for painters. They have a special small thing on the front that allows filtered breathing. That way you don't get sweaty underneath the mask. They run something like 6.95 for two.
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1 Reaction@amn17 Hi. When was your resection surgery? Yeah, I bet it does hurt like heck to cough. As for the saline most of us on here use, it is either 3% or 7%. It has to be prescribed by a dr. Your dr may not want you doing it yet as it could really irritate your healing lung. That is a discussion you may want to consider with him/her. I hope that you get to feeling better soon. Did you have the surgery at NJH?
@windwalker No I'm in Canada. I had a open surgery and a lobe was removed. very painful recovery. I have problem with Breathing now! please invite others who had lung lobectomy to this discussion so I can hear about their experience. Would appreciate it. Thank you.
@taya Hi. Did you ever find a mask? I like the disposable ones that painters use. I believe they are made by 3M. N95 particulate mask. It has a filtered ventilated opening in the front and allows good breathing and minimal sweating inside.
@ethanmcconkey Hi Ethan. I am havimg trouble finding past members (recent) that have had a lung lobe lobectomy. Can you please find some for @amn17? Thank you!
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1 Reaction@windwalker thank you
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1 Reaction@amn17 Hello. I looked back over some notes in my notebook and found these members who mentioned having lobectomies. Here you go: @dmarks, @ronaf, @tamela, @hydrang3a may be considering. I hope those that I have listed get back to you. You can also enter their @names and visit their postings. Out of the hundreds of patients that I have conversed with; I have found that less than 1% get a lobectomy. Surgery of any kind is serious, but especially with lungs. The only institution that I know of that does lobectomies on a regular basis is NJH. You can go to their site and read more about it. http://www.njh.org Several members have mentioned that the condition returned after having had the surgery. (Surgery should be a last resort option and always get a second opinion at least.)
I am interested in hearing experiences with the VATS lobectomy. I am recommended to have one for my right middle lobe. I’m worried about the pain and recovery. Please share your experience. Thank you!
Hi @angiejohnson. You may have noticed I moved your post to this existing discussion on lobectomies so that you can see what other's have said about their experience. Simply click VIEW & REPLY in your email notification to see your post.
I wanted to introduce you to fellow Connect members @alamogal635 (who in the last few days has had this procedure and may be able to offer a very recent look at the pain in the immediate aftermath), @dmarks, @ronaf, @tamela, and @hydrang3a have all mentioned lobectomies in the past and may be able to answer your questions.
Back to you @angiejohnson how long ago were you recommended to have the procedure? What is your doctor hoping for this surgery to accomplish?