Breathlessness after a Lobectomy

Posted by bettyarn @bettyarn, Dec 25, 2025

I had a lobectomy mid October, and then a second surgery in November to repair an air leak. Since then I experienced a lot of shortness of breath. My doctors are surprised at the extent of my breathlessness (I have to use a shower bench as it’s difficult to stand fore the entire shower), and frequently have to sit down to rest before I can continue walking. Has anyone else experienced this after surgery? What did you do to alleviate it? And, did it eventually go away? I am going to start pulmonary rehab next week. Betty

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judyhodgern | @judyhodgern | Dec 25, 2025

I had a low ectomy of my right upper lobe and 2019 and I was doing pretty well and then in the last three months I developed Mac and now I'm very short of breath and I'm I don't know if I just sleep support and what I can do I get very short of breath on very little activity anyway does anybody have any special energy drinks or anything like that just some sort of information would be great. I was started on the three anabiotic's right in at M Utah and so I'm hoping that that'll help get rid of the disease and I do treatments twice a day with albuterol and saline and take Mucinex every twice a day and use my aerobic 10 times I guess I'm doing everything I can do but maybe I need to go to pulmonary rehab also I guess I'm just tired of being tired🩷

Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Dec 25, 2025

@bettyarn & @judyhodgern Even without a lobectomy, my shortness of breath was a constant for several years, especially while I had MAC. After a long discussion, my pulmonologist started me on Symbicort for my asthma, which helped a lot.

Remember that both surgery and infection are very hard on the body, and you can get deconditioned very quickly when dealing with them. Pulmonary rehab can help, and they will have suggestions about how hard to push yourself, and possibly even tips for a good diet.

When we focus on one body part, we sometimes for get that other things can go wrong. Be sure to have a complete physical with bloodwork and to have your heart function checked.

judyhodgern | @judyhodgern | Dec 26, 2025

Did you get rid of the Mac? Is the symbicort for Mac also?

Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Dec 26, 2025

In reply to @judyhodgern "Did you get rid of the Mac? Is the symbicort for Mac also?" + (show)

@judyhodgern I did eventually. My infection level was decreased by many months of antibiotics, but still present when I stopped due to increasing side effects. It was finally kicked out through a combination of 7% saline nebs, airway clearance and controlling my asthma (I also have stable Bronchiectasis.) I have been MAC free since mid-2020.

The Symbicort is for asthma, to relax the airways and reduce inflammation, it is a combination of formoterol (Long Acting Beta Agonist) and budesonide (Inhaled Corticosteroid) - different from Albuterol/Levalbuterol (Short Acting Beta Agonist).

With this regimen, plus listening to my body, I have had only a few exacerbations since starting Symbicort. At my pulmonologists' insistence, I am also fully vaccinated against everything but a stubbed toe!