How was your pain after a lobectomy?

I had partial removal of a lower right lobe. It was 6 weeks yesterday. I only take 2 Tylenol at night unless I have overexerted or on a bumpy road for too long. I still have pain, but I see improvements everyday. Yesterday was being better able to reach overhead and side to side with less pain and put some weight in lifting, pushing and pulling. I use a lot of pillows in the car and at night and that seems to help. Late in the day, I will still get that "rubbing on a severe sunburn" style pain on my right breast and a "roped me and is tightening the rope" around my front mid-drift. It was a "someone cinched the saddle too tight" almost all day long. I can see something improve everyday but some days more energy than others. We are designed to heal and I am daily thankful for every little success. Celebrating the success, regardless of how small, everyday has really helped me to the next day! The last time I spoke to the surgical team, they said there could be residual pain that lasts 2-3 months. I have started a once a week 1 lb weight routine. I started out with one rep and last week I did 3. Hope this helps. I truly believe you will heal!

Hey Lisa, I am home and the tube is out. It's so weird....nothing about the surgery or the tube removal or any of this has caused me any pain. I am walking and doing my breathing exercised and anxiously awaiting (STILL) my pathology report. I am so afraid I am going to see it on MyChart and not be able to not look at it. I know I won't understand it and shouldn't but I am just so anxious....so I don't know my stage. My type is adenocarcinoma.

@rcerwin3 , I'm assuming that you are home now, and hopefully the dreaded tube is out. Are you still feeling ok? What stage/type is your cancer?

I am currently still in the hospital - it is Thursday and my lobectomy was on Monday. I can honestly say, for me, there was very little pain at all. I have had some nerve pain (Gabapentin) and the sensation that there is a tube inside you is sort of creepy but for me, it doesn't hurt. Good Luck!

great news. rlf66

@rlf66 i am very lucky and happy with the one I have now. A
I explained to my primary doc what my struggle was with the surgeon and asked him for another referral for follow up.

@pb50
So sorry to hear you have gone through so much. A change of doctor is good idea.

@mmga
How horrendous. Please tell your primary you cannot see that surgeon again after such treatment but you need someone to see for follow up visits.

My journey:
I had my left lower lobe removed for a Stage 0-1, 14mm Adenocarcinoma in 2023. I stayed in hospital a few days before they yanked the chest tube and sent me home. But I still had massive drainage so i refused to leave until I had a case worker and documentation of the condition I was leaving in. . I couldn't reach the wound, so asked home health to come change my dressing.

I don't do narcotics and can’t take Ibuprofen. Gabapentin was worthless. So I finally convinced them to give me old fashioned Flexoril - a muscle relaxant and that was the only reason I got some sleep.

To this day I have excursion pain when I take a deep breath. Prednisone - which i rarely take for RA Flares - is the only drug that eliminates the rib pain. That would suggest it is inflammation pain. It is more background pain now but is never gone.

So even under good circumstances it is still a journey with ups and downs. Get a good doc you have confidence in and don’t give up until you do.

Best wishes. Post when you need a shoulder or just to vent.

@colski , I am so sorry you have the rib pain too. It sounds like your surgery didn't go as well as planned.
I was in hospital about a dozen days too. I had chest tubes in front and back which they didn't remove until the end of my stay.
Maybe your pain will go away. It is something we have to live with...what other choice do we have?

@yellowstonelady
I had a lobectomy by robot assist a little over a year ago. First off my drainage tube was in for 10 days and caused more pain than child birth. A year later and I still have rib pain and can see my ribs poking from my body. Not a nice picture!