How was your pain after a lobectomy?

@elyser, I had an upper right lobectomy in 2018. I was 58 at the time and in good shape. The surgeon used the da Vinci 2 robot. I think they are up to da Vinci 5 or 6 by now.

The surgery and recovery were OK. As others have said, the chest tube was uncomfortable -- until I coughed! My nurse told me to clutch my pillow to my chest, and she was right that it's quickly over. I though sneezing was even worse, but fotunately, I only sneezed once. I slept in a recliner for the first few nights to stay more upright. After that, pillows in the bed were good enough.

I hurried into recovery exercises too fast. According to my physical therapist friend, that's common for people around 60! We know to rest at first, but then we think we'll bounce back faster than our bodies do at that age. So give yourself some time to recover and then ease into any stretching exercises your surgeon or oncologist provide.

All in all, it wasn't bad. I hope you feel the same after your procedure!

Hi,
Yes, it’s been nonstop pain. I’m writing this in the ER. I woke up with a huge hump of air all down my left back.
I’m going to be admitted so that a radiologist can insert a small chest tube in the hopes of releasing the air.
My doctor came by and said the CT showed some fluid.
So…
If the small chest tube can’t drain everything, then he will have to put a regular chest tube in and see where there could have been a “dislodgment” that caused this sudden change.
I am so done.

Hi Elsyer,
Good luck on Friday.
I had a robot assisted lower left lobe segmentectomy last Friday. Today is Tuesday and I'm doing pretty well. My family says I look better every day. This morning, I walked to the end of the street and back and up the stairs into my house. This afternoon, I overdid a little carrying something and had to lie on the couch and watch tv for an hour or so. My cough is getting productive and clutching a pillow to my side does the trick. I'm trying to stay on my feet as much as I can, do the breathing exercises, avoid pneumonia, and get my lungs back.
I was in the hospital for two nights. As everyone here says, the chest tube is the worst. As soon as that was out, pain went from 8 to 4. No, wait, the nausea was the worst! I had nausea, constantly. The took me off dilaudid but kept me on tramadol. As soon as they d/c ed the tramadol, the nausea subsided and I became cheerful again. It's amazing how you forgot the yucky stuff.
The pain in my side ( I have 5 small incisions and a larger wound from the tube) got a little worse today. I took off the big dressing yesterday and took a shower, but also my pulmonogogist had told me that the pain would be worst on day 3 because of the narcotics being thoroughly gone. It's well controlled with ibuprofen, acetominophen and methocarbamol, a muscle relaxor.
Sleeping hasn't been a problem, I have a wedge under the head of my mattress to control reflux. I have two pillows around my head and shoulders. This has me in a good enough position to not feel the incisions.
I'll be thinking of you on Friday. You started quite a nice, very informative thread of comments here. Good luck to you!
Muffy

Hi @yts5361, Ouch! It sounds like you've had a terrible time. Hopefully those ribs heal soon, and you get some relief. Working in law enforcement, I'm sure you are used to being active, and are a tough person. Being sidelined has to be frustrating.
What did the pathology report indicate? Are you headed for any additional treatments after some healing time?

Hi,
Yes my surgeon ran a study at anshutz and showed a significant positive trend with walking right after surgery and throughout the hospital stay. The nursing staff was on board and I took several long walks each day. It wasn’t pleasant with the chest tube but felt good to get up and around.

Here is what they have me on. I know others need something stronger for pain (and I’m all about taking what I needed) but by day 3, I only needed Tylenol. (Oh and lidocaine patches were awesome too)! They used those on me.

DilTIAZem - for heart
Blue - 1 per day - Take each morning

Tylonal for pain- two 500mg, 4 times per day ( I now alternate with one aleve ). I don’t double up.

Methocarbamol - muscle relaxer one pill 4 times per day - pink

Pregabalin - for nerve pain. Must wean off it! Tiny red and white 2 per day (after 2 or 3 weeks, I’ll wean to 1 per day for 5 days). Sending you healing and peaceful thoughts and prayers.
Take care, you got this!!

Hi,
Because of where the nodules were, he had explained it would be a small incision to reach and biopsy them.
If cancer was found, he would make a larger incision and spread two ribs.
As he explained it, it was like getting punched in the ribs but that in one to two days, I would be fine.
The incision was 20cm plus the ports for the chest tubes. But was told I would have one and it would only be left in for 48 hrs once the drainage stopped.
When I was discharged, his associate surgeon said I would still have some drainage but it would subside, it did three days later, hence I was sent home on oxygen and still require it when I walk more than 10 mins. I’m used to running and or walking 3-5 miles a day so o be this incapacitated is again something I never thought about.
I’ve read different experiences, this is mine. So far I have seen 6 doctors because of the after effects of the surgery.
Each ask the same question: why was I not told I had fractured 4 ribs two that were spread and one above and below the two causing pain that I wouldn’t even wish on my ex husband.
Please research and if the surgeon is vague about pain, aftercare etc explain, your not a surgeon who has done this many times, your a person who is putting your trust in their hands for the best outcome.

Take care