How was your pain after a lobectomy?

Hi Elys
I am 13 days post surgery for upper right lobectomy via robot VATS. I had the same concerns. My surgeon had me up and walking same day as the surgery and they kept me on top of the pain. Walking was key, Anschutz medical was big on thus! At max pain was a 4 for me. The chest tube was the most uncomfortable part and I needed to stay in the hospital for 6 days due to an air pocket that they were afraid would collapse my lung while it filled in the space where my upper lobe was. So I did a lot of walking around the recovery area!! I think I only had oxy for one night, then tramadol for 2days. I did have the nerve blocker and they highly suggested that. I gladly accepted it. I’m back home, in Boulder CO area with altitude no oxygen and walking about 3mikes each day. Slow but steady. I’m on top of my meds, every 6hours and I don’t skip. Even in the middle of the night I set an alarm. They gave me nerve pills, muscle relaxers, a heart pill ( I have a good heart but something about how that surgery can send it into a fib). I take tylonal, not ibuprofen. I am super sore, tired, but overall doing really good. I’ll be praying for you. I had lots of prayers and that helped!!

Thanks for your reply @maryckolben and your good wishes.
I like hearing that your max pain was a 4!
I'm curious as to what medication(s) you're waking yourself up to take? I do know how important it is to keep ahead of the pain though.
Medical staff have assured me that things have changed a lot in 35 years and that recognizing the importance of getting patients moving has gone hand in hand with making sure their pain levels don't get in the way of that.

Hi Elys
I am 13 days post surgery for upper right lobectomy via robot VATS. I had the same concerns. My surgeon had me up and walking same day as the surgery and they kept me on top of the pain. Walking was key, Anschutz medical was big on thus! At max pain was a 4 for me. The chest tube was the most uncomfortable part and I needed to stay in the hospital for 6 days due to an air pocket that they were afraid would collapse my lung while it filled in the space where my upper lobe was. So I did a lot of walking around the recovery area!! I think I only had oxy for one night, then tramadol for 2days. I did have the nerve blocker and they highly suggested that. I gladly accepted it. I’m back home, in Boulder CO area with altitude no oxygen and walking about 3mikes each day. Slow but steady. I’m on top of my meds, every 6hours and I don’t skip. Even in the middle of the night I set an alarm. They gave me nerve pills, muscle relaxers, a heart pill ( I have a good heart but something about how that surgery can send it into a fib). I take tylonal, not ibuprofen. I am super sore, tired, but overall doing really good. I’ll be praying for you. I had lots of prayers and that helped!!

Hi Lisa

It all started with a mammogram which indicated there could be a calcium build up in my aorta and my primary care physician insisted that I go for a cardiac ct scan which came back negative for a calcium build up but indicated 2 nodules, one on the right and one on the left lung. She then ordered a pet scan and while I was waiting for that the results of a color guard test I did came back positive and the following week the radiology report from the pet scan showed both lung nodules and something on the cecum. This all began in early October and I had a colonoscopy and broncoscopy and many other tests and biopsies. The broncoscopy confirmed the right nodule to be a granuloma and the left nodule was an atypical carcinoid which was stage 1 after my lobectomy and the colon tumor was a stage 2. The mammogram saved my life because I had no symptoms from either cancer. My oncologist has decided to take a watch and see and hope for the best so I have not undergone any chemo. It has been a rough 6 months but I am grateful that not one but 2 cancers were found in the early stage. Because of two major surgeries back to back and everything else I have been through my recovery has been slow. It seems you know first hand about two cancer diagnosis and thank you for asking it makes you feel not so alone. May we remain healthy!

Hi @marcibee, wishing you well this week. We tend to build these events up in our minds. Try to take a deep breath and know that you are in good hands. I hope you come through with flying colors! Have you had any treatments leading up to surgery, or are you just starting this process?

@mcl2025, welcome. Thanks for sharing this great advice!
Two separate cancers, both with surgery? You've had a rough year. Hopefully you are back on the road to recovery. I've had both lung and breast cancer, but they were found years apart. Did you find one of the cancers while treating the other? Did you have symptoms from either?

Hello I had a left lower lung lobectomy in March of this year. I was very uncomfortable in the hospital with the chest tube but once it was taken out I had a lot less pain and mobility. Once I was home it was so much better. I agree try to set yourself up well in bed. I kept everything I was going to need on the right side of my bed to avoid moving around too much. Do take your pain medication on time. I am 7 weeks out from my surgery and while I’m not back to normal each week I see an improvement and walking has helped a lot. I hope everything goes well for you. Just one thing I would like to add be your own advocate if you are in pain or uncomfortable speak up. This was my second major surgery as I had colon cancer as well and a colon resection in January so I think my recovery may be taking a little longer. Try not to think about it or worry, doesn’t change anything and in the end it’s all ok and life goes on. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

I had the VATS left upper lobectomy in February 2023. I went in on a Friday morning and went home Monday afternoon. I chose non-opioid pain management (because of fear of apneic breathing problems) and had an indwelling thoracic epidural catheter with patient controlled analgesic - where it delivers a steady amount by pump and you can push a button for a bolus. I felt the pain management was excellent. Through the entire post-operative stay I had to have two opioid doses for uncontrolled pain; dilaudid specifically -
The first dose was required because “hemodynamic stability” (pulse, BP etc) wasn’t achieved after 8 hours in the PACU. I was intermittently awake during that period but have no recall of any pain. The second dose was required because I had a pain crisis (10+ on 1-10 scale) on day two, due to a rhomboid/scapular muscle spasm. After pain boluses, muscle relaxer, gabapentin, NSAID and heat/cold failed - I accepted the dilaudid and it worked.
Otherwise, I felt the pain was more than manageable - far more manageable than when I had lumbar laminectomy or C-section. I removed the epidural myself from home a week later and mailed it back to the anesthesiologists. I used methocarbamol, gabapentin and ibuprofen as needed for the first week of home recovery but didn’t require them more than once daily and not at all after that first week. All of this is in reference to >pain< only. The most difficult post operative change for me was fatigue and SOB. I had experienced some SOB before surgery but fatigue has never been a problem for me.
SOB is greatly improved now with time and much intervention. *Be sure to do a full course of pulmonary rehab as soon as you’re fit for it!
Fatigue, however, remains a very difficult issue for me. Extremely frustrating!!
Even though we’re unique individuals, some factors can make a big difference in how things go so here’s some of my details FYI:
I am 59 y.o., diagnosed with NSCLC Stage 1a, was a heavy smoker for 40 years, tall, average weight, very physically active throughout my life, 2 autoimmune conditions; Grave’s disease (15+years) and bronchiectasis (18 months).
Best of health and luck to you!

I'm having a lobectomy 5/1 via the open thoracotomy. Your story is encouraging.