Lobectomy scheduled—What kind of home help will I need?

I have been so lucky but I will say that having a helping hand in the shower is a win win situation for anyone lol you should run with that one and keep it going why not ha ha

You are welcome Kevin

I was in the hospital for 3 days after and left on the morning of the 4th post op day. Most important thing is to get up and move. No driving with narcotic pain meds. I switched to Tylenol as soon as possible. You will need to pace yourself. Have meals in freezer for easy fix. Use door dash. Let friends/family bring meals the first week and eat them! Friends/family will need to take you to initial follow up appointments. You Got this!

My husband had lower left Lobectomy. Stayed 2 nights, not longer bc he walked multiple times a day. Could not drive for 10 days, needed help dressing, getting in and out of bed, dressing, etc. I cannot image how he’d come home next day.

Definitely get a shower seat and a sturdy cane. Prepare meals in your freezer. Set up your meds.

I had a Caregiver that spent the night for two days! Thank goodness I had help!!

Hi, I had a robotic lobectomy of my lower left lung 5 months ago. I stayed one night at the hospital, and was released the next day. I had no problems getting out of bed, and walked multiple times during the day (short walks around the kitchen, living room). I didn’t need help with showering, but I have a walk-in shower. My husband did our meals, so having meals ready or delivered will be helpful in your case. At the hospital they will give you narcotics, and probably will be prescribed for the first month at home, so driving is not an option. Good luck with the surgery!

I had a robotic lobectomy January 17th where they removed my right lower lobe. I was in the hospital a bit over 4 days having trouble moving. Once home, it was better. I had my meals done, spot cleaning done for a few days by my sister who's my upstairs neighbor. She helped me shower once, but then I did ok. I walked whenever possible, breathing exercises & I didn't take any Oxy at home. I had oxygen at home for one week, then I was done. It was a slow heal for me, but now, 6 weeks later & I'm feeling all healed. I think part of what slowed my healing was my dog. She's 12 lbs & bending etc to let her out was hard, but my first week home with help of my cane, I was walking her for a block. So move, breathe, drink water, take Tylenol 600mg & rest. Best of luck to you for now & the future!

I had left lower lobe removed 9 months ago. I’m pretty independent so my son and daughter in law brought me home, stopped at pharmacy to get scripts filled, waited until I finished putting on my PJs, put water and salty snacks on my bedside table - and left at my request. I had already made meals and had them in the freezer.
Before I left for surgery I had put a mattress Protector under my sheets (good thing - my chest tube hole oozed and it was black because they had used a dye to help the surgeon find the tumor) and put an old beach towel between me and the sheet for first might.
I had moved all drugs I thought I would need to Top drawer of my nightstand.
I slept a lot the first couple Of days. I sent a text to son / DIL every morning that I was still among the living, made coffee and a plopped into an armchair instead Of my bed.
I had a fridge filled with open and eat food like yogurt or chicken salad, so nothing strenuous.
I didn’t walk first day home but second day I showered and put on sweats and walked. Not far and not fast. I have an Apple Watch that detects if I should Fall so I didn’t feel I needed anyone to walk with me but use your judgment and don’t be a heroine. 🙂 I don’t take narcotics and didn’t Tolerate gabapentin so I basically had Tylenol and a bit. of ibuprofen. I felt the pain but it wasn’t intolerable.

Good luck - ask any other questions.

@minnie528
I will add that I expected my arm on the side of my surgery impacted so Had shampoo and body wash in my easiest squeeze bottles. I had food packaged on the freezer so I could open it with one hand. NOT NECESSARY - no impact whatsoever. And no trouble with showering or dressing.

I did have home health come - every couple of days for a week. I needed a doctors order before I left hospital and Medicare approved. . I needed it to change my bandage where the chest tube hole was and check for infection. It was just on the Back edge of my side and hard to reach. I had to figure out how to lay a gauze pad on the counter with tape facing up, dry off the wound and then quickly slap on the new bandage. I gather that my drainage amount was unusual but I’d still have bandaids and some gauze pads and tape available - just in case.
Home health also sent an occupational therapist to show me some basic stretching with an elastic band he fashioned to hang from top of door. That was really helpful.
The doc will assume that if you have family nearby then you’re good. But the idea that I was going to hold my breast out of the way to let my son change my bandage was a non starter. So I sat down in the hospital on discharge day and said I wouldn’t leave until I had a case manager. Then everything went well after that. In all likelihood you won’t have that drainage issue.