Pain after robotic assisted lobectomy: How long does it last?

You sound like me. I had VAT surgery right upper wedge end Dec 2021 -
I too had a slight cough which has gone away. I still have soreness if I take a deep breath. Glad to know it is not unusual. Minnesota winter also kept me from exercising, and I was afraid to go to the Mall for fear of Covid. I had already tested positive one month after surgery despite isolation. I wear a mask at Mall, and it is hard breathing with a mask. My oxygen level drops with exercise, and I need to keep it above 88 and N95 mask makes it harder. But SOB is better with exercise WE MUST EXERCISE!!!!!

I'll be 70 soon and I had VAT upper right lobectomy in 2019 and VAT wedge resection on lower left in November 2021. I'd think VAT recovery is similar to Robotic surgery but that would be a doctor question. For me, the lobectomy was more painful. I think most of the pain getting up was related to the incisions It was very painful and for awhile, couldn't get out of bed. It was slow recovery but day by day there was improvement. By 6 to 8 weeks I felt pretty normal or I should say "new normal" A mild cough lasted a few months but gradually improved. Even though it was 2019, I still have a bit of discomfort or tightness on the right side when I take in a deep breath and the skin is still a bit "tingly" near one of the incisions.
Through the recovery time and after I had shortness of breath. Going up the stairs would get me winded. Later in 2020 Cardiology and lung function testing indicated I was out of shape. I had blamed it on the surgery but I should have exercised more. I took it too easy through that Minnesota winter and then 2020 covid isolation started and did not exercise.
I hope you are improving. Let us know how you're doing. Thanks

Hello, things have improved slightly. I was prescribed gabapentin yesterday and am hoping this will help with the spasms and discomfort.

My surgery was 4 years ago and I have trouble remembering yesterday. 🙂
I recall sleeping on my other side and when I did sleep on my back having to roll to get up. I have a waterbed and a friend loaned me a mattress topper to use for awhile. The height was perfect, It was high so I just could flop right in. It will get better, but oh, it is not fun in the beginning! Best wishes!!
Hugs and healing,
Cindy

6+ months ago, I had VAT surgery on right lung but only wedge resection not removal of lobe. At 7 days I stopped all pain medication. I could also drive then. I kind of kept my right arm attached to my chest instinctively and favored that side for a couple of weeks. Each week I felt a little closer to normal but caught Covid a month from surgery which slowed my recovery down. (Despite my self-isolation I caught Covid!).
The three incisions all healed nicely. The nerve pain and sore rib lasted two months. However, three months from surgery I started to get a slight soreness when taking a deep breath. The rib is a little sore and may be the cause. It has increased but nothing showing up on my last two CT scans to explain it. Not a big problem, just wonder why.

Welcome @kkckkjm. I'm tagging fellow members @cindyjk @vic83 @pat3017a and @stanleykent who also had robotic lung surgery to make sure they see your question about recovery and finding a comfortable position to sleep.

It's been a few days since you posted about your experience. Have things improved somewhat?

It's been 7 days since my robotic lung surgery, removing my right lower lobe. I'm doing well but curious as to how long I'll feel as though I am getting a hot knife in my gut whenever I try to use my abs or move even slightly the wrong way? I can't lay flat because I can't sit back up, even being in a recliner is difficult. I wish I could sleep standing up!

@collage- Welcome to our lung cancer group. For my second lobectomy, I left after my second night and wished that I had stayed one more night. But no, I had to go home! I think that the length of time for surgery depends on the lobe. We have three in the right lobe and two in the left lung. It depends on if you are having open chest surgery or VATS. Either can take up to 6 hours, but the longer times are due to complications.

You are very lucky that your lung cancer was caught early and being in good health and have been physically active will serve you well. You will lose some capacity for a while but will most likely get most of it back. Please read my response to @cindyjk above and others.

Recovery depends on you and how quickly you heal and if there are any complications. When is your surgery?

@cindyjk- Welcome Cindy to our wonderful group of Lung Cancer survivors! I can't imagine an oncologist or thoracic surgeon ever telling a lung cancer patient that they didn't need to have a follow-up CT scan at least once a year for life! That's right for life. Just because a tumor is small and chemo is done or you docn't need chemo doesn't mean that there isn't a chance that you won't have another. As the saying goes, "if you have lungs you can get lung cancer" even a second one, etc.

I have multifocal adenocarcinoma of the lung. This means that my lesions are all primary cancers and I can have more than one at a time. Sometimes they come and go. Right now I have a lesion that will need to be zapped by SBRT and it will be my 6th cancerous tumor. I have had 2 lobectomies and 2 SBRTs. My second lobectomy in my left upper lobe held 3 primary tumors, all of them were different sizes and different stages of growth.

If a doctor tells you not to worry about follow-up CT scans go to another doctor.

I am sorry that you had to go through this unnecessarily.

Let's talk about pain for a minute. For the most part, a lobectomy will usually cause pain when you are healing. However, it will depend of course on your surgeon and which one is being removed. A lobe is attached to your chest wall and when the connection is severed it alters your chest cavity, nerves, muscles, etc. After my first cancer that removed my lower right lobe, I had a painful muscle cramp that came and went whenever it wanted to!

Major chest surgery is lessened with the less disturbance possible. BUT it also depends on the person and many other factors. Recovering from lung cancer takes a while. You will be very tired and need to rest and will, at least, be uncomfortable. It will also depend on how well you heal and what steps you take to help your recovery. As a patient, it is up to all of us to be hands-on patients! It is my opinion that since it is our bodies we are responsible for their well-being and must take full responsibility for helping them heal when its injured or ill.

Now I can get off of my soapbox and ask, Cindy how you are doing? What stage of treatment are you in? I wish that I could give you a hug!

Merry

I wish I would have started a journal 5 years ago when this whole thing started. I know the pain after my left upper lobe was removed I had pain for quite sometime, but it's been fine for a long time now. I feel a catch in there every now and again, but nothing like it first was. I wish you the best in your healing and in your journey. Just an FYI -( I was not at the Mayo at that time) My oncologist suggested there was no need for any further treatment, but a year later I was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. Be vigilant.