r/lungcancer • u/Most-def-dope-1 • 6d ago
My experience upper right lobe lobectomy.
Non small cell lung cancer - upper right lobectomy. Robotic assisted thoracic surgery. Cancer was Stage 1a
Preop 6am: preop nurse inserted IV in arm. Anesthesiologist gave epidural shot in back (uncomfortable prick, but no painful). Talked to anesthesiologist and surgeon. Breathed in sleep potion once rolled to surgical room.
Day 1: woke up with 1) IV in arm 2) IV in artery front wrist. 3) IV in back of wrist 4) urine catheter 5) chest tube 6) 4 incisions plus chest tube incision. Placed me in room and chair. . Took chest xray in room. Stayed in chair until morning.
Day 2:. Morning. Removed artery IV. Removed urine catheter. Later. Took chest xray in room. Removed chest tube ( surprised didn’t hurt). Walked a little. I checked off all boxes. Took off all IVs and sent me home.
Day 3: sat up in recliner at home. Back burning and itch pain. Incisions fresh - pain. Walked and did breathing exercises.
Day 4: husband realized bumps along my right side and back -same side as incisions. Sent pics to doctor. Said come in right away. Have shingles too! Pain of shingle is rising. Day 5-14. Shingles pain went to #9 and incision pain blended in with shingles. Shingles trumped the pain.
Day 15-22. Shingles are clearing up and itch and pain is at a #2. Now I can feel my incisions healing up instead of shingles pain.
Day 23 (now). I feel like I am on my way to the rest of my healing journey. Now able to lay in bed. I have energy. Just able to put on bra 2 days ago. Cloths don’t bother me as much. Looking forward to brighter days.
Pathology. No cancer found. Lungs are inflated properly. Chest xray looked good.
Thought I’d contribute to community. I read countless experiences prior to my surgery and it helped me.
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u/bluestar1971 6d ago
If they found no cancer, did they still do the full lobectomy ? I had a similar story. I was told it was more than likely I had stage 2b after a pet scan lit up. I had a lung wedge resection and biopsy during my operation. No sign of cancer so they didn't carry on and do the planned lobectomy. Post op biopsy confirmed no sign of cancer. They said it was necrotising granulomatous inflation, possibly caused by an old tb infection
I had a fair few complications after the op. The first was an infected wound that took 6 weeks and 3 lots of anti biotics to clear up. At the same time I had a partially collapsed lung (pneumothorax) and then have had pneumonia that took a month of anti biotics to get rid of.
4 months later finally feel on the mend and very grateful no cancer was found.