Back to the land of the living!

• By peyz33
• Posted September 1, 2008 at 7:49 pm

I found the only comfy position was flat on my back with pillows under my knees. Did they give you any sleep aids? Ativan or valium? I'm sure your surgeon will give you something to help you sleep if you ask. You obviously didn't have VATS so I can't say I feel your pain - but I do know that it will subside each day - use a pillow against your chest when you have to cough or sneeze.....that will hep too. Praying that you heal fast!
Karen

• Reply
• Report post

• By Munker
• Posted September 1, 2008 at 8:06 pm

thanks. i will take it one day at a time Everything hurts right now. I didn't get any sleeping pills. Only 1 percocet every four hours which is not helping much. i know i am lucky but i have shed so many tears over the last week. i am trying to be strong but the pain makes it so hard

• Reply
• Report post

• By peyz33
• Posted September 1, 2008 at 8:19 pm

I know how you feel- it is very painful both physically end emotionally - I still have a hard time dealing with it emotionally - and I still cry - be careful though with the pain meds - they can cause severe constipation and that will hurt BIG time - take Senocott if you are taking percocet for the pain. Also - Ask your doc. for Ativan or something to relieve the anxiety and to help you sleep - in the meantime - maybe you have something in the house - advil pm? Hope you can get some sleep -
Karen

• Reply
• Report post

• By biker90
• Posted September 1, 2008 at 8:33 pm

I had open surgery on my right side too. I used a pillow under my right side to support the ribs at night. It worked very well although I had very little pain - just when I coughed or (God forbid!) sneezed.

Also I take Tylenol PM (generic) and a Melatonin pill at bedtime. Works pretty good.

Jim

• Reply
• Report post

• By lorbethm
• Posted September 1, 2008 at 10:36 pm

I had to sleep sitting up mostly after my surgery. I also liked a pillow under my right arm to support it. (my surgery was on the right side, too) It took a couple of weeks before I could lie down comfortably and be able to breathe, too.

The surgery isn't fun. We try not to scare everyone, though! LOL I would also suggest a Tylenol PM at night.

Hugs! I hope you get to sleep tonight. :) My prayers are with you!

Lorie

• Reply
• Report post

• By meadowbreeze
• Posted September 2, 2008 at 7:29 am

Call your surgeon and tell him that one percocet every 4 hrs. is not enough for the pain. You need to take more than one pill. Ask him if you can take 2 every 4 hrs. Make sure he doesn't decrease the the mg. for the pill.

You didn't have the VATS surgery did you? I just can't believe your going through this kind of pain. They really don't want you in pain because it's harder for you to heal.

CALL YOUR SURGEON AND ASK FOR MORE MEDICATION TO TAKE.

You really should be on a long acting pain med and then the percocet you should take as a break thru medication.

I'm so sorry that your going thru so much pain.
I am going to pray for you.

God Bless,
Linda

• Reply
• Report post

• By kandyxxo
• Posted September 2, 2008 at 9:45 am

OHHHH I feel terrible because I know excactly what you are feeling!!!! Its been 2 weeks yesterday and its so much better today!!!I agree with Linda please call your doc and get better pain meds thats ridiculous that they gave you one pill every 4 hours and a breakthrough pill as well thats something you take inbetween as needed.I slept with like 6 pillows in a sitting up position with one pillow under my arm as well.I promise it gets so much better but right now u need better pain management thats all.These docs dont understand how painful this truly is its unbearable I know.So get on the phone and write us back when your all happy and stoned lol-Sincerely,Kandy

• Reply
• Report post

• By Bette_Tx
• Posted September 2, 2008 at 9:49 am

I'm glad you back and that your cancer was a Stage 1- that's as good as it gets for lung cancer.

Best wishes,

Bette

• Reply
• Report post

• By Gretchen
• Posted September 2, 2008 at 9:57 am

I slept in a recliner off and on for several weeks after I got home from the hospital. At first I was in the chair more than I was in bed, and gradually it reversed. I remember the first time I could roll over in bed -- it took a month. But definitely you need better pain control!
Gretchen

• Reply
• Report post

• By nscarfan88
• Posted September 2, 2008 at 11:00 am

Welcome back!!

It is great to see you are in good spirits considering your pain. I pray it subsides quickly.

Best wishes, TIM

• Reply
• Report post

• By Marylou1
• Posted September 2, 2008 at 12:09 pm

I agree with most posters. You should call your surgeon and ask for more pain meds.

If you are having anything like I had, you are getting a lot of pain where the chest tubes were. The only way I could get comfortable at all was to have my hubby lay a pillow down vertically, then I would get into bed and lay my right side on that pillow, and then bring my arm around the outside of the pillow. If I got out of that position at night, I was up in a New York minute.

What you are enduring is worth it. It will not last long, perhaps just a few more weeks. I will tell you that the soreness where those chest tubes were, has never gone away, but it's just annoying now.

Please call your doctor for more meds and keep the faith.
*Hugs*
Marylou

• Reply
• Report post

• By nonni
• Posted September 2, 2008 at 1:30 pm

I had a RLL in 2004...no picnic but very durable...I took peracet for a couple day's....it made me sooo nauseous that I stopped taking...I rather deal with the pain...took tylenol thou and xanax for sleeping....I was up and around in a couple day's and serving coffee to my friends a week later....So I promise it will get better and be very grateful like I am that it was Stage 1

Feel better...nonni

• Reply
• Report post

• By Munker
• Posted September 2, 2008 at 2:33 pm

Thank you all so much for your replies. I have contacted my doc about pain meds but i am going to try to go with the tylenol because i don't like how i feel on the percocet. I have been walking around a bit and even went up the stairs a few times today. I can't tell you how helpful it is to hear from you all. really makes it easier to cope emotionally.

• Reply
• Report post

• By Niall
• Posted September 3, 2008 at 12:13 pm

Try sleeping up in a comfy chair will pillows all around, worked for me.

You need strong pain meds for first month.

Niall

• Reply
• Report post

• By terryl
• Posted September 5, 2008 at 3:43 pm

I slept in a recliner for a couple of weeks. I found one of the best things was a great big electric heating pad over the incision area....really helped a lot with the deep achiness. Two weeks post op they found I had a bit of pleural effusion, made me really short of breath and difficult to breathe laying down. This went away on its own ( thank goodness, I didn't think I could handle another painful procedure at that point) and I was finally able to lay flat after about 4 weeks post op.
It gets a little better every day.
Just breathe.

• Reply
• Report post

• By Munker
• Posted September 5, 2008 at 5:07 pm

You are right about the recliner. I tried it a my mother's house today and it was a GREAT. Now i just need to get one! My pain has gotten much better. I have stopped taking pain killers and can make it with advil or tylenol. Truer words were never spoken: JUST BREATHE.

• Reply
• Report post

• By dxarsene
• Posted September 5, 2008 at 6:00 pm

Hi there,

Just an observation. Percocets in many will ``perk you up `` and prevent you from sleeping. Ask for a sleeping pill and sweet dreams...Hang in there
Good luck
Danica

• Reply
• Report post

• By D1
• Posted September 5, 2008 at 8:42 pm

You're right to stick to the Tylenol. You don't need to become dependent on painkillers that you may not need.
That Percoset is weird stuff.
My husband had pain management while in the hosp. He never even took Tylenol after he was released. However, he had the VATS....I don't think that's as painful as the larger cut.
Just be thankful you are Stage 1 and alive and loved and on your way to a cure.

• Reply
• Report post

• By sha5662
• Posted September 19, 2008 at 5:04 am

Hi

I did not have VATS and was in a great deal of pain. They gave me vicodin and it was wonderful. I took it when I needed it and boy I sure did need it and I did not become addicted. I was very careful. I also slept in my recliner for weeks and weeks. My healing took longer than usual as I had in infection from the inside out and ended up in the emergency room twice and also ended up with a visiting nurse taking care of the wound. Doc. said this infection only happens to maybe 5% of the people and of course I had to be in that number. This infection slowed down my recuperation so I was in pain longer than normal and out of work longer than I hoped for but its been a year now and I feel wonderful. Still scared to death but trying to move on.

Sharon B

• Reply
• Report post

Add to the discussion