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fellow vats procedure friends can you tell me if my progress is right

vlh
0 Recommendations

Hi everyone,
It has been 3 weeks since my procedure. I am still very uncomfotrtable, really still in enough pain to not make me feel well. I am afraid if I shhould still be taking pain meds this far into it. I was hoping I would feel more up to returning to work and tried for a couple hours became exhausted and pain increased. I have read so many entries from people that say they needed no pain meds, they were jogging a week after, and how easy it is. Is there anyone out there that progressed like me

Thankyou
vlh

Explore topics in this discussion:

Exercise Cancer Tylenol Surgery Hysterectomy Acid reflux Ibuprofen Emphysema Oxycodone Pain Histoplasmosis Acupuncture Prilosec Stress

19 replies

sb

Hello,

Didn't have VATS but I know that sometimes women, particularly smaller women, have a harder time with chest surgery as there just isn't as much room in there. I had a terrible time with the chest tubes they put in - I thought the pain was really not good at all. I had complications though - my lung would not re-expand - was in the hospital for almost two weeks.

When I got home I was not jogging, no no no - I was barely able to get up out of the chair. I had to lie in a recliner for about a month - could not lie flat - too painful. It was not easy. I think each person's recovery is unique to that person and it depends on so many factors. You just have to give yourself a break and try to relax some (if that's possible). I would tell your doctor about your pain though and make sure you get some relief.

Sharon

Not sure about VATS as didn't have it, but a regular thoracotomy for me took a long time to recuperate - but I did, here I am three and a half years later, doing well.

Sharon

BetsyT

Hi vlh,
Maybe you should see your Onc. or Surgeon. Are you having SOB too? My pain was OK but I developed pleural effusion ( which I've heard others say was painful for them) We're all different - I had to have fluid drained ( thoracentesis I think it's called) Pretty common after VATS-And gives almost instant relief. If I remember correctly , they can tell by a simple x-ray. Good luck-Are you doing your arm raising exercises?

kandyxxo

I to was in agony after my surgery.I did not have the VATS eiether and like SB I needed to sit up while sleeping for a wile.Those chest tubes were horrendous and required a very long time for the incision to heal. I feel brand new now but it did take time.I hope this helps.Sincerely,Kandy

Chum

Had the VATS and wasn't jogging anywhere until 4-5 months later. Walking up hill got me winded (I can run now). The pain was never there for me, but I took meds for a while - they allowed me to sleep. I didn't push anything hard - but went back to work in a week (I'm a desk jockey). If the pain only happens after you have been doing something - stop doing it and see if the pain doesn't happen. If it continues to happen, then see the doc.

But three weeks is early - give it 4-5 weeks. Keep up with the spirometer exercise though - that is important.

Courage

Chum

EileenneeliE

Hi,

It has been 10 weeks since having VATS. I think everyone recovers at a different pace. 5 years ago I had my first experience with VATS and I guess I was trying to prove to myself that I could get back to normal really fast. I didn't give myself a chance to really heal and I think I caused my discomfort to last longer than should have.

This time around, I am taking it easy. I had pain for 4 weeks (took Dilaudid day & night)- it lessened as weeks went on and I took Dilaudid at night only the last 2 weeks so I could sleep. I also found sleeping on the sofa and using 3 pillows for the head, a pillow for the back to lean against and a pillow under my right arm eased the discomfort. I am in my 10th week of post VATS and I find if I do too much activity then I have more discomfort. I take Tylenol for that. I was told not to lift anything over 20 lbs for 12 weeks. I decided to wait longer (like 18 weeks) and if I feel any pulling or whatever sensations then I will wait another 6 weeks. That will be hard as my youngest grandchild is 15 months right now and loves to be picked up. The heaviest weight I have lifted so far is the JC Penney Winter Catalog.

I still experienced "discomfort" on the right side after 5 years and was told it had something to do with the nerves. So now I am back to square one. I also find I still tire more easily since the operation and still have sleepless nights. I have had recent follow-ups and the doctors say everything is fine and that I am healing well.

Hope this info has been of some help for you.

Eileen

peyz33

I had the VATS surgery - I was OK after about 2 weeks - you should speak with your surgeon right away - this does not sound normal......
Karen

peyz33

I had the VATS surgery - I was OK after about 2 weeks - you should speak with your surgeon right away - this does not sound normal......
Karen

westiejan

Hi ,
I had a loectomy with vats 5 weeks ago and I am just starting to feel better then I did in the 3rd week.
It seems to get better each week. The scar from the chest tube is what gave me the most pain and thats a lot better then it was a few weeks ago. The only ting that bothers me now is an acid reflux problem which i didn't have before the surgery. I think as time goes by you will feel better.
good luck, westiejan

jkwrabbit

I had VATS surgery in June of this year. I am 51 and the nodule they went in there for turned out to be histoplasmosis. I expected to be up and doing normal things within a week or so, but boy was I in for a shock. The first week was a real challenge, there was pain, but the pain meds were harder on me, so I stopped taking them as soon as I could. My energy just wasn't returning. I just took it easy and tried to be patient. Very slowly, I returned to my former self. I returned to work at 5 weeks, and I really couldn't have done it much sooner. I took it slow at work too. Today I am as good as new. Just take it slow and you will eventually see improvement.

westiejan

Hi,
Has anyone experienced acid reflux after after their loectomy. About a week after surgery i developed a cough and started having stomach prolems , my surgeon said this happens to some people and told me to take prilosec which seems to be heloing me.
Thanks for any advice .
westiejan

cindy52

My first posting, just found this site a few days ago. I had the VATS for upper left lobectomy 10 weeks ago. Everything happened so fast I still don't know what was done to me. Horrible pain! And I've had many surgeries in the past. Cervical fusions ,Hysterectomy, 4 bladder surgeries, etc... In the hospital a week, collasped lung, persisitant air leak, sent home with the chest tube and hiemlich valve. I talk funny and cannot swallow liquids well, must use a straw. front lower ribs and chest tube site still very painful. A staple was found up by my left collar bone at my last x-ray. Trying to find out if that means anything. I am 5'2" and 99 lbs. maybe that has somrthing to do will my pain level. My emphysema was so bad before surgery I'm thinking now maybe I would have been better off just having the wedge removed. No cancer was found in the rest of the lobe removed. I hope to be better soon. Not breathing well and must use the scooters if I go to the store and a portable o2 tank in the car. Anyone else with these issues???? Thanks, Cindy

Ramona

The day of drainage tube was not good. Felt a lot better when that one horrible stitch was removed a few days later. . The second week was extremely unpleasant. Do confront your doc with your pain. It does seem like it should be subsiding. However, I certainly was NOT turning cartwheels at the end of three weeks and they did not remove any lung parts from me just shoved in a camara and removed a couple of batches of lymph nodes. But they did make all the holes for the full VATS proceedure.

berlyn

Hey vlh,

My initials are also vlh and I had VATS surgery this past January. I just turned 57 before my surgery. I was in pretty good physical condition prior to the surgery and all my preop test were very good. No other medical problems. I had my lower left lobe removed. They left my epidural (sp?) in for two days. I got out of bed the morning of the third day and was released the next morning. Surgeon said I was a model patient. I took pain pills for one week and tylenol for one week. After that nothing. I definitely had some discomfort for a couple of months but nothing untolerable. I was back to work 4 weeks after surgery (desk job). I started walking every day and a little further each day until I was up to two miles a day. I then joined a gym and proceed to regain my strength daily. I go for my annual in December. I talked the DR into doing it early. Although I do have some scar tissue, it has healed real well. I am so pleased with the results and hope my CT scan supports my continued healing. I do believe a lot depends on each individual on how they recover from surgery. Including physical and mental. You were just three weeks out when you wrote your post. As I said I was still experiencing discomfort and yes, I could acutally call it pain, but not so much it incapciated me. I hope you are contining to improve. Pace yourself for what you need. Take heart in the other posts. You are a lot better off than some and not as well as others. That's okay. Keep positive thoughts and you will continue to improve. Hope my reply to your concerns help. My thoughts are with you. Berlyn (vlh)

meadowbreeze

Hi Vh,
It took me about a month to really heal from the first VATS surgery and then I was in better shape too. I had been running and walking everyday 2 weeks prior to the surgery.
The second VATS surgery was much harder to recoup from. I had a lot of pain on my side and it was nerve pain. That took a longer time to heal and I had to come home with 02 for two weeks on 24/7. So I guess it depends on how your body is at the time and most of all the age and shape of your body. If you are really fit for the surgery.
I was not fit for the second surgery since I had gained weight from all the chemo I had taken prior to it.

Good luck to you and don't get discouraged. Hang in there and you will see eventually you will be fine.

GOD BLESS
LINDA

rdeegee

I would say that you are probably right on schedule. I took pain killers or Ibuprofen for a whole month and then some. I still have a day or two now and then when I am reminded that I had vats in August.

rdeegee

I wanted to add one more thing. I had and continue to have some numbness around the area. I was told this is very normal and could take a good while to go away.

nobu54

This is my first post also. I had 4 wedge resections on my left lung with vats 3 months ago and have been concerned ever since about my post-operative pain/discomfort. I am female with a small frame and was told that the pain is most probably nerve damage from the back incision even though the pain is mostly in the front. It feels like a very tight wide internal rubber band with surface numbness in my breast and in the rib area underneath. I also sometimes feel like a rib is broken and have found that sitting very erect eases the discomfort somewhat. I have been speed walking 2 miles almost daily and doing some stretching and weight lifting exercises so the pain is not debilitating but what worries me is that it doesn't seem to have improved at all since the surgery. In fact I often wonder if it may be worsening. Oral pain medications, even dildaudin & percoset, seem to have no effect. I would hate to have this kind of constant discomfort for the rest of my life and wonder if anyone has found a successful formula of exercise or treatment. Has anyone tried acupuncture? Thanks for your help.

vlh

Thanks everyone for the great advice! It is now almost 6 weeks from surgery and the pain has not lessened. Nobu54 I think you and I are experiancing the same thing. I saw my Doctor this week and she said give it another couple of months and if it does not get better I need to see a pain management Doctor. I also think it is getting worse and yes I am on oxycodone and it does not really get rid of pain only lessens it. But you are doing much better than myself there is no way I could speed walk right now. I am a very active woman who went to the gym 3 times a week and worked. This has really slowed me down (pain) and I am getting a little depressed because I do think I have nerve damage and that this is going to hinder my lifestyle and that adjustment is scary. I know this was probably not much help, but know you are not alone

vlh

westiejan

Hi,
Iam in my 7th week after vats surgery for stage 1b cancer, my thorasic surgeon said I didn't need any chemo or radiation, I also got a second opinion from an oncologist and he too agreed, he said early detection saved my life. I am feeling almost back to normal and just sleeping with 2 pillows instead of five. I had a problem with acid reflux right after surgery until about a week ago and also had trouble swallowing which has somewhat subsided. The swallowing problem was most likely caused from stress, because if i think about what was done to me I tend to panic and thats when I notice the swallowing problem. I always think the cancer will come back and that scares me. maybe as time goes on I won't think about it so much. I don't want to show my family my fears because they are just as scared as I am. Does anyone share my fears?
Thanks for listening.
westiejan

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