Hello to all of my beautiful friends!!!

• By Chum
• Posted August 15, 2008 at 10:00 am
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I had a VATS procedure to remove the upper right lobe. The best thing was waking up a few hours after the surgery! Didn't spend any time in ICU, just went to my room. The next day was Thanksgiving - you could imagine that I had lots to be thankful for, not the least of which was TWO Thanksgiving dinners - one at lunch and one at dinner. In between they had me walk - and walk - and walk. Seems that every 14 times around the floor was one mile. REalize that they had a morphine drip in me and regardless of what I did, some of that stuff went into me. So I started to walk - and count the times I passed my room. I would lose track after four or five circuits - so I started to hold out fingers to represent each time around. Get the picture? This guy with tubes coming out of many interesting place, pushing a cart loaded with vats of liquids - some going in, but most going out - holding his fingers out. While I think I made three miles that first day - I could have done only one, or walked five or more miles. Never will know, but memory certainly is not one of the things you should rely on.

I sort of liked the catheter, took all the worry out of getting to the restroom on time. Truly, the only bad memories I have are about others who I saw as I walked around the halls of Sloan-Kettering. I ran into children with bald heads, heard family cry outside of rooms, and even overheard the surgeon of my "roommate" tell about the relatively poor prognosis for his cancer. But the surgery itself was nothing - absolutely a piece of cake. The walking was invigoratingly, the care was super - and the meals were delicious AND served when I wanted them.

Hardest part for me was waking up at 5 a.m. the morning I was to have surgery, not the best night's sleep I ever had - but the rest - piece of cake!

Courage

Chum

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• By kandyxxo
• Posted August 15, 2008 at 10:06 am
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Holy cows!!! Are you serious??? Well you sound non human lol!!!!!!!!!!!!! well OK don't make fun of me but I don't even know if they are doing the VATS or a regular type surgery today we are discussing it all.If I do get the VATS that will be great if they don't im petrified!!!!! I will let you know but your story truly inspired me and made me laugh thank you!!!!!!!!!!1 Sincerely, kandy

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• By Nin7366
• Posted August 15, 2008 at 12:38 pm
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Best of luck to you on your surgery. I'm sure you will be fine, and don't worry about being a wimp......I'm one too!

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• By erinroro
• Posted August 15, 2008 at 2:26 pm
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Kandy,

My surgery was no problem. Mine was a tad more complicated that just regular VATs but that is because they weren't sure if they were going to remove my right lower lobe or not. They still did not know if it was cancer when they went in.

The drugs you get are wonderful!!! There is almost NO pain, and if there is you just push a little button and you get more drugs into you! The walking is tiring, at least for me it was. I was in for 13 days, (just because of the extra stuff they had to do for me), but a fellow I met in the hospital who had what you are having done was only in for 4 days!!! I mostly slept for the first couple days - in between walking etc. I was on liquids only for the first day I think.... After that I was on a regular food plan. They did limit the amount of fluids I could have - 1 1/2 liters a day. They did this because they said a dry lung heals faster than a wet one... I don't know if everyone else went through that, but that's what they did for me.

Really, anytime you might feel pain, they will do whatever they can to stop it. The Pain Management doctors are wonderful and will give you whatever it takes to make sure you are not in pain!

Good luck - you will be just fine!!!!

Erin

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• By peyz33
• Posted August 15, 2008 at 2:57 pm
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kandy - uh - duh - call your surgeon and ask if they are doing VATS......please.........good luck!!!
Kare

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• By iceblue
• Posted August 15, 2008 at 6:20 pm
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I just had my surgery a few weeks ago. I was scared when they brought me down to pre-op to get the IV's, epidural, and whatever else they did before I went into surgery. I only remember the first shot of drugs, but I do remember wondering if I'd wake up afterward. When I did, I was relieved. I spent the first night in ICU which they told me I would. The next morning they moved me to a 4 person room - all either some form of lung or esophageal patient. The epidural made it so I basically had no pain from my armpit down. It was numb to the touch. My worst pain was in between my neck and shoulder which they gave me torodol? for. They said it was caused by the way they had me positioned during the surgery. The torodol worked great and basically I was pain free. My third day, they got me out of bed and sat me in a chair for most of the day. I walked twice during each day but it was quite a task with the chest tube containers, catheter bag, oxygen and epidural drip thing all walking around with me. Epidural stayed in until chest tubes were removed (that hurt a bit, but only for a couple minutes) and catheter also removed 4 hours after epidural (apparently to regain complete sensation of lower body first). That was day 5 I think. I remained on oxygen and was able to walk as much as I wanted that day. The next day they took out the staples and put steri strips on and I was able to go home, but still on oxygen as my breathing wasn't going as well as it should have. I had great nurses and my hospital stay was good. As I said, the only hard part was going into the surgery. I had made provisions in case any thing happened and had a health care proxy made out also. I expected the worst but I'm a huge pessimist.
Basically I worried for no reason as everything turned out great and the nurses and techs were all wonderful and considerate. Good luck with your surgery Monday - look forward to hearing about it in a couple weeks.

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• By Khari
• Posted August 15, 2008 at 7:24 pm
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Hey Kandy,

My husband had RLL removed 2-08 and overall it wasn't as bad as we feared. He was in ICU for 10 days, but mainly because he had a bad reaction to the fentanol patch (for pain) they put on him after they took the epidural out. When they figured out it was the fentanol patch they took it off and were able to manage his pain with occassional morphine shots. He said the thing that hurt the worst was the chest tubes and after they came out his pain decreased drastically. He went home on day 11 with just lortab for pain and no oxygen.

The biggest thing to remember is to walk as much as you can and keep a positive attitude.

Good luck.

Khari

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• By jerseydebbie
• Posted August 15, 2008 at 8:52 pm
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My husband found the worse part to be the chest tube. He really didn't start to feel better, nor improve well, until that darned thing was removed. It has been just about two months now, and you'd never catch on he has been on the journey he has.

Trust me. It will be tough, but you'll be fine.

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• By caden
• Posted August 16, 2008 at 7:56 am
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Kandy,
I agree with the others here, it is not as bad as we imagine it. The best part was hearing the surgeon's voice telling me there was no lymph node involvement and he got it all!! The worse part? That would have to be when they first began putting me under. I was in the operating room when a construction crew ruptured a gas line outside the surgical wing and they had to evacuate it so my surgery was delayed for a few hours.
Like others have said, the more you walk the quicker you'll heal. Even if you don't want to get up, do it!!
Let us know how it goes!
Cathy

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• By FrankClem
• Posted August 16, 2008 at 9:03 am
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Hi Kandy,

CONGRATULATIONS on the results of your lymph node biopsy! I am SO HAPPY for you! That waiting is just dreadful and, like you, hearing that my lymph nodes came back clean was music to my ears. From talking to people, I hear that the surgery is not as bad as it sounds. Just keep in your mind that it has to be done and that once it's completed, you will most likely be free. The fear of this can be the worst of it all.
Again, I am so happy for your news!
BTW, I came home early from the Cape. There's something about being away from the phone that had me coming back early this morning. I enjoyed yesterday down there but was eager to come back.
I'll be talking with you soon!
Frank

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• By FrankClem
• Posted August 16, 2008 at 9:04 am
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PS - If I don't talk to you before Monday, best of luck to you on the surgery. I know that you'll do well.

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• By BrendaMousey
• Posted August 16, 2008 at 9:14 am
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Hi Kandi:
You wouldn't be human if you weren't nervous.
I had my upper lft lobe removed the old way, couldn't do vats. They found it on a pre op chest x-ray for another surgery so did all of it at once. I was 1200 miles from home because that hospital specialized in the first one, unrelated to the lung.
The best part was the pain med. They will give you a lot, and it will work! Before surgery I was in "holding" where you get ready to go in the surgery room. I told them I was nervous and they said "oh, we can fix that" and put something in my I V. The next thing I knew, it was over. Tell the nurses if you are nervous!
The worst part was the trip home. I had surgery on Wednesday, they let me go home on Saturday morning, I went from the Thoracic unit to the car and made the 1200 mile trip home. It was quite a trip!
You are young and will heal faster. The doctors and nurses will take good care of you and all your friends on this site will be thinking of you and praying for you.
Bless you
BrendaMousey

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• By lorbethm
• Posted August 16, 2008 at 11:43 pm
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My story is similar to Brenda's. I wasn't able to have the VATS surgery, but the epidural kept the pain in control pretty well. My body doesn't respond well to that medication they use, for some reason, so I got better relief with the IV meds, but once we figured that out, I was ok. The worst part to me was the stupid breathing exercises. I understand the point of them, but dang, they were annoying and slightly painful. I was in the hospital for six days, but never saw ICU. :) I was released from the hospital and drove three hours to my parents house the next day and then drove the other 500 miles home about four days after that.

You definitely need to find out if you are having VATS or regular surgery!! That will make a HUGE difference in your recovery.

I'll be praying for you. :) I hope you can update us after your surgery, or have a family member do so!

Hugs and prayers!

Lorie

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• By JustLisa
• Posted August 17, 2008 at 1:11 pm
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Ok Kandy,
I had my left lung removed the regular ol way no vats. and with in 24 hours I was crusing the floors.. looking out the windows and being thank-full I am alive and I could have the surgery.. I was in icu the 1st 24 hours and didn't sleep a wink.. keeping eyes out on the nurses LOL.. well, its crazy there so someone had to kleep a watch out for them lol anyway, I has a little oxygen for a few days and and a catheter for 24 hours but made the nurses take it out so I could walk and walk.. you need to it helps you to adjust.. but really its a piece of cake.. you will also have a epidural like when you had your kids? and wont have any pain. i and plently of pain meds.. you are way younger that me by 10 years so it will be easier..
hang in there don't worry and e-mail us all when its all said and done. and remmember we have done that!
God Bless you sweetie and remember we are all here praying for you too and you will be fine..
if you need anythig at all feel free to e-mail me or call me ldeansellshouses@aol.com
916-402-3395
Lisa

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• By kandyxxo
• Posted August 17, 2008 at 2:51 pm
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Hello there everyone!!! OH my god I am so anxious!!!! I cant believe its tomorrow already!!!!I want to thank all of you for such encouraging stories!!! You guys sound like such amazing people I want to meet all of you and have a great big party one day lol. I am also getting over the fact that my boyfriend decided to dump me last saturday .Great timing huh???I wonder sometimes whats worse? heartbreak or lung broke? lol ok bad joke .Anyways thank you all again for everything!! I will be online as soon as I possibly can!!! Sincerely,Kandy

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