VATS surgery recovery

• By windrider
• Posted November 18, 2008 at 7:39 am
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Hello,

I hope this info will help you and your Mom get ready for her surgery.

My VATS was done in May of '05 and I was 62. My upper left lobe was removed and I was in the hospital for 5 days before coming home with one chest tube and on oxygen.

The tube fell out and my lung collapsed resulting in another overnight in the hospital while the lung re-inflated on its own.

The oxygen need ended after a week and at that point both of my "kids" left and I was OK on my own.

The recovery progressed as expected...there was some pain at the small points where instruments had been inserted, BUT I was always grateful to have had VATS and not the BIG incision so many have suffered through.

I couldn't wear a bra for several weeks (thank goodness for sweat shirts!) and had the most discomfort when I was doing things like pushing myself up out the tub or getting up from a deep chair where I had to sort of boost up by my arms.

Your Mom will be fine (and so will you!),

Best wishes,

Peggy
(P.S. I had chemo post-op and have NED at this point)

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• By Elaineb2
• Posted November 18, 2008 at 9:11 am
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I have had both types of surgery one on my upper right lobe the conventional way and one 5 weeks ago on my lower left lobe which was VATS believe me it was a piece of cake compared to the conventional method, I had hardly any pain with my ribs and no great big scar on my back I went home after 2 days unfortuneately I got a small pulmony embolism but am now on Warfarin so I am getting along ok, I am sore but nothing like the first operation(done April 07) I still get pain in my ribs on the right side but it is better now, I was stage 1 on both occasions with no lymph involement or spread anywhere else so I am keeping my fingers crossed. Elaineb2

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• By Chum
• Posted November 18, 2008 at 9:13 am
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I had VATS (upper right lobe like your mother) the day before Thanksgiving in 2004. Next day (Thanksgiving Day - an interesting double meaning) I walked 3 miles (had to - round and round the hospital corridors) and ate two good Thanksgiving Dinners (one at lunch, one at dinner). No pain - but tubes in and tubes out. Catheter, chest tube, morphine drip (I could punch a button and get a jolt or let it come into me at planned intervals - but I never noticed it and never needed to punch the button... though I did to see what it would be like - might not have been working for all I know). Saturday I left the hospital, all tubes removed. I had difficulty climbing steps, walking up hills, etc. but no pain. Was back at work the next Wednesday - though I admit I didn't spend 8-hours working. Back to what I call normal within two or three months.

I think the answers to your questions depend on what condition your mother is in and the skill of the surgeon. I was in relatively good shape for a 61 year old and had a fine surgeon. I also had not gone through chemo and/or radiation before the operation. That might also matter. But if she were me the answers would be
- 2-3 days in the hospital
-complications - collapsed lung or "reversion" to regular surgery are possible (didn't happen to me)
- chest tubes only in for two days
- I guess I needed help for two or three weeks after, but I;m a good patient and not demanding.

Courage

Chum

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• By Ramona
• Posted November 26, 2008 at 10:00 am
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Where will her surgery be performed? By whom?

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• By kbt
• Posted November 26, 2008 at 11:57 am
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Ramona, her surgery will be done at City of Hope by Dr. Kernstine. However, we met with him yesterday and the surgery might be converted to open instead of robotic.

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