If the surgery is done through a thoracotomy a long incision in the chest , the surgeon must spread ribs to get to the lung, so the area near the incision will hurt for some time after surgery. Your activity might be limited for at least a month or two. People who have VATS instead of thoracotomy tend to have less pain after surgery and to recover more quickly. If your lungs are in good condition other than the presence of the cancer you can usually return to normal activities after some time if a lobe or even an entire lung has been removed.
If you also have another lung disease such as emphysema or chronic bronchitis which are common among people who have smoked for a long-time , you might become short of breath with certain levels of activity after surgery.
If the lung cancer has spread to your brain and there is only one tumor, you may benefit from having the tumor removed. To help your recovery along, be sure to take medication as instructed by your doctors and follow their guidelines for activity, driving and incision care. Thoracic surgeon Daniel Raymond, MD , emphasizes the following points for a successful transition from hospital to home. Transition to non-narcotic pain killers as soon as possible.
Raymond encourages his patients to wean off of them quickly. Raymond says. Keep walking. Resting is important post-lobectomy, but so is standing up to move regularly. Raymond explains. Tell your doctor or nurse as soon as you feel any pain.
They need your help to find the right type and dose of painkiller for you. Painkillers work best when you take them regularly. You get painkillers to take home. Follow the instructions your nurse gives you about how often and when to take them. Contact your doctor if you still have pain or if it gets worse. Some people find they have pain for a long time after surgery for lung cancer. Let your doctor or specialist nurse know if your pain continues for more than a few weeks.
Once you are fully awake and feel able to, you can have something to eat and drink. You might not feel like eating much at first. You gradually build up what you drink and eat. Your nurses and physiotherapists help you to move around as soon as possible. This helps you recover. You might be sitting in a chair within 12 hours of your operation.
The drips and drains come out, you start eating, and you can move about a bit more. How long you stay in hospital will depend on your progress. It could be anything from 3 to 7 days.
It helps to do a bit more every day. It is not focused on accommodating family and friends. Flowers are not usually allowed, and many people are limited to only a visitor or two at a time. Some healthcare providers suggest that only close friends and family see you at this time, so you may want to encourage others to visit after you've been transferred to a regular hospital ward.
The breathing tube that allowed the ventilator to breathe for you during surgery is sometimes left in place while you're in recovery after a lobectomy. Since this can cause some anxiety, you may continue to be under light sedation until the tube is removed. In most cases, the breathing tube can be removed on the same day as your surgery. You may require the ventilator longer if a larger portion of the lung was removed or you have a chronic lung condition such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD.
While ventilator use does pose some risks, in most cases, you will begin to feel fine once lung capacity improves to the point where you can breathe on your own. When the ventilator is removed and you become less sleepy, a respiratory therapist will ask you to cough and assist you in the use of an incentive spirometer.
This is a device that you breathe into to exercise your lungs and help keep the small air sacs alveoli in your lungs open.
Your incisions will have been closed after the procedure. However, the surgeon will place a chest tube that leads out from the surgical site, which will allow excess fluid and air to exit the chest.
The chest tube will be kept in place until the surgeon is confident that the drainage has stopped and no air is leaking. The removal usually occurs three to four days after surgery but may take longer if the procedure was extensive. If the tube is left in longer than normal, it doesn't mean your recovery is going poorly. Surgeons wish to be cautious, and it's easier to leave a tube in place a little longer than to have to reinsert it if needed.
When you're able, the nursing staff will help you sit up, and, eventually, they will encourage you to get up and walk with assistance. You may not feel like being active, but moving will help you regain your strength more quickly and reduce the risk of developing blood clots. During your time in the hospital, you should learn how to prevent and recognize blood clots since these are not uncommon in lung cancer patients—both among those who have had lung operations and those who have not undergone surgery.
The formation of blood clots, also known as venous thromboembolism , significantly impacts your recovery and lowers survival rates. The length of your hospital stay can vary depending on your age, health status, response to post-operative care, and the type of surgery you had:. Many people are anxious to get out of the hospital and return to their own bed, only to realize, when they do get home, that they shouldn't have been so quick to leave. Trust that your surgeon will best know when it's a good time to discharge you.
Not only does VATS require a shorter hospital stay, but it also results in fewer surgical complications. Returning to your usual lifestyle takes time, which may come as a surprise if you were not having a lot of symptoms from your lung cancer prior to the procedure. Focusing on small steps forward e. Even if you were fit and in good health prior to your surgery, you need to allow yourself time to heal.
As you recover, you may notice that the fatigue you experience is unlike fatigue you have coped with previously. Cancer fatigue can be frustrating , especially if you are someone who has a hard time slowing down and taking it easy. Pace yourself when you return home. Early on in each day, focus on the activities that take the most mental or physical energy so you can cross them off your list before you become too tired to do so.
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