VATS Lobectomy on Thursday

2 lung surgeries, 1 vats lobectomy-home in 2 days-painful and took adjustment the first 3-4 months.  The next year I hiked from the bottom of Yosemite Canyon to the top of Half Dome in one day.

Initially allow the basic surgical site to heal.  After that, plenty of aerobic excercise to allow your other lungs to expand and fill up the space-to compensate.

Good Luck!

John

2 lung surgeries, 1 vats lobectomy-home in 2 days-painful and took adjustment the first 3-4 months.  The next year I hiked from the bottom of Yosemite Canyon to the top of Half Dome in one day.

Initially allow the basic surgical site to heal.  After that, plenty of aerobic excercise to allow your other lungs to expand and fill up the space-to compensate.

Good Luck!

John

2 lung surgeries, 1 vats lobectomy-home in 2 days-painful and took adjustment the first 3-4 months.  The next year I hiked from the bottom of Yosemite Canyon to the top of Half Dome in one day.

Initially allow the basic surgical site to heal.  After that, plenty of aerobic excercise to allow your other lungs to expand and fill up the space-to compensate.

Good Luck!

John

Also had the VATS to remove lower lobe of right lung.  I left the hospital late on the 3rd day. A fair amount of pain on movement while in hospital after surgery but not as bad as the days went by at home.  I did extensive walking right away at home and was back swimming laps 6 weeks after the operation when I was allowed back in the pool.  Swam in a meet the end of the following month.  I noticed quite a bit of coughing for a couple months and the pull on the area, which I can still feel sometimes when stretching it a lot with some exercises.  I only notice the loss of the lobe when I look at the clock and see I can't go as fast as I once could walking or swimming, but some of that may simply be that I have not exercised myself enough.  All is all, at this distance, no big, big deal.  Unfortunately, after supposedly being NED for almost 3 months, 2 brain tumors showed up.  Now I am presumablly all clear except for a small met in my left buttock.

Also had the VATS to remove lower lobe of right lung.  I left the hospital late on the 3rd day. A fair amount of pain on movement while in hospital after surgery but not as bad as the days went by at home.  I did extensive walking right away at home and was back swimming laps 6 weeks after the operation when I was allowed back in the pool.  Swam in a meet the end of the following month.  I noticed quite a bit of coughing for a couple months and the pull on the area, which I can still feel sometimes when stretching it a lot with some exercises.  I only notice the loss of the lobe when I look at the clock and see I can't go as fast as I once could walking or swimming, but some of that may simply be that I have not exercised myself enough.  All is all, at this distance, no big, big deal.  Unfortunately, after supposedly being NED for almost 3 months, 2 brain tumors showed up.  Now I am presumablly all clear except for a small met in my left buttock.

Also had the VATS to remove lower lobe of right lung.  I left the hospital late on the 3rd day. A fair amount of pain on movement while in hospital after surgery but not as bad as the days went by at home.  I did extensive walking right away at home and was back swimming laps 6 weeks after the operation when I was allowed back in the pool.  Swam in a meet the end of the following month.  I noticed quite a bit of coughing for a couple months and the pull on the area, which I can still feel sometimes when stretching it a lot with some exercises.  I only notice the loss of the lobe when I look at the clock and see I can't go as fast as I once could walking or swimming, but some of that may simply be that I have not exercised myself enough.  All is all, at this distance, no big, big deal.  Unfortunately, after supposedly being NED for almost 3 months, 2 brain tumors showed up.  Now I am presumablly all clear except for a small met in my left buttock.

Prayers sent for your operation on ThursdayHoping like you say this nips it in the bud,No matter always keep on the search for the possibility of it raising its ugly head at any time.Beat the Beast.  Al

Prayers sent for your operation on ThursdayHoping like you say this nips it in the bud,No matter always keep on the search for the possibility of it raising its ugly head at any time.Beat the Beast.  Al

Prayers sent for your operation on ThursdayHoping like you say this nips it in the bud,No matter always keep on the search for the possibility of it raising its ugly head at any time.Beat the Beast.  Al

Hey Jeff – like others I have also had a VAT's procedure.  (I did a post on my blog titlted Oh Vats! – can't pull it up on my work computer right now).  It was done 2 years ago.   Just left with 3 small scars.  The hospital stay was I believe 3 days and 2 nights.  They bascially want to keep you long enough to make sure your lung doesn't collapse or have fluid in it.  I felt 100 times better once they took the chest tube out.  That was probably the worst part of it!  As the fellow said when they removed it – well it was like having a spear stuck in your side!'.  seriously it's a monster tube!  

Recovery was pretty good.  I actually only took a week off from work (probably should have taken more time) and 3 weeks later was traveling for work (again, in hindsight probably not the best decision)…  Mine was a biopsy where they took 2 sections – both from my left lung (one upper lobe one lower).  I was 32 at the time.

Hope that helps!  Best of luck to you!!  I thought this surgery was easier than having the lymph nodes removed from under my right arm.  Now the small intestine surgery was another story… lol!

Just make sure to get up and walking right away! and do the breathing exercises.  

Erin

Hey Jeff – like others I have also had a VAT's procedure.  (I did a post on my blog titlted Oh Vats! – can't pull it up on my work computer right now).  It was done 2 years ago.   Just left with 3 small scars.  The hospital stay was I believe 3 days and 2 nights.  They bascially want to keep you long enough to make sure your lung doesn't collapse or have fluid in it.  I felt 100 times better once they took the chest tube out.  That was probably the worst part of it!  As the fellow said when they removed it – well it was like having a spear stuck in your side!'.  seriously it's a monster tube!  

Recovery was pretty good.  I actually only took a week off from work (probably should have taken more time) and 3 weeks later was traveling for work (again, in hindsight probably not the best decision)…  Mine was a biopsy where they took 2 sections – both from my left lung (one upper lobe one lower).  I was 32 at the time.

Hope that helps!  Best of luck to you!!  I thought this surgery was easier than having the lymph nodes removed from under my right arm.  Now the small intestine surgery was another story… lol!

Just make sure to get up and walking right away! and do the breathing exercises.  

Erin

Hey Jeff – like others I have also had a VAT's procedure.  (I did a post on my blog titlted Oh Vats! – can't pull it up on my work computer right now).  It was done 2 years ago.   Just left with 3 small scars.  The hospital stay was I believe 3 days and 2 nights.  They bascially want to keep you long enough to make sure your lung doesn't collapse or have fluid in it.  I felt 100 times better once they took the chest tube out.  That was probably the worst part of it!  As the fellow said when they removed it – well it was like having a spear stuck in your side!'.  seriously it's a monster tube!  

Recovery was pretty good.  I actually only took a week off from work (probably should have taken more time) and 3 weeks later was traveling for work (again, in hindsight probably not the best decision)…  Mine was a biopsy where they took 2 sections – both from my left lung (one upper lobe one lower).  I was 32 at the time.

Hope that helps!  Best of luck to you!!  I thought this surgery was easier than having the lymph nodes removed from under my right arm.  Now the small intestine surgery was another story… lol!

Just make sure to get up and walking right away! and do the breathing exercises.  

Erin