Anyone relate to first times getting up after surgery.

maryaz

My husband has not been the most cooperative at getting up to walk or just sit in the chair. His surgery was Friday. He walked just a little earlier today. Since then not cooperating.

I am hoping someone reading might relate and I can better understand what may be going on.

My husband would normally be doing what he should as he understands that is what needs done. For anyone that didn't read my earlier posts, he had right lower lobe and middle lobe removed in surgery, along with some lymph nodes and tumor remains. He is on pain medication and I am wondering how much of his reaction is the pain meds.

I have a good friend that feels it is more likely fear, whether real or unreal. Anyway, just looking for any input I could get to better understand where he is coming from. Just want to help him.
_________________
Mary

Husband is 67 year old Male
NSCLC - Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Chemo and Radiation Treatments together
Allergic reactions to Taxol and Taxotere.
The Story: http://www.cancerforums.net/about9079.html

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 972

Hi Mary,

Oh these men! Has he ever had surgery before? I hope they are keeping his pain under control and that is not why he isn't moving. This is rough surgery with a lot of nerve/rib involvement, so I can understand if he is in pain. Don't worry -- the nurses won't let him lay in bed long, they'll be all over him.

God bless and I hope things turn around. It's still early.

PBJ
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.

Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

maryaz

Thanks pbj11 for the reply. We were getting concerned but they did come back and they did get him up.

He has only ever had gall bladder removal in 2002 and it was the laproscopic (I don't know how to spell that one) way and so whole different story.

We sort of thought maybe the pain meds and fear may have been talking.
How do you really know if he is getting enough or too much pain meds. Any way to really tell.

Whatever it was maybe that is a once only time and they will get it worked out. Well aware it is not an easy surgery. My husband is strong and was going in. He can be stubborn and I think that side of him was coming out. Thanks for being around.
_________________
Mary

Husband is 67 year old Male
NSCLC - Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Chemo and Radiation Treatments together
Allergic reactions to Taxol and Taxotere.
The Story: http://www.cancerforums.net/about9079.html

Marge · New User Joined: 18 May 2008 Posts: 1

Maryaz

I can relate to your husband. My mother just had surgery 2 weeks ago. She is 68 years young, a non-smoker and was diagnosed a few weeks ago with NSCLC Adenincarcinoma. She had her right upper and middle lobe removed and some lymph nodes.

She actually got herself out of bed and started walkiing after the 2nd/3rd day of the op with the encouragement of the physiotherapist and doc. The painkillers and morphine drip she was on made her sleepy and she wanted to sleep most of the time. The doc reduced her medication to get her up as its not good for her to be lying down so often and it helps for her to sit up and walk around (blood circulation,bowel movement and lung expansion). I am told the lung will actually can grow back to 80% of its size (which I didnt know previously).

I must warn you that after she was discharged, she has been in a lot of pain even with the painkillers (Celebrex/cerebrex (?)and panadine). I am told by the doctor that it will take 6 weeks to completely heal from the surgery. The doc gave her stronger painkillers (ultracet) over the weekend as she was having sleepless nights. My mother has a high threshold for pain and is not the type of person who ever complains/whines so it must be really hurting if she says so.

The oncologist wants her to start on chemo asap (this saturday) and the surgeon thinks she is ready. We have an appt with the oncologist and surgeon again this week to check if she is fit for chemo since she is still in so much pain.
My mum really regrets having the surgery and wished she just had chemo. She was perfectly fit before the surgery and had no symptions of the cancer so it is difficult for her to reconcile why she had to go through all this. I know she understands why but I hope once the pain subsides she will accept that it was the best decision. I have seen her move around a lot faster than when she was discharged so even if she cant see the improvement and thinks it is getting worse, i feel she has made progress in her recovery. She is able to dress herself and move her arms around a lot more. You just need to be there to encourage your husband on those bad days.

brainman · Last edited by brainman on Tue May 20, 2008 1:51 pm; edited 1 time in total

Mary, it does seem that us men are really wimps when it comes to pain Laughing

. It took a lot of prodding to get my father to start walking and even after getting him home, it was a major daily struggle. I think his major problem was a little depression. He had been such an active man that he felt frustrated not being able to do the things that he wanted to do. Although I was pretty much here for him 24/7 (even sacrificing going to my church in order to drive him to his), he was very reluctant to ask me do help him go anywhere. Your husband might be facing similar problems. Try to help him realize that he can still do the things he want to do with a little effort and a little help from you and others.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

maryaz

Thanks so much for the messages. Now, I won't look forward to my husband's coming home in the same way. Laughing

Seriously, I think we can handle him if and when he gets some sleep and off more of the pain meds.

Surgeon was in tonight and she has changed some things and may help him to sleep tonight. Also, last night he had a malfunctioning machine that kept having an alarm go off to wake him. My son was spending the night and neither of them got any good sleep. Under control now.

My husband was so out of it today. He was in another land and moreso than yesterday. His surgeon said tonight that she feels it is more due to the lack of sleep with the pain meds, than just the pain meds.

All else seems to still be progressing pretty normal per the doctors. However the biopsies were back tonight and the surgeon said all except one lymph node they removed, and only one, was good. The one had live cancer (not sure if the way to say it) and so she figures oncologists will want to do chemo again, but cannot be before 6 weeks. We knew that there maybe another round of chemo after surgery. Would not be as bad without the radiation with it. We thought it was just as a precaution. Well for sure now it would be, but what are the odds of this having gone somewhere else.

My husband's 1st comment was to ask about doing a Pet Scan. She didn't directly reply to that. Can anyone provide me with possibilities here. Could he still have a good chance of being cancer free.

Marge thank you so much for sharing all that you did. I shared it with a couple family members that will be helping with him when he gets home. That may be very helpful and dealing with him. I hope your Mother comes out okay. Everyone's situation is different and so are the doctors. Thanks again.

Thanks to everyone here that ever posted a reply to me. I really appreciate your being here.
_________________
Mary

Husband is 67 year old Male
NSCLC - Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Chemo and Radiation Treatments together
Allergic reactions to Taxol and Taxotere.
The Story: http://www.cancerforums.net/about9079.html

brainman

Mary, I am very sorry to hear this about your husband. It does sound like it has metastasized extensively to his lymph nodes and even to his liver. The bad thing about the liver metastasis is that it indicates that the cancer has spread beyond his diaphragm and the is a poor prognostic indicator.

As for not doing a PET scan, my hunch is that the doctor did not order one because it would not make a significant difference in the choices about what to do next. Since it has metastasized to his liver, he will need chemotherapy and chemotherapy will kill cancer cells where ever they are in his body.

The only differences that a PET scan could make on treatment is if there are mets to your husband's brain. Those can cause significant life changing issues and might call for radiation therapy. Nevertheless, right now a PET scan would not make a big difference. Maybe your husband's oncologist will have one done.

As always, you and your husband are in my thoughts and prayers.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

ki4ncw · Regular Joined: 09 May 2008 Posts: 30

I think I missed something here... I did not see anything about it moving to his liver?

Bill

maryaz

Hi Bill and Jim.

Bill, you are right, no liver cancer.

Jim, I had stated that one lymph node had 'live' cancer. Not sure if the wording live was right but figured you all knew what I meant. Now we want to hope that the only live cell was in the lymph node and nowhere else. Everything else removed was dead.

This is what my question was about. Anyone sound familiar with something like this after surgery.

I think the reason my husband asked about a Pet Scan, was to determine if the cancer is only in the lymph nodes. Hoping not travel in the 6 weeks that he has to wait to do chemo.

Sorry Jim for the misunderstanding. I really appreciate all of your input. Thanks to you too Bill.
_________________
Mary

Husband is 67 year old Male
NSCLC - Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Chemo and Radiation Treatments together
Allergic reactions to Taxol and Taxotere.
The Story: http://www.cancerforums.net/about9079.html

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 972

Hi Mary,

I thought I missed something too! Thanks for clearing up the confusion. Doesn't sound like there is any need to do a PET scan. Jim is right, the course of treatment won't be any different. They probably want to do systemic chemo to mop up and cancer cells that may be traveling through his blood stream. That's how lung cancer spreads and if it was in his nodes, it's a good thing to complete another round of chemo.

Good luck and I hope he starts to feeling better very soon.

PBJ
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.

Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

ki4ncw · Regular Joined: 09 May 2008 Posts: 30

Mary I know your real busy but I'm really nervous about my surgery Thursday, if you get time can u give an update on how it's going?

Thanks

Bill

maryaz

Hello Bill; To update you, I will provide some added input so you know what it was like for him. By including it here, maybe someone else will benefit from it.

They had him covered for pain and so he was never knowingly in pain. Not sure why he lacked so much sleep but for couple days he could not sleep. He was in a depressing room (not going to explain that) and was nosiy. He was on pain medication and it caused him to really hallucinate. The surgeon said that it was the pain meds with the sleep deprivation that really caused this.

They worked everything out and he was fine. This part was not something that happens to everyone. It did slow his getting up to walk. He lost a couple days by refusing to walk until he got some sleep, and rightfully so.

He was originally told hospital stay 7 to 10 days but that really could get out possibly in 5 to 6. He is not getting out until Sunday at the earliest and probably Monday. He has to have the chest tube out for 24 hours before being released. It has not got to the number to take it out yet. They explained today that somehow all the radiation that he had can cause this part to go slower.

He was taken off everything else fairly soon. He was down to o2 and chest tube. He was off his oxyen yesterday but he tried to clean himself up today and they put him back on it. That is not unusual. Moving around and will take while. He was told before surgery he may be sent home with o2 for month.

Nothing has gone wrong or been difficult. He just had the situation with not sleeping and now the waiting on the chest tube. He looks and sounds good. He still has pain but has been on pills (no IV) for couple days. It covers the pain.

I can only tell you his story. This was all new to us. We were super comfortable with the surgeon that we had. Did not know her but after was recommended, her name came up several times in a very positive way. I think that is important.

When he did walk, it was about 60 feet the first day. After that it was twice around the floor area they walk. I understand today was 3 times around. Yesterday he did the 3 times around for a total of 4 trips around. The removed his Right Lower Lobe and Middle Lobe and some lymph nodes.

My son did stay at the hospital every night thru Tuesday. Almost came here to sleep Tuesday night but decided one more at hospital. Our son (37 year old) lives in Utah but is here for this. We just felt comfortable. I know people that always have a family member at the hospital and others that don't.

Bill; If you have any specific questions, just ask. I may miss a day here but usually try to get back the next day. We still have time. My days have been long ones. I wish you a lot of luck and hope to hear from you afterwards. The person that has a problem with this surgeon is not the norm. I would want a surgeon who does this type of surgery. Then you should do fine. I will say a prayer for you.
_________________
Mary

Husband is 67 year old Male
NSCLC - Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Chemo and Radiation Treatments together
Allergic reactions to Taxol and Taxotere.
The Story: http://www.cancerforums.net/about9079.html

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