Jump to content

Gina D.

Members
  • Posts

    192
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by Gina D.

  1. I am not an RN. Nor do I play one on TV I believe you are refering to Donna G. as your RN savior here. Credit where credit is due! Good luck to You!
  2. Another note here that I have not seen mentioned. And I am sure that it will be ground into hubby in ICU and afterwards. He will hate this "command": COUGH, COUGH and COUGH some more. His biggest enemy after sugery will be infection and pneumonia, both can be caused by excess fluids that will collect in the chest cavity. Coughing helps get rid of the fluids. Coughing will be VERY painful, however, even with an epidural. Do it anyway. Use a pillow as suggested, no one wants to pop thier incisions, and in a starnge way, it does help with the pain. I also hit the morphine button a minute or two before my "planned" coughing sessions. It helped a little. I can cough normally now, tho I need to do it less since I quit the cigs My biggest "pain" as far as reflex lung stuff is yawning! Sneezing isn't a barrel of fun either. Both, I am sure, will return to normal. It is tolerable now tho. I almost think the yawning thing is funny. Also, on the subject of infection, he will be drowned in antibiotics. I forgot the name of what I was getting intraviniously (sp) but it is the same stuff they give aids patients when hospitalized for anything. It is strong stuff, and after he is saturated with it, his sense of taste and smell may change. It may also make him nausious. Ask for meds to help counteract this. It effected my appetite, and it is very critical to EAT during this time. As far as sleeping, I used a good quality air mattress once I got home, and it seemed to be much more comfortable for me than a conventional bed. Fluid collected (pooled) and made me cough constantly when I layed down, so I also slept propped up for almost a month, then I was finally able to sleep horizontal, on my back and eventually on both sides. I actually have been able to sleep on my stomach for a little over a week now. I don't think I would have been comfortable sleeping with someone else, so don't take it personally if he wants his own bed/space. Also as mentioned here, a heating pad will be his new best friend. I still use mine at home instead of meds, it actually works better for the joint pain (ribs) and is much easier on the old metabolism and brain function! > Be sure to ask for an epidural. My surgeon offered me a long lasting nerve block. He claims it lasts 6 months to a year, and I still am quite numb on my right side as far as muscle and skin are concerned. (It does nothing for the rib discomfort) It is exactly like what your face feels like when the dentist goes overboard with the novicaine. I am glad I got it, and it is quite easy to get used to. I have not heard of anyone else that has had this, so I am thinking this is a very new option, or maybe just something my surgeon does? Anyone else get this?
  3. Your husband is still very young and should go thru this just fine. I am 44, had my lobectomy 2 1/2 months ago, and am already back at work full time, riding a bike every day and outside of a few lifting limitations (Currently, I believe those wil go away) and heat causing a problem with my breathing, I feel quite well. Considering I certainly don't LOOK like anything was different. Well, clothed anyway It didn't seem that I would ever feel this way immediately after surgery tho He will be hurting, push the morphine button! Thats what it is there for, and he will feel quite weak. Get up, walk, move around! Right now, BEFORE surgery, he/you may think that is impossible, but it really isn't. It seemed pretty gruesome from reading about it on the net, and it truely is, yes, but the recovery seems so quick for what it is. It is natural to be scared, I was! He should do just fine tho, and so should you. He is lucky to have your support.
  4. Carol Lee ~ Go back and tell your doc that MY 1cm nodule lit up on a PET. I was never told that it might be too small for a PET. This thread is the first I have heard of it. Don't wait! Get SOMETHING done, as Linda says.
  5. Hi Christina, Like so many others here, a DX is the "wake up call" that brought me to my knees and I gave up the cigs at the time when my DX was pretty much made. I didn't stop when the DX was only a nervous possibility for a few weeks..silly me. SO...as a recent ex-smoker myself, (Last ciggie 3-1-03) I have a lot of empathy for Chris... BUT... Tell him exactly what you have said here: "I am so frustrated because I am doing everything in my power to do to help him beat this thing and there he is smoking...." This was my strongest motivator to quit. I knew that I was going to need the help of many people to get through this. I could not stand the thought of impositioning everyone like that and then have them sit there and have to put up with my ciggies too. All that would tell them is that they care about my health more than I did, so why should they bother? I needed and still need them more than tobacco. (Even tho my main caretaker is a smoker, he is trying to quit himself and he would have kicked my "A" big time if I lit up!) I am still highly addicted to the 'tine tho, I use the new inhalers just as I would smoking. They have easily replaced the smoke, and I actually enjoy them. I feel like I am having the best of both worlds. I get the motion, the taste, the "hit" and the satisfaction from the drug as I would have with a ciggie, but am not getting the truely harmful bits in the smoke (heart issues aside) I will eventually quit the inhalers too, but at this stressful time, they are a big help to me. I can use them anywhere, anytime (even in the hospital!) and no one will yell at me for stinkin up the place etc. It really is quite "releasing". I truely don't miss the cigarettes. He won't either. This is all still new to me as well, even tho I have been through a surgery and am now I am using them as my crutch. Sure beats the alternative. Like DaveG here..I can see myself using the substitute for quite some time We have lots of company in this. I am not advocating it, by any means..but..it happens. I don't know what your personal smoking history is, but I know as a smoker, I just ignored advise from a person who never smoked, (They do not understand) and perked up when I heard from someone who had successfully quit. Like most long time smokers, I quit several times with the help of ex-smokers. Perhaps you can get a successful EX smoker to talk to him and bestol the personal benefits to him?
  6. Gina D.

    More bad news

    Seems like you got the 'Tude to beat it, my friend. I know you will! Keep up that hope and so will I! Odd it didn't show on the PET tho. Did they have any idea why it didn't?
  7. Gina D.

    Research Study

    I have written and will help, tho I am/was asymptomatic. Now..if she wants to know about surgery symptoms..have I got a barrel of whines for her
  8. okdebi ~ I am "fresh" from a lobectomy (4-3-03) I too was terrified of the procedure, but I went head on with it. It sure beat the alternative. Yes, all recoveries are different, and I have heard everything from 4 weeks to several months. Right after surgery, you will feel like a fleet of trucks has hit you, but each day, the # of trucks in the fleet will diminish It will be natural for you to think you abilty to live normally physically it is all over..and going from what seems to be perfectly healthy to the dehabilitaed literally in hours is hard to bear. It gets better quickly tho. Just remember that. and USE THAT BUTTON! Pain meds are your friend. I am on month # 2 and what a difference from the immediate time after surgery! I had some comlications with the surgery itself and had an unusually long hospital stay (14 days) and was even sent home with a chest tube and drainage bag. That remained for a month after surgery. The first weeks, I was pretty much out of it, and was limited in movement because of the tube, but I managed to actually go out in public for a bit, toting the tube along! Once the tube was removed, it seemed like you could measure my improvement by the hour. I was up and around, walking quite a bit, able to acheive small chores around the house and could bath myself. I was doing laundry on my own within two days of tube removal. A week later, I was able to withstand a 1000 mile road trip in the comfort of a motorhome from LA to Portland Oregon, where I was taken in by kind friends who supported me and took care of things for me while I rested up. I was driving within 5 weeks post surgery (auto tranny, but a BIG pick up truck) and working on my computers and doing social things within 5 1/2 weeks. I am an audio tech that runs PA systems, and I even mixed 2 gigs in smokey bars during this time..not moving the equipment, of course. I didn't like being around the ciggie smoke, but was able to stand it for short periods, a quick trip outside for fresh air rejuvinated me and I could go back in and continue the task at hand. (Frankly..the urge to smoke was a bigger challenge to overcome than the breathing issue I spent last weekend in Seattle as a social trip, a 180 mile drive from Portland, and I drove MYSELF and my two dogs back to southern California last week. I took it easy, spreading the drive out to 3 days. I was in a rental with an auto tranny, but quite easily jumped into my own car, a 5 speed and could handle it pain free, no problems. My lobectomy was on my right side..gearshift country The only ill effects I feel right now are lots of rib soreness and shortness of breath in the heat and after certain types of exertions. I am sure both will go away with time. What they do to your ribs is not pretty, and I am sure you have researched this. No way to sugar coat it. You WILL be sore, but it is tolerable after a short while. I am using a heating pad, and valerian as a natural muscle relaxer to make it almost a presence, and not really a "pain". I had a long term nerve block that my surgeon offered as an option. My right chest wall and the area of the incision is quite numb. It is exactly like what your face feel like when the dentist gives you the BIG shot of novicaine. It feels odd, but I was gratefull to get it. I don't understand why anyone would not opt to have it. The block does nothing for the rib pain however. You might note that the pic of me here was taken on week 6, post surgery. Doesn't look like anything was wrong at all. Good luck to you on this! I hope it all comes out well for you
  9. Hello to everyone and thanks for the kind greetings! I am sure I have found a good place here, and have already heard from some of you in the short hours since I joined! Anniemac ~ That is funny! I worked in Redmond for awhile and grew up in Portland and Seattle. I moved to So. Cal. 10 years ago to care for my stepfather, who had bone cancer. I wish I could return to the NW, but I am now tied to the med insurance for quite awhile. Crestline seems a nice compromise for a born and raised webfoot in Southern Cal. Thank You all again! It si good to not feel so isolated by the circumstances anymore!
  10. Well, I will chime in a new early stager! I find it good to know that there are others in this stage, as I was told by the medical community that it was rare to have this caught so early, and at such a young age. (43 at DX) In reading here, I see I am not alone, and a lot of you share my setiments and yes, even "guilt" for it being so early. My nodule too, was only 1 cm and was staged at 1a. (adeno) Also, it was caught on a routine chest ex ray and due to my smoking history, and a history of spontanious pneumo thoraxs in that lung, the radiologist pushed for further investigation. The rest of my story matches all of yours, with the exception of some surgery complications. I am recovering from a lobectomy (Lower Right) and will return to my regular life and work on Tuesday the 3rd of June. I would appreciate any advise on future expectations! I have been given NONE by my primary care physician, or the surgeon. I was told I was "virtually cured" and no more was needed due to the size of the nodule and stage of the cancer. I am going to seek a second opinion, as well as change my PCP, as I can see that that isn't the protocol for follow ups etc, and you would think they knew that I have not even seen an oncologist! Any suggestions? THX!
  11. And I am hoping to get some good guidance from those that have started down this road before me. I appreciate that you are here! It seems that there is very little on the net for this sort of thing, and I live in the Mountains in a small rural community that just doesn't have a large enough population to warrant a support group. I thought I would introduce myself before I went lurking in the other forums. My name is Gina, I am single with no children and have very little family left. I turned 44 on March 31 of this year and for my birthday (well, 3 days later) I recieved a Lobectomy of my Lower Right lung and, hopefully, a whole new chance at a long life. My nodule was VERY small, 1 cm, and I want to kiss the persistant radiologist that was aware of my smoking history for spotting that tiny thing and pushing for further investigation. I don't even know his/her name. They spotted a Stage 1 adenocarcinoma. No spread to nodes or anywhere else. I have been told that no further treatment is warranted. It has been a long 4 months since suspicion, to surgery, to recovery and now I am back to work on the 3rd of June. Life goes on. I will go check out the other forums, as I have MANY questions for everyone here. I hope no one gets tired of me asking things! Thanks in advance for any answers I may get along the way. And I apologise ahead of time for my lack of proper terminology! I will learn!
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.