Leeee Posted August 14, 2006 Share Posted August 14, 2006 Four months ago I had surgery to remove a pluera tumor, my pleura, right upper lobe, part of my diaphram, and several ribs. I now have a "bump" on my right side where my liver or ascending colon have moved over and are pushing out because my ribs are no longer there to kinda keep everything in place!! My surgeon told me not to worry about it, that we will address the problem at my Sept. 5th visit. It is sooo uncomfortable. I was wondering if anyone else had this problem post- op or if anyone still had alot of swelling 4 months post-op (I am hoping that some of the "bump" is due to swelling). Thank you, Lee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Connie B Posted August 14, 2006 Share Posted August 14, 2006 Hi Lee, Sorry your having problems. I have to ask you why did they take several ribs? I've never heard of such a thing! I am missing two ribs, but that hasn't caused me any problems. 4 months is not a long time for healing when it comes to this surgery. It's a SLOW GO! My swelling took about 5 to 6 months before it appeared to go down. It felt like it took forever. I have never had anything pop out and push on my skin where my ribs are missing. That's really to bad! I'm really sorry this is happening with you. And you CAN'T get the doctor to address this sooner? I think if it were me, I would be a little pushy on that one,and let the doctor know your not willing to wait that long for comfort and peace of mind. Keep us posted. I sure hope this gets taken care of real soon. There's no reason you should have to wait that long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don M Posted August 14, 2006 Share Posted August 14, 2006 I am sorry too that you have to deal with your guts trying to find a new home. Maybe your surgeon should have installed a prosthetic rib cage on that side. I would rather deal with a fake rib cage than have to watch my liver poke out at my side. I hope he comes up with a solution at your next appointment and that it does not involve more surgery. But, maybe it is just swelling. Don M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leeee Posted August 14, 2006 Author Share Posted August 14, 2006 Hi Connie, Thank you very much for your reply. It is REALLY good to know that it takes up to 6 months for the swelling to go down, it gives me hope that my "bump" could also be due to post op swelling as well as organ "displacement". I have not really persuded the issue w/ my surgeon because I have started post op chemo, my surgeon told me to get through the chemo and then we would address the "bump". I have not been able to find any literature on organ "displacement" after rib removal so it has been driving me nuts!!The only info I have found on rib removal is were people actually have ribs removed to get an hour glass figure!, well the opposite happened to me!! My tumor was pushing up against my diaphragm and ribs so my surgeon took part of my diaphragm (and moved the rest of it) and took 6 ribs "just in case" the tumor had spread into them. I don't know, it sounds wierd to me, but that's what he said. My surgery took 8 hours so he had alot of time to remove things and move things around! Thanks again for the info, Lee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leeee Posted August 14, 2006 Author Share Posted August 14, 2006 Thanks for the reply Don. My surgeon actually did mention putting in some kind of a plastic rib cage at some point, he told me that we would address the "issue" at my Sept. 5th appt. I am 45 Yrs. old and to date have had 17 surgeries so the thought of having another surgery is not sitting well w/ me. Maybe I will go really retro and start wearing a corset(? spelling) to keep everything in it's proper place! Thanks again, Lee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowflake Posted August 14, 2006 Share Posted August 14, 2006 Lee, I wouldn't suggest anything binding to hold things in if there is a possibility of squeezing them off. From what I've read, the liver is pretty important and life can get a bit uncomfortable if the intestine hose is kinked... I didn't have quite the extensive cleaning out that you had, just had a rib that was bent/cracked for access. I can't give you a lot of information on things just floating around in there, but I imagine to some degree they do. I know that my innards don't quite feel the same - after child birth what had moved seemed to "shake back down" quickly, but after this surgery it wasn't like that at all. My husband had an umbilical hernia that was squeezing his intestine and it was pain inducing and not healthy. It is possible for parts to get twisted and then start doing really nasty stuff. I'd have it checked out by my primary care provider/family doctor if the "specialist" just doesn't have time to address it. My PCP is my sanity, she answers questions and peeks at my scan results prior to the week I normally have to wait to hear the results from my oncologist.... Good luck! Becky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blaze100 Posted August 14, 2006 Share Posted August 14, 2006 Hi Lee, I am completely impressed with your progress. Maybe I misunderstood, but it looks like your docs have got you cancer free and that's absolutely great. Focusing on saving your energy for upcoming treatments makes sense. Your docs are being very aggressive and winning. I am rooting for you. Barb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don M Posted August 14, 2006 Share Posted August 14, 2006 Lee: I see from you profile that you might have had stage IV localized mesothelioma. That is no doubt why the surgeon was so aggressive. If you have beat this, you are indeed one lucky lady and are lucky to have found a surgeon who would do the operation. Just get through the chemo and then see what happens with the chest thing. I would personally opt for it, but then, I have had only 2 major surgeries. Don M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leeee Posted August 15, 2006 Author Share Posted August 15, 2006 Yes, my official post op Dx. is Stage 4 Localized Mesothelioma so it is amazing that within 6 months of Dx. I was cancer free. I still hate this bump though. I am on a quest to find out what it is and how to fix it. It gives me something to focus on while I do this round of chemo. Research "post-op organ shifting". However,I am very grateful that I am still on the right side of the grass, bump and all. Thanks, Lee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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