Guest guest Posted May 13, 2009 Report Share Posted May 13, 2009 Joyce Sorry it was difficult for you. I went to the ICU floor too after surgery and I can assure you that I had my period of thinking I would have never done it had I known what it was like. I was in the hospital for about the same time you were. However, things settled down and I was fine and ultimately very glad I had the VATS because it gave the information I was after. At this point, you've had it and in recovery so the worst is over. I'm hoping you were given an incentive spirometer to use regularly. If so, please do use it with dedication as the key now is maintaining your lung function so you don't get pneumonia. Have you gotten any report from the biopsy yet or, if not, when do you get that? I was thinking of you just yesterday and glad to see you back. > > Just got home from my Thursday in and out vats. The Vats almost killed me. I have been in ICU. My lungs wouldn't saturate after the surgery. I was intibated and everything on large amounts of oxygen to just maintain a 88. I am home now but very tired and weak and can barely function. I sit up and I lie down and that is about all I can do...but if you ask me now would I have the VATS it would be NO! JoyceRudyAZ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 13, 2009 Report Share Posted May 13, 2009 Someone is not understanding something here, Joyce. If you are " critical " why are you at home? Your lungs do not stop working after surgery. You could have an infection or collapsed lung. If you are breathing signifcantly worse than when you left the hospital, please go to the emergency room. This is serious business and you do not want to be slipping through any cracks! I had this proceedure so know well how it works. ann > > Does anyone know WHY after anesthesia our lungs stop working??? I am so glad to be home and in my own bed but still having problems breathing. They want me to walk 10 minutes in the morning and 10 minutes in the afternoon but I cannot. I can't even get to my mail box! I can barely get to the kitchen and bathroom. I am alone here with my dogs though people do call in and ask me how I am. I'm plum worn out! I am drinking as much as I can and eating a bit but not really hungry. I just feel terrible. How often does this happen when people undergo the VATS? When my sister called in the nurse said I was critical but I had advanced pulmonary fibrosis...but how can that be???? Joyce > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 13, 2009 Report Share Posted May 13, 2009 Someone is not understanding something here, Joyce. If you are " critical " why are you at home? Your lungs do not stop working after surgery. You could have an infection or collapsed lung. If you are breathing signifcantly worse than when you left the hospital, please go to the emergency room. This is serious business and you do not want to be slipping through any cracks! I had this proceedure so know well how it works. ann > > Does anyone know WHY after anesthesia our lungs stop working??? I am so glad to be home and in my own bed but still having problems breathing. They want me to walk 10 minutes in the morning and 10 minutes in the afternoon but I cannot. I can't even get to my mail box! I can barely get to the kitchen and bathroom. I am alone here with my dogs though people do call in and ask me how I am. I'm plum worn out! I am drinking as much as I can and eating a bit but not really hungry. I just feel terrible. How often does this happen when people undergo the VATS? When my sister called in the nurse said I was critical but I had advanced pulmonary fibrosis...but how can that be???? Joyce > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 13, 2009 Report Share Posted May 13, 2009 Joyce It is an invasive surgery. It's called " minimally invasive " by Mayo but I tend to disagree with that term. You cut holes in me, deflate my lung, take pieces of it, then try to get it back working. I consider that big. As to the walking and use of a spirometer, you must do as much as you can. If you feel any worsening call them immediately and talk to them about it. Don't listen to third and fourth hand pieces of diagnosis, even from your sister. You get it directly from your doctor. To someone else's question, Joyce may have been critical in the hospital. No, she wasn't sent home critical as she spent several days there. As to how you feel now Joyce, if it worsens, I repeat call. However, otherwise, do as they say and you'll slowly get better. It takes some longer than others. Many of us have experienced tough VATS. Some worse than others. My worse part was the anesthesia wearing off too soon. But I did have trouble after going home too. I can tell you that I got better over a couple of weeks but had some struggle for 2-3 months. At 4 months I was traveling and active however. Some come home fine the day after and some take a few months to get completely over it. Just try to get a little better each day. My therapist uses the 1% rule. If you're 1% better tomorrow than today, then you're making progress. My bet is your breathing and walking will be 1% better tomorrow. It won't be where you want it yet, but on the way to improvement. > > Does anyone know WHY after anesthesia our lungs stop working??? I am so glad to be home and in my own bed but still having problems breathing. They want me to walk 10 minutes in the morning and 10 minutes in the afternoon but I cannot. I can't even get to my mail box! I can barely get to the kitchen and bathroom. I am alone here with my dogs though people do call in and ask me how I am. I'm plum worn out! I am drinking as much as I can and eating a bit but not really hungry. I just feel terrible. How often does this happen when people undergo the VATS? When my sister called in the nurse said I was critical but I had advanced pulmonary fibrosis...but how can that be???? Joyce > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 13, 2009 Report Share Posted May 13, 2009 Joyce It is an invasive surgery. It's called " minimally invasive " by Mayo but I tend to disagree with that term. You cut holes in me, deflate my lung, take pieces of it, then try to get it back working. I consider that big. As to the walking and use of a spirometer, you must do as much as you can. If you feel any worsening call them immediately and talk to them about it. Don't listen to third and fourth hand pieces of diagnosis, even from your sister. You get it directly from your doctor. To someone else's question, Joyce may have been critical in the hospital. No, she wasn't sent home critical as she spent several days there. As to how you feel now Joyce, if it worsens, I repeat call. However, otherwise, do as they say and you'll slowly get better. It takes some longer than others. Many of us have experienced tough VATS. Some worse than others. My worse part was the anesthesia wearing off too soon. But I did have trouble after going home too. I can tell you that I got better over a couple of weeks but had some struggle for 2-3 months. At 4 months I was traveling and active however. Some come home fine the day after and some take a few months to get completely over it. Just try to get a little better each day. My therapist uses the 1% rule. If you're 1% better tomorrow than today, then you're making progress. My bet is your breathing and walking will be 1% better tomorrow. It won't be where you want it yet, but on the way to improvement. > > Does anyone know WHY after anesthesia our lungs stop working??? I am so glad to be home and in my own bed but still having problems breathing. They want me to walk 10 minutes in the morning and 10 minutes in the afternoon but I cannot. I can't even get to my mail box! I can barely get to the kitchen and bathroom. I am alone here with my dogs though people do call in and ask me how I am. I'm plum worn out! I am drinking as much as I can and eating a bit but not really hungry. I just feel terrible. How often does this happen when people undergo the VATS? When my sister called in the nurse said I was critical but I had advanced pulmonary fibrosis...but how can that be???? Joyce > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 13, 2009 Report Share Posted May 13, 2009 Joyce It is an invasive surgery. It's called " minimally invasive " by Mayo but I tend to disagree with that term. You cut holes in me, deflate my lung, take pieces of it, then try to get it back working. I consider that big. As to the walking and use of a spirometer, you must do as much as you can. If you feel any worsening call them immediately and talk to them about it. Don't listen to third and fourth hand pieces of diagnosis, even from your sister. You get it directly from your doctor. To someone else's question, Joyce may have been critical in the hospital. No, she wasn't sent home critical as she spent several days there. As to how you feel now Joyce, if it worsens, I repeat call. However, otherwise, do as they say and you'll slowly get better. It takes some longer than others. Many of us have experienced tough VATS. Some worse than others. My worse part was the anesthesia wearing off too soon. But I did have trouble after going home too. I can tell you that I got better over a couple of weeks but had some struggle for 2-3 months. At 4 months I was traveling and active however. Some come home fine the day after and some take a few months to get completely over it. Just try to get a little better each day. My therapist uses the 1% rule. If you're 1% better tomorrow than today, then you're making progress. My bet is your breathing and walking will be 1% better tomorrow. It won't be where you want it yet, but on the way to improvement. > > Does anyone know WHY after anesthesia our lungs stop working??? I am so glad to be home and in my own bed but still having problems breathing. They want me to walk 10 minutes in the morning and 10 minutes in the afternoon but I cannot. I can't even get to my mail box! I can barely get to the kitchen and bathroom. I am alone here with my dogs though people do call in and ask me how I am. I'm plum worn out! I am drinking as much as I can and eating a bit but not really hungry. I just feel terrible. How often does this happen when people undergo the VATS? When my sister called in the nurse said I was critical but I had advanced pulmonary fibrosis...but how can that be???? Joyce > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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