Joyce and Recovery after Vats

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Joyce,

I was definately worse for about six months after the vats. I had to use more oxygen, was so tired I could hardly get anything done, and just felt miserable. The numbness lasted for several months and 3 years later I still have pain in my upper abdomen. I also ended up getting a bad infection at the incision site a few weeks after the vats and ended up back at the hospital. I have always wondered how the disease would have progressed if I didn't have the surgery. The vats seemed to speed things up for awhile and it took me so long to get stable again. My biggest advice is to rest, rest, rest, don't push yourself at all and look at your incision sites in the mirror each day to be sure they are not turning red or have streaks emanating from them. Take care- R. (53) Sarcoid/PF 3/2006 Carlsbad, California

Subject: Re: Re: Recovery after VatsTo: Breathe-Support Date: Saturday, June 6, 2009, 11:54 AM

Bruce- I stopped using the spirometer when I had my stitches out and the surgeon said I was healed and had no pneumonia. Are you supposed to use it continuously? I am usually such a joyous person but not now and that bothers me. Of course my son and his significant other came to visit and I made breakfast for everyone. As soon as they left at 11 I collapsed and fell asleep for hours. It was very hard for me to make scrambled eggs, bacon and waffles. That is so weird. It's as though the vats made me worse. Maybe I ought to force myself to get out and do some gardening or clean the house or something. I still have pain in the front of my stomach too. They told me it is from the nerve and it would go away but it's still there and my stomach is still numb. Perhaps it is because I have not moved enough that I am having such difficulty? I see my doc on Monday and will ask. I don't think they have pulmonary rehab here. No one has suggested it. Does

medicare pay for it? Joyce Rudy AZ

Re: Recovery after Vats

JoyceIt's different for everyone but if you're coughing has increased andother symptoms, its worth talking to the doctors. Were you given anincentive spirometer to use and are you still getting the same levels aswhen you left the hospital? I never quite got back to where I was beforethe VATS but I couldn't say whether that was just normal progression ofmy disease. Others feel fine quickly. Anything involving anesthesia maytake a lot of energy out of you and take time to recover from thataspect. This is without even considering that it was your lungs. This isalso where pulmonary rehab can be very helpful and I'd suggest you talkto your doctor about it. I'm sure it's available even where you live asits not just for PF patients.>> How long does it take to recover to your original state after havingthe VATS? It has almost been a month now and I am just not up to par. Imade scrambled eggs and bacon and waffles for my son and his girlfriendand after they left I collapsed in bed. I was so fatigued. I slept. WhenI woke up in the afternoon my muscles still were weak. When I picksomething up my hand trembles. Things like that. I simply have nostamina. My O2 is ok but I am not the same. Also I am coughing all thetime now and I rarely coughed before the vats. Joyce Rudy AZ>