Re: Had My VATS at UM - Just got out of hospital

[Guest guest]

Dave,

Many of us got more than we bargained for with our VATS experiences. Massive Pain was one of mine too...lots of oedema & a cut nerve...make sure you stay in contact with your surgeon. They will check for anything out of the ordinary.

Mine took lots of time & lots of painkillers!

Rest up too!

in Oz

>> Hello Terre and other I have spoken to on this web site. > Just got home from the hospital, I have massive pain on my right side where I got vats, did not expect so much pain. Doctor saw diffuse scaring and I am waiting for pathologist test to hopefully find the reason for my fibrosis. Hoping its not IPF.> > How are you doing Terre, did you see Dr. Glassberg???> > Dave>

[Guest guest]

Thanks ,

Actually feeling a little better today. i was on blood thinners in the hospital

until yesterday morning, I took a regular aspirin today noe that I am home -

hope that was okay - having some bad localized pain in my lower back, almost by

the top of my pelvis below the operation site about 6 inches, dont know why.

Breathing good today and trying not to take the pain killers unless I really

need them, (would like to make a bowel movement), I think the pain killers is

constipating me.

Should I take aspirin, aleve, or tylonol if I dont want to take the percocet for

the pain?

Dave

> >

> > Hello Terre and other I have spoken to on this web site.

> > Just got home from the hospital, I have massive pain on my right side

> where I got vats, did not expect so much pain. Doctor saw diffuse

> scaring and I am waiting for pathologist test to hopefully find the

> reason for my fibrosis. Hoping its not IPF.

> >

> > How are you doing Terre, did you see Dr. Glassberg???

> >

> > Dave

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Dave,

" Nurse" can't help but jump in here with a couple of suggestions. I understand being reluctant to take the narcotics for pain relief. The only concern I have with that is being in pain leads one to take much more shallow breaths. Not getting sufficient air in and out is a problem. You need to do what you must to be comfortable so that you are breathing as deeply as possible and coughing when necessary. I'm hoping that you are using the incentive spirometer that they gave you in the hospital. It's important. Ask your doctor what you can take if you aren't going to take the percocet.

If you're having difficulty moving your bowels again ask your doctor. Moving around helps, lots of fluid helps, as does fiber obviously. If none of this is working ask your doctor if you can take Miralax to get yourself back on track.

Please check with your doctor about meds, don't try to do this all on your own.

Beth

Moderator

Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 Dermatomyositis 11/08

To: Breathe-Support Sent: Sat, November 7, 2009 1:05:41 PMSubject: Re: Had My VATS at UM - Just got out of hospital

Thanks ,Actually feeling a little better today. i was on blood thinners in the hospital until yesterday morning, I took a regular aspirin today noe that I am home - hope that was okay - having some bad localized pain in my lower back, almost by the top of my pelvis below the operation site about 6 inches, dont know why.Breathing good today and trying not to take the pain killers unless I really need them, (would like to make a bowel movement), I think the pain killers is constipating me.Should I take aspirin, aleve, or tylonol if I dont want to take the percocet for the pain?Dave> >> > Hello Terre and other I have spoken to on this web site.> > Just got home from the hospital, I have massive pain on my right side> where I got vats, did not expect so much pain. Doctor saw diffuse> scaring and I am waiting for pathologist test to hopefully find the> reason for my fibrosis. Hoping its not IPF.> >> >

How are you doing Terre, did you see Dr. Glassberg???> >> > Dave> >>

[Guest guest]

Dave

I double what MB said from my personal experience. I didn't think I

needed pain meds, but my breathing on the incentive spirometer was too

low and risk of pneumonia increased. I was told my lungs were reacting

to the pain even though it wasn't bothering me unduly due to my

exceptionally high pain threshold (probably tied in with my neuropathy).

Once I started the pain meds, my incentive spirometry results went up. I

do hope you're continuing to use your incentive spirometer and compare

what you're reaching to what you were hitting in the hospital. Any drop

is cause for concern. The risk of pneumonia is significant and deep

breathing essential.

As to bowel movements, that is not something to ignore either. You don't

want additional problems.

As to taking the aspirin, no, unless you received doctor's permission it

isn't ok. There is a reason percocet was prescribed. Please get in

contact with your doctor's office about your problems but unless you've

got a history of substance abuse, the percocet is better than the

alternatives.

Please take care.

> > >

> > > Hello Terre and other I have spoken to on this web site.

> > > Just got home from the hospital, I have massive pain on my right

side

> > where I got vats, did not expect so much pain. Doctor saw diffuse

> > scaring and I am waiting for pathologist test to hopefully find the

> > reason for my fibrosis. Hoping its not IPF.

> > >

> > > How are you doing Terre, did you see Dr. Glassberg???

> > >

> > > Dave

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Bruce,

I can use the incentive spirometer to its max (2500 ml) on all my exercises

every hour and also easily cough out any mucus if it is present.

I just want to step down on meds, why take percocet if not needed? Why not take

something much less powerful.

Thanks Bruce for the help. It is nice to talk with other people who are going

through what you are. I think observers around you (friends and family) dont

take this disease as seriously as they do when they hear the word CANCER.

Dave

> > > >

> > > > Hello Terre and other I have spoken to on this web site.

> > > > Just got home from the hospital, I have massive pain on my right

> side

> > > where I got vats, did not expect so much pain. Doctor saw diffuse

> > > scaring and I am waiting for pathologist test to hopefully find the

> > > reason for my fibrosis. Hoping its not IPF.

> > > >

> > > > How are you doing Terre, did you see Dr. Glassberg???

> > > >

> > > > Dave

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Dave

Thats super that you're able to get to those levels and doing your

exercises. Still, if you need the pain meds, take them. Many of us

experienced considerable pain after our VATS. For me, it was at one

level for a couple of weeks, a lower level for about three months. Even

today I experience some if I move wrong or press in certain areas. Still

slight reminders that someone was inside cutting on my lung. But,

nothing of any significance.

> > > > >

> > > > > Hello Terre and other I have spoken to on this web site.

> > > > > Just got home from the hospital, I have massive pain on my

right

> > side

> > > > where I got vats, did not expect so much pain. Doctor saw

diffuse

> > > > scaring and I am waiting for pathologist test to hopefully find

the

> > > > reason for my fibrosis. Hoping its not IPF.

> > > > >

> > > > > How are you doing Terre, did you see Dr. Glassberg???

> > > > >

> > > > > Dave

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I have a lot of friends in a 12 step program who don't like taking pain meds

<FONT face="comic sans ms" color=#40007f size=3> Soulliere & nbsp; <IMG src="http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/tsmileys2/50.gif"></FONT>

To: Breathe-Support Sent: Sat, November 7, 2009 1:22:27 PMSubject: Re: Re: Had My VATS at UM - Just got out of hospital

Dave,

" Nurse" can't help but jump in here with a couple of suggestions. I understand being reluctant to take the narcotics for pain relief. The only concern I have with that is being in pain leads one to take much more shallow breaths. Not getting sufficient air in and out is a problem. You need to do what you must to be comfortable so that you are breathing as deeply as possible and coughing when necessary. I'm hoping that you are using the incentive spirometer that they gave you in the hospital. It's important. Ask your doctor what you can take if you aren't going to take the percocet.

If you're having difficulty moving your bowels again ask your doctor. Moving around helps, lots of fluid helps, as does fiber obviously. If none of this is working ask your doctor if you can take Miralax to get yourself back on track.

Please check with your doctor about meds, don't try to do this all on your own.

Beth

Moderator

Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 Dermatomyositis 11/08

From: davegreg11 <davegreg11 (AT) yahoo (DOT) com>To: Breathe-Support@ yahoogroups. comSent: Sat, November 7, 2009 1:05:41 PMSubject: Re: Had My VATS at UM - Just got out of hospital

Thanks ,Actually feeling a little better today. i was on blood thinners in the hospital until yesterday morning, I took a regular aspirin today noe that I am home - hope that was okay - having some bad localized pain in my lower back, almost by the top of my pelvis below the operation site about 6 inches, dont know why.Breathing good today and trying not to take the pain killers unless I really need them, (would like to make a bowel movement), I think the pain killers is constipating me.Should I take aspirin, aleve, or tylonol if I dont want to take the percocet for the pain?Dave> >> > Hello Terre and other I have spoken to on this web site.> > Just got home from the hospital, I have massive pain on my right side> where I got vats, did not expect so much pain. Doctor saw diffuse> scaring and I am waiting for pathologist test to hopefully find the> reason for my fibrosis. Hoping its not IPF.> >> >

How are you doing Terre, did you see Dr. Glassberg???> >> > Dave> >>

[Guest guest]

Hi Dave,

Glad to see that most all went well for you. Sorry to hear that you have such

bad pain. I took Aleve and some aspirin for mine. (not together). I'm not sure

what you can take along with blood thinners.

I have this strange sensation of pain that runs from the incision in my back

around to the front center. If I press on that area it doesn't hurt. If my shirt

just touches it I feel like I'm on fire. It's kind of like road rash but with

nothing visible. It always seems to be there as long as my shirt touches it.

I'm hoping that this will go away soon as it gets to be aggravating over time.

I haven't seen Dr. Glassberg yet. She called to tell me the findings and said

that we'd get together in a couple of weeks whe I was healed.

Take it easy and let us know how it's going.

Terre, IPF, 6-08, FL

> > >

> > > Hello Terre and other I have spoken to on this web site.

> > > Just got home from the hospital, I have massive pain on my right side

> > where I got vats, did not expect so much pain. Doctor saw diffuse

> > scaring and I am waiting for pathologist test to hopefully find the

> > reason for my fibrosis. Hoping its not IPF.

> > >

> > > How are you doing Terre, did you see Dr. Glassberg???

> > >

> > > Dave

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Bruce,

I can reach only 500 on the spirometer, I must say I dont do it regularly.

Is it too less?

Geeta

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Hello Terre and other I have spoken to on this web site.

> > > > > > Just got home from the hospital, I have massive pain on my

> right

> > > side

> > > > > where I got vats, did not expect so much pain. Doctor saw

> diffuse

> > > > > scaring and I am waiting for pathologist test to hopefully find

> the

> > > > > reason for my fibrosis. Hoping its not IPF.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > How are you doing Terre, did you see Dr. Glassberg???

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Dave

> > > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>