Awaiting Lung Surgery :(

[sardon87]

Hello everyone,
I am new here having joined this evening. Apologies if this post isn't in the appropriate category; not quite sure what and where I am supposed to do things on here yet!
Very anxious, stressed and upset at the moment if I am totally honest. To cut the story short, I am booked in to have major chest surgery during early August to remove cysts from my lungs. My biggest cause of worry is having to be separated from my lovely 3 year old son. Of course he will be fine with his dad, my sister and grandparents who are all helping to care for him but I have never been away from him before and will miss him massively :'(

Obviously I am petrified of the surgery too. Felt very tearful and panicky this evening. Feels like my head is spinning as I have so much to sort out before I go into hospital. Everytime I try and talk about it to someone I well up with tears so that is why I have turned to the internet to hopefully hear some encouraging words as talking face-to-face is so difficult for me. I've always been an emotional type but at the moment this is very stressful and the tears come all to easily......:/

[MumOnACornishFarm]

Sorry to hear that OP. What has caused the cysts, if you don't mind me asking? I ask because my 1 yo DS is waiting for surgery to remove half of his lung due to cysts.
How long do you expect to be in hospital? Is it close enough to home that your DS will be to visit you?

[NicknameUsed]

It's only natural to feel like this. Good luck with the op

[sardon87]

Hello, thank you for the replies. The cysts are known as bronchogenic and they are congenital. I'm 33 now and only found out I had them 8 weeks ago when I started having chest pains and shortness of breath and an MRI was done which revealed them. I've had them since birth and lived with them all this time oblivious lol. One of them is about 3 inches and started to compress the airway so it's vital it is removed ASAP.

I was worried about DS coming to see me as it may confuse or upset him but I would love to see him as i'll miss him desperately :'(

[message edited by MNHQ to remove the name of the OPs son]

Thank you for lovely replies xx

[sardon87]

MumonaCornishFarm: sorry to hear about your little son, bless him. Hope his surgery goes well xxx

[MumOnACornishFarm]

I'm so sorry OP, it must be very scary and stressful. Is the prognosis good though? Once they've been taken out is that the end of it?

[TheWindInThePillows]

That sounds incredibly stressful OP. I don't have any great words of comfort, because it is a horrible thing to go through, but I do also think that even if you cry, weep, wail and so forth, you will still get through it, step by step and with your family support. This also sounds very unexpected, so you are adjusting to the new way things are, which will happen. Good luck with it all.

[sardon87]

Thank you, they consultant estimates that he'd keep me in 7-10 days with the first 2 days in High Dependency under sedation to allow my lungs to rest. Once these cysts are out that's it, they are not the sort to grow back he said so I suppose that's a positive. I am just trying to focus on getting it done and over with and getting back out to my boy. xxx

[MumOnACornishFarm]

Well I think that's precisely the right attitude, and you actually sound very strong and determined. I know you may not feel that way at the moment. It's great news that the prognosis is so positive; the surgery and hospital stay may be very scary and stressful but you'll be able to put it behind you.

[sardon87]

Thank you

[goingtotown]

DB had this operation in January at UCH London. He is 39. He came home on the 5th day & was taking paracetamol/ibrufen at home for a week. Back to work after 4 weeks, running after 3 months. Good Luck, try not to stress you'll be fine.

[gobbin]

My DS was 3 when I had my first lot of bowel surgery and wasn't phased at all by seeing me in hospital. He was fascinated, in fact! In your case I would def wait until you're on a normal ward and off high dep as it'll be more like 'mummy in bed'.

Try to not panic about the op. Remaining outwardly calm will help staff do their jobs and in my various op experiences they have been quiet, pleasant, calming, humerous (picking up on my mood) and efficient. Have never had a bad experience going down for the op.

Good luck, they wouldn't do it if it wasn't needed so you'll no doubt feel the benefit afterwards. now cos you won't be allowed them on the ward 😀

[sardon87]

Thank you all for reassuring messages.
Goingtotown: Hope your DB has recovered well now. He's the first person I have heard of to have exactly what I am having done as I've been told these type of cysts are rare. That doesn't sound too scary now. Thank you. Currently having a mad clean this weekend (it's a bit like nesting when pregnant, or that's what it reminds me of at least!). Cannot stand to lie in hospital thinking about all the jobs I should have done so trying to get them out the way now. Had to pop onto here to read the lovely replies first though.

[sardon87]

Gobbin: bless you, that must have been a big operation. Hope you are ok now. I'm not sure what to expect re. High Dependency, is it a bit like Intensive Care? Not too clued up on medical stuff as you can tell lol.

[Kbear]

wishing you all the best for your op and your speedy recovery -

[layla2016]

I had cancer and a lot of surgery / treatment / hospital stays last year when ds was 4. It was hard obvs but you just get on with it and ds wasn't fazed about hospital visits at all. He didn't like me looking chemo sick but that's a different matter all together! I work in ICU and you will be looked after like a queen. Please try not to worry too much. Have a jolly good cry, get it out your system (I did this on the theatre nurse as I was walking down and I went in strangely calm), take a deep breath and see the light at the end of the tunnel xxxx

[layla2016]

HDU is a step down from ICU. Lots of equipment still and close monitoring but for the not so sick and usually close to ICU in case you need more intervention.

[sardon87]

Thank you. Three weeks to go now become the big day eeek! Still have to pack my hospital bag. Reminds me of being pregnant lol.