How long did it take your child to recover from a thoracotomy?

[hackneyzoo]

DS (6) is having a thoracotomy on friday so they can take a biopsy of a tumour around his chest/neck.
Has anyone had experience of this? How long were you in hospital for? Was your child back to school fairly soon after discharge from hospital or did they need some time off to recover? I was expecting them to do another needle biopsy and a thoracotomy seems quite a big/invasive procedure.

Has anyone had experience of this as an adult?

Bumping this for you Hackney....I don't have any experience of it but it sounds frightening for you, and I'm sure someone will be able to provide you with some reassurance....The very best of luck to your lovely little boy! Do he think he will be a brave boy? (Braver than his mummy?)

Just thought I'd update in case anyone is in the same situation in the future.
DS was a total star, the thoracotomy went well, he was only in theatre fro about two hours.
He came round and was on a morphine self regulated pump, which kept the pain at bay. He ate well that evening too (after fasting all day). He slept well that night, the main discomfort was from his chest pain, however there was a line in delivering pain killer direct to that area so it was under control.
24 hours after the op the drain was removed, he was given morphine and something to stop him remembering the procedure and it was fine.
By day three he was off HDU an doff the morphine and today he has come home. He is sore and stiff but his wound is healing nicely and he's on his feet and paracetamol and brufen seem to be keeping on top of the pain.

Hackney, thank you for this, I keep checking in to see if any update from you. Your little man sounds like a complete hero! What a boy!

Is there a biopsy situation, and do you have a prediction about the likely outcome? Will you be able to out this behind you all soon?

Warmest wishes to you...

Waiting for biopsy result but should get some news by the end of the week. The tumour's been there since he was a baby, it went from malignant to benign. It's never been formally diagnosed despite biopsy samples being looked at at GOSH and the Marsden etc.. It was monitored with 12 weekly MRIs. It stopped growing and for the last few years it has shrunk as he has grown. However ,the last mri revealed it had grown (almost doubled) since last scan. He is perfectly healthy apart from a slight weakness and pins and needles sensation in his left arm, his bloods and urine have all come back clear, so we are keeping positive and hoping it's nothing too sinister. However, in reality, if it's growing, whatever it is, it will need treatment of some sort.

Hello Hackney...I was wondering if any news or updates in your son's progress? Biopsy results? X

The biopsy showed the tumour wasn't malignant, which is a massive relief. They want to compare these samples to previous samples and so we are going back in 2 weeks. Thinks it's either a ganlioneuroma or a nerve sheath tumour (both associated with neufofibromatosis which he doesn't have), so we'll wait and see. Just glad that it's nothing aggressive. :)

Wonderful Hackney, so pleased to hear that! Warmest wishes to you and your brave son! I hope the next round of investigation is equally positive.

Fantastic news :). Hope he rest of his treatment goes well.