recovery after pneumonectomy; O2 levels - 1255802

heidilstaples
Posts:9

My mother has returned home 6 days after a right pneumonectomy. She was off the oxygen but had to have it for the first time today. It is believed she has just been over-doing it. I am wondering how to help her with this--how does one know what over-doing means BEFORE one needs the oxygen? Can she do anything to help herself oxygenate (drink more water, etc.). Thanks for any ideas. I am not her care-giver right now and am frantic to help in some way from a distance. I have sent some books--she loves Betty White--and pictures of her grand-daughter. Any other ideas are very welcome.

Thanks.

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Reply # - April 19, 2013, 08:16 PM

Dr West
Posts: 4735

I'm sorry that this is a little outside of the range of what we do as oncologists, but I think it would be helpful for her or someone working with her to touch base with either the surgeon or a pulmonary specialist about pulmonary rehab programs that can maximize her lung function as readily as possible.

Good luck.

-Dr. West

Reply # - April 21, 2013, 05:24 PM

dutch46
Posts: 38

After her lobectomy (resection of almost 2/3 of her left lung) my wife had issues with low oxygen levels on several occasions. Turned out that she had recurrences of pneumonia. An X-ray could quickly determine if that is an issue. She does measure every day her oxygen saturation level. Not so much to micro manage it but to get a heads up when those levels are dropping off. Normal is 97-98, when it get to 90 and below there is something going on. Oxygen saturation meters can be bought at most pharmacies for abt $30 and are easy to use. Her issues with shortness of breath are almost gone and easily walks at a good pace for up to an hour.

My wife, 66 yrs.
DX Mar 11 NSCLC mBAC
Mar 11 lobectomy left LL & lower UL.
Scans: May 11 clean; July 11 bilateral GGOs; Sep 11 more prominent GGOs;
Dec 11 worsening GGOs w/ few foci more dense consolidation
Jan 12 transformation to classic adenocarcinoma
Feb 12 PET scan further growth, no mets, BRAF positive (V600E)
Mar 12 started Carbo-Alimta chemo
Apr (25) 12 CT scan showed improvement in comparison to Feb 12 scan
Jun (25) 12 CT scan showed continued and remarkable improvement
Started Alimta only maintenance
Sep (19) 12 CT scan showed stable condition
Jan (2) 13 CT scan showed improvement from prior scan - no new lesions -
Alimta maintenance to continue

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