My eyes look the same, they just see differently

(originally published in Caregivingly Yours April 30, 2012)

“How long do I have to live?” to “How soon can I return to my normal daily life?” in less than four months has been an emotional and mental roller coaster ride that left the tracks long ago.

Back when I was first coping with ‘how long do I have to live?’ (but concealing lung cancer from everyone) I wrote an entry exercise, fitness, caregiving for Multiple Sclerosis in which I guestimated I had pushed Patti’s wheelchairs at least 5,000 miles (8,000 kilometers) over the decades.

So with my successful surgery and recovery in the past tense and one test push under the belt it was time to add some mileage.

Under 68˚F (20°C) sunny skies we looped City Islandin the Susquehanna River on Sunday for a mile plus (1.6+ km) outing. Originally planning on just using the level paved walking/biking path I soon was all terrain from my personal favorite concrete beach through water golf, scenic overlooks, picnic pavilions and docks.

Can anyone really push themself until they have pushed another?


by Patrick Leer

Lung Cancer Surgery Recovery Update:

Returned to Planet Fitness on Wednesday, six weeks to the day after successful lung cancer surgery. Cleared by surgeon, I completed full circuit of strength training equipment at "girly man" resistance with no problems. Get to add 10 lbs per day. Awesome scar!  Working on my 'shark bite' stories for Jersey Shore surf this summer.

Returned to MS Caregiving on Thursday, taking Patti for an unassisted outing, driving our wheelchair van, picking Patti up at her care facility, pushing and pulling Patti in her wheelchair in and out of our van and all around Walmart. ... No, not the most exciting outing but we needed to replenish her preferred brand toiletries, etc. and Walmart is if anything 'level' and big.

Surgeon offered that while I may be able to rebuild to pre-surgery strength levels in gym in a week, it may take two weeks before I return to pre-surgery caregiving abilities as more muscle combinations are involved.

I behaved and did not attempt a 'one person unassisted transfer'. I am saving that for the finale in likely two weeks. 

by Patrick Leer

(originally published Caregivingly Yours April 27, 2012)

Labels: caregiver, caregiving, carer, lung cancer, Multiple Sclerosis

lung cancer surgery recovery

"He who knows when he can fight and when he cannot, will be victorious.” 

Sun Tzu, ‘The Art of War’

At the theoretical half way point of recovery from lung surgery, the word itself remains somewhat alien after decades of spouse caregiving for Multiple Sclerosis.

Me feeling a little better each day is strange, almost guilty, contrasted to decades of MS caregiving where ‘progress’ is measured in slowing decline.

Though after three weeks not every lesson learned is a quandary. Foolishly trying to be ‘muy macho’ I kept the pain meds in the bottle - until the first time I coughed or accidently rolled over on my surgical side while sleeping, then I grabbed that Oxycontin like a baby grabs its bottle. … Though unlike a chronic illness, hour by hour it does get better. Yesterday, I only took two (2) ibuprofen.

For me, mainly it’s my ribs that were retracted for surgery that ache and ribs take time.

Essentially recovery is about not stressing my incisions. I have lifting restrictions. My surgeon’s anecdotes of repairing lung hernias for those who do not listen were deterrent enough for me. Not lifting more than 5 lbs - also means no pulling, no pushing, no sliding, etc of anything over 5 lbs for six weeks.

While I do not need assistance with my activities of daily living, our adult daughter has been a godsend for grocery shopping, lawn mowing, etc. even things I never foresaw such as lifting the weights weekly on our grandfather clock.

Exercising and strengthening lungs ... When I woke up after surgery I was handed my very own Voldyne 5000! Actually it’s rather fun once you get the hang of it, inhaling steadily to try and keep the bobber suspended in the “best” range.

Walking is unrestricted. I’ve currently built up walking to a mile twice daily, stretching it each day. Pre-surgery I walked two miles most days of the week.  

I must confess that in our parallel universe I have found it helpful in my healing that Patti’s outings from her care facility, now made possible by our daughter, have only fallen off about one day a week during my recovery.

by Patrick Leer

(originally posted Caregivingly Yours April 7, 2012)