Three Weeks Post-Op Today

Recovery, resilience, and living with an invisible illness.

Three weeks ago today, I underwent surgery to remove the right middle lobe of my lung and approximately one-quarter of my right upper lobe.

I've lived with lung disease for over 10 years, but the past year and a half has brought a significant decline in my health.

It's interesting how others perceive our health based on what they can see.

For the most part, I've always looked healthy. My lung disease has been largely invisible. But behind that outward appearance has been the reality of worsening bronchiectasis, aspergillosis, and Nocardia infection. My pulmonary function testing (PFT) has also shown early COPD.

And now, here I am, three weeks into a new chapter of my health journey. One that I'm happy to share.

So, What Does Recovery Look Like?

In the beginning, my days revolved around a regular schedule of pain medication. I'm happy to say I haven't needed anything for almost a week!

My incision is healing, although it's reached that itchy, scabbed-over stage. And perhaps one of the biggest milestones? I can finally sleep in my own bed again!

Unfortunately, I was recently exposed to a virus and developed a cough that is triggered by activity. Talk about a symptom I really didn't need right now!

I'd be lying if I said it hasn't caused some worry. I'm working hard at not allowing negative thoughts to creep in, especially after everything I've been through to get to this point.

My daily routine currently includes airway clearance twice a day, continued antibiotics under the guidance of my specialists, using my incentive spirometer every two hours, and gradually increasing how much I walk.

At my first postoperative appointment, the surgical team removed a dissolvable stitch that had worked its way to the surface. My chest X-ray showed appropriate healing with no signs of infection. I was also cleared to drive again!

I'll return to the surgical team in two weeks and will hopefully be released from their care. My next pulmonology appointment isn't until the end of the month.

Learning to Respect Recovery

My energy continues to fluctuate, and I still tire pretty easily. I'm also cautious about crowded places and will likely continue masking for the next couple of weeks.

Recovery isn't always a straight line. Some days feel encouraging, while others remind me that healing takes time.

As a nurse, I understand the importance of following a recovery plan. But experiencing it firsthand brings an entirely different perspective.

Knowing what to do and actually living through it are two very different things.

Why I'm Sharing

I've learned that so much of what people experience with chronic illness happens quietly, behind the scenes.

You can look healthy and still be managing something significant. You can be making progress and still have moments of uncertainty.

I'm sharing my experience in hopes that someone navigating a similar journey might feel a little less alone.

For now, I'm taking things one day at a time, celebrating the small milestones, and reminding myself that rest is just as important as movement.

Three weeks down. Still healing. Still learning. And grateful to be moving forward.

And speaking of moving forward, my next chapter includes pulmonary rehabilitation. I'll be sharing what that first day looks like from both a nurse's and a patient's perspective.

Kelly