Recovery from surgery

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Deanie0916
Deanie0916 Member Posts: 616 Member
in Kidney Cancer #1

Hi, I am new here, reading all of your posts has helped me a lot, just knowing that there are others goin through similar experiences helps a lot. I had surgery on August 30th to remove my left kidney which contined Hubert the Evil Mass (4 lb!!). So glad it is outta there! I am back at work and slowly getting better. I have a question about recovery, my doctor says bowel function probably won't be back to normal for about 3 months. I don't have the alien poop anymore but still having issues with being very uncomfortable after eating. I am trying to stay away from gassy foods so that helps but any suggestions for diet and or expecations would help me a lot. I am limiting meat protein and salt intake per doctor's suggestion. Thanks!

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  • Footstomper
    Footstomper Member Posts: 1,237 Member
    #2
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    Welcome

    4lb!!! Thats pretty impressive, do you know its dimentions or staging?. I always recommend moist flushable towelettes.

  • mrou50
    mrou50 Member Posts: 389 Member
    #3
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    Eating

    I couldn't really eat much for the first few weeks that would not irritate my bowels but things did get better.  By the fifth week of recovery I was eating regular food and everything was passing with out any issues.  Be patient it gets better.

    Mark

  • todd121
    todd121 Member Posts: 1,448 Member
    #4
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    Bowel Function

    I had a colonoscopy about 6 months after my surgery. It took longer for me to return to normal after that than the surgery. I was pretty much back to normal after 6 weeks.

    Limiting sodium and protein if you have poor kidney function is a good idea. I suggest making sure you're getting enough fiber in your diet. If you don't like eating natural fiber in the form of veggies and grains, then use a fiber supplement.

    Drinking plenty of water is important for both bowel function and kidney function.

    Getting enough exercise is also really important for normal bowel function.

    Hope you return to normal soon enough.

    Todd

  • JerzyGrrl
    JerzyGrrl Member Posts: 760 Member
    #5
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    How often and how much...

    ...Do you eat?  Is there an amount of food that doesn't make you feel uncomfortable? Hopefully you can limit the amounts you're eating to get it to a comfortable amount into you and do that multiple times a day. 

    Also, if you're exercising (Do!), maybe try exercising before you eat rather than after and see if that makes any difference.  Walking through out the day? Swimming?

    What do you do to de-stress? Cuddle your cat? Yoga? Color? Tai Chi? Meditation? Relaxation can help, too. 

    And... having a low stool handy to put in front of the toilet while you're sitting on it so that your feet are just a bit elevated helps. 

  • Deanie0916
    Deanie0916 Member Posts: 616 Member
    edited November 2016 #6
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    mrou50 said:

    Eating

    I couldn't really eat much for the first few weeks that would not irritate my bowels but things did get better.  By the fifth week of recovery I was eating regular food and everything was passing with out any issues.  Be patient it gets better.

    Mark

    Thank you for your response,

    Thank you for your response, I appreciate it.

  • Deanie0916
    Deanie0916 Member Posts: 616 Member
    #7
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    todd121 said:

    Bowel Function

    I had a colonoscopy about 6 months after my surgery. It took longer for me to return to normal after that than the surgery. I was pretty much back to normal after 6 weeks.

    Limiting sodium and protein if you have poor kidney function is a good idea. I suggest making sure you're getting enough fiber in your diet. If you don't like eating natural fiber in the form of veggies and grains, then use a fiber supplement.

    Drinking plenty of water is important for both bowel function and kidney function.

    Getting enough exercise is also really important for normal bowel function.

    Hope you return to normal soon enough.

    Todd

    Hi Todd, thanks for the

    Hi Todd, thanks for the suggestions. I am getting fiber and trying to drink lots of water, appreciate you responding.

  • Deanie0916
    Deanie0916 Member Posts: 616 Member
    #8
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    JerzyGrrl said:

    How often and how much...

    ...Do you eat?  Is there an amount of food that doesn't make you feel uncomfortable? Hopefully you can limit the amounts you're eating to get it to a comfortable amount into you and do that multiple times a day. 

    Also, if you're exercising (Do!), maybe try exercising before you eat rather than after and see if that makes any difference.  Walking through out the day? Swimming?

    What do you do to de-stress? Cuddle your cat? Yoga? Color? Tai Chi? Meditation? Relaxation can help, too. 

    And... having a low stool handy to put in front of the toilet while you're sitting on it so that your feet are just a bit elevated helps. 

    Hi JerzyGrrl, thanks for

    Hi JerzyGrrl, thanks for answering! I am eating less in quantity and more times a day. I walk once or twice a day, I never thought to time it before eating but it usually happens that way. I do have a cuddle cat who has helped me a lot! I have not tried the stool, that is a good idea, thanks!

  • Deanie0916
    Deanie0916 Member Posts: 616 Member
    #9
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    Footstomper said:

    Welcome

    4lb!!! Thats pretty impressive, do you know its dimentions or staging?. I always recommend moist flushable towelettes.

    Thanks for the tip,

    Thanks for the tip, Footstomper. I do indeed appreciate the towelettes. Hubert's dimensions were 20x15x12 cm. The staging was IIIa. Thanks for your response.

  • Footstomper
    Footstomper Member Posts: 1,237 Member
    edited November 2016 #10
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    Deanie0916 said:

    Hi JerzyGrrl, thanks for

    Hi JerzyGrrl, thanks for answering! I am eating less in quantity and more times a day. I walk once or twice a day, I never thought to time it before eating but it usually happens that way. I do have a cuddle cat who has helped me a lot! I have not tried the stool, that is a good idea, thanks!

    I just remembered

    Post op I ate a vast amount of Ben and Jerry's Cookie dough Ice Cream

  • Deanie0916
    Deanie0916 Member Posts: 616 Member
    #11
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    Footstomper said:

    I just remembered

    Post op I ate a vast amount of Ben and Jerry's Cookie dough Ice Cream

    Hmmm

    My favorite is Ben & Jerry's Vanilla Caramel Fudge...my downfall! :-)

     

  • Footstomper
    Footstomper Member Posts: 1,237 Member
    edited November 2016 #12
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    Deanie0916 said:

    Hmmm

    My favorite is Ben & Jerry's Vanilla Caramel Fudge...my downfall! :-)

     

    You're excused

    Go for that Ben and Jerry's!

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