Newly Diagnosed, Scheduled for surgery at USC Keck Medical Center and scared as heck

2

Comments

  • tjspeeder
    tjspeeder Member Posts: 11
    a_oaklee said:

    Preop

    Hi TJ.  Welcome to our world, sorry about you having to be involved in all this.  I probably am writing to you a bit late considering your surgery is tomorrow.  To answer your question of what to expect tomorrow:  Arrive at the hospital at the designated time.  Usually they have people come at least 2 to 4 hours before their scheduled surgery time.  That way they can move your time up or back depending on their needs.  You will be asked to sign stuff (consents for surgery).  Wear comfortable clothes that you would want to wear home.  (Sweats).  Then you get to wear the lovely hospital gown.  You will be admitted to a staging area most likely.  The anesthesiologist will interview you, explain things, and probably do a little physical exam.  (listen to your lungs, and of course, "x" marks the spot).  My husbands anesthesiologist asked him some strange things, like name all the animals that you can that start with the letter A.  He had him list numerous things.  He wanted to check neurological mental function pre and post surgery.  It was actually kind of funny.  Nice guy that helped relax both of us.  Who would think we would be laughing?  They start an IV in your arm.  Perhaps they will move you to the operating room area next.  Then into the operating room itself.  You will be awake, as they will want you to scoot over the operating room table.  After that you won't remember a darn thing.  You also will not remember going to recovery room.  But after surgery, your first question will be "is it done?"  And of course it is.  Time seems to stand still.  Amazing phenom.  Most people do not go to the ICU.  But if you do go there it will be for some intense monitoring before they discharge you to a regular unit.  Everyone you meet will be asking you your name, birthday, and allergies.  It gets old fast, but they are being careful and doing their job correctly.  You will probably wake up with an IV or Two, a foley catheter, and a big bandage on you, perhaps a drainage tube that's small.  You might have a button that you can push to give yourself pain medications through the IV.  Whatever you need....ask.  They may give you a spirometer.  It is a little plastic device that you blow into to reach a certain predetermined airflow.  Basically, they want you to inflate your lungs post-op.  Most people post surgery breathe pretty shallow, and that's not good.  So my advice to you is to use that little device as much as they tell you to.  In the old days they made you cough.  That kind of hurts, but does work too.  My husband had a more involved surgery than what yours is hopefully.  He did really well.  Was in a chair the next day and walking after that.  He went home in a week.  Take your pain medicines, drink lots of water, walk, and make sure you get some medicine to help you "go"...as in stool softeners.  Everything is going to be okay and before you know it, you will be on the road to recovery.  We will all be thinking of you and hope that you will respond back to us once you can.  Good luck.  Sleep well.

    Annie

    Thanks for all the helpful

    Thanks for all the helpful information everyone. Helps ease some of my nerves a bit. 11:57pm now, 3 more hours to leave for the hospital. 

  • Melliebean
    Melliebean Member Posts: 53
    tjspeeder said:

    Thanks for all the helpful

    Thanks for all the helpful information everyone. Helps ease some of my nerves a bit. 11:57pm now, 3 more hours to leave for the hospital. 

    Hope

    Hope all goes well for you. I will come back and read about your experience.  I'm waiting on my surgery that's scheduled August 11th.  Good luck and best bushes. 

  • foxhd
    foxhd Member Posts: 3,181 Member

    Hope

    Hope all goes well for you. I will come back and read about your experience.  I'm waiting on my surgery that's scheduled August 11th.  Good luck and best bushes. 

    It's a big step

    in the rest of your future. Trust your caregivers. Then you can concentrate on recovery. Try not to lose energy worrying. Move on. Get a good seat on this whacky bus trip. The journey may not be over yet. You will have to be vigilant in your follow ups.

  • todd121
    todd121 Member Posts: 1,448 Member
    Thinking of you today

    Hope it went well. Let us know when you're up to posting.

    Best,

    Todd

  • jacket69
    jacket69 Member Posts: 6
    Sorry you are going to have

    Sorry you are going to have to go through the surgery.  I was diagnosed with RCC on February 28 and had my kidney removed on March 12.  The procedure was done laparascopically and I was in the Hospital two days. I had minimal pain and some soreness.  I had some trouble sleeping but my doctor told be to take two benedril capsules before bedtime.  They don't hurt the kidney and have the same effect as Advil PM.  I didn't want to go through the surgery but all in all it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.  I was back to work 2 1/2 weeks after the surgery and now I feel no soreness or discomfort.  Good Luck

  • tjspeeder
    tjspeeder Member Posts: 11
    jacket69 said:

    Sorry you are going to have

    Sorry you are going to have to go through the surgery.  I was diagnosed with RCC on February 28 and had my kidney removed on March 12.  The procedure was done laparascopically and I was in the Hospital two days. I had minimal pain and some soreness.  I had some trouble sleeping but my doctor told be to take two benedril capsules before bedtime.  They don't hurt the kidney and have the same effect as Advil PM.  I didn't want to go through the surgery but all in all it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.  I was back to work 2 1/2 weeks after the surgery and now I feel no soreness or discomfort.  Good Luck

    sick of hospitals now

    update,  had  my surgery. by robotic da vinci. afterwards at the keck hospital had some complication, ans surgery took almost 8hrs. high heart rate, fevers, which they thoght was blood clot, but after 6 more scans they could not find nothing, they did not know what to do with me, my body was defying everything they thought was wrong, a panel of doctors could not find anything. no being scared, my family frantic i transferred to a local hospital closer to home in ventura, which they checked my white cell count and was running at 25. they diagnosised it as infection mass left over from the surgery. im still in the hospital waiting for second procrdure do drain this infected mass, with a drain tube. 

    cant beleive all the hasstle i have been through over the last 2weeks. depressing, annoying that they did not find this at the Keck hospital which is supposed to be one of the leading cancer hospitals. 

    im able to walk in between ivy of antibiotics try and build my stomach mucles back and cure some boredom, anxiety from being in the hospital so long. sad being away from my kids so long. any prayers very welcome as im scheduled for my second procedure tomorrow afternoon. been a emtional wreck. 

  • Melliebean
    Melliebean Member Posts: 53
    tjspeeder said:

    sick of hospitals now

    update,  had  my surgery. by robotic da vinci. afterwards at the keck hospital had some complication, ans surgery took almost 8hrs. high heart rate, fevers, which they thoght was blood clot, but after 6 more scans they could not find nothing, they did not know what to do with me, my body was defying everything they thought was wrong, a panel of doctors could not find anything. no being scared, my family frantic i transferred to a local hospital closer to home in ventura, which they checked my white cell count and was running at 25. they diagnosised it as infection mass left over from the surgery. im still in the hospital waiting for second procrdure do drain this infected mass, with a drain tube. 

    cant beleive all the hasstle i have been through over the last 2weeks. depressing, annoying that they did not find this at the Keck hospital which is supposed to be one of the leading cancer hospitals. 

    im able to walk in between ivy of antibiotics try and build my stomach mucles back and cure some boredom, anxiety from being in the hospital so long. sad being away from my kids so long. any prayers very welcome as im scheduled for my second procedure tomorrow afternoon. been a emtional wreck. 

    Hi

    Glad you checked back in with us.  My surgery is getting closer.  I will pray for you.  I know what it's like to be stuck in the hospital because of an infection along time. Not fun.  Now that they know they will get you sorted out and on the road to recovery hopefully.  

  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    tjspeeder said:

    sick of hospitals now

    update,  had  my surgery. by robotic da vinci. afterwards at the keck hospital had some complication, ans surgery took almost 8hrs. high heart rate, fevers, which they thoght was blood clot, but after 6 more scans they could not find nothing, they did not know what to do with me, my body was defying everything they thought was wrong, a panel of doctors could not find anything. no being scared, my family frantic i transferred to a local hospital closer to home in ventura, which they checked my white cell count and was running at 25. they diagnosised it as infection mass left over from the surgery. im still in the hospital waiting for second procrdure do drain this infected mass, with a drain tube. 

    cant beleive all the hasstle i have been through over the last 2weeks. depressing, annoying that they did not find this at the Keck hospital which is supposed to be one of the leading cancer hospitals. 

    im able to walk in between ivy of antibiotics try and build my stomach mucles back and cure some boredom, anxiety from being in the hospital so long. sad being away from my kids so long. any prayers very welcome as im scheduled for my second procedure tomorrow afternoon. been a emtional wreck. 

    Routine surgery

    tj,

     

    While a Neph is routine surgery it is still major abdominal surgery and does carry some surgecal risks like infection which occasionally occur. Sorry you had to go thru one of those occasions.

     

    Hopefully you will bounce back real soon and the complications you went thru will rarely if ever be faced by others.

     

    Icemantoo

  • APny
    APny Member Posts: 1,995 Member
    icemantoo said:

    Routine surgery

    tj,

     

    While a Neph is routine surgery it is still major abdominal surgery and does carry some surgecal risks like infection which occasionally occur. Sorry you had to go thru one of those occasions.

     

    Hopefully you will bounce back real soon and the complications you went thru will rarely if ever be faced by others.

     

    Icemantoo

    So sorry you're going through

    So sorry you're going through all this. My thoughts and prayers are with you and hoping you're over this and out of there soon!

  • twinthings
    twinthings Member Posts: 409
    tjspeeder said:

    sick of hospitals now

    update,  had  my surgery. by robotic da vinci. afterwards at the keck hospital had some complication, ans surgery took almost 8hrs. high heart rate, fevers, which they thoght was blood clot, but after 6 more scans they could not find nothing, they did not know what to do with me, my body was defying everything they thought was wrong, a panel of doctors could not find anything. no being scared, my family frantic i transferred to a local hospital closer to home in ventura, which they checked my white cell count and was running at 25. they diagnosised it as infection mass left over from the surgery. im still in the hospital waiting for second procrdure do drain this infected mass, with a drain tube. 

    cant beleive all the hasstle i have been through over the last 2weeks. depressing, annoying that they did not find this at the Keck hospital which is supposed to be one of the leading cancer hospitals. 

    im able to walk in between ivy of antibiotics try and build my stomach mucles back and cure some boredom, anxiety from being in the hospital so long. sad being away from my kids so long. any prayers very welcome as im scheduled for my second procedure tomorrow afternoon. been a emtional wreck. 

    Hi tj,
    What a nightmare!  So

    Hi tj,

    What a nightmare!  So sorry your experience has been anything but routine.  Sounds like you've been thru quite alot and, no wonder you're feeling blue and anxious.  I'd be exactly the same way.  But, you must try to keep your chin up.  Staying positive is realy important in your healing.    This emotional coaster ride won't last forever, it just feels like it will.  It will all be behind you before long and you'll be stronger for it.

    I'm guessing once they rid you of the infection mass, you'll start rebounding rapidly.  Your body won't have to fight so hard to heal, so, although I know it's hard to wrap your brain around, surgery tomorrow is a good thing.  That said, I'm so sorry you're going thru this!!

    I will lift you and your family in prayer.   

     

    Sindy

  • tjspeeder
    tjspeeder Member Posts: 11

    Hi tj,
    What a nightmare!  So

    Hi tj,

    What a nightmare!  So sorry your experience has been anything but routine.  Sounds like you've been thru quite alot and, no wonder you're feeling blue and anxious.  I'd be exactly the same way.  But, you must try to keep your chin up.  Staying positive is realy important in your healing.    This emotional coaster ride won't last forever, it just feels like it will.  It will all be behind you before long and you'll be stronger for it.

    I'm guessing once they rid you of the infection mass, you'll start rebounding rapidly.  Your body won't have to fight so hard to heal, so, although I know it's hard to wrap your brain around, surgery tomorrow is a good thing.  That said, I'm so sorry you're going thru this!!

    I will lift you and your family in prayer.   

     

    Sindy

    second minor surgery went

    second minor surgery went well, with a drain tube coming out my back draining the infection blood out, my white blood count has had a dramatic decrease from 19 right before to 12 now, my fevers are gone and feeling quite good, well thats with a little vicodin also. if all goes well i think they take it out tomorrow and release me with antibiotics tablets to take home. god has surely been looking out for me, and grateful for all you nice people. 

  • APny
    APny Member Posts: 1,995 Member
    tjspeeder said:

    second minor surgery went

    second minor surgery went well, with a drain tube coming out my back draining the infection blood out, my white blood count has had a dramatic decrease from 19 right before to 12 now, my fevers are gone and feeling quite good, well thats with a little vicodin also. if all goes well i think they take it out tomorrow and release me with antibiotics tablets to take home. god has surely been looking out for me, and grateful for all you nice people. 

    So glad you're doing better.

    So glad you're doing better. I'm sure you'll continue to improve rapidly now that the infection is under control. All the best to you!

  • twinthings
    twinthings Member Posts: 409
    tjspeeder said:

    second minor surgery went

    second minor surgery went well, with a drain tube coming out my back draining the infection blood out, my white blood count has had a dramatic decrease from 19 right before to 12 now, my fevers are gone and feeling quite good, well thats with a little vicodin also. if all goes well i think they take it out tomorrow and release me with antibiotics tablets to take home. god has surely been looking out for me, and grateful for all you nice people. 

    Happy to hear

    Great news!  Cheers to an uneventful recovery from this point forward.

  • tjspeeder
    tjspeeder Member Posts: 11

    Happy to hear

    Great news!  Cheers to an uneventful recovery from this point forward.

    disappointed in care

    Home after a few days of having this drain valve in and so far the doctors tell me that no infection was found, nothing was present in my blood. Blood was clean, white cells at 11 (Makes you think)

    Well what to do if doctors don’t want to listen to their patient, (when you suggest that the infection is somewhere else since I only had 50% lung capacity you would think this was obvious were the infection was)!

    Nope, doctors insisted on the procedure, not to find nothing there, just lingering blood the system would have reabsorbed eventually like a bruise.

    So drain valve put in was a procedure that wasn’t needed even though the doctors said it was.  Doctors wanted it to stay in for a few more days, so I have my first day home yesterday afternoon, today will be my first whole day home in 2 weeks.

    The drain has already causing issues here at home, making me feel faint, light headed, and giving me the sweats, dizziness, even nausea.

    Had to kneel down on the ground a couple times to avoid feeling sick, even my son saw me, he was like “daddy you ok?  I responded just feel a bit nauseous. My son replys you look very pale white like ghost.

    That scared me. Decided to not touch the drain valve. Call the hospital they were no help. They said if you feel that way come to the ER. (Last time at the ER waited 4 hrs.) just to be seen.

    There has got to be an easier way.

    Can’t believe this routine procedure they say, turned into this. Can I be in the 10% that has complications, or is this doctor negligence?

    Just really fed up with hospital, doctors (not all) but a lot of them. Nurses also (again not all of them were rude) but I would say while I stayed at VCMC, that 1% actually liked there job and wanted to be there to help patients, and you can tell in how passionate they are. Not sure transferring to VCMC was a good idea on my part, but missed my kids since they are all I have.

    Wish me luck, have 2 apt next week if I last that long, Tues, Wed.

     

    Thanks for all your support.

  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    tjspeeder said:

    disappointed in care

    Home after a few days of having this drain valve in and so far the doctors tell me that no infection was found, nothing was present in my blood. Blood was clean, white cells at 11 (Makes you think)

    Well what to do if doctors don’t want to listen to their patient, (when you suggest that the infection is somewhere else since I only had 50% lung capacity you would think this was obvious were the infection was)!

    Nope, doctors insisted on the procedure, not to find nothing there, just lingering blood the system would have reabsorbed eventually like a bruise.

    So drain valve put in was a procedure that wasn’t needed even though the doctors said it was.  Doctors wanted it to stay in for a few more days, so I have my first day home yesterday afternoon, today will be my first whole day home in 2 weeks.

    The drain has already causing issues here at home, making me feel faint, light headed, and giving me the sweats, dizziness, even nausea.

    Had to kneel down on the ground a couple times to avoid feeling sick, even my son saw me, he was like “daddy you ok?  I responded just feel a bit nauseous. My son replys you look very pale white like ghost.

    That scared me. Decided to not touch the drain valve. Call the hospital they were no help. They said if you feel that way come to the ER. (Last time at the ER waited 4 hrs.) just to be seen.

    There has got to be an easier way.

    Can’t believe this routine procedure they say, turned into this. Can I be in the 10% that has complications, or is this doctor negligence?

    Just really fed up with hospital, doctors (not all) but a lot of them. Nurses also (again not all of them were rude) but I would say while I stayed at VCMC, that 1% actually liked there job and wanted to be there to help patients, and you can tell in how passionate they are. Not sure transferring to VCMC was a good idea on my part, but missed my kids since they are all I have.

    Wish me luck, have 2 apt next week if I last that long, Tues, Wed.

     

    Thanks for all your support.

    Turnaround

    tj,,

     

     

    Hopefully the bad stuff is all in the rear view mirror and may you have clear sailing ahead.

     

    Icemantoo

  • APny
    APny Member Posts: 1,995 Member
    icemantoo said:

    Turnaround

    tj,,

     

     

    Hopefully the bad stuff is all in the rear view mirror and may you have clear sailing ahead.

     

    Icemantoo

    Yes, let's hope that was the

    Yes, let's hope that was the last of it and from here on it's a lot easier for you. I'm sorry you had to go through so much.

  • Rugbyfire44
    Rugbyfire44 Member Posts: 9
    Two weeks after my left

    Two weeks after my left radical nephrectomy I was not getting "over the hump" and my recovery seemed to be at a stalemate. My girlfriend noticed that I was warm. I had a fever of 104. Was readmitted to the hospital for 5 days. They put a drain tube in my back, drained 1000 cc of fluid during the procedure and more over the next few days. To make matters worse, my Mother passed away while I was in the hospital. I was released the morning of my mothers viewing.

    I too wondered about blaming doctors. My surgeon said that he see's this in about 1 out of 200 patients. Once they cleared up the abcess I recovered just fine. The surgery was November of 2013 and I feel pretty much back to normal.

    The bottom line is, yes stuff happens, some are luckier than others with the post surgery infections. I hope by this time you are recovering well. You mentioned that the infection wasn't in your surgery area, please let us know where they found it and more importantly how you are doing now.

    Prayers are with you. I am confident you will recover rapidly.

  • tjspeeder said:

    disappointed in care

    Home after a few days of having this drain valve in and so far the doctors tell me that no infection was found, nothing was present in my blood. Blood was clean, white cells at 11 (Makes you think)

    Well what to do if doctors don’t want to listen to their patient, (when you suggest that the infection is somewhere else since I only had 50% lung capacity you would think this was obvious were the infection was)!

    Nope, doctors insisted on the procedure, not to find nothing there, just lingering blood the system would have reabsorbed eventually like a bruise.

    So drain valve put in was a procedure that wasn’t needed even though the doctors said it was.  Doctors wanted it to stay in for a few more days, so I have my first day home yesterday afternoon, today will be my first whole day home in 2 weeks.

    The drain has already causing issues here at home, making me feel faint, light headed, and giving me the sweats, dizziness, even nausea.

    Had to kneel down on the ground a couple times to avoid feeling sick, even my son saw me, he was like “daddy you ok?  I responded just feel a bit nauseous. My son replys you look very pale white like ghost.

    That scared me. Decided to not touch the drain valve. Call the hospital they were no help. They said if you feel that way come to the ER. (Last time at the ER waited 4 hrs.) just to be seen.

    There has got to be an easier way.

    Can’t believe this routine procedure they say, turned into this. Can I be in the 10% that has complications, or is this doctor negligence?

    Just really fed up with hospital, doctors (not all) but a lot of them. Nurses also (again not all of them were rude) but I would say while I stayed at VCMC, that 1% actually liked there job and wanted to be there to help patients, and you can tell in how passionate they are. Not sure transferring to VCMC was a good idea on my part, but missed my kids since they are all I have.

    Wish me luck, have 2 apt next week if I last that long, Tues, Wed.

     

    Thanks for all your support.

    tjspeeder, sorry for your

    tjspeeder, sorry for your troubles, and I hope you are doing better. 

  • twinthings
    twinthings Member Posts: 409

    Two weeks after my left

    Two weeks after my left radical nephrectomy I was not getting "over the hump" and my recovery seemed to be at a stalemate. My girlfriend noticed that I was warm. I had a fever of 104. Was readmitted to the hospital for 5 days. They put a drain tube in my back, drained 1000 cc of fluid during the procedure and more over the next few days. To make matters worse, my Mother passed away while I was in the hospital. I was released the morning of my mothers viewing.

    I too wondered about blaming doctors. My surgeon said that he see's this in about 1 out of 200 patients. Once they cleared up the abcess I recovered just fine. The surgery was November of 2013 and I feel pretty much back to normal.

    The bottom line is, yes stuff happens, some are luckier than others with the post surgery infections. I hope by this time you are recovering well. You mentioned that the infection wasn't in your surgery area, please let us know where they found it and more importantly how you are doing now.

    Prayers are with you. I am confident you will recover rapidly.

    First of all, Rugby, I'm so

    First of all, Rugby, I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your mom.  It's never easy losing a parent but to lose your mom while you're in the hospital must have been harder still. 

    TJ, I hope you are doing better every day. 

    Praying for better days ahead for both of you!

     

  • Tbuck1971
    Tbuck1971 Member Posts: 50

    First of all, Rugby, I'm so

    First of all, Rugby, I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your mom.  It's never easy losing a parent but to lose your mom while you're in the hospital must have been harder still. 

    TJ, I hope you are doing better every day. 

    Praying for better days ahead for both of you!

     

    Hope this finds you well or getting better

    TJ,

     

    I hope you are feeling better and I am so sorry for your surgery related issues.  I had a radical nephrectomy in December 2013 and it was smooth.  I have had other complications and return of cancer, but what I would most press upon you is to listen to your doctor's weigh what they say, get additional opions and rest, take it easy and do not stress about things beyond your control.  Soon enough you will be back up to full speed and then you can press for answers you may not feel up to at this point.  You can also take on new challenges and get back to a since of normalty. 

     

    God Bless You and hope you feel better and better each day.

     

    Tom