Released from Hospital Yesterday

DogRescuer
DogRescuer Member Posts: 52 Member
in Kidney Cancer #1
Well, it’s out. One kidney less. My road to recovery is a rough one. I’ve had surgeries before, but never on my ‘innards.’ My cousin the nurse, assures me I’m not a wuss. It’s a difficult procedure because they not only remove an organ, but they stretch others and readjust them, making recovery a bit more difficult. Also, my tumor was big--10cm x 9xm--and I'm 63 yrs old. Pathology report says it was inside the kidney and hadn't spread, but it's a grade 3 so they'll have to watch closely.

The gas they fill in your tummy makes this surgery different also. Each morning the nurse greeted me with the all-important question, Have you passed any gas?? And each morning, trying to please, I’d answer, no, but I burped a few times. Not good enough. You could see the disappointment on their faces. I’ve never wanted to fart so much in my life. I finally passed the ‘toot test’ and got to be released.

Congrats to all of you who were back at work within a week or 2. Thank goodness I'm retired, but I don't think I'll be back to quilting for a few wks.

For those of you with long waits for surgery, I'd advise you to beg for a sooner OR date. At first they were going to make me wait a month, but I said PLEASE can I have a sooner date as I have kidney cancer. And they did it --moved my date up 2.5 wks!

Comments

  • Texas_wedge
    Texas_wedge Member Posts: 2,798
    #2
    Earlier date for surgery
    Well done DR! Now, don't push it, keep taking the pain meds. as long as needed and I wish you a rapid return to a normal life and full health.

    With the wisdom of hindsight, I wish I'd requested surgery earlier than I had it. My Dx scan showed a mass of 7 cm or so which was still encapsulated but by the time of surgery it was 9cm and un-contained, hence in no time at all I went from the likely prospect of being completely cured to a truly dismal prognosis at T4, stage 4 and grade 4. I've no intention of giving up the ghost and there's no point in crying over spilt milk. (I might go seeking some fresher metaphors, though!) I intend to stick around for a long while yet and won't brood over what might have been.
  • foxhd
    foxhd Member Posts: 3,181 Member
    #3
    done with it
    Not even good for you. Great for you!!!You've done the hard part. Now take your time and recover well. Funny though, as weird as it is, my nurses just wanted me to fart.fart. fart. seems so stupid, but I did my best to make them happy.... As far as going back to work, it really depends on how physical it is. Desk job, easy. lifting, hard.
  • Limelife50
    Limelife50 Member Posts: 476
    #4
    Congrats dog rescurer
    I am so happy for you that the path report came back tumor confined to kidney,so take your time and heal at your own pace,I have said this before and I will say it again,when I had my kidney removed I looked at it as the first day of my new life with the day of surgery being my new birthday.I have learned as a result of my situation to wake up every day and thank god for allowing me to enjoy one more day.so take care and good luck on your recovery. HAVE A NICE DAY
  • LISAinTN
    LISAinTN Member Posts: 143
    #5
    Hi DogRescuer,
    I'm so glad
    Hi DogRescuer,

    I'm so glad you're doing well on the other side of this ordeal. Just take time for yourself, rest and go easy with things for now. Looking forward to hearing that you're back to quilting soon.

    Blessings,
    Lisa
  • Mombabes
    Mombabes Member Posts: 2
    #6
    Kidney surgery
    Hi dog rescuer,we got results from test my mom has done in the past week.
    Urologist is saying its a 12 1/2cm tumor and the source is the kidney.
    Unfortunately it has spread to my moms bone.She goes in for surgery
    Mon am, will be in the hospital about 2 nights.
    My mom is 66 and strong.
    Any advice for her return home.How can I make it super comfy?
    Food? I hope and pray for my mom to stay strong
  • DogRescuer
    DogRescuer Member Posts: 52 Member
    #7
    Mombabes said:

    Kidney surgery
    Hi dog rescuer,we got results from test my mom has done in the past week.
    Urologist is saying its a 12 1/2cm tumor and the source is the kidney.
    Unfortunately it has spread to my moms bone.She goes in for surgery
    Mon am, will be in the hospital about 2 nights.
    My mom is 66 and strong.
    Any advice for her return home.How can I make it super comfy?
    Food? I hope and pray for my mom to stay strong

    Your mom is lucky to have you!
    Please give your mama a big hug for me and tell her she's going to overcome this just like the other hurdles she's faced in life. She in the very worst part of this journey--waiting. So until then make sure she has lots to take her mind off everything. Movies worked for me.

    Right after surgery, of course, you think I'm never going to feel better and it will always hurt this much when I move. But, fortunately, you do feel better as each day passes. The thing that made me most comfortable when I was released from the hospital were pillows--lots of pillows so I would have to lay all they way down. I had a problem with eating afterwards, and to take the pain paills, you have to eat. If she's still nauseated, when she's released ask for a prescription (Zofran). It helps just during those initial days until her appetite comes back. Also have foods like saltines, graham crackers, bannanas, prunes, soups, jello and juices.

    Please keep us posted on her condition and since we're the same age category (read: old) I'd be glad to send her some PMs (I think you can send private messages on this site).
  • Texas_wedge
    Texas_wedge Member Posts: 2,798
    #8
    DogRescuer said:

    Your mom is lucky to have you!
    Please give your mama a big hug for me and tell her she's going to overcome this just like the other hurdles she's faced in life. She in the very worst part of this journey--waiting. So until then make sure she has lots to take her mind off everything. Movies worked for me.

    Right after surgery, of course, you think I'm never going to feel better and it will always hurt this much when I move. But, fortunately, you do feel better as each day passes. The thing that made me most comfortable when I was released from the hospital were pillows--lots of pillows so I would have to lay all they way down. I had a problem with eating afterwards, and to take the pain paills, you have to eat. If she's still nauseated, when she's released ask for a prescription (Zofran). It helps just during those initial days until her appetite comes back. Also have foods like saltines, graham crackers, bannanas, prunes, soups, jello and juices.

    Please keep us posted on her condition and since we're the same age category (read: old) I'd be glad to send her some PMs (I think you can send private messages on this site).

    Private email
    DogRescuer, in case you haven't already found out how to implement your kind offer to write to Mombabes's mama, you need to click on the CSN Email link in the brown box headed CSN at the top left of the page. I bet she'll be delighted to hear from you.
  • cww71964
    cww71964 Member Posts: 97
    #9
    Texas_wedge said:

    Private email
    DogRescuer, in case you haven't already found out how to implement your kind offer to write to Mombabes's mama, you need to click on the CSN Email link in the brown box headed CSN at the top left of the page. I bet she'll be delighted to hear from you.

    Good news DR!
    Happy to hear you are home. I know I couldn't actually get on the road to recovery until I was home. Rest and don't push yourself. Walk as much as you can.

    Health and happiness,
    Wayne
  • DogRescuer
    DogRescuer Member Posts: 52 Member
    #10
    Texas_wedge said:

    Private email
    DogRescuer, in case you haven't already found out how to implement your kind offer to write to Mombabes's mama, you need to click on the CSN Email link in the brown box headed CSN at the top left of the page. I bet she'll be delighted to hear from you.

    Thank you!
    Did it! Sent the pm. I hope she makes contact with us. There's just nowhere else that you can get support like this.
  • foxhd
    foxhd Member Posts: 3,181 Member
    #11
    DogRescuer said:

    Thank you!
    Did it! Sent the pm. I hope she makes contact with us. There's just nowhere else that you can get support like this.

    Good news
    We are all here to share good news and positive energy. ( I say that like I'm into some exotic religion), but, again, this is a SURVIVORS network! We are sooooo..happy. For Every one of us who does well, it is a victory for us all!!!!!!
  • rae_rae
    rae_rae Member Posts: 300 Member
    #12
    foxhd said:

    Good news
    We are all here to share good news and positive energy. ( I say that like I'm into some exotic religion), but, again, this is a SURVIVORS network! We are sooooo..happy. For Every one of us who does well, it is a victory for us all!!!!!!

    Welcome home DR
    Happy to hear you are doing well.

    Best,

    Rae
  • garym
    garym Member Posts: 1,647
    #13
    rae_rae said:

    Welcome home DR
    Happy to hear you are doing well.

    Best,

    Rae

    Headline...
    DogRescuer Rescued...now that's what I'm talking about. Wat to go!!!

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