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Momof6

Just got back from the hospital.  Robotic, small tumor and surrounding area successfully removed.  Had to stay an extra day because of severe pain.  I had no idea they would make six incisions - feels like I swallowed and elephant and its twin is sitting on top of me.  My left side of my abdomen is super swollen too.  Thank you to everyone for getting me through - I suppose now that the mental part of waiting is over, the physical part of healing will be a brand new challenge.  I imagine this could get quite depressing.  I’m not a very patient patient!  I’d love any tips or words of wisdom!

icemantoo

Take it easy.

Momof6m

 

Did they tell you the first week after is Hell week. Sometimes they forget. Everyday will get a little better with maybe a bad day in between.

 

 

 

icemantoo

Positive_Mental_Attitude

The hardest part is over.

The hardest part is over. Have a pillow to hug for when you sneeze, cough or laugh.  All three will be painful.  Walk every day-this may be the most important thing to do to make your recovery go well.  My first walk after returning home was extremely painful and challenging.  But each day after that was easier.  The first bowel movement was challenging as the pain meds causes constipation.  Since I sleep on my stomach in bed, I stayed in a recliner for about a week after the surgery. 

Remember, you feel bad now, but every day will get better--and you have that to look forward to!!

Bay Area Guy

Positive_Mental_Attitude said:

The hardest part is over.

The hardest part is over. Have a pillow to hug for when you sneeze, cough or laugh.  All three will be painful.  Walk every day-this may be the most important thing to do to make your recovery go well.  My first walk after returning home was extremely painful and challenging.  But each day after that was easier.  The first bowel movement was challenging as the pain meds causes constipation.  Since I sleep on my stomach in bed, I stayed in a recliner for about a week after the surgery. 

Remember, you feel bad now, but every day will get better--and you have that to look forward to!!

Indeed, pillows are your

Indeed, pillows are your friends!  Walking is also very important as it not only helps wake everything up, it also helps to get the gas that’s pumped into your abdomen released more quickly.

eug91

YAY!

You did it, MomOf6! Nicely done! Hopefully you're relaxing now and hopefully you'll never have to liquid diet ever again! 

As for tips and words of wisdom, like others have said, the worst of it is your first night - and that's already in your past. So each day going forward should mostly be better than the day before. 

Also, heat packs for your shoulders and back, ice pack for your sternum. Also, make your kids help you. They get to help mom for a bit.  

As for the swollen abdomen, it gets better. It heals so slowly that I thought mine was going to be permanently like this, but it's slowly gotten stronger and better looking over the weeks. 

Gtngbtr58 @aol.com

Everyday

Will be a better one.  Just remember you had a major prcedure-your body is totally off kilter it'll take time to readjust itself.  I remember feeling like my body was still asleep after the surgery and it took it's sweet time waking up- slowly but thank g-d surely.  For me the worst part was feeling exhausted but not being able to sleep.  Naps never happened and sleep at night was minimal.  Sleep and rest are so important my Dr gave me something to take before bed st night which was a great help.  Most of all keep remembering that your on this side of surgery-YAY!!! continued good health and healing-June

APny

It's over and behind you.

It's over and behind you. That's the best part. Agree with everyone, walk as much as possible. My surgery was in the winter so I walked around my house for about 5 minutes every hour for the first week, increasing it each day after that. I was swollen too, plus I had a drain to carry around for like 2 weeks. Annoying. I was lucky to be able to sleep in my own bed by making a "nest" with a long body pillow and a wedge pillow with other pillows on top. The common wisdom on this forum is that robotic/lap is easier to recover from than open, but I'm glad mine was open. At least I only had one 4 inch incision instead of six. All the best to you and speedy recovery!

Retcenturion

It does get better.

We forgot to tell you about feeling you've been hit by a truck? Or that you'll have a belly that looks like it got in a fight  with Wolverine. You are past the mentally draining part and into physical difficulties. As others have said moving is important.. I had night sweats for quite awhile afterwards. I tried to wean myself of the meds as quick as I could. BAY Area is right on.. the poop fairy couldn't come soon enough. Dial back your rebound back to your old self. You will feel like your old self when your body and mind agree. Patience is really important. There will be setbacks but good days are coming soon. Really glad to see you Post. Sending positive thoughts for a quick recovery, rest easy.

Momof6

6 incisions

Why did I end up having 6 incisions?  Until I read that above, I thought the surgeon just had to try different routes because of my previous surgery (OK, throw me a bone, I was heavily medicated...). Is 2-3 days post op too soon to go off Percocet?  Trying to just do Tylenol today because of the constipation- which was already a problem with my twisted intestine surgery.  I don’t know if I would be able to get much sleep- its hard enough as it is.  But since I’m up doing dishes anyway......

Retcenturion

Pain meds

I'm hesitant to suggest to anyone pain med advice. Plus you have more experience in surgery than I. I went back to my notes. I went to Percocet for night time after 7 days. I wasn't eating much and got bound up. Colasce worked. I gave up Percocet for Tylenol 9 days out. NJ severely limits opioid even post op but I was miserable and gave them up. If you don't rest you don't heal as fast. You have experience in different procedures. Listen to your body. If you need the meds take them, if not don't. Please stop the dishes... Good housekeeping isn't watching. Turn the lights off no one lost sleep because of a little mess. If it warm up go breathe some warm breezes much better for you! :-)

Momof6

I apologize for the never ending questions- i just have no one else who understands and if my family could evict me and my mouth right about now, I’m quite sure they would.  My Percocet question was answered last night- made it all day with just one Tylenol and by the time I took one it helped for about an hour and stopped, and after trying another late night, I had a full blown panic attack- I wanted to crawl out of my skin.  So it will be a whole lot of praying today.   I don’t have drains and my stomach is the size of Texas.  Thankfully the suppository helped, but fitting a lot of food in is rough.  No dishes, I promise.

AnnissaP

Take your time!! There is no

Take your time!! There is no hurry and you only risk putting yourself back by rushing things. That's what happened to me and I was warned by many lol. I was too active too soon and even after several months still bloated to the point of looking and feeling pregnant. I had 5 incisions (4 small and one larger). Honestly, last November was my 1 year anniversary and it took that whole 12 months to heal fully. I would still get sore in my stomach and incision area and still had crazy fatigue. All gone now though. Take it easy on yourself xo

icemantoo

The worst is over

Mom,

 

 

as far as the neph. I still have a bit of a buldge from 2002. So ypu'll wait untill 2020 to try that bickini on again. Relax for a few more weeks or as long as you can. Do what you can do,but don't push it.

 

 

icemantoo

stub1969

Let the healing begin

Walk as much as you feel comfortable doing.  Each day you'll feel a little bit better.  

Take care,

Stub

Apaugh

be kind to yourself..

You went through so much.  Yep you have a lot on your plate.  Time to rely on ohters for awhile.  

Hugs and prayers,

Annie

Momof6

All clear

Pathology report all good- even surgeon was surprised- thought it was definitely cancer when he took it out.  So now I feel totally butchered and mystified.  Believe me- i am one of the truly lucky ones and i just have a whole new empathy what this disease does to you emotionally as well as physically.  Not sure what God was trying to tell me but i’ll assume its something along the lines of be grateful every day and don’t take life so seriously.  i wish everyone on here every ounce of love, support and anything i may be able to bring to the table in the future.  Time for me to get off the couch!

Retcenturion

Good news, bad news!

So glad the report was no Cancer. That's great. Sorry you had to go through the procedure. Bet the recovery just kicked into high gear. Congratulations!

APny

Wonderful news that it was

Wonderful news that it was benign. Must be such a relief. Now focus on recovering and then you can put all this behind you. 

eug91

wow

Benign! Congrats, Momof6! 

jazzgirl

Hi Mom

I love your "plan of care" in your profile photo...

Mrodrig3

surgery

Recently diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma tumor is 4.1 in size. Surgery is on 2/25 and the doctor said it would be open surgery. I am 66 years old and still working. But the doctor suggested a rehabilitation center after surgery. I am so frightened. Four years ago I had lung cancer, now I am cured. that was a laproscopic surgery. The two cancers are not connected.