open removal 5 weeks ago today

lorcal
lorcal Member Posts: 5
in Kidney Cancer #1
I had my left kidney removed five weeks ago today, due to the unexpected discovery of a nine cm tumor. It was completely contained! All is well in that respect. My question is..when am i going to consistently feel better? I'll think i'm doing ok, and the just get blindsided by the pain and fatigue. I'd hoped to go back to teaching school in two more weeks, but i'm doubting my strength. Anyone who can share their experience?
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Comments

  • jona187
    jona187 Member Posts: 71
    #2
    My wife got an unexpected
    My wife got an unexpected discovery during a sonogram on March 25th. They induced labor for three days, my son was born on April 1st. On April 6th, they removed her kidney with a radical nephrectomy because there was an 8cm tumor that was encased in her kidney (also covered by a membrane or skin) which was classified as a stage 2 chromophobe with no metastasis or spreading. My wife gets tired more frequently, but she seems to be doing well. Sometimes when she does too much, she gets pains on her side, but nothing major she said. i guess it is expected when they cut you open like that. My wife is a big walker, so she gets these after walking 3 to 5 miles. My biggest concern with her is that she is trying to do too much too quick. From what people have told me, the pain will be there for a while and the fatigue. It may take 6 months to a year to get to your old self depending on the person. Let me know how you do as time goes by and I will share how my wife is doing. Other than the fatigue that creeps up on her after certain activities, she says she is fine.
  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    #3
    jona187 said:

    My wife got an unexpected
    My wife got an unexpected discovery during a sonogram on March 25th. They induced labor for three days, my son was born on April 1st. On April 6th, they removed her kidney with a radical nephrectomy because there was an 8cm tumor that was encased in her kidney (also covered by a membrane or skin) which was classified as a stage 2 chromophobe with no metastasis or spreading. My wife gets tired more frequently, but she seems to be doing well. Sometimes when she does too much, she gets pains on her side, but nothing major she said. i guess it is expected when they cut you open like that. My wife is a big walker, so she gets these after walking 3 to 5 miles. My biggest concern with her is that she is trying to do too much too quick. From what people have told me, the pain will be there for a while and the fatigue. It may take 6 months to a year to get to your old self depending on the person. Let me know how you do as time goes by and I will share how my wife is doing. Other than the fatigue that creeps up on her after certain activities, she says she is fine.

    Things do get better
    At about 6 weeks I was feeling normal. I could do pretty much everything, but not for 8 hours a day. My Surgery however was laproscopic, yours was not. Your age, other health concerns and physical condition will all weigh in on when you can go back to work. See if your employor and doctor can get you an extension until school starts again in September. Remember you just had major abdominal surgery.

    Best wishes,

    Icemantoo
  • Tammy_19
    Tammy_19 Member Posts: 3
    #4
    I had my Kidney, ureter,
    I had my Kidney, ureter, some of the bladder and 9 lymph nodes removed 8 weeks ago and had 2 large incisions. At 8 weeks out I seem to have more energy and stamina, but it feels as if it's taken forever. I don't know about being on your feet all day right now to return to teaching, the fatigue and pain just are overwhelming at times. That said at 8 weeks I think you'll be doing a lot better. I can still have pain unexpectedly, esp. by the end of the evening. I wish you luck and better days ahead.
  • Jamie1.3cm
    Jamie1.3cm Member Posts: 188
    #5
    slow recovery
    I agree that it can take several months to a year before you're back to your regular self. But you should see improvement each week. Five-6 weeks after previous major abdominal surgeries, I was still hobbling around uncomfortably, still on pain meds.

    You might want to think about getting one of those walkers that has a seat in it so that you can sit down during class and have extra support while getting around. However, I also agree that you might want to try to get an extra couple of weeks off. And, fortunately, the semester may be over by then.
  • lbinmsp
    lbinmsp Member Posts: 266
    #6
    Time and patience
    I know you want to be up and out and active. That's good! But your body has undergone a huge shock and it will take time. I went back to work 6 weeks after surgery. My surgeon approved it only if I worked half days. Well, four hours into the day I was so tired I wanted to cry. And four hours after that when I finally wobbled out to my car, I didn't think I'd even make it home (my first half day ended up an 8+ hour day). Surgery, anesthesia, pain medications, all play a role in making you feel very weak. As you push a bit every day, you'll regain your strength and endurance. You may not feel 'consistently' good for a few months. You'll have good days, great days, not so great days. My doctor said that it took up to a year before your body completely recovers. The pain, however, should lessen consistently as your activity increases.

    You've just come out of a huge battle (cancer/surgery) - and you're WINNING!
  • monique53
    monique53 Member Posts: 19
    #7
    kidney removed
    I'm having the same problem.i had my right one out a month ago. I get feeling really good then I get fatique and get a pain
  • monique53
    monique53 Member Posts: 19
    #8
    kidney removed
    I'm having the same problem.i had my right one out a month ago. I get feeling really good then I get fatique and get a pain
  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    #9
    monique53 said:

    kidney removed
    I'm having the same problem.i had my right one out a month ago. I get feeling really good then I get fatique and get a pain

    This is not a Marathon
    Guys you are going to have to give your body time to heal. Things do get better, but you have to take it easy for a couple of months. While you may feel like doing everything after 6 weeks or so you may not feel like doing everything for a whole day or even half a day.
  • monique53
    monique53 Member Posts: 19
    #10
    icemantoo said:

    This is not a Marathon
    Guys you are going to have to give your body time to heal. Things do get better, but you have to take it easy for a couple of months. While you may feel like doing everything after 6 weeks or so you may not feel like doing everything for a whole day or even half a day.

    Could you tell me if you are
    Could you tell me if you are taking any vitamins ? I'm supposed to go back to work in two weeks and i just don't know.I work in a warehouse.
  • monique53
    monique53 Member Posts: 19
    #11
    icemantoo said:

    This is not a Marathon
    Guys you are going to have to give your body time to heal. Things do get better, but you have to take it easy for a couple of months. While you may feel like doing everything after 6 weeks or so you may not feel like doing everything for a whole day or even half a day.

    Could you tell me if you are
    Could you tell me if you are taking any vitamins ? I'm supposed to go back to work in two weeks and i just don't know.I work in a warehouse.
  • monique53
    monique53 Member Posts: 19
    #12
    icemantoo said:

    This is not a Marathon
    Guys you are going to have to give your body time to heal. Things do get better, but you have to take it easy for a couple of months. While you may feel like doing everything after 6 weeks or so you may not feel like doing everything for a whole day or even half a day.

    KIDNEY
    Could you tell me if you are taking any vitamins ? I'm supposed to go back to work in two weeks and i just don't know.I work in a warehouse.
  • jona187
    jona187 Member Posts: 71
    #13
    monique53 said:

    KIDNEY
    Could you tell me if you are taking any vitamins ? I'm supposed to go back to work in two weeks and i just don't know.I work in a warehouse.

    I give my wife one daily's
    I give my wife one daily's from megafood

    I also juice vegetables and blend her shakes.

    Rest is your friend.

    How many weeks did you get off?
  • monique53
    monique53 Member Posts: 19
    #14
    jona187 said:

    I give my wife one daily's
    I give my wife one daily's from megafood

    I also juice vegetables and blend her shakes.

    Rest is your friend.

    How many weeks did you get off?

    I have 6 weeks off. I see my
    I have 6 weeks off. I see my Dr. next Thursday.I might see if i can have a couple more weeks off.My appetite isnt back to normal.I'm glad your wife is doing good and your baby.
  • jona187
    jona187 Member Posts: 71
    #15
    monique53 said:

    I have 6 weeks off. I see my
    I have 6 weeks off. I see my Dr. next Thursday.I might see if i can have a couple more weeks off.My appetite isnt back to normal.I'm glad your wife is doing good and your baby.

    Yes...I hope it continues to
    Yes...I hope it continues to get better. She gets her follow up MRI on June 10th, so I'm patiently waiting on that.

    Is there anything you do differently now after this whole experience?
  • monique53
    monique53 Member Posts: 19
    #16
    jona187 said:

    Yes...I hope it continues to
    Yes...I hope it continues to get better. She gets her follow up MRI on June 10th, so I'm patiently waiting on that.

    Is there anything you do differently now after this whole experience?

    I'm thinking and I can't
    I'm thinking and I can't think of anything I'm doing different.I eat my vegatables and fruits and exercise. Do you have any suggestions? I'm 53 so I think I'm physically fit. This whole experience was such a surprise.It wasnt what I expected to hear when i went to the Dr. but i'm lucky. really lucky
  • jona187
    jona187 Member Posts: 71
    #17
    monique53 said:

    I'm thinking and I can't
    I'm thinking and I can't think of anything I'm doing different.I eat my vegatables and fruits and exercise. Do you have any suggestions? I'm 53 so I think I'm physically fit. This whole experience was such a surprise.It wasnt what I expected to hear when i went to the Dr. but i'm lucky. really lucky

    I have my wife doing all
    I have my wife doing all that

    she was a big coke drinker, no fruits or veggies, and tons of red meat.

    I have her on lots of water, fruits, veggies, and red meat once a week if she is lucky.

    I appreciate you writing back monique and i hope you do well.
  • monique53
    monique53 Member Posts: 19
    #18
    I'm not a pop drinker.I
    I'm not a pop drinker.I would allow me to have 1 a week from taco Bell.We don't eat much red meat at all.We eat alot of fish and turkey.My cancer was in the first stage so we caught it early.It was 6.9 centimeter tumor on my right kidney. Was your wife having any pain before this all happen ?
  • jona187
    jona187 Member Posts: 71
    #19
    monique53 said:

    I'm not a pop drinker.I
    I'm not a pop drinker.I would allow me to have 1 a week from taco Bell.We don't eat much red meat at all.We eat alot of fish and turkey.My cancer was in the first stage so we caught it early.It was 6.9 centimeter tumor on my right kidney. Was your wife having any pain before this all happen ?

    My wife was not having any
    My wife was not having any pains at all until that one day where the pain was to excruciating. I knew something was wrong and took her to the hospital right away. She was 33 weeks pregnant at the time, so we attributed it to the baby, but it wasn't. They found a tumor on her right kidney by doing an ultrasound. From there, the plan was to induce labor at 34 weeks and then proceed with kidney removal three days after birth.
  • monique53
    monique53 Member Posts: 19
    #20
    jona187 said:

    My wife was not having any
    My wife was not having any pains at all until that one day where the pain was to excruciating. I knew something was wrong and took her to the hospital right away. She was 33 weeks pregnant at the time, so we attributed it to the baby, but it wasn't. They found a tumor on her right kidney by doing an ultrasound. From there, the plan was to induce labor at 34 weeks and then proceed with kidney removal three days after birth.

    Kidney
    So its been 10 weeks since my surgery.I get feeling good then I go and wash my car or take a long walk and i start having pain on my right side.Is this normal ?
  • monique53
    monique53 Member Posts: 19
    #21
    May i ask how are you
    May i ask how are you feeling?

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