Trying to Make a Decision on RCC Surgery

Rayman NY said:

Thank-you ams123
Hi Linda

I had to have 4 litres of blood during surgery because the Dr. did not want to clamp the artery. Instead he had me in a controled bleeing state as he did the surgery.
The best possible news to hear is that all the Cancer is gone. I still tear up when I tell the story to family and friends.
I am glad your doing well in your recovery and me posted.

All the best

Ray

Rayman NY said:

Hello everyone. I am now officially part of this group. I had my open partial nephrectomy done on my left kidney. The tumor size was 8.5 cm slightly larger then what the cat scans showed. Despite the size Dr.Schwaab was able to save 60 % of the kidney function. The surgery was longer than expected and as the Doc said to my wife “we pushed the envelope” on this one.
As a result, I ended up in the ICU for two days because I had lost so much blood. On the third day I was transported to a regular room in anticipation of being discharged. However, I developed a case of Ileus, which basically is a shut down of the entire gastro system where no gas, liquid nor food can pass through. All I had was juice and water for the first two and half days. As a surprise, when the staff weigh me I had gain 24 lbs without eating a thing.
The next three to four days were the most difficult days of my entire life. All water was taken away, my stomach was pumped using a G tube and back on the catheter I went. The fluid and gases were pressing on my diaphragm and breathing became difficult. I was close to going back to ICU and possibly surgery to relive this painful gas and bloating. My wife spent the nights with me and with help of the nursing staff and my Doc checking on me five times a day I pulled through this most difficult time. Anybody who has had Ileus will know what I went thought. Finally on Sat Sept 17, I had my first glass of water and food.

Dr. Schwaab shared and explained my pathology report. In fact, the tumor was Cancer (there was a small chance that maybe it was fatty tissue gone wild). The GOOD news is that the cancer was identified as Chromophobe, a rare form of kidney cancer affecting 3-5 % of the population. It is biologically a tumor of low malignant potential despite its 8.5cm size, Dr. Said there was a negative margin left behind, which means as of today I am cancer free. All Gory Goes to God, by his grace I live……

All in all I spent 12 days in the hospital, and have a 10 inch flank incision. Everything I read here in the posts about recovery is true. Sleeping is tough at night, I am lucky to get three to maybe four hrs of sleep. I stopped taking narcotics back in the hospital because it was contributing to my Ileus. I am using Tylenol extra strength and a lot of water. I am happy to say I have lost that extra 24 lbs of water that I gained. Recovery is slow but I am trying to take one step at a time. This Wed I go back to Roswell Park to begin my five years of testing.

I want to thank all of you for posting your thoughts, prayers and wishes. I will be more active in posting in effort to give support as I have received so much from you.

Rayman NY said:

Hello New Club Member
Carl:

Welcome to the club. It will be 1 month tomorrow that I had my open partial nephrectomy. Upon discharge I asked the nursing staff a lot of questions about a post surgery diet. Their advice was as follows:

Do not skip meals; eat a well balanced low fat low sodium diet. More fruits, vegs and less animal proteins. I as a rule, I do not eat red meat so that helps me a lot.
Drink plenty of water to cleanse your body especially after surgery. Be careful of alcohol consumption. Hard liquor is tougher on your system. Beer brings a lot of sodium to your system. At my first post op visit with my Doc last week, one of my first questions to him can I have a glass of wine? To my delight he said yes to moderation. I have not had that glass yet but look forward to enjoying it soon with my family. Everything in moderation.

As I am finding out, its one step at a time


Best wishes and keep us posted


Rayman