Going under the knife Monday morning.

13

Comments

  • foxhd
    foxhd Member Posts: 3,181 Member
    #42
    LISAinTN said:

    I protest!
    ....but Wayne, I'm 47, too! Aren't we still "youth"? Even though I can't remember anyone's name anymore or my own half the time, for that matter. Even though I run downstairs and hit the bottom step and forget what I was down there for, and a host of other like things, we're still youthful, aren't we?!?! Heck, sometimes I still think I just graduated from high school last week. LOL

    Blessings,
    Lisa

    youthful
    Despite this journey, I also feel young. I hit the big 6-0 this month, but most of the time I feel like I'm in my late 30s. OK, maybe 40. But thats all. Staying in shape has it's benefits. I am still more active than everyone I know. I run circles around my son who is 35. Maybe I'm just immature. But I like the saying about "Aging is mandatory, but growing up isn't."
  • j_rod
    j_rod Member Posts: 125
    #43
    Irishguy1978 said:

    Oh how a doctor's scalpel make my body protest much!
    Things are going as well as can be expected. I stood up a couple of times to the amazement of the nurses, but it was because I couldnt lay still. My mom made it down. It's taking a huge amount of effort just to type this message out.

    Glad you are (almost) back in the saddle again
    I am glad you are up and about a little. I hope you recover quickly - keep us posted.
  • sdjohnson
    sdjohnson Member Posts: 2
    #44
    Hello Jeremy! Just wanted to
    Hello Jeremy! Just wanted to tell you i will keep you and my prayers and i understand the fear you are feeling because i have my surgery 03/14/12 and i'm very scared but I know GOD will keep us both safe. Take care
  • Irishguy1978
    Irishguy1978 Member Posts: 14
    #45
    sdjohnson said:

    Hello Jeremy! Just wanted to
    Hello Jeremy! Just wanted to tell you i will keep you and my prayers and i understand the fear you are feeling because i have my surgery 03/14/12 and i'm very scared but I know GOD will keep us both safe. Take care

    It's been 5 days since I was cut on...
    Pain wise it very manageable. It mostly feels like u was in one heck of a bar fight and took all body shots. I made myself stand the Tuesday because I had to take pressure off my side. The bad thing was all the nurses were 5'2" or under and had absolutely no upper body strength. That made things interesting. They brought up a guy and a girl from physical therapy which helped me out a lot. Wednesday I was walking down the hallway and stuff the pain being worse when I was laying down than standing up. They kept askinme if i had passed gas. Which i finally did on wednesday. Thursday just before dinner the doc said he was going to cut me loose. I have a follow up to get the staples out on Monday. The only problem I am having is that I cannot go #2 yet, and that's starting to worry me a bit but my doc said it would come in time. Apparently knowing that I can pass gas tells them everything is working ok. But it sure doesn't feel like it lol.

    Am i correct in reading that magnesium based laxitives are no-go's for nephrectomy patients? Something about toxic buildup of magnesium sulfate in the good kidney?
  • rae_rae
    rae_rae Member Posts: 300 Member
    #46
    Irishguy1978 said:

    It's been 5 days since I was cut on...
    Pain wise it very manageable. It mostly feels like u was in one heck of a bar fight and took all body shots. I made myself stand the Tuesday because I had to take pressure off my side. The bad thing was all the nurses were 5'2" or under and had absolutely no upper body strength. That made things interesting. They brought up a guy and a girl from physical therapy which helped me out a lot. Wednesday I was walking down the hallway and stuff the pain being worse when I was laying down than standing up. They kept askinme if i had passed gas. Which i finally did on wednesday. Thursday just before dinner the doc said he was going to cut me loose. I have a follow up to get the staples out on Monday. The only problem I am having is that I cannot go #2 yet, and that's starting to worry me a bit but my doc said it would come in time. Apparently knowing that I can pass gas tells them everything is working ok. But it sure doesn't feel like it lol.

    Am i correct in reading that magnesium based laxitives are no-go's for nephrectomy patients? Something about toxic buildup of magnesium sulfate in the good kidney?

    Glad to hear you are home
    And doing better. It takes time after abdominal surgery to get your bowels working again...as long as you are passing gas you are ok. Stool softeners and lots and lots of water will help. Small meals helps too, otherwise you get more gas pain. I wouldn't use a laxative, personally. I think you will find everyone here has experienced slow bowels after surgery.
  • Beingbless
    Beingbless Member Posts: 46
    #47
    rae_rae said:

    Glad to hear you are home
    And doing better. It takes time after abdominal surgery to get your bowels working again...as long as you are passing gas you are ok. Stool softeners and lots and lots of water will help. Small meals helps too, otherwise you get more gas pain. I wouldn't use a laxative, personally. I think you will find everyone here has experienced slow bowels after surgery.

    How long is the recovery period?
    Hi,
    I just have a radical laposcopic kidney removed 2.5 weeks ago, my doctor told me I can go back to work at anytime since i work infront the computer. Here, I'm still so sore and in pain here and there, feel tied all the time, I just wasn't sure why he said that. Therefore, I asked for another two weeks leave.

    Any one know what is the normal recovery time? And when can be driving?

    Thanks
  • foxhd
    foxhd Member Posts: 3,181 Member
    #48
    Beingbless said:

    How long is the recovery period?
    Hi,
    I just have a radical laposcopic kidney removed 2.5 weeks ago, my doctor told me I can go back to work at anytime since i work infront the computer. Here, I'm still so sore and in pain here and there, feel tied all the time, I just wasn't sure why he said that. Therefore, I asked for another two weeks leave.

    Any one know what is the normal recovery time? And when can be driving?

    Thanks

    Glad you are home
    Glad you are home. Senecot is the stool softener used most often to help you go after surgery. It can be bought over the counter. I hope everything works out OK for you!
  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    #49
    foxhd said:

    Glad you are home
    Glad you are home. Senecot is the stool softener used most often to help you go after surgery. It can be bought over the counter. I hope everything works out OK for you!

    Back to Work
    Beingbless,

    At 2 and 1/2 weeks you are probably able to go back to work at a desk job---just not 8 hours a day. More like 2 hours a day at first. Give it a couple more weeks and you will be much stronger and less tired. You also should be able to drive for short distances. If either of these is pushing it pull back for a further week or two.

    Icemantoo
  • j_rod
    j_rod Member Posts: 125
    #50
    Irishguy1978 said:

    It's been 5 days since I was cut on...
    Pain wise it very manageable. It mostly feels like u was in one heck of a bar fight and took all body shots. I made myself stand the Tuesday because I had to take pressure off my side. The bad thing was all the nurses were 5'2" or under and had absolutely no upper body strength. That made things interesting. They brought up a guy and a girl from physical therapy which helped me out a lot. Wednesday I was walking down the hallway and stuff the pain being worse when I was laying down than standing up. They kept askinme if i had passed gas. Which i finally did on wednesday. Thursday just before dinner the doc said he was going to cut me loose. I have a follow up to get the staples out on Monday. The only problem I am having is that I cannot go #2 yet, and that's starting to worry me a bit but my doc said it would come in time. Apparently knowing that I can pass gas tells them everything is working ok. But it sure doesn't feel like it lol.

    Am i correct in reading that magnesium based laxitives are no-go's for nephrectomy patients? Something about toxic buildup of magnesium sulfate in the good kidney?

    Hi! I am glad you are released and on the road to recovery. I have not yet had my operation. But I have heard about the irregularity. I have found a couple of food items that have made me run smoother on irregular times. First, there is a cereal called Cracklin Oat Bran. It tastes good and it keeps me regular. I do drink a lot of water when I use it or it could backfire. I only eat a handful or two as a snack with a bottle of water. Followed by more water - which you are probably doing anyway. The second is cauliflower. Steam a head of cauliflower, drain the water off, add a little butter, milk, salt, pepper, and mash it all up like you're making mashed potatoes. It's a miracle worker.Glad you are home and the pain is managable.
  • Beingbless
    Beingbless Member Posts: 46
    #51
    j_rod said:

    Hi! I am glad you are released and on the road to recovery. I have not yet had my operation. But I have heard about the irregularity. I have found a couple of food items that have made me run smoother on irregular times. First, there is a cereal called Cracklin Oat Bran. It tastes good and it keeps me regular. I do drink a lot of water when I use it or it could backfire. I only eat a handful or two as a snack with a bottle of water. Followed by more water - which you are probably doing anyway. The second is cauliflower. Steam a head of cauliflower, drain the water off, add a little butter, milk, salt, pepper, and mash it all up like you're making mashed potatoes. It's a miracle worker.Glad you are home and the pain is managable.

    Thankyou
    Thanks iceman for your advice.
  • Irishguy1978
    Irishguy1978 Member Posts: 14
    #52
    Beingbless said:

    Thankyou
    Thanks iceman for your advice.

    Staples out yesterday.
    I had my staples out yesterday. It's really weird, I went in in a great mood and feeling good and not three hours after I got my staples out I started feeling like poop. Emotionally, physically, mentally. I still can't shake it. It's really odd to go from feeling great to feeling like I just want to curl up in a ball and hide.
  • MikeK703
    MikeK703 Member Posts: 235
    #53
    Irishguy1978 said:

    Staples out yesterday.
    I had my staples out yesterday. It's really weird, I went in in a great mood and feeling good and not three hours after I got my staples out I started feeling like poop. Emotionally, physically, mentally. I still can't shake it. It's really odd to go from feeling great to feeling like I just want to curl up in a ball and hide.

    Mood swings
    Hi Irish,
    You're not alone. I went through some pretty strange mood swings and physical symptoms for the first year. It's been 19 months and physically I feel pretty darn good, but I still find myself feeling anxious and pessimistic now and then. A slice of pizza usually fixes that though.
    Mike
  • livealive
    livealive Member Posts: 127
    #54
    MikeK703 said:

    Mood swings
    Hi Irish,
    You're not alone. I went through some pretty strange mood swings and physical symptoms for the first year. It's been 19 months and physically I feel pretty darn good, but I still find myself feeling anxious and pessimistic now and then. A slice of pizza usually fixes that though.
    Mike

    Mood swings
    That is so true, am worried sick some days, others seem better.
    They say time heals everything, our friend Lisa has told me about the power of prayer, and I have no reason to question her personal concrete experience, which makes me want to believe, and yet the fear can be overwhelming at times.
    I don't know whether I have ability and capacity to help anyone else here, but I find trying to do that helps me. To me then, it's worth the effort. If nothing else, I would have tried to bring some comfort to myself.
    Thank you all.
  • MikeK703
    MikeK703 Member Posts: 235
    #55
    livealive said:

    Mood swings
    That is so true, am worried sick some days, others seem better.
    They say time heals everything, our friend Lisa has told me about the power of prayer, and I have no reason to question her personal concrete experience, which makes me want to believe, and yet the fear can be overwhelming at times.
    I don't know whether I have ability and capacity to help anyone else here, but I find trying to do that helps me. To me then, it's worth the effort. If nothing else, I would have tried to bring some comfort to myself.
    Thank you all.

    Fear
    Raj,
    I hesitate to post this because I know it may be taken in the wrong way and I could come off as a religious nut or fanatic, but I have no fear of death, because as a believer in Jesus Christ, I am sure of my future after I die, my personal goodness having nothing to do that certainty. But I do have feelings of sadness about the possibility of leaving my wife alone. We have no children and have come to rely on each other exclusively for nearly 42 years. That’s what causes my anxiety. For that reason I'm rooting (i.e., praying) for another 20 years. Otherwise, I’m ready to go.
    Mike
  • Texas_wedge
    Texas_wedge Member Posts: 2,798
    #56
    j_rod said:

    Hi! I am glad you are released and on the road to recovery. I have not yet had my operation. But I have heard about the irregularity. I have found a couple of food items that have made me run smoother on irregular times. First, there is a cereal called Cracklin Oat Bran. It tastes good and it keeps me regular. I do drink a lot of water when I use it or it could backfire. I only eat a handful or two as a snack with a bottle of water. Followed by more water - which you are probably doing anyway. The second is cauliflower. Steam a head of cauliflower, drain the water off, add a little butter, milk, salt, pepper, and mash it all up like you're making mashed potatoes. It's a miracle worker.Glad you are home and the pain is managable.

    Whether you're a regular or not, I'm sure the bikers here will confirm that the last thing you want is a backfire!
  • Texas_wedge
    Texas_wedge Member Posts: 2,798
    #57
    Texas_wedge said:

    Whether you're a regular or not, I'm sure the bikers here will confirm that the last thing you want is a backfire!

    Mood
    Jeremy,

    Luckily moods swing both ways for most of us, particularly soon after major surgery. You will feel good again very soon, if not already. Unless you have major clinical depression, always try to remember that what goes down will surely go up again - grin and bear it and all will pass.
  • foxhd
    foxhd Member Posts: 3,181 Member
    #58
    Texas_wedge said:

    Mood
    Jeremy,

    Luckily moods swing both ways for most of us, particularly soon after major surgery. You will feel good again very soon, if not already. Unless you have major clinical depression, always try to remember that what goes down will surely go up again - grin and bear it and all will pass.

    moods
    Jeremy, it may not really be a mood swing. The progression goes like this. Once diagnosed, you want the cancer out. If the Dr. said it could only come out by operating through your nose, you would have said , "Go for it". You have bought in to what has to be done. Regardless of post op pain, you dealt with that too. Then going home was achieving another goal. Getting the staples out though a major step forward,now has hit home. You get tired and frustrated having to go through all this. You only want to be better NOW! Find something to stay occupied. Get active. You'll get better soon and it will all be behind you.
    Fox
  • livealive
    livealive Member Posts: 127
    #59
    foxhd said:

    moods
    Jeremy, it may not really be a mood swing. The progression goes like this. Once diagnosed, you want the cancer out. If the Dr. said it could only come out by operating through your nose, you would have said , "Go for it". You have bought in to what has to be done. Regardless of post op pain, you dealt with that too. Then going home was achieving another goal. Getting the staples out though a major step forward,now has hit home. You get tired and frustrated having to go through all this. You only want to be better NOW! Find something to stay occupied. Get active. You'll get better soon and it will all be behind you.
    Fox

    Message for Jeremy
    Jeremy, My wife wants to thank you for serving, I told her everyone already did this, she insisted, so I am writing. She also says she has you in her prayers.
    R.
  • Irishguy1978
    Irishguy1978 Member Posts: 14
    #60
    foxhd said:

    moods
    Jeremy, it may not really be a mood swing. The progression goes like this. Once diagnosed, you want the cancer out. If the Dr. said it could only come out by operating through your nose, you would have said , "Go for it". You have bought in to what has to be done. Regardless of post op pain, you dealt with that too. Then going home was achieving another goal. Getting the staples out though a major step forward,now has hit home. You get tired and frustrated having to go through all this. You only want to be better NOW! Find something to stay occupied. Get active. You'll get better soon and it will all be behind you.
    Fox

    This puts a lot of things
    This puts a lot of things into perspective :) thanks guys for all the kind words, the support and the prayers. I'm doing a little better. I just wish this incision would close up and stop ruining t-shirts lol.
  • adobe
    adobe Member Posts: 72
    #61
    Irishguy1978 said:

    This puts a lot of things
    This puts a lot of things into perspective :) thanks guys for all the kind words, the support and the prayers. I'm doing a little better. I just wish this incision would close up and stop ruining t-shirts lol.

    looking forward
    Hello Irishguy1978 Glad to hear you are on the mend. Remember March 17th will be here on Saturday! You are excused from doing the Irish Jig this year, but look forward to having the Luck of the Irish and feeling good over the weekend, and wear something green!

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