My Mother is scheduled to have her Kidney removed

hunterlee
hunterlee Member Posts: 3
in Kidney Cancer #1
Hi everyone,

My mother (age70) is scheduled to have her left kidney removed along with the tube that goes from the kidney to the bladder and maybe (Dr.'s not sure yet) a small part of her bladder where the tube (sorry don't know it name) joins it. She had been having blood in her urine for the past 6 months on and off and finally went to the hospital because she was having unbearable back pain. They ran test and the Dr. told us that there was a mass outside the kidney where the tube was and was almost 100% sure it was cancer. She went back to him yesterday and was told that it was cancer and that her kidney was no longer working and that it should come out. She is schedlued for April 4th, the Dr. said he was going to try to do it remotely with a robot but if they had to take some of the bladder it would be a regular surgery.

My question is about her recovery My father is taking two weeks off to be home with her and then she would have to stay with me if needed. I live in a two story and the room she would be staying in is upstairs after two weeks would it be to diffucult for her to manage the stairs? Also will she need someone with her 24/7 or should she be able to be alone and get around?

I am just trying to get ahead of what is coming any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

Comments

  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    #2
    My perspective
    Hunterlee,

    I can only relate my experience. My surgery was 9 and 1/2 years ago at then age 59. Now I am a year and 1/2 away from 70. I would not like to do it again 10 years later. I know it will be more difficult for a 70 year old than for a then 59 year old youngster like myself. She will be in bed for at least a week, maybe two with only short walks for necessities. Whether she can climb stairs at 2 weeks the answer is probably yes, provided she does not do it too often. Can she be left alone after 2 weeks, probably. I hope this gives some perspective. A lot depends on her heath and physical condition. At 70 the easier things can be made for her the first 4 to 6 weeks the better for her recovery. I would also suggest a first floor backup like a couch if it is too difficult to climb stairs after 2 weeks.

    Best wishes for a full recovery for your mom.

    Icemantoo
  • garym
    garym Member Posts: 1,647
    #3
    In addition...
    hunterlee,

    Along with what the iceman said it will also depend on if they are required to do the open surgery which will complicate her recovery a bit.

    Good luck and Godspeed,

    Gary
  • alice124
    alice124 Member Posts: 896 Member
    #4
    Surgery
    Hello Hunter - Sorry you're going through this ordeal but hopefully it will go fine. Though I'm far from an expert on this topic, my husband did have laproscopic kidney surgery on November 1, 2011. He is 63 and was in relatively good health (except for having cancer) and went through the surgery extremely well. He was walking laps in the hospital the day sfter his surgery and came home that very night. The doctor instructed him to start off slowly with steps (once a day/first day) and then increase as he felt better.

    By the end of the first week, he was moving around and going up and down the steps like he never had surgery. Again, I'm sure a lot depends on her health and stamina going in, but I'll keep my fingers crossed that everything goes successfully.

    In case you haven't heard, 70 is the NEW middle age!

    Keep us posted.
  • Texas_wedge
    Texas_wedge Member Posts: 2,798
    #5
    alice124 said:

    Surgery
    Hello Hunter - Sorry you're going through this ordeal but hopefully it will go fine. Though I'm far from an expert on this topic, my husband did have laproscopic kidney surgery on November 1, 2011. He is 63 and was in relatively good health (except for having cancer) and went through the surgery extremely well. He was walking laps in the hospital the day sfter his surgery and came home that very night. The doctor instructed him to start off slowly with steps (once a day/first day) and then increase as he felt better.

    By the end of the first week, he was moving around and going up and down the steps like he never had surgery. Again, I'm sure a lot depends on her health and stamina going in, but I'll keep my fingers crossed that everything goes successfully.

    In case you haven't heard, 70 is the NEW middle age!

    Keep us posted.

    Mother's recovery
    Hunterlee, iceman has given you an excellent summary. Gary has mentioned that if the surgery has to be open, recovery will take a bit longer (and will be a bit more uncomfortable too) so iceman's suggestion about trying to arrange a couch, bed or similar at first floor level, if possible, makes a lot of sense.

    I'd like to add one thought - make sure your Mother is given enough medication to stay on top of the pain. Apart from the comfort angle, being as pain-free as possible speeds up recovery. Ensure that she has pain-killers at the right time to make her journey home as easy on her as you can and be sure to see that she has enough pain-killers for her first few weeks at home/with you.

    I wish iceman hadn't said that he wouldn't have fancied the experience at 68 since I'm about to have open surgery for the second time while I'm 69. However, it's re-assuring to learn from Alice that 70 is the NEW middle age - it reminded me that I confided in my Wife the other day just how much I'm dreading middle age.

    Maybe it's all getting easier and quite painless since Alice's Husband has joined the ranks of Katy and Karl who shrugged it all off in a few hours and I dare say they've all forgotten the experience totally by now.
  • hunterlee
    hunterlee Member Posts: 3
    #6
    Thank You all
    Thank you all for the information, my sister and I have been reading and trying to get as much information as possible. All of your answers really helped.
  • hunterlee
    hunterlee Member Posts: 3
    #7
    Texas_wedge said:

    Mother's recovery
    Hunterlee, iceman has given you an excellent summary. Gary has mentioned that if the surgery has to be open, recovery will take a bit longer (and will be a bit more uncomfortable too) so iceman's suggestion about trying to arrange a couch, bed or similar at first floor level, if possible, makes a lot of sense.

    I'd like to add one thought - make sure your Mother is given enough medication to stay on top of the pain. Apart from the comfort angle, being as pain-free as possible speeds up recovery. Ensure that she has pain-killers at the right time to make her journey home as easy on her as you can and be sure to see that she has enough pain-killers for her first few weeks at home/with you.

    I wish iceman hadn't said that he wouldn't have fancied the experience at 68 since I'm about to have open surgery for the second time while I'm 69. However, it's re-assuring to learn from Alice that 70 is the NEW middle age - it reminded me that I confided in my Wife the other day just how much I'm dreading middle age.

    Maybe it's all getting easier and quite painless since Alice's Husband has joined the ranks of Katy and Karl who shrugged it all off in a few hours and I dare say they've all forgotten the experience totally by now.

    I will pray that your
    Texas_Wedge I will pray that your surgery goes as well as Katy and Karls did, and that you will not have to ever go through it again.
  • starfari
    starfari Member Posts: 17
    #8
    hunterlee said:

    Thank You all
    Thank you all for the information, my sister and I have been reading and trying to get as much information as possible. All of your answers really helped.

    Emotions
    Physically your Mom may need some help with stairs and getting up out of chairs and such especially if she ends up with an open Nephrectomy. The emotional roller coaster that sometimes comes with the surgery is a whole "nother" matter! Be prepared to lend a shoulder and remain calm while the ride is in progress. Sometimes emotions hit from nowhere and are every bit as unreasonable as the person feeling them thinks they are. In time she will gain her mind back..and hopefully her body although I am still waiting for my body to return after open surgery and 2 months recovery. Best of luck to you and yours.

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