Newbie here. Had surgery on 3/22

rham68
rham68 Member Posts: 6
I had a partial done with the DaVinci machine last Thursday where they removed 50 percent of my right kidney. I will go back 2 days from now so they can determine if the remaining half will survive because the blood supply is now limited. I've been reading a lot of you're posts and signed up because they are a lot more informative than anything else I've seen. Plus I have a lot of time on my hands now as you can imagine. I discovered the mass back in late January while they were looking for kidney stones. They want to try and preserve as much of the right kidney as possible because of my age and the fact that I have what they describe as cysts on the left which they are not as concerned with yet. I am a 43 year old male father of 2. Best of luck to everyone out there! Thanks!

Comments

  • ejones_pa
    ejones_pa Member Posts: 8
    new
    Hi R, I am new to this party too...51 female, diagnosed 2/2, 11cm tumor, radical right nephrectomy 2/24, pathology found microscopic cells in renal vein, no lymph nodes involved, no metastisis, recovering slowley, but in good spirits, I have so much to live for. I will beat this ! Entering a trial hope in the next week or two....all the best and this site has been a wealth of knowledge ! Good luck !
  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    ejones_pa said:

    new
    Hi R, I am new to this party too...51 female, diagnosed 2/2, 11cm tumor, radical right nephrectomy 2/24, pathology found microscopic cells in renal vein, no lymph nodes involved, no metastisis, recovering slowley, but in good spirits, I have so much to live for. I will beat this ! Entering a trial hope in the next week or two....all the best and this site has been a wealth of knowledge ! Good luck !

    Welcome newbies
    rham 68 and ejoness-pa,

    Welcome to our little club. I see that you both were recently initiated. May your recoveries be smooth and complete.

    Icemantoo
  • cww71964
    cww71964 Member Posts: 97
    ejones_pa said:

    new
    Hi R, I am new to this party too...51 female, diagnosed 2/2, 11cm tumor, radical right nephrectomy 2/24, pathology found microscopic cells in renal vein, no lymph nodes involved, no metastisis, recovering slowley, but in good spirits, I have so much to live for. I will beat this ! Entering a trial hope in the next week or two....all the best and this site has been a wealth of knowledge ! Good luck !

    sorry you had to join
    Sorry you both had to join, wish this place was empty. However, you will find a lot of information and support here. I am 47, m, and had left nephrectomy for 4 cm mass on 1/17/12. My recovery has gone very well, I was back to work in 3 weeks.

    Ejones, I also had renal vein invasion. I am almost into my second week of Everolimus trial. My nurse seems to think I am getting the drug and not the placebo but so far I haven't had any noticeable side effects. My thought was regardless of if I get the drug or placebo, I will still be monitored closely.

    I wish you both speedy recoveries.

    Health and happiness to all,
    Wayne
  • judyfain
    judyfain Member Posts: 7
    I am new to this as well. I
    I am new to this as well. I am 49 and a mass was accidentally located new years eve. I had a radical nephrectomy the old fashioned way on March 1. My diagnosis was Stage 1 clear cell renal cell carcinoma and was contained only in the tumor which was incapsulated. Although I was in denial for quite some time, I have no choice now that I have seen the pathology report that I even had cancer. I never had a biopsy, I was told up front I had cancer and that was that, so I had the procedure done. I had not done any research so I didn't know all the things you go through afterwards. My ribs hurt like the dickens, I couldn't cough, or go to the bathroom, or move. I just wanted to stay on Morphine forever....lol.....Now I am 3 1/2 weeks out and my incision has split about 2" and is infected. I wanted to go back to work on 4/2 but I guess that will not be happening now as to the type of job I have. This is the time I wished I was still working in an office somewhere.....How long does it take for me to feel normal, or to be able to wear my pre-surgery clothes and how long does it take for all the swelling to go down? Is there a diet of some sort to improve the kidney health of the remaining kidney? I still have many years ahead of me and would like to live them but worry about that remaining kidney. I am a mother of 6, and have 1 grand baby. I would like to be around for them. My left kidney has ached from time to time, so I am slowly trying to increase the fluids I take as that is one of my biggest problems. Are we able to drink tea, or is it not good for the kidneys? I have so many unanswered questions, and I hope I can find them here, on this forum. Thanks
  • MikeK703
    MikeK703 Member Posts: 235
    1.5 kidneys
    Hi Rham,
    Good luck with your next visit regarding your remaining kidney. If the expression "In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king" is true, you're among the royalty here with 1-1/2 kidneys. Let's keep it that way, your majesty :)
    Regards,
    Mike
  • Texas_wedge
    Texas_wedge Member Posts: 2,798
    judyfain said:

    I am new to this as well. I
    I am new to this as well. I am 49 and a mass was accidentally located new years eve. I had a radical nephrectomy the old fashioned way on March 1. My diagnosis was Stage 1 clear cell renal cell carcinoma and was contained only in the tumor which was incapsulated. Although I was in denial for quite some time, I have no choice now that I have seen the pathology report that I even had cancer. I never had a biopsy, I was told up front I had cancer and that was that, so I had the procedure done. I had not done any research so I didn't know all the things you go through afterwards. My ribs hurt like the dickens, I couldn't cough, or go to the bathroom, or move. I just wanted to stay on Morphine forever....lol.....Now I am 3 1/2 weeks out and my incision has split about 2" and is infected. I wanted to go back to work on 4/2 but I guess that will not be happening now as to the type of job I have. This is the time I wished I was still working in an office somewhere.....How long does it take for me to feel normal, or to be able to wear my pre-surgery clothes and how long does it take for all the swelling to go down? Is there a diet of some sort to improve the kidney health of the remaining kidney? I still have many years ahead of me and would like to live them but worry about that remaining kidney. I am a mother of 6, and have 1 grand baby. I would like to be around for them. My left kidney has ached from time to time, so I am slowly trying to increase the fluids I take as that is one of my biggest problems. Are we able to drink tea, or is it not good for the kidneys? I have so many unanswered questions, and I hope I can find them here, on this forum. Thanks

    New experience
    Judy, a sense of spirituality is an asset in this situation so it was no bad thing that you stumbled into a mass on new year's eve.

    At Stage 1 you will be unlucky if the nephrectomy doesn't see you fully cured but if you care to read back over some of the threads here you'll soon see that what you're now enduring is the usual sort of discomfort. Try starting at the beginning of the thread called "Recovering from radical nephrectomy" and you'll see what I mean.

    Morphine is 'hydrophilic' (loves water) so you might suffer a rash and dry skin for which a moisturiser may help. The main diet idea now is plenty of fluids. This can include tea and coffee, fruit juices etc but NOT alcohol (which dehydrates the body). If you look at the thread "Vitamix" you'll see a list of especially suitable foods but a normal good balanced diet is fine. You should know that tea is excellent, particularly green tea and Earl Grey but any tea is good - better without sugar.

    You'll be feeling fine again soon.
  • KJones1969
    KJones1969 Member Posts: 158
    judyfain said:

    I am new to this as well. I
    I am new to this as well. I am 49 and a mass was accidentally located new years eve. I had a radical nephrectomy the old fashioned way on March 1. My diagnosis was Stage 1 clear cell renal cell carcinoma and was contained only in the tumor which was incapsulated. Although I was in denial for quite some time, I have no choice now that I have seen the pathology report that I even had cancer. I never had a biopsy, I was told up front I had cancer and that was that, so I had the procedure done. I had not done any research so I didn't know all the things you go through afterwards. My ribs hurt like the dickens, I couldn't cough, or go to the bathroom, or move. I just wanted to stay on Morphine forever....lol.....Now I am 3 1/2 weeks out and my incision has split about 2" and is infected. I wanted to go back to work on 4/2 but I guess that will not be happening now as to the type of job I have. This is the time I wished I was still working in an office somewhere.....How long does it take for me to feel normal, or to be able to wear my pre-surgery clothes and how long does it take for all the swelling to go down? Is there a diet of some sort to improve the kidney health of the remaining kidney? I still have many years ahead of me and would like to live them but worry about that remaining kidney. I am a mother of 6, and have 1 grand baby. I would like to be around for them. My left kidney has ached from time to time, so I am slowly trying to increase the fluids I take as that is one of my biggest problems. Are we able to drink tea, or is it not good for the kidneys? I have so many unanswered questions, and I hope I can find them here, on this forum. Thanks

    Hello Judy
    My husband is a newbie to this as well. He was in the hospital 2 different times in Jan. and Feb. with anemia. The last time in Feb. the doctor told him they were going to keep him overnight, give him 2 units of blood and send him home to wait for test results from his pillcam. I asked him to do a consult with a hematologist, I also know this doctor was oncology and this is what I wanted because one of the key signs is anemia. They ordered a cat scan on Friday night for Saturday am and within a short amount of time the doctor came in and told us he had about a 10cm mass on his left kidney. It is amazing how a trip to the hospital can turn your world upside down. We were immediately referred to Duke for further treatment/nephroectomy.

    March 15th he had his radical nephroectomy laproscopic, however that meant a 8" incision due to the size of the kidney. He came out and told us it was the size of a football which was much larger than we were first told. He was in the hospital for 7 days and goes back this Friday for his pathology report.

    He is diagnosed with clear cell renal cell carcinoma stage 4 that has metastacized to the lungs in 5 spots total on both lungs. I have read alot about stage 4 and am nervous about his appointment on Friday.

    It sounds like besize the incision issues that you are doing great. I wish we would have found my husbands early on. The doctor said it has been growing for several years.

    Good luck and I will be thinking of you and your family.

    Karen
  • rham68
    rham68 Member Posts: 6
    MikeK703 said:

    1.5 kidneys
    Hi Rham,
    Good luck with your next visit regarding your remaining kidney. If the expression "In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king" is true, you're among the royalty here with 1-1/2 kidneys. Let's keep it that way, your majesty :)
    Regards,
    Mike

    Thanks!
    You make me feel lucky now! I'll know tomorrow if I can keep it or not. Here's hoping! R
  • rham68
    rham68 Member Posts: 6
    judyfain said:

    I am new to this as well. I
    I am new to this as well. I am 49 and a mass was accidentally located new years eve. I had a radical nephrectomy the old fashioned way on March 1. My diagnosis was Stage 1 clear cell renal cell carcinoma and was contained only in the tumor which was incapsulated. Although I was in denial for quite some time, I have no choice now that I have seen the pathology report that I even had cancer. I never had a biopsy, I was told up front I had cancer and that was that, so I had the procedure done. I had not done any research so I didn't know all the things you go through afterwards. My ribs hurt like the dickens, I couldn't cough, or go to the bathroom, or move. I just wanted to stay on Morphine forever....lol.....Now I am 3 1/2 weeks out and my incision has split about 2" and is infected. I wanted to go back to work on 4/2 but I guess that will not be happening now as to the type of job I have. This is the time I wished I was still working in an office somewhere.....How long does it take for me to feel normal, or to be able to wear my pre-surgery clothes and how long does it take for all the swelling to go down? Is there a diet of some sort to improve the kidney health of the remaining kidney? I still have many years ahead of me and would like to live them but worry about that remaining kidney. I am a mother of 6, and have 1 grand baby. I would like to be around for them. My left kidney has ached from time to time, so I am slowly trying to increase the fluids I take as that is one of my biggest problems. Are we able to drink tea, or is it not good for the kidneys? I have so many unanswered questions, and I hope I can find them here, on this forum. Thanks

    Judy
    I had my one week follow up yesterday with my urologist and he told me to drink gatorade lemonaid or water and said tea is not your friend. Thought I would pass that along. Robert
  • rham68
    rham68 Member Posts: 6
    judyfain said:

    I am new to this as well. I
    I am new to this as well. I am 49 and a mass was accidentally located new years eve. I had a radical nephrectomy the old fashioned way on March 1. My diagnosis was Stage 1 clear cell renal cell carcinoma and was contained only in the tumor which was incapsulated. Although I was in denial for quite some time, I have no choice now that I have seen the pathology report that I even had cancer. I never had a biopsy, I was told up front I had cancer and that was that, so I had the procedure done. I had not done any research so I didn't know all the things you go through afterwards. My ribs hurt like the dickens, I couldn't cough, or go to the bathroom, or move. I just wanted to stay on Morphine forever....lol.....Now I am 3 1/2 weeks out and my incision has split about 2" and is infected. I wanted to go back to work on 4/2 but I guess that will not be happening now as to the type of job I have. This is the time I wished I was still working in an office somewhere.....How long does it take for me to feel normal, or to be able to wear my pre-surgery clothes and how long does it take for all the swelling to go down? Is there a diet of some sort to improve the kidney health of the remaining kidney? I still have many years ahead of me and would like to live them but worry about that remaining kidney. I am a mother of 6, and have 1 grand baby. I would like to be around for them. My left kidney has ached from time to time, so I am slowly trying to increase the fluids I take as that is one of my biggest problems. Are we able to drink tea, or is it not good for the kidneys? I have so many unanswered questions, and I hope I can find them here, on this forum. Thanks

    Judy
    I had my one week follow up yesterday with my urologist and he told me to drink gatorade lemonaid or water and said tea is not your friend. Thought I would pass that along. Robert
  • MikeK703
    MikeK703 Member Posts: 235
    rham68 said:

    Thanks!
    You make me feel lucky now! I'll know tomorrow if I can keep it or not. Here's hoping! R

    Follow-up
    Rham,
    So how did your follow-up turn out?
  • Texas_wedge
    Texas_wedge Member Posts: 2,798
    rham68 said:

    Judy
    I had my one week follow up yesterday with my urologist and he told me to drink gatorade lemonaid or water and said tea is not your friend. Thought I would pass that along. Robert

    Fluid intake
    I wonder where he trained. Did he explain his advice?
  • rham68
    rham68 Member Posts: 6
    MikeK703 said:

    Follow-up
    Rham,
    So how did your follow-up turn out?

    Follow up
    They said I would need to do a renal scan sometime in the next 3 months which is not what I expected. At that time they plan on removing a couple small cysts on my left side. I'm told they are nowhere near as bad as the one they just removed and that the procedure will be easier. Things seem to change from minute to minute with this guy. Initially I was told they were no big deal and I might not have to address them at all. Now it seems removal is a given.Right now I just want to get over what they just did. I drove today! woo hoo!
  • rham68
    rham68 Member Posts: 6

    Fluid intake
    I wonder where he trained. Did he explain his advice?

    fluid
    He went to OSU and no he didn't really explain why not drink tea. I thought soda, beer, and the like would be much worse.