3 months post surgery!

girlypants
girlypants Member Posts: 31
in Kidney Cancer #1
I cant believe it has been three months since surgery! I am totally back to normal now. Can eat, drink, work out, and function fine. This day seemed so far away after surgery. I still have pain in my kidney, dull pain that rotates from front to back and aches. Guess its something I will have to live with. I do think that it gets a bit worse the day after drinking a few too many beers and vodka tonics. Will definitely be keeping that to one or two, not 4 or 5. Still a bit tired, just seems to be more fatigued then I remember.

The funny thing is I feel like I am a totally different person mentally. My focus is to be happy, worry free and not stress about things. It was a miracle I found the tumor and cancer, so every day I am here is amazing. It is so hard for people to understand that. So many just seem to act like nothing happened, or that I am just being silly for thinking that way. For instance I have this work licensing training that is horrible coming up. Fail rate is damn near 90% for the series 6/ 63/ and life insurance exam. Day two back at work they tell me I am going, and have been trying to pressure the crap out of me to pass. I just don't care, so what if I fail, its life. I dont want to spend my every waking moment worrying and missing my life. No one gets that! I was so worked up today that I cried after missing two problems on an unrelated work training quiz! And I swear when I stress out or get emotional my kidney gets mad at me and starts to throb.

Well that is my update so far. Will be heading into the urologist on May one to do the post op follow up. Also will be getting my results to the VHL gene soon.

Anyone know where to get some kick **** survivor gear?? Like cool shirts and stuff?


- Amber

Comments

  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    #2
    Free tee shirts
    girlypants,

    Sign up for a Relay for Life in your town or City. It is a humbling event and they usually give free survivor tee shirts to the survivors. Just Google Relay for Life.

    Icemantoo
  • garym
    garym Member Posts: 1,647
    #3
    Life's drama...
    Hi Amber,

    Great to hear you are doing so well, its been 2-1/2 years for me now and the everyday drama of life is still much different than pre dx and surgery. Icemann is right, Relay is a very humbling experience and you will get a free "T" to wear with pride.

    Rock on,

    Gary
  • j_rod
    j_rod Member Posts: 125
    #4
    garym said:

    Life's drama...
    Hi Amber,

    Great to hear you are doing so well, its been 2-1/2 years for me now and the everyday drama of life is still much different than pre dx and surgery. Icemann is right, Relay is a very humbling experience and you will get a free "T" to wear with pride.

    Rock on,

    Gary

    Hi Amber -
    welcome to the survivor club. I was told on this site that to not be surprised if I seem to have a different feeling about my job when I return. I haven't returned yet. I took this week off. I put in for next week as well just in case I had any complications. I had thought before the operation that if I was feeling OK, I would have them cancel the sub and I would go back and finish out the school year. Now....I decided I am taking next week off, I will relax and take care of myself, and I will enjoy the time off. Then when I go back, I am already feeling that my attitude has changed. I am thinking like you....state test scores aren't nearly as important as living ....in the scheme of things.
  • Texas_wedge
    Texas_wedge Member Posts: 2,798
    #5
    j_rod said:

    Hi Amber -
    welcome to the survivor club. I was told on this site that to not be surprised if I seem to have a different feeling about my job when I return. I haven't returned yet. I took this week off. I put in for next week as well just in case I had any complications. I had thought before the operation that if I was feeling OK, I would have them cancel the sub and I would go back and finish out the school year. Now....I decided I am taking next week off, I will relax and take care of myself, and I will enjoy the time off. Then when I go back, I am already feeling that my attitude has changed. I am thinking like you....state test scores aren't nearly as important as living ....in the scheme of things.

    Amber
    What a transformation from the girl who first joined here - you've come a hell of a long way and obviously learnt a lot about life while going through this experience. You've got a very long and healthy life in prospect so do take it easier on the booze - in moderation you'll probably enjoy it more too.

    Like, j_rod, you've lived to confirm the truth of what the long-timers on here have revealed to us: that this ordeal can teach us what's important in life and what's not.
  • foxhd
    foxhd Member Posts: 3,181 Member
    #6
    Texas_wedge said:

    Amber
    What a transformation from the girl who first joined here - you've come a hell of a long way and obviously learnt a lot about life while going through this experience. You've got a very long and healthy life in prospect so do take it easier on the booze - in moderation you'll probably enjoy it more too.

    Like, j_rod, you've lived to confirm the truth of what the long-timers on here have revealed to us: that this ordeal can teach us what's important in life and what's not.

    Amber
    Great perspective GP
  • foxhd
    foxhd Member Posts: 3,181 Member
    #7
    Texas_wedge said:

    Amber
    What a transformation from the girl who first joined here - you've come a hell of a long way and obviously learnt a lot about life while going through this experience. You've got a very long and healthy life in prospect so do take it easier on the booze - in moderation you'll probably enjoy it more too.

    Like, j_rod, you've lived to confirm the truth of what the long-timers on here have revealed to us: that this ordeal can teach us what's important in life and what's not.

    Amber
    Great perspective GP
  • JackieP125
    JackieP125 Member Posts: 56
    #8
    foxhd said:

    Amber
    Great perspective GP

    Hi GirliePants
    This wonderful news. I am also 3 months post-op and got my first doctor visit on Monday. I am also living again. However, I still have aches and pains in my lower back where the kidney used to be. Of course, in my head this is a new cancer. Can't wait until I am pain free. I manage to get through the day at work until 4:00 and then the tiredness starts. I don't have much of a hang factor after that. Hopefully that will soon change. At least, I am enjoying my cold beer and wings again. Live is good!!! and God is good!!!!
  • nyc_girl
    nyc_girl Member Posts: 27
    #9
    JackieP125 said:

    Hi GirliePants
    This wonderful news. I am also 3 months post-op and got my first doctor visit on Monday. I am also living again. However, I still have aches and pains in my lower back where the kidney used to be. Of course, in my head this is a new cancer. Can't wait until I am pain free. I manage to get through the day at work until 4:00 and then the tiredness starts. I don't have much of a hang factor after that. Hopefully that will soon change. At least, I am enjoying my cold beer and wings again. Live is good!!! and God is good!!!!

    Hi Girls!
    I am also 3 months post-op. RCC Stage 1 Grade 3. Pain is mostly gone (just some tenderness around the incision site). I am back to work full-time with a new perspective on life. My scar is healing very well, too. I am keeping all my bikinis - I am determined to wear them at the beach again :)
  • One Lucky Girl
    One Lucky Girl Member Posts: 68
    #10
    nyc_girl said:

    Hi Girls!
    I am also 3 months post-op. RCC Stage 1 Grade 3. Pain is mostly gone (just some tenderness around the incision site). I am back to work full-time with a new perspective on life. My scar is healing very well, too. I am keeping all my bikinis - I am determined to wear them at the beach again :)

    Hi Amber!
    So glad to hear you're doing well 3 months post-op. I am now at 2 months and I completely agree with you and Jan about work taking on a different perspective. I started back slowly in mid-March and also really had a hard time getting my heart into it at first. Actually, my doctor warned me pre-surgery that it would take a little while to get my 'internal spark' (sorry, I'm translating from German) back. But it seems to be getting easier each week. I'm incredibly grateful that all my clients moved their deadlines for me. No doubt about it though -- kidney cancer sure does change your perspective on life!

    nyc-girl -- I'm keeping my bikinis too! (But I'm still a little shy about the scars). Have a cold one for me Jackie. Hope the surgical site feels much better soon :-)
  • foxhd
    foxhd Member Posts: 3,181 Member
    #11
    One Lucky Girl said:

    Hi Amber!
    So glad to hear you're doing well 3 months post-op. I am now at 2 months and I completely agree with you and Jan about work taking on a different perspective. I started back slowly in mid-March and also really had a hard time getting my heart into it at first. Actually, my doctor warned me pre-surgery that it would take a little while to get my 'internal spark' (sorry, I'm translating from German) back. But it seems to be getting easier each week. I'm incredibly grateful that all my clients moved their deadlines for me. No doubt about it though -- kidney cancer sure does change your perspective on life!

    nyc-girl -- I'm keeping my bikinis too! (But I'm still a little shy about the scars). Have a cold one for me Jackie. Hope the surgical site feels much better soon :-)

    scars
    .....Maybe because I work in health care but...scars are beauty and battle marks. Nothing to be ashamed of or need to hide. If you can wear a bikini and don't mind showing some skin, then a scar is no big deal. To have overcome some life threatening procedure and STILL be able to wear a bikini is something to be proud of.....then again, I go to biker rallies where half the people are covered in ugly senseless tattoos, are missing limbs, and have more scars than a pig in a slaughter house. They show them all with pride. I say flaunt it. If someone else doesn't like it, it's their problem.....now let's talk about your new avatars........:)
  • One Lucky Girl
    One Lucky Girl Member Posts: 68
    #12
    foxhd said:

    scars
    .....Maybe because I work in health care but...scars are beauty and battle marks. Nothing to be ashamed of or need to hide. If you can wear a bikini and don't mind showing some skin, then a scar is no big deal. To have overcome some life threatening procedure and STILL be able to wear a bikini is something to be proud of.....then again, I go to biker rallies where half the people are covered in ugly senseless tattoos, are missing limbs, and have more scars than a pig in a slaughter house. They show them all with pride. I say flaunt it. If someone else doesn't like it, it's their problem.....now let's talk about your new avatars........:)

    Sly Fox!
    You really are one sly fox, aren't you? But maybe those avatars would be better on a different site? LOL

    But I really do appreciate your encouragement re: the scars. My husband says I should be proud of what they represent. (I'm the one who STILL hasn't revealed my diagnosis to friends or even my family b/c I don't want to worry them about something that's hopefully in the past). It may take me a little while, but I will try to flaunt those battle wounds on a beach this summer! Might just require a couple of strawberry daiquiris :-)
  • One Lucky Girl
    One Lucky Girl Member Posts: 68
    #13
    One Lucky Girl said:

    Sly Fox!
    You really are one sly fox, aren't you? But maybe those avatars would be better on a different site? LOL

    But I really do appreciate your encouragement re: the scars. My husband says I should be proud of what they represent. (I'm the one who STILL hasn't revealed my diagnosis to friends or even my family b/c I don't want to worry them about something that's hopefully in the past). It may take me a little while, but I will try to flaunt those battle wounds on a beach this summer! Might just require a couple of strawberry daiquiris :-)

    PS Harleys are beloved here too
    Especially on those winding mountain passes...
  • foxhd
    foxhd Member Posts: 3,181 Member
    #14
    One Lucky Girl said:

    PS Harleys are beloved here too
    Especially on those winding mountain passes...

    wanting people to know
    OLG, I really didn't want anyone to know of my cancer either. None of their business. But it has been a year and the word is out. Now I feel kind of stupid because everyone expects me to be dieing, yet I jog through my neighborhood, in better shape than all my neighbors. Go figure.

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