Surgery story and post surgical pains, please share!

Jrow said:

Post Open Partial Nephrectomy bulge
I don't see any 2012 comments here, so I may be in the wrong "rabbit hole".

I am 9 months post Mayo Clinic open partial nephrectomy. My doctor was Lebovich, but honestly, in a teaching hospital, do you really know ~who~ does the actual cutting?

Anyway, at my last check up I was NED so this bulge where the muscle is so thin due to nerve damage is really just an annoyance, but I'm putting it out here in case anyone else is wondering if theirs is "normal". 3 months post surgery I was still hoping it was fluid that would eventually resolve. However, after this last CT they say it is not fluid, but rather my intestines pushing out like a hernia. I was finally told that nothing can be done for it. My husband suggested exercise and they said no. The only possibility of repair is more major surgery using that "mesh" that is currently under investigation. No thanks.

I notice it especially when I am active, like walking all day. But as mentioned in another comment, the binder or corset-type garment helps. They sell them at the hospital pharmacy.

I'm just wondering if laproscopic surgery patients encounter this same thing? By the way, I had RCC Chromophobe, Stage 1, Grade 2, 3.5 cm tumor.

Bulge
Jill, haven't heard from you for a while. So glad to hear you're NED. I'm supposedly likewise, at the moment, at least). I'm also chromophobe like you (but stage and grade 4 and 9cm + a recurrence).

You're unlucky, I think. I had a big cut (about 10") which they opened up again for the second op. and I've got more or less no bulge to show for it. I suppose a lifetime of dabbling with martial arts, weightlifting, rowing etc gave me a decent muscular corset which probably helped.

I can understand your lack of enthusiasm for the mesh although for some it has been the only option and has been an acceptable one.

Did they tell you why they vetoed your Husband's suggestion of exercise? I would have thought that that was a good idea - pursued very carefully though, with expert guidance. Our onboard expert here is our good friend Fox, as a physical therapist, so I hope he might care to express an opinion.

NewDay said:

I have a hematoma/seroma
Hi Jrow,

I had a bulge and bruises appear in my lower abdomen 2 weeks after my laparoscopic radical nephrectomy and went to the ER where they diagnosed it as a hernia. I went in to see the Urologist a few days later, but had to see his PA instead. She pushed on it and said it was just fluid. The surgeon stopped in for two minutes and, without even looking, stated that he had the same opinion. They say it could take weeks to months to resolve. I have scans next week, so at least maybe I will know for sure what it is. It only bothers me when I walk a lot. I hope you find a solution. Maybe this is one of those cases where you need to get a 2nd doctor's opinion about either the surgery or exercise.

Kathy

I had a hematoma/sermoa
My showed up about two weeks after surgery. It was painful, swollen, etc. Dr looked at it, poked around and said it was a hematoma/seroma. Then it started draining...and got a superficial infection. Overall, it finally closed again after 7 weeks. (about 1 week ago).

Good luck with it.