Partial Nephrectomy recovery

Another aspect of recovery is getting back to work (for those of us that still do).  For my scenario, the Family Medical Leave Act started right when I went in for surgery.  If you're not familiar with FMLA, it basically entitles you to take unpaid, job protected leave for 12 work weeks in a 12-month period. 

I had my surgery exactly 3 weeks ago today.  I'm feeling pretty good and thought I could get back to work (I'm a computer programmer), but as part of FMLA, an employer can require you to have your doctor's permission to return to work.  My doctor said I can return in 8 weeks, but I plan on asking him to allow me to go back sooner - maybe next week or the week after.

I had a slow start on my recovery and the first week was really rough, but the second week was much better.  Now I'm finally able to sleep on my surgery side - which is a great relief because that's what I was used to.

I remember I posted to you before...I was in the same boat pain wise etc and being me I of course thought I could do everything right away..butttt.....that didn't work out so well,,,this past week or so I have been extremely weak and exhausted...I would never ask anyone else their age but I am 62...I believe the culprit may be the increase dose of my blood pressure meds several weeks ago..my pressure was up pretty high for me and I was on a very minimal dose of meds..the increase was not much per se but I am thinking that as my kidney is healing my natural pressure is also starting to go down towards it's norm...so 2 days ago  I started monitoring my BP lying down first and then standing...definite big difference so as a retired medic I am pretty sure that is the problem...Today I only took my normal dose but am a good girl and did make appt Dr for tomorrow morning...the other thing is that the problems with my back that I had the scan for when we found the tumors are still there and pain can make you tired plus symptoms from my back include leg and foot cramps esp. during the night...which I am having regularly and so my sleep is interrupted on a regular basis...I have pain meds for it from the pain management Dr. but I don't want to take Oxycodone on a regular basis and that would just make me more tired...My pain Dr jokes that she has to explain to her other patients why she can't give them more and she has to beg me just to get the prescription filled...I am in a catch 22 here....I have to get healthy from this surgery so that I can have surgery on my spine...hopefully, tomorrow I can at least know for sure about the BP meds...I mean I almost passed out a few times...in the past few days...stopped taking them until today because this AM the SYS (top) was fine but the Dia(bottom) was too high for my liking so I took 10 mg, my normal dose instead of new dose of 20mgs...feeling a little better now so I am hoping that is all it is...I think I remember you sayingyou lived near Hopkins...I will work toward getting better soon and maybe we can meet between Calvert Co and your area for Lunch...I'll buy..LOL

Today makes one week since I had a partical nephrectomy. First off, I wish I'd had more and better information about recovery before I went in. It would be great if they made up a small booklet you could carry home to read.  I advise buying the 24 hour antibiotic soap they sell in the pharmacy to use before surgery. It's great to use before the surgery and great to use afterwards when you must keep the drain incision clean. It's important to cook up some good broth soups, chicken, beef, and also some vegetable soups so you'll be able to have those on hand. Grocery shopping in totally necessary as you'll be living on what's in there if you can't get out. Make it healthy.  If you have any cooking skills at all, this is the time to cook healhy.  I found raw foods, fruits and vegetables, are still too hard to digest, so I am only sticking to cooked (steamed,etc) foods right now.  Be sure to add yoghurt. Your intestines are going to need that to get back in shape.

Just figure you're going to have foggy brain for a while. I had a friend stay with me for a day and a half, but felt I would rest better on my own as I like quiet and didn't feel like talking. I was able to do the simple things needed.

Ask what medications they'll be giving you and check out the side effects. They'll probably only give you liquids at first and that's great. You won't need anything more for a while.  More about that later.

I expected that my body would take some time to settle down and return to normal. It's a good ways from normal, but things are moving along. I've had constipation, as might be expected and personally I think staying on a liquid diet for a day or two is the best idea. Consume mostly broths and clear soups, teas, at the most maybe some applesauce. After you've had a bowel movement, maybe with the help of mineral oil, suppositories or whatever else you need, you can think about easing back in to some easy to digest foods like yoghurt, applesauce, white rice, toast. Bland foods.  It all goes well with that, you can graduate to more challenging digestion wise foods.  I haven't quite gotten to the regular foods stage a week out from surgery. I made the mistake of waking up one morning feeling pretty good and though some scrambled eggs, biscuits, soy sausage and coffee would be good.  Wow! Did I pay for it!  I had also taken some bulk drink. I felt like I'd die. It was horrible. I learned my lesson. Liquids or soft easy to digest foods until the digestion thing was going well and that means having a bowel movement or two.

As far as pain goes, it seems to come and go at times depending on what I've done. I walk every morning around three acres of land and that feels good.  I have been taking two acetamenothen every eight hours and that has worked fairly well most of the time.  The dang gas they gave caused major problems. I tried walking and that was some help...maybe. It really hurt in the shoulder at times. I slept with a heating pad one night and that seemed to help that night. I have finally gotten some GasX and I would recommend not waiting as long as I did to try this. I've never really found a good solution, but it has eased slowly...way too slowly.

I didn't like to wear the girdle thing they gave me. It might help with breathing more deeply, which does hurt at first, but it impeds being able to pass gas.

About the drain tube thing. Clean, sanitary, sterile are what is most important. I use the 24 hour super soap when I shower, especially around the incision.  I cut the gauze and try to neatly tape it in place. I does leak some blood around it every day, but not too much.  At one point I thought that the blood had coagulated in the tube, which it had some, and paniced. After milking the tube, it managed to start back. I had pinned the bulb too high up and it was not flowing down as it should. Milking the tube is kind of tricky. I found putting some antibiotic ointment on it helped my fingers slide better.  Also, if you leave the cap on the bulb it helps suck it out better than taking off the cap beforehand. Wash hands before doing anything with the drain. Watch what you touch while you're messing with it. Keep all supplies in a separate bag, clean.

You may have a low grade fever and that's to be expected. Don't panic. If it gets high though, be sure to let your doctor know asap! It might signal infection, but that won't happen to you. : )

I was given some Gabasomething tablets, but saw the side effects and didn't take it. I was also given some heavy duty stuff, but decided not to go that route either. The acetamenraphen seems to work well enough.

I hope your surgery and recovery goes well.

Mostlysunny7

I had an open partial nephrectomy 9/14/21 with about an 8" incision. The doc rooted around and found a second 1.4 cm tumor that had not shown up on ct or mri scans. the tumors were removed and I was released from the hospital on 9/17/21. I must be very lucky (?) as my pain has been zero and I feel actually better than before surgery. I would be on the golf course if I did not know it would be an incredibly stupid thing to do.

 I have no idea why my experience has been so positive? Thankful for sure. I am 63. 

lynntracy said:

A really good experience

I had an open partial nephrectomy 9/14/21 with about an 8" incision. The doc rooted around and found a second 1.4 cm tumor that had not shown up on ct or mri scans. the tumors were removed and I was released from the hospital on 9/17/21. I must be very lucky (?) as my pain has been zero and I feel actually better than before surgery. I would be on the golf course if I did not know it would be an incredibly stupid thing to do.

 I have no idea why my experience has been so positive? Thankful for sure. I am 63. 

Did you have symptoms prior to your operation and how did they find the tumors? Also is that all you needed or do you have to do any treatments.?  I am going in for an MRI on Tuesday.. I have been watching this cyst for 8 years and this past week the ultrasoud said the cyst has changd and suggested an MRI. I am so scared as this summer I had a hysterectomy from cancer,,  and now this. I am hoping its not cancer..  The cyst is 11mm.. and septated.. its mid pole.