Swelling after surgery?

kamohiocat
kamohiocat Member Posts: 2
in Kidney Cancer #1

Hi there,

I am new to this board, but have searched for a network of kidney cancer survivors, and hoping you can help me out.  I am now 27 days afer surgery from my removal of part of my kidney to cancer, but am SO SWOLLEN and feel so TIGHT right now on my side....I am wondering if this is normal for everyone that has had this surgery?

I know they tell you that you have 'gases' in you from the surgery, but this is really frustrating to be so swollen.  I feel like I have a basketball on my side..and it is so hard and aching.......each day does get better as far as my movement goes, but this swelling doesnt seem to be going down....any thoughts out there?

kam

 

 

Comments

  • Texas_wedge
    Texas_wedge Member Posts: 2,798
    #2
    Swollen

    Welcome here Kam.  No-one else has taken up your question yet but I'm sure many will do so soon, so I'll make this brief.

    Your experience is very familiar to many (maybe even most of us) here.  Some have it worse than others and you need to stay in touch with your docs to get help in handling it - no need to suffer unnecessarily. 

    That said, it takes time and it will gradually get better.  There are folks here who say they're still not fully right a year on.  Most of us are destined never to be quite the same as we were.  One thing is that our internal organs move about a bit to re-fit into the extra space left after a kidney has gone (and of course the surgeons have to disturb everything quite a bit in getting it out).

    We have threads here on The Bulge and a good one Has anyone seen my waistline? where you can read up on other peoples' stories.

    I'll leave it to members here who've been seriously bothered by this to give you some practical advice. and I hope you keep getting steadily more comfortable.

  • kamohiocat
    kamohiocat Member Posts: 2
    #3
    Texas_wedge said:

    Swollen

    Welcome here Kam.  No-one else has taken up your question yet but I'm sure many will do so soon, so I'll make this brief.

    Your experience is very familiar to many (maybe even most of us) here.  Some have it worse than others and you need to stay in touch with your docs to get help in handling it - no need to suffer unnecessarily. 

    That said, it takes time and it will gradually get better.  There are folks here who say they're still not fully right a year on.  Most of us are destined never to be quite the same as we were.  One thing is that our internal organs move about a bit to re-fit into the extra space left after a kidney has gone (and of course the surgeons have to disturb everything quite a bit in getting it out).

    We have threads here on The Bulge and a good one Has anyone seen my waistline? where you can read up on other peoples' stories.

    I'll leave it to members here who've been seriously bothered by this to give you some practical advice. and I hope you keep getting steadily more comfortable.

    Swollen

    Thank you for your reply...it does help chatting with someone else who has gone through this and knows of others.  I had a bad night last night....so sore....so tight feeling....like I wish I could poke a pin in my side and fly around the room letting the 'air' out!

    I've been told by a few friends to remember what you had mentioned as well....the doctor removes the organs and lays them on your while he pokes around at the kidney and does what he has to do....that being  said...I know it only stands to reason that is takes time for the organs etc to get 'fit' back into their place inside....ugh....

    I figured if in a few more weeks I don't feel any better about any swelling going 'down' or the tightness starting to go away a bit, I'll make an appt with my doc.....its just so frustrating....

    That being said...I am blessed to have caught my cancer early.....and no chemo or radiation that so many others have to go through....I guess we all have our 'bad' days no matter what though....the whole OMG I HAD CANCER....and I want to feel GOOD again....:)

     

     

  • Texas_wedge
    Texas_wedge Member Posts: 2,798
    #4
    kamohiocat said:

    Swollen

    Thank you for your reply...it does help chatting with someone else who has gone through this and knows of others.  I had a bad night last night....so sore....so tight feeling....like I wish I could poke a pin in my side and fly around the room letting the 'air' out!

    I've been told by a few friends to remember what you had mentioned as well....the doctor removes the organs and lays them on your while he pokes around at the kidney and does what he has to do....that being  said...I know it only stands to reason that is takes time for the organs etc to get 'fit' back into their place inside....ugh....

    I figured if in a few more weeks I don't feel any better about any swelling going 'down' or the tightness starting to go away a bit, I'll make an appt with my doc.....its just so frustrating....

    That being said...I am blessed to have caught my cancer early.....and no chemo or radiation that so many others have to go through....I guess we all have our 'bad' days no matter what though....the whole OMG I HAD CANCER....and I want to feel GOOD again....:)

     

     

    Consultation

    Your suggested therapeutic intervention - using the flying deflation method - is probably not recommended.

    What you're planning makes good sense though - grin and bear it unless it gets any worse and definitely raise it with your doc when next you meet, making that sooner rather than later if you need to.

  • donna_lee
    donna_lee Member Posts: 1,045 Member
    #5
    Texas_wedge said:

    Consultation

    Your suggested therapeutic intervention - using the flying deflation method - is probably not recommended.

    What you're planning makes good sense though - grin and bear it unless it gets any worse and definitely raise it with your doc when next you meet, making that sooner rather than later if you need to.

    You mean that is fat???

    My Gawd...Had a total abdominal hysterectomy in 87 (uterus, ovaries, appendix); then the Stage 4 RCC (kidney, 1/2 of liver, gallbladder and set of nodes); and subsequent single node removals.  Oh, forgot the laser surgery for removal of endometriosis attached to everything.  Add lots of scar tissue that doesn't stretch very much, some extra weight, jeans that are getting snug and the result is "MUFFIN TOP."

    I also don't reccomend the method we used to use on cows when they ate too much alfalfa and it put them down.  A hollow ice-pick like devise stabbed directly into the stomach to release the gas.

    Call your oncology office and talk to a nurse.  You shouldn't be producing gas into the peritoneum.  And if you have a bowel or intestinal blockage it needs to be addressed ASAP.  Let's hope that is something dietary that you can discover through diet eliminations or modifications.

    Sorry-I do take you seriously, but am in a flaky mood today, so had to make a joke out of it.

    Do call the docs office and ask for advice.  Good Luck.

    Donna

     

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