Two week update
Well, it's been two and a half weeks since my laparoscopic right nephrectomy. Follow up with the surgeon this past Wed. was really good. He told me the pathology report was good, confirmed what they were telling me all along. Surgery was successful and the little nasty guest was removed and I should be fine. I was turned back over to my urologist for follow up care and scheduling future scans etc. I will say it was a bumpy ride with many ups and downs. Some called it a roller coaster. I get the days of feeling down but so far have not had any major issues dealing with them. Most of the times they come on while I have too much time to think of what might have happened if I didn't get that ultra sound.
I am so greatful for the kind words and advice I got from the members of this community. I have said this before, but your posts have been extremely helpful getting me to this point. Thank you again.
My last day of paid vacation is Monday June 24. After meeting with the human resource lady at work and then with the nurse at my surgeon's office I was granted a "conditional'' full release to return to work on July 1. The doctor wants me to avoid lifting over 10 pounds for one month. My superisor assured HR and the nurse that my job did not require lifting more than 10 pounds, and there were other jobs he could use me so that I could come back to work rather than going two more weeks without a paycheck.
During my "layoff" the company I work for changed insurance carriers so during the open enrollment in addition to keeping a package similar to what I have been carrying I signed up for the short term disability. Hopefully I never have to use it, but this episode convinced me that it was worth it.
In terms of current health, I am feeling great. Never had pain to the point of using meds. I used one percocet my first day home and that was it. Today I am to the point where pain at the incision sites are down to occasional itching depending on where my waistband is situated.
Thanks again to my new friends for all the advice, well wishes and knowledge.
Dan Evans
Comments
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Official membership
Dan, Now that you have gone thru the initiation you are a full fledged member. Any time you want to help me with the newbies just jump in. Hopefully the worst is over. Are you counting your days till next summer on the gemini.
Seriously do not push yourself at work. You may or may not be able to handle things full time at work after 1 month.
Icemantoo
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Speedy recovery
Sound like your on the right track Dan :-)
Just have in mind, and dont get surprised, if at some point there will be a kind of mental relapse once surgery is starting to feel distant. Not a biggie if you know its coming, and as you probably read in here more or less all of us had has some dips and mood swings catching us off guard for the first year or so.
All that said, just continue on the path youre already on :-)
/G
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Dan,Galrim said:Speedy recovery
Sound like your on the right track Dan :-)
Just have in mind, and dont get surprised, if at some point there will be a kind of mental relapse once surgery is starting to feel distant. Not a biggie if you know its coming, and as you probably read in here more or less all of us had has some dips and mood swings catching us off guard for the first year or so.
All that said, just continue on the path youre already on :-)
/G
Now live your life looking forward. Don't dwell on any negative aspects. Don't forfeit good living. Cheers!
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Will take it easy for sure Icemantooicemantoo said:Official membership
Dan, Now that you have gone thru the initiation you are a full fledged member. Any time you want to help me with the newbies just jump in. Hopefully the worst is over. Are you counting your days till next summer on the gemini.
Seriously do not push yourself at work. You may or may not be able to handle things full time at work after 1 month.
Icemantoo
I really don't have a whole lot to worry about at my work. I work for a company that processes and bags fresh veggies. Our heaviest package is 10 pounds. However my job is mainly standing by a computer and entering work order completions. To simplify, as skids of finished product are completed and ready to move to the warehouse I enter the quantity and product name into the computer so that the scheduler and operations people can see what we got done. Basically it's real time inventory. In between entries while waiting for pallets to be completed I would pull skids of finished product to the warehouse with a pallet jack but that was just to help the stackers out and make my day go faster. What my supervisor has in mind is for me to do my computer job and then while waiting on the next skid completion I will be putting product identification labels on the boxes. Our main product is green beans, however we pack under our own brand name which is Greenline as well as Marketside for Wal Mart, Farmer's Market for Giant Eagle, Gordon's Food Service etc. all of which requires obviously a different ID label. My supervisor assured me that he would make sure I did no heavy lifting before the middle of July which is what my surgeon requested in order to not risk hernia at the incision site.
As far as helping the newbies, I will be glad to. You all made a huge difference with your help to me. Time to pay it forward.
And for the Gemini, you bet. I haven't been there in years but it would be nice to meet up with some of my new friends there.
Dan
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Workfoxhd said:Dan,
Now live your life looking forward. Don't dwell on any negative aspects. Don't forfeit good living. Cheers!
Dan,
The concern is not only weight restrictions, but fatigue as well. So try and get relief when you need it for those first few weeks and months.
Icemantoo
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Update
I am so pleased to hear you are doing so well Dan, and what a great result. As you are already aware there are days when you will feel down.Obviously the op, the anesthetic and tiredness factor largely in that.
When back at work, don't be alarmed if you are overcome with exhaustion in the afternoons. As Iceman says it will take time, just listen to your body.
All the best
Djinnie x
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Well friends...it's back to
Well friends...it's back to work tomorrow. Almost one month since my laparoscopic nephrectomy and I am actually feeling very good. We will see how the grind of standing at my work station for 8 hours pans out but the supervisor has it set up with the people in our work area that I cannot lift and may be needing some assistance in that area. Other than that, I think it will be fine and am looking forward to being back.
I want to thank you all again for all your help. Your knowledge and kind words have been such a help. I do intend to stay in regular contact with this group, doing my best to check in every day. So greatful for all the help I got here and I want to pay it forward.
Dan
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Back to workdme59 said:Well friends...it's back to
Well friends...it's back to work tomorrow. Almost one month since my laparoscopic nephrectomy and I am actually feeling very good. We will see how the grind of standing at my work station for 8 hours pans out but the supervisor has it set up with the people in our work area that I cannot lift and may be needing some assistance in that area. Other than that, I think it will be fine and am looking forward to being back.
I want to thank you all again for all your help. Your knowledge and kind words have been such a help. I do intend to stay in regular contact with this group, doing my best to check in every day. So greatful for all the help I got here and I want to pay it forward.
Dan
Good sentiments Dan and it's splendid to hear that you're feeling so well.
It's a not unreasonable time to become more active, but 8 hour days this soon may be a bit of a tall order. Play it by ear but if you start to find you're taxing yourself too much, please be ready to back off for a bit - maybe half days? In the longer run, you'll put yourself back too much if you overdo it in this early phase of recovery. I hope I'm being unduly cautious and that you cruise through it, but take care not to delay your recovery by doing too much too soon.
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Good observation TW!Texas_wedge said:Back to work
Good sentiments Dan and it's splendid to hear that you're feeling so well.
It's a not unreasonable time to become more active, but 8 hour days this soon may be a bit of a tall order. Play it by ear but if you start to find you're taxing yourself too much, please be ready to back off for a bit - maybe half days? In the longer run, you'll put yourself back too much if you overdo it in this early phase of recovery. I hope I'm being unduly cautious and that you cruise through it, but take care not to delay your recovery by doing too much too soon.
Dan, you have undergone major surgery, whether it feels like it or not. Your body will require time to get back to where it was before!
In addition to ensuring that you aren't lifting and pushing the limits on the job, I hope your supervisor recognizes that there will be days when you are simply not who you were two months ago. That fellow is a little further down the road.
Easy for me to say because I am not facing your financial situation. Just please your head and listen to what is taking place in your body.
Good luck Amigo!
Marking my calendar for a Cedar Point trip next summer.
Michael
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Cedar PointMDCinSC said:I had every confidence! Way
I had every confidence! Way to go Dan!
I'm marking my calendar for next summer at Cedar Point! Sounds like Icemantoo and GaryM are in! Any other takers?
Michael
My kids just spent the day there a couple weeks ago. I'm in for next year.
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Back to work update...MDCinSC said:Good observation TW!
Dan, you have undergone major surgery, whether it feels like it or not. Your body will require time to get back to where it was before!
In addition to ensuring that you aren't lifting and pushing the limits on the job, I hope your supervisor recognizes that there will be days when you are simply not who you were two months ago. That fellow is a little further down the road.
Easy for me to say because I am not facing your financial situation. Just please your head and listen to what is taking place in your body.
Good luck Amigo!
Marking my calendar for a Cedar Point trip next summer.
Michael
The first three days went fair. I did feel like I was starting to run out of gas towards the end of the shift. Started yawning like crazy. Had a couple nights of poor sleep due to wandering mind. The roller coaster of up and down moods/feelings. My family doctor was about to go out of country for has annual week or two in England (his wife's birthplace) so I gave him a call. He told me to stop in after work, he would see what was going on. Turns out, pretty much as you all said. He told me many surgical patients go through depression/anxiety/panic spells. With the time to think about what was going on leading to the surgery, to the body being "invaded" and parts body parts removed, and the body reacting to all this is a whole lot thrown on your plate in a couple months. His thinking is a couple weeks to a month should see a significant change. In the meantime he prescribed an anti depressant to take during the day and xanax to take as needed at bedtime to get some relaxed sleep time. I know they say generally it takes a week or two for an anti depressant to get to work but I see a big change already. I think maybe the discussion with my family dr. did quite a bit of good. Anyhow, that was yesterday and today was a good day. Work went well, slightly tired and a little lower back discomfort. Still managed to go to the fireworks at BGSU with two of my sisters and some of my nieces and nephews. Family time also does the mind good.
Happy 4th of July friends. Have a great weekend and be safe.
Dan
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dme59 said:
Back to work update...
The first three days went fair. I did feel like I was starting to run out of gas towards the end of the shift. Started yawning like crazy. Had a couple nights of poor sleep due to wandering mind. The roller coaster of up and down moods/feelings. My family doctor was about to go out of country for has annual week or two in England (his wife's birthplace) so I gave him a call. He told me to stop in after work, he would see what was going on. Turns out, pretty much as you all said. He told me many surgical patients go through depression/anxiety/panic spells. With the time to think about what was going on leading to the surgery, to the body being "invaded" and parts body parts removed, and the body reacting to all this is a whole lot thrown on your plate in a couple months. His thinking is a couple weeks to a month should see a significant change. In the meantime he prescribed an anti depressant to take during the day and xanax to take as needed at bedtime to get some relaxed sleep time. I know they say generally it takes a week or two for an anti depressant to get to work but I see a big change already. I think maybe the discussion with my family dr. did quite a bit of good. Anyhow, that was yesterday and today was a good day. Work went well, slightly tired and a little lower back discomfort. Still managed to go to the fireworks at BGSU with two of my sisters and some of my nieces and nephews. Family time also does the mind good.
Happy 4th of July friends. Have a great weekend and be safe.
Dan
They do a Bang up job there don't they! Now I'm nostalgic! We would watch them from the overpasses on I-75, amid the corn fields.
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