So...what to expect??

The below is based on you not having any additional medical conditions complicating things. But heres a short walkthrough of what to expect based on my own experience (generalized obviously). Have in mind the processes/"workflow" can also vary from hospital to hospital, country to country:

Two days before surgery I had a brief standard consultation with an anesthesiologist to ensure there would be any problems with that part.

The night before surgery I had the pleasure (not) of having to drink a highly effective laxative to empty my bowels.

Next morning at 8 AM I signed in at the urological ward. Was shown to my room and bed. shortly after that a nurse came and did some basic medical tests, bp, pulse, blood oxygen level etc.

Then at around 10 AM I was off to the OP room. had a radical laprascopic nephrectomy and ureterectomy. Took 2 1/2 hours.

Was at the ER for a couple of hours until I was out of the anestethics and then taken back to my bed at the ward. No oxygen. Had a catheter and drain tube in the side. The latter was removed in the same evening. The cath I kept for a week but thats not standard, it was due to my ureterectomy.

Pain wasnt so bad. I had regular painkillers and then some oxynorm the first 24 hours but that was it. The dizzyness and nausea after the anestethics was actually worse, but that wore off within the first 8-12 hours. Aside from that, general fatigue, sleeping a lot the first week was the most noteworthy to me. I was dispatched from the hospital after 48 hours.

In the following weeks I had mild, stinging, abdominal pains but they slowly wore off after 3-4 weeks and wasnt a biggie.

Hope this helps. Have in mind that if you have open surgery (you dont mention whehter its open or not) the post-op part is going to be different (and probably lengthier).

Good luck. Thumbs crossed :-)

/G

pauley13 said:

Thanks G.  i am actually

Thanks G.  i am actually having in done with the Da Vinci so as of right now its not a open (fingers crossed it wont be).  They told me 4-6 hours surgery, it will be nice for my family if it is only 2 or 2.5 hours.  Thanks for all you info!

 

Crystal

Is due to it being partial. Mine was radical which is normally faster.

/G

The worst part of this experience is being told you have cancer. Try to think of the operation as the beginning of healing. You will do fine, try not to be scared. 

I had the same surgery as the one you are having. I was admitted to the hospital the night before, my op was scheduled for 7.30am. I did not have to drink anything to clear the bowels, they don't do that here in France. I was given something to help me to sleep, and I was still pretty relaxed when I went down for surgery the next morning.

The funniest part was being wrapped up in foil and lined up with several others in front of a huge TV screen. We were all there awaiting collection looking like a bunch of butter basted chickens ready for the oven. I got the giggles at that point, we all looked so ridiculous.

Anyway half way through a wildlife programme I was collected, and very soon afterwards I was asleep. My surgery was 4 hours, I did not have any oxygen to bring me around, here they leave you to wake naturally. I came around almost 4 hours later. I did not have a catheter just a drip and the drain.

The pain meds included morphine so that first night was a bit of a blur. I was aware of soreness more than pain, and it felt like an airbag had gone off under my ribs. The following day I was up and sitting in a chair, I was on liquids that day waiting for the digestive system to settle.

I came off the morphine and was placed on paracetamol, at that point I became more aware of the soreness and there is quite a lot of pressure under the ribs. That is not just from the sugery but air too. You may also have shoulder pain which they say is from the anesthetic, but the fact that you are strapped at an angle for around 4 hours, your body may be complaining a bit. 

To be honest the worst part for me initially, was recovering from the anesthetic and having morphine. I hate feeling groggy, I can deal with pain as long as I have a clear head.

I have six incisions two larger from the probe and the drain, the others are tiny.I had no staples, some internal sutures only. Once the drain had cleared I was good to go, I came home on the fourth day after surgery, but that is because they don't rush you out.

Hope that helps, believe me it is not as bad as you are fearing it to be. You will do great! 

All the best

Djinnie x

MDCinSC said:

This will be a snap!  Then a

This will be a snap!  Then a well deserved vacation!

In the overall road of life, this procedure is a bump, not even a pothole!

I'm looking forward to your stories afterwards!

Michael

Unfortunately the initiation does carry a little pain. It is better than the alternative. In 11 years you will hardly remember the pain. Hopefully you will be good enough for the beach in a few weeks.

Icemantoo