12 days post op on Open Partial Nephrectomy

Hi

This link might help you

https://www.auanet.org/education/guidelines/renal-cancer-follow-up.cfm

Forough

Positive_Mental_Attitude said:

KEW001, welcome.  At 12 days

KEW001, welcome.  At 12 days out, there still should be some pain/tenderness/sensitivity near your incision. I stayed home from work (desk job) 2-3 weeks after the surgery, and the first week I went back, I only worked 4-5 hours per day, as sitting upright at the desk was not completely comfortable.  It is great that you have 8 weeks of leave.  As far as feeling "normal", I think that may depend more on you than on other's experiences.  One thing my doctor stressed, and I followed, was to walk after surgery.  I started walking 4 days after surgery, and I was walking 6 miles per day.  Doing this and drinking a lot of water helped my recover tremendously.  3 1/2 weeks after the surgery, I was swimming again.  But as far as feeling "normal", I could not go back to jogging/running until 2 to 2 1/2 months after my surgery. 

During my recovery, I had a minor setback when I sneezed too hard and caused some sort of muscle pull near my rib cage on the side of my wound. The pain and discomfort from this took longer to go away than my incision.  I am now 4 months post surgery, and I feel I am 95% back to normal.  One thing I noticed is that for exercising, I do not have the same stamina I had pre-surgery, but I expect that will come back with time.

As far as your chances of recurrence, you doctor is your best guide.  It all depends on the tumor grading scale.  No margins and no mets is great! Don't read too much into other people's experience here.  Everyone here is wonderful and will provide you great insight and advice, but every one of us is different in some way.  There can be a lot of confusing information, such as the stage of cancer and the grading scale of the tumor. 

I am not sure of the standard protocol on post operation scans.  I have the same question. I go back for my first scans January 5.

i think the first three weeks after op were the worst, after this every day seemed to get better. I had a lap partial so recovery was a lot quicker than open. Don't push yourself, rest up and before you know it you will feel your new normal xx

APny said:

My surgery was in March so at

My surgery was in March so at first I walked indoors only. Just around my house, every hour for 5 - 10 minutes.

Definitely be careful walking outside in this weather. 

I slipped about two weeks after mine.  I didn't fall, but I thought for sure I was going to split open like a hot dog.

If I remember correctly, I started feeling exponentially each day after that first week and a half. 

Keep walking around, do some gentle stretching, and drink lots of water.  I prefer lemon water, and supposedly lemon is a natural anti inflammatory

You'll be good as new in no time. 

rainsandpours said:

I've basically repressed the

I've basically repressed the memory of my recovery as it was traumatic.  But about day 12 or so, I was more mobile and didn't yelp when I moved.  Even 13 months out I still get the occasional pain or cramp near my incision.  The way you're feeling is normal.  Take your pain meds when you're uncomfortable.

 

For followup:  I only see my Uro every 8 or 9months.  I had my first check up in July (but CT was end of May), and I don't see him until April or so again.  Your schedule sounds good actually.

walk. drink lots of water. thats all. Your tumor was small. You may not have any change in your kidney functions so recovery from that can be just a few weeks. Recovering from the incision is another story. Comfort may be a couple few months or even longer. Depends. Are you athletically active? Run? Golf? or are you sedentary and a smoker? Have you forgotten your med/surg nursing? Not too many people breeze through their recovery. Be patient.We've all healed. You have to put in your time. You may to to re-ask about getting back to normal in a couple months. It is still early.

rainsandpours said:

For what it's worth, I didn't

For what it's worth, I didn't go back to work until Mid Feb.  My surgery was Oct 15th last year.  I was still healing and fatigued.  I think I should have stayed off.  Ended up on med leave again end of Aug, then returned to work on Oct 6th.  Only to be out again Nov 4th.  Off indefinitely now.

Don't' rush your recovery.  Let the internal stitches heal and get your strength back.

After 12 days you will start to feel better each day with maybe a bad day in between. Your recovery also has a lot to do with your age and health.

The next few weeks should feel a lot better than those first few days. Sorry my coucin the weatherman fouled up your outside walking for a short while. All    kidding aside you should feel "normal " by about 6 weeks, but the heavier stuff like tthat big roller coater ride are going to have to wait at least a year.

At 3.0 cm your prognosis is excellent for an absence of further Kidney Cancer issues.

Do however discuss at least with your GP whether you need to address any Kidney Function issues which most often means watch your blood pressure, diet and general health.

Icemantoo

KEW001 said:

Thanks

I have been walking, but get really fatigued easily.   Incredibly sore after walking.  My tumor was at the top of my kidney and according to my doctor near the vena cava.  He said that it was difficult to get to and maybe that is why the pain is still present, especially after I walk.  It has been 4 weeks and I went to do a little (and I really mean a little) shopping.  That was yesterday and I am wiped out today.  I will take your advise and still get plenty of rest.

 

Kim

Kim,

Just kidding. You are only 4 weeks out of surgery and there are still going to be some tough days.

Let your body tell you when you have had enough for the day. This is not a Marathon. You just had major surgery. You will feel better.

As a result of Partszheimers I do not remember any pain after my surgery 12 years ago.

Icemantoo