Surgery Monday morning

Debbie, I had an open partial nephrectomy. Surgery Thursday morning, home Saturday morning.  I don't remember exactly when I got my report, but it was within 5-7 days.  The anticipation is worse than the surgery itself.  Best of luck to you.

angec said:

You will be fine and on the

You will be fine and on the road to recovery very soon! The report took my mom about two weeks to get.  They sent her tumor out to get a second opinion since they could not identify her type of cancer.  Sometimes it comes in within five days.  Praying all goes smoothly and you get fantastic results...

It took me a month to get the parhology report and have been in the hospital for five days when I had my open radical nephrectomy. Good luck....

myoung790 said:

I did not get my pathology

I did not get my pathology report until 2 weeks later.  My surgeon went over them with me and gave me a copy of the report at my 2 week follow up appointment. I'm sure he had them sooner than that though.  

Good luck with your surgery.  I had a robotic so can't offer you any information in regards to an open.  

I had an open partial in March and had the same surgeon as Positive_Mental. Mine was Monday morning and I was home Wednesday. Pathology took a week. Get up and walk as soon as possible. They had me out of bed Monday evening and walking. Drink as much water as possible also as soon as you're off the IV and can take in food/liquids. Best advice, take a pillow and a large plastic garbage bag for way home. The garbage bag will make it easy to slide in and out of the seat of the car and the pillow will cushion the seat belt so it's not against your incision. Best of luck to you. As PM said, the anticipation was a lot worse than the actual surgery and recovery.

Debbie , i stayed for two nights at hospital and it took me three days to have the primary pathology report but almost two weeks to have final report which identified the sub type of Tumor. I had open radical nephrectomy and I'm 37 years old and healthy otherwise. The nurse told me it's normal to stay for three or four nights at hospital for open radical. I walked as soon as they asked me and did it a lot. That helped the healing process. I didn't like to eat but made myself to eat and drink water and that helped me to gain power again. You'll be a surviveor, take care

I didn't see my pathology until I saw my surgeon about 2.5 weeks after the surgery.... I'm sure they had it done before that but I think he wanted to go over it with me personally so i didn't hear anything about it until then.  THAT was the single most nerve wracking part for me.  I was terrified that it would be some kind of rare, agressive tumor.  In the end, i was had the "run of the mill" clear cell RCC.  Some places will call you when it's ready, some will mail it... every hospital seems to be different.

Jan4you said:

Seems you are getting

Seems you are getting yourself psyched up and are ready to go!! Remember, you'll have lots of drugs to help you. Also don't forget to use ICE on the incision. THAT helps with swelling which presses on the nerves and reduces that inflammation better than all those drugs. I also wore a lumbar velcro wrap I bought at the drug store. It holds in all those sore muscles. Even wore it to bed and put the dry ice (stays cold longer than ice cubes) inside the wrap.. felt too good!

Now is your surgeon going to do the robotic/laproscopic incisions first then maybe do an open? It is much easier to heal up more quickly. I had not that much pain and already had a robatic abdomnial surgery before my kidney one.

I also used a bed railing to help me get up and out of bed easier. Some folks like to sit/sleep in a recliner. The more you can walk the better and it helps that gas get out!! They pump your abdomen up with this gas so they can SEE!!! It often gets trapped and no med can get to it for relief it seems. Movement does though. And warning: often it traps by the shoulder and that was the worst pain. Now it it won't kill you, but just beware of it. It lasted a good 5-7 days I think. REST is important, eating properly and drinking water is necesssary.

You'll be okay and I cannot wait till you write to us and let us know how things are going. I will be thinking of you on Monday.. sending you warm, healing thoughts!!! Best to you and yours~

Warmly, Jan

Just a short comment for Debbie . I forgot about the pain in the shoulder from the gas they used to fill me up to see the kidney . It hurt like the dickens for 5 days or more . like Jan said it will not kill you. and I did not get my report back at least 3 weeks . I forgot to mention this to Debbie

in my message to her on here.. 

I just wanted to add my well wishes, and make sure that you know that experiences will be somewhat variable and not to worry if yours is different than what others say here. My husband had a lap robotic full kidney removal but didn't go home until a full 5 days later, from what I recall. Basically, taking a bowel movement is a big deal after surgery and they will watch for that. Very important to make sure you tell them so they can put it on your chart. 

Also, don't be afraid to advocate for getting the pathology report copy for yourself. Sounds like every hospital is different with when you get reports. Ask your surgeon what to expect, and ask more than once if you feel the need. We were very lucky with a surgeon that was so caring and wonderful he hand delivered it three days later to the hospital room and went over it with us before the weekend. I guess you never know what to expect unless you ask. 

Good luck, you will do great. 

Srashedb said:

Good thoughts

Debbie:

good luck on your upcoming surgery; you will do fine as others have told you and as I recall, you have experienced surgery before 

as to the pathology report, my husband's surgeon reviewed it with him 10 days later. His PA let us know the grade and margins; she went so far as to read entire paragraphs to us before his visit.

Check in when you are able and rest with plenty of drugs.

sarah

Just wanted to add that my surgeon gave me the basic impressions of Path report while I was still in hospital. The actual report was presented to me at my 1 week post-op check up by Urologist/surgeon. I can get my own copy ahead of time, usually 3-5 days from Medical repords. It is dictated rather quickly if you want to know ahead of your own appointment with your surgeon.

Again, good luck!

Jan

BellaBinksMom said:

Thank you everyone

I am getting ready to go to bed and will be at the hospital at 5:30 a.m. tomorrow.  Your words are very helpful and I am sure the Ativan the doc has given me to take in the morning will help with my nerves .  I will post as soon as I am able.  

All the best with your surgery Bellabinks, once you have taken the Ativan you will be in a much more relaxed state of mind. The events will unfold very quickly and before you know it you will be away with the fairies.

You will do just fine, soon you will be on the old recovery road:)

Djinnie x