Just found out

Buford,

Welcome to the board; you will find a lot of good resource here.  Posting about your progress, type of surgery you are having, and eventually the size and particulars of your tumor will help us give you more information.  I see by your profile that this is all pretty new and it certainly is scary right now.  But getting it out, in whatever fashion the doctors see fit, is the best medicine right now.  Then, once they know the staging and grading, they can figure out your best course of action.  You described it as large; do you know the size, by chance?

Anyway, to answer your question, the hospital sucks.  Sorry, I wish there was better news, haha.  But, honestly, it's the safest place you can be after major surgery.  So, take it as it is.  Overnight, they're going to wake you up a couple time to check your vitals and maybe even take blood to make sure you counts are good.  Most people lose some blood (it is surgery).  I was in the hospital for 2 nights after surgery... I had a robotic radical nephrectomy on my left kidney.  If you have an open procedure, it may be a little longer.  The nurses will get you up and about ASAP, to aid with waking up your bowels, etc... there is really a ton of information, but it depends on your type of surgery.  But, generally, they want to get you out of the hospital as soon as they can.

Good luck.  Don't fret over the hospital stay as much as learning more about your cancer and how to deal with it in the near and far future.

- Jay 

Please take a minute to read my personal info. I am a stage IV patient diagnosed in 2012.  You disn't put any info about your diagnosis, but if it limited to your kidney, you will be fine!

My surgery was a long time ago, so others may have more experience that I do. What I can do is tell you that medicine has come a long way. immunotherapy advances make anything you read about survival rates very dated.

post some details about diagnosis and more support and details about what to expect will follow.

Positive_Mental_Attitude said:

Buford, the time leading up

Buford, the time leading up to surgery is a scary time.  I was very scared of the uknown.  This forum is one of the best places on the internet for information and comfort.  I don't recall what I read before my surgery, but it scared the hell out of me.  Take everything you read on the internet with a grain of salt. Put your trust in your doctor and the medical team.  

Sorry you have to be here, Buford. I can honestly say that my fear of the surgery and hospital stay was far worse than the reality. No, it wasn't a walk in the park but it wasn't as bad as I had anticipated either. My surgery was an open partial nephrectomy and I was out of the hospital after 2 days. My best advice is to drink a lot of water and walk as much as possible afterwards. I also did a lot of treadmill prior to surgery; kind of like training for the marathon. My surgeon recommended it and he was right. I'm convinced it helped in my quick recovery.

mrou50 said:

Hello

it is nice to have you with us, although all things considred I am sure none of want to be in this club.  Stay positive and remember we are here for you. I myself had a bad weekend last weekend and I posted a couple of posts on the board and got so much positive feed back that it helped me out of my depression.  It is nice to talk with people that know what you are going through and that can share in your situations.  I know for me I have a lot of friends and family that support me, and often have many ideas how to cure this beast, but they don't understand what it truley does to your psychie, and the people here do.  I rely more and more on our special exclusive group to get through the troubling times.  Feel free to lean on us as surely we will lean on you some times as needed. 

 

Mark

 

P.S.

Get ready for this one from family and friends, "God gives us no more than we can handle."  To which my reply is always the same if this true God must think I am flipping Hercules.  

Surgery is always scarier than the real thing. Before surgery all is panic all is life and dath. Once you get into it its all pragmatic and professionsionalism all the way. BORING!

(Boring is good)

Buford said:

Thanks everyone

Thanks everyone for responding with some great comments and for the concern as well. I wish I was alone in this, and that no else had to go through this either,but since that is the not the case it really helps knowing that I can reach out to others for support and hopfully soon be able to provide support as well. My surgery is scheduled for Thursday of this week so I will down for a while, but I will be back

Buford, I am thinking of you this week. I hope the surgery goes well and you have a quick and smooth recovery!

Keep us posted on how you are doing!

Hugs

Jojo

Buford,

 First let me welcome you to a place that I has been a huge help to me Through 3 differnt cancers for 17 years. I am on the tail end of having my left Kidney removed and it was definately a new experience for me because it was not an extremity which I found to be easier to cope with. As far as your nights in the Hospital they will go quiker than you can imagine especially when they wake you up to check your vitals in the middle of the night. Make sure you manage your pain. Do not try to be a tough guy because it is hard to get on top of it once you stop managing.

I will be keeping you in my prayers and hopefully all goes well for you. I will check back to see how you made out. Best of Luck to you and god Bless.

Mike99 said:

Good Luck

Buford,

 First let me welcome you to a place that I has been a huge help to me Through 3 differnt cancers for 17 years. I am on the tail end of having my left Kidney removed and it was definately a new experience for me because it was not an extremity which I found to be easier to cope with. As far as your nights in the Hospital they will go quiker than you can imagine especially when they wake you up to check your vitals in the middle of the night. Make sure you manage your pain. Do not try to be a tough guy because it is hard to get on top of it once you stop managing.

I will be keeping you in my prayers and hopefully all goes well for you. I will check back to see how you made out. Best of Luck to you and god Bless.

Hi Mike 99, I was interested to read that you are on your 3rd cancer in 17 years. I can sympathize with that, as I am on my 3rd cancer in 14 years: 2 episodes of breast cancer (10 years apart) and now kidney cancer. I also have a little "something" on my other kidney which may turn out to be my 4th cancer eventually. The kidney cancer is so "out of the blue." I try to be brave & positive, but I have to admit that this is seeming like a bit of a trend now, and I feel like my positive attitude might start to slip as I can't help wondering when & where it might pop up next.

I am having an open partial nephrectomy in 2 weeks. I will be really glad to get that thing out of my body!