Immunity & Energy after full nephrectomy & adrenal gland

Terry T
Terry T Member Posts: 42
in Kidney Cancer #1

Hi all - 

Been some time since I have been out here. I hope everyone is well though I read the posts regarding 2 people passing away recently. Sad to see that and sad to know so many of you are hurting.

I am over a year out from a full nephrectomy on my right side that included removal of my adrenal galnd and in the last 8 months I have been sick 5 times with bronchitis / upper respiratory issues. Also, my energy level is not what it used to be.

Has anyone else experienced frequent illnesesses and loss of energy - especially this far out from surgery? 

Thanks for your input. 

Comments

  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    #2
    Sounds like other issues

    Terry,

     

    Bronchitis and upper respiratory issues should not be related to the neph. unless you had mets to the lung which I am sure with your symtoms was already checked out/ These are my layman's opinion.

     

     

    Icemantoo

     

     

     

     

     

  • Positive_Mental_Attitude
    Positive_Mental_Attitude Member Posts: 454
    #3
    Terrry- I would check with

    Terrry- I would check with your family doctor.  I had a partial nephrectomy over a year ago, and I have not had issues with frequest sickness or loss of energy.  The only issue I had 6 months after surgery was very severe back pain, but I am not sure that was due to my surgery or something else.

  • APny
    APny Member Posts: 1,995 Member
    #4
    Positive_Mental_Attitude said:

    Terrry- I would check with

    Terrry- I would check with your family doctor.  I had a partial nephrectomy over a year ago, and I have not had issues with frequest sickness or loss of energy.  The only issue I had 6 months after surgery was very severe back pain, but I am not sure that was due to my surgery or something else.

    I was fine initially but

    I was fine initially but a few months after my partial nephrectomy I was dragging my behind and had very little energy. Turned out I was severely anemic (my hemoglobin dropped to just over 6) and iron deficient. Get a blood test to rule that out.

  • Terry T
    Terry T Member Posts: 42
    #5
    Hi all - 
    Thanks so much for

    Hi all - 

    Thanks so much for your responses. I have seen my PCP and am being sent to a Gastroentrolgist this Friday. The thought is that I have some level of acid reflux or a problem in the esphogaus (valve etc) that causes food / stomach acid to get into the upper respiratory region and that causes the congestion etc.

    I just wanted to explore the angle of the need for increased, different supplements or any other common experiences to mine. I also did not metion that I live in the USA but essentially work in Australia travelling there for 3 weeks a month. This has increased stress on a number of fronts however, I used to travel monthly to places like West Africa, Peru etc. so the travel is nothing new, though it is a tad more than before.

    Thanks again all. THhs is a great community and I come on frequently to read posts and be inspired by all your...our...journeys.

  • APny
    APny Member Posts: 1,995 Member
    #6
    Terry T said:

    Hi all - 
    Thanks so much for

    Hi all - 

    Thanks so much for your responses. I have seen my PCP and am being sent to a Gastroentrolgist this Friday. The thought is that I have some level of acid reflux or a problem in the esphogaus (valve etc) that causes food / stomach acid to get into the upper respiratory region and that causes the congestion etc.

    I just wanted to explore the angle of the need for increased, different supplements or any other common experiences to mine. I also did not metion that I live in the USA but essentially work in Australia travelling there for 3 weeks a month. This has increased stress on a number of fronts however, I used to travel monthly to places like West Africa, Peru etc. so the travel is nothing new, though it is a tad more than before.

    Thanks again all. THhs is a great community and I come on frequently to read posts and be inspired by all your...our...journeys.

    I would think the jet lag to

    I would think the jet lag to and from Australia would be a huge contributor to your fatigue. I don't know how you do it, going there so frequently. Do get that blood test though to rule out anemia or iron deficiency.

  • todd121
    todd121 Member Posts: 1,448 Member
    #7
    Nephrectomy

    I felt crappy for more than a year after my nephrectomy. And I had weird symptoms up to over a year and also got sick frequently. My energy level was low. It didn't start improving until 18 months after my nephrectomy. Oddly enough, after I had my adrenal gland removed when a tumor was found in it, only then did I start to feel better. My blood pressure also improved after my adrenal gland was removed. I was on BP meds starting about 1 year after my nephrectomy and took them for 1 year. After my adrenal gland was removed, my BP dropped and I've been BP med free since.

    I suppose you've been having checkups with blood work to check your thyroid, liver, etc? How's your BP? Are you on any BP meds? Some of the ones they gave me made me feel really crappy. Look at the meds you're taking if you're on any.

    Best to you,

    Todd

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