Tomorrow is the big day

The night before my sugery, I took a ferry to NYC where my surgery was scheduled.  My wife and I stayed in a hotel near the hospital.  Walked around NYC.  That kept my mind off what was to come.  The morning of the surgery was surreal.  Pre-op room faced out to Presbyterian Hospital where I was born and had a major abdominal surgery as a newborn--which was probably what led to my diagnosis.  I said to my wife that I felt like I was going back to the womb.  Walked down to the surgery room.  It looked like a space ship.  More surreal--anesthesiolgist was a chatty young man--he asked me about my line of work---I tell him--we immediately figure out his first cousin works for me in my office.  We laughed-------- that was my last memory before waking up in recovery.  It was all good. 

Get a good night sleep.  You will be fine. Good luck.

This is going to be one of the most terrifying experiences for you but it's their daily job, they are expert and they all detail information about it, so don't worry and take it easy,it has pain but it feels great to know that tumor is hopefuly out for good.

May you have a successfull surgery and uneventful recovery

Forough

I know by the time you read this you will be home resting and hopefully watching Netflix or HBO Go or something of that nature.  

I've been praying for you and I hope all is going well.  You will feel a lot better knowing that thing, that's inside of you, is out!

Jason

moonjell said:

big day

Best of luck. I will follow in your footsteps soon. prayers for full and as painless as possible recovery.

Kim, first, I was not shaved at all! I doubt you will.

You get to go sleepy bye...and will be asked to sit on side of bed

and eventually get up to walk a bit, or just stand. Its to prevent clots forming.

I also highly recommend getting a velcro, lumbar wrap. It helps hold up those sore

abdominal muscles as they heal. AND I used dry ice packs and placed it inside the wrap

but not against the skin. It really helped with swelling and so LESS pain meds.

Not sure if you have had any surgeries, but they will pump up your abdomen with this gas

so the surgeon can see, BUT it gets trapped, esp around the shoulder as its trying to find its'way out.

This gas is not inside your colon/stomach so most gas aides do not work. MOVEMENT gets rid of it

and it could last a few days. It was my worst pain, but who cares, the CANCER is out!

Hope you only need a partial. Hope you are having robatic, laproscopic incisions...quicker healing.

You can only walk for the 1st month, no other exercise EVEN if you feel better. Just WALK!

Don't rush your recovery as everything inside needs TO HEAL!

Let us know how you are doing and I'll say a prayer for your surgeon.

Sending you healing hugs,

Jan

donna_lee said:

You all must have forgotten the truly fun part,

which was the colon purge in a bottle, along with don't eat or drink anything. I didn't have to be at the hospital until noon, and it was nearly 4 in the afternoon before they took me to surgery.  At least I spent about 2 hours from 2-4 in la-la land.

And I have always laughed when a nurse comes in 2 days after surgery and asks if there has been a bowel movement.  With what, I say.  Purge, starve, and give me liquids, and maybe if you provide a magic wand, I'll be able to comply.

Relax while you can; they'll have you up and walking and just "tooting" around the halls.

Good luck and hugs.

donna_lee

Even though I'm sure you are post-op by now.  Rest easy, hopefully they were able to get in, get out with the strangled little **** in tow and you'll never have to revisit this adventure.  Oops, I'm sorry.....although laughter is definitely the best medicine, you probably won't appreciate a laugh right now.   You'll soon be on the road again but for now, do what they tell you and let your body heal.

God Bless,

Donna~

I'm sending my prayers and wishing the best of luck with your surgery. 

Baw41

Jojo61 said:

Good luck, Kim! Hoping it all

Good luck, Kim! Hoping it all goes smoothly and you are posting in no time!! Sending good vibes your way!!

Hugs

Jojo

"Take another little piece of my kidney now baby..."

Kim, already one day healthier. Just think, in a month you'll be like ...30 days recovered. Call it a battle scar or beauty mark. It is a badge of honor. Your orientation is nearly complete. Your beanie is in the mail.

lcsvb said:

Kim got the robotic partial successfully!

Hi guys, Kim let me know that she ended up getting the tumor out with a robotic partial yesterday as she hoped. She is nauseous and tired but is now cancer free! Today marks my 1 month since my partial robotic and I vividly remember how yucky that first day feels. I am sure she will comment here once she is mobile and feeling more like herself. Isn't it nice to beat the RCC???

Kim,

Your neph was just in time to show off with that new bikini this summer.

Icemantoo

lcsvb said:

LOL Icemantoo!

The several robotic scars will look great with the bikini!

I refer to them as my extra belly buttons....