10 days later!

Daisy,

Congradulations on making it thru Hell week, none the worse for ware. Where do you want us to send the beanie.

Icemantoo

APny said:

Glad to hear you're getting

Glad to hear you're getting better. Ouch about that tape ripping off your skin. Did they remove it? Mine was left on for quite a while until it started peeling off on its own and then removed. I had an open partial and took the pain killers they gave me (oxy with Tylenol) for about 10 days after coming home. First few days after surgery and coming home I took one every four hours, then one every six hours, then one just before bed so I didn't wake up from pain turning over or something. After about 10 days I just used Tylenol as needed which wasn't really often. Wishing you a speedy recovery!

I got through two bottles of Vicodin slowly diminishing the amount. We're all different.

daisybud said:

Apny.   The skin just ripped

Apny.   The skin just ripped off with the tape the used to cover lap insiscion cuts.  Dr took off before I left the hospital. I also had a partial. 

Still can't lay flat pulls too much yet. Trying to only take Vicodin when advil isn't cutting it. 

 

That's so strange that they didn't leave it on for a while. I couldn't lay flat either. I got a wedge pillow and put others on top of it. And a long body pillow for the side where the incision was. It really helped. Maybe you could try that. As for the pills, they're there to help you. Dr. told me it's better to take them and be able to walk a lot then to suffer heroically without them and not take a step because of the pain. So it's not bad to use the when the other stuff isn't cutting it.

Jan4you said:

Well 10 days away from all

Well 10 days away from all this..whew!

When I had steri strips, I was told to just let them fall off, NOT to pull them off. hmm..

Sorry that happened. Glad you were using ice, you can continue with ice too.

I stopped Opiates after about 5 days, mostly because I wore that lumbar wrap and put

the dry ice inside which really cut down my need for pain pills while supporting those sore abdomen.

HOWEVER, every one is different. thanks for giving us an update!

Sending you healing vibes,

Jan

Glad you have a recliner chair.  I used mine for about a week post discharge from hospital.  But still had to have a booster step (upside down soda bottle crate with a sheet of wood over it) so I could get onto the bed, since the abs didn't work too well in lifting my legs.  More pillows, too.

Check with Dr on this, but I would suggest you stop the Advil, as it is a NSAID-Non steroidal anti inflamatory drug, which is processed in the kidneys as opposed to the liver.  Stick to acetaminaphen, which is processed in the liver.

Determine if it is PAIN or ache and the location.  Remember that your abdominal area was pumped full of gas to enable them to work in there and that puts pressure on other organs as they are pushed out of the way.  It can make your entire abdominal/pelvic area very uncomfortable for a while.  And your small and large intestines are just coming back after an extened "trip out" on drugs.  They are probably saying, "what is that sh** doing here?, I just had a break from all that and was relaxing."  And yeah, the opiates can be constipating.  The sooner you wean yourself off them, the better.

Too late to give consolation about the removal of the tape.  If it was steritape, it is supposed to wear off.  Dr. goofed.  If it was a surgical tape, maybe he thought you had a reaction to the adhesive (latex or ??) and didn't want to see you have any further reaction.  If it is still open or oozing, check with the dr.'s office.  Maybe just a light gauze pad held on with paper medical grade tape will kep it ooze from sticking to your clothes.

Notice everyone has all these suggestions to make you go to the store and shop.  Body pillows, lumbar wraps, first aid supplies, etc.  Too bad we aren't closer to run errands for you.   And you can barely walk to the bathroom.  Go figure!

The one thing you have is tincture of time, which is always available and doesn't take much to administer.  Hang in There.  It does get better.

Hugs to ya,

donna_lee

icemantoo said:

Advil

Donna,

 

Advil is not kidney friendly and you are not supposed to use it. That being said, my Urologist and Nephrologist have oked it for short term use on several occasions. Sometimes a GP will just say no. Speak with your  doctor treating your kidney in this regard.

 

 

Icemantoo

A lot of times the fevers post-op are related to not drinking enough, make sure your intake is adequate.

daisybud said:

Thanks guys. Uping the water

Thanks guys. Uping the water intake and no advil. 

I was instructed to go with Advil when weaned off the Vicodin. I had the partial 5 weeks ago and had Advil on the OK list upon discharge. I think if you never had kidney trouble, they allow it. I questioned it and they said they preferred Advil over Tylenol because the painkillers had Tylenol in them and concern was if alternating them then there may be too much Tylenol taken. Also, Daisybud and I have both kidneys so maybe less risky than those of you with one? Anyhow, so glad you are feling better! My Dermabond glue peeled off today and my "body peircing holes" are nicely healed. I still have the occasional stabs of abdominal pangs reminding me that I am still healing. Went to SeaWorld last weekend and today but pushed a wheelchair and used it when I felt the pangs. I needed the time outside away from the recliner! It will be nice to get out of the house to go to the Dr Kim! 

Wonderful you made it through the first week . now should be getting better. i took perks for 2 days than went off the pain meds. my daughter who helped take care of me .insitisting I take the pills . the sight where i had the neph at itched for several mths . been almost 2 yrs now since my sugery ,i go back April 5 for chest xray and visit the dr. 

daisybud said:

Yeah cant wait to get out of

Yeah cant wait to get out of the house!  I am going to ask about advil and if I can resume my 80mg asprin and a of course about the pathology report.  I haven't talked to him about it yet.  I am little worried about it.

 

I don't blame you. I had a radical nephrectomy over 7 years ago. I took vicodin for about a week after surgery. I normally would never take anything that strong, but this is not one of those times to "tough it out". Take the meds,even if its just tylenol, on a regular basis so you're not waiting until you are in extreme pain and then it takes longer to get relief.. You should be able to reduce the dosage as time goes on. I only took the vicodin for a week because I had an allergic reaction to the surgical tape they used and I ended up with hives and welts completely covering my torso. At first they thought it might be the vicodin so told me to stop. That reaction was almost as bad as the pain from surgery. The pain and soreness will get better every day and then all of a sudden it will start to hurt again, that too is normal, everything is healing on the inside too. Just don't overdo it (nows the time to pawn off the housework and laundry LOL) also no driving for at least 6 weeks. and always check with your doc or the nurse on any concerns. I know I hated calling thinking I was a bother, but this your life and too bad if you're bothering them. As far as hurting all over, that does happen too. We are turned and twisted on the operating table and all that leads to soreness after. I would recommend a little walk everyday, just around your yard if you can. It helps clear the head besides keeping the blood flowing. I live near the beach and had my husband take me down there only a couple of days after I came home, as you said, just to get out of the house. Tylenol is absorbed thru the liver while Advil and motrin are filtered thru the kidneys. So those of us with kidney issues, or only one or half of one, should stick to Tylenol, but definitely check with your doctor on this too. Also, I had a small infection right at my surgery site on the scar and had to take antibiotics, please keep an eye on this wound you have from the tapes and let your doc know if you think its getting infected. Don't worry too much about the path report (easier said than done, right) it is what is and you'll find out soon enough, so try to put it out of your head until you meet with your doc. I wish you good health as you continue on your recovery.