Well stalling and denial did not work...who wants to help me prep for a full nephrectomy?

I can't help either. I'm in a similar situation expecting to be scheduled for an operation in a month or two.

So please tell us all about your prep, op, and recovery.

I have recently become extremely curious about these things.

Steve.

I can tell you to take recovery serious.  Don't overdo it (I did and experienced a sharp pain at my surgery site for a few days).  Other than your nerves getting the best of you pre-op is a breeze.  These are professionals and they know what they are doing.  Scans, blood work, questions, and evaluations are part of this.  Surgery itself wasn't too bad.  I appreciated our doctor keeping my wife and parents updated in the waiting room.  I'm sure most hospitals follow this procedure--if not, ask about it.  The first night and first week after surgery is pretty tough.  Take your time and keep up on your pain meds.  Each day gets better.  I encourage you to walk as much as you can.  There is a balance to walking too much and not enough--you'll know the difference.  One of the worst pains was in my shoulder.  The gas they used to "fill" me up causes this.  Walking and rotating your arm is the only remedy.

You'll get some great post-surgery advice from this team/club of experts.  Take care and you'll be in my prayers.

Stub

Hi! Have you ever had any abdominal surgeries? I have had several, last  2 were robatic laproscopic so just some discomfort in comparison. Those smaller laproscopic incisions are less invasive, so hurt less.

What HURT was the trapped gas in my shoulder! They pump up your abdomen with this gas so surgeon can SEE around other organs and such. It doesn't come out like tummy gas does. It gets trapped for several days. I simply moved my arms in circles and got up and gravity seem to eventually move it out.

You can walk, but no exercise for at least 30 days. Listen to your surgeon's instructions and follow them, even when you feel better.

Now yes, there is tenderness, esp, around the incisions. So I wore a lumbar, velcro wrap and put dry ice blocks over the incisions (the largest one where the kidney is removed from) and THAT helped reduce the tender swolleness. Drug stores sell these wraps. They are for bad backs, but supported my aching, sore muscles.

I didn't have a recliner, but many use it. I used a grab bar that slides betweeen the mattress and box spring and used that to pullpush myself up. Also you need to roll gently to your side and push yourself up.

Take a deep, full breath, then as you move, let this breath out slowly, with teeth apart, blowing slowing through your mouth. I use it for ANY kind of intrusive movement or procedure where PAIN is anticipated. THIS is probably why I can say I only had discomfort, and not excruciating pain.

As a result of using ICE, I was able to stop opiates in less than 5 days and move to tylenol and Tramadol ( a narcotic, but its not an opiate). Because you only will have 1 kidney, you can no longer tax your remaining kidney with NSAIDS (like advil, ibruprofin).

You'll make it, we all do. You'll get your energy back but you cannot RUSH this healing time. You don't want to cause anything inside to rupture or not heal well.

Keep a list of questions and we'll be here to help you in any way we can.

Sending you calming thoughts, ...so.. do your breathing exercises to keep yourself relaxed.

Warmly, Jan

Make sure you have all affairs and papers in order; and I don't mean you should have another affair at this time or put paper on the floor for the dog.

Bowel prep the night prior is a necessary evil.  Depending upon what they have you use, some can be more irritating to the exterior posterior than you would wish for.  Have Desitin or diaper rash ointment close at hand for after the baby wipes.

Get your house ready to return to: light juices, yougurt, bananas, soups.  Carbonated beverages aren't recommended since the adage is bubbles in/bubbles out.  And extra gas in the digestive tract is something you don't need at this time.  Have friends, family, etc. lined up to bring in a meal, do the laundry or dishes, bring in the mail, run errands, etc. Have extra throws, blankets or pillows near where you will be roosting during the first few days and within easy reach for you.  Cell phone, new batteries in the remote, a couple of new magazines won't hurt, either.

Sleep is your best friend, and it will help you in recovery.  If you have a shower with a hand wand and a stool or seat, so much the better.  It will feel good just to sit under the warm rain and get the hospital betadine, smells, sweat, Foley cath bag and drain tube messes off your body. 

Clothing comfort is what you want. Long T's, Nighties, or really loose PJ's. Then loose sweats.  Unds, if you can wear them will help you feel like you're getting better.

The pain meds you will be given have codeine, which is constipating.  Continue to eat and drink plenty of fluid.  Metamucil or a similar product can help during this stage.  Nausea and vomiting is not normal.  Call the doc if this develops.

Get outside as soon as you can.  Smell the fall air, watch the birds, or watch people.  Have someone take you to a coffee shop and enjoy being in public so you don't get cabin fever.

Be alive, be hopeful, Survive!!!  That way we can all be happy.

Love and hugs and all best wishes,

donna_lee

It's been 10 years, but who's counting?

Take a minute to imagine how bad you think this is going to be.

Its going to be a whole lot better than that. So relax. Nothing in all this is as bad as we think its going to be.

You're going to have major surgery. Thats easy: You sleep and then a professional does all the work.

Do you have a partner or friend to support you in the first weeks after? You will need help. There will be some pain, but its manageable (nowhere near as you are imagining) and there are painkillers.

The first week is the most difficult but it will soon pass.

I was prescribed physical therapy and it helped incredibly. If its not offered I would suggest you ask for it.

You will be given a blow-into-thing-ammygig to excersize your lungs. Use it!

I wont offer much advice, Donna and Jan have got that covered, all I would say is Good Luck

and above all DONT PANIC! You'll be fine. Promise.

Do you know if the procedure will be one or the other.  Lap surgery should entail a little less pain and a shorter recovery time than the open.  If you do have an open and the surgeon goes in through the abdomen, have a pillow with you when you're sitting in a chair or lying in bed.  If you cough, sneeze or just try to get up, hold the pillow nice and tight against your abdomen for support.  While my kidney surgery was a robotic assisted laparoscopic partial, I have had experience with open abdominal surgery.  The pillow was my saving grace while the major muscles of my abdomen were trying to knit back together.

Just be careful around your kids. Don't lift them if they are that age. Make sure if you have young kids, they know to not run or jump on you. Make sure you really watch that. 

Herbert is big enough already. You are not going to be better in 12 days so line up some more help. The longer you allow yourself to recover, the better you will be in the long run. Do NOT try and go back to work for a month or 6 weeks and part time at first. and get your husband to take some more time off to help with the kids so that you can rest and recover.

Icemantoo