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  • WhatIsLife
    WhatIsLife Member Posts: 38 Member
    edited December 2016 #42
    Sorry Callyco

    When I replied to you earlier I didn't take into account you might have issues with claustrophobia, something I used to have problems with myself but they've been sticking in those things for years - since about 1991 when I suffered a back injury. I remember the first time they put me in a MRI I was about ready to crawl out! But over the years I've got used to them, but as others have mentioned, they'll usually give you something to help you relax, but also, and I don't know if it's possible for the test you're about to have, but sometimes they are able to place you in feet first, so you don't feel so confined. It may not be possible this time, but it can't hurt to ask!
    Good luck!

    Kevin

  • Callyco
    Callyco Member Posts: 57
    edited December 2016 #43
    I will ask Kevin

    Thanks for giving me an idea. I will ask the radiologist which way they will place me. I am going to ask the urologist for a little medicinal help. A relaxing drug works for me. My problem is that I have too much time sitting around thinking about this stuff. It's easier than making myself get up and get busy. Cause I do have tons of stuff to do Around the house. Since I just spent 2015 and part of 2016 taking care of my husband through his cancer journey, I am a little numb having to go through this all over again. We made several trips to MD Anderson, which is a wonderful hospital. Doctors there are great. There were no complaints. So, I'm just a little tired and anxious. 

    Callyvo

  • Jojo61
    Jojo61 Member Posts: 1,309 Member
    edited December 2016 #44
    Well Callyco, you got some

    Well Callyco, you got some great advice here. And Jerzygrrl beautifully summed up what I would have advised....prep ahead and immerse yourself in creature comforts. But since you have a little time to kill before the surgery, maybe getting your home sorted will be a great time occupier. I always find that if I get behind on my house load, I feel stressed. May I suggest that you go through room by room - focus on one area at a time - and before you know it, you will have your place in order (it doesn't have to be perfect!) and you will feel calm and serene...just how you want to feel before surgery. Plus it will make recovery much more pleasant. I really feel for you, and want you to know that you are not alone in this. We are here for you!

    Hugs

    Jojo

  • Callyco
    Callyco Member Posts: 57
    edited December 2016 #45
    Things to do

    True Jojo. There are things that need to be done before I am down For awhile. It takes a lot of effort to stay in a positive frame of mind when you have been told that cancer is lurking around your body. I am still numb from the phone call so I keep thinking about the worse things I can.

  • Jan4you
    Jan4you Member Posts: 1,330 Member
    edited December 2016 #46
    Cally, dear, you will not

    Cally, dear, you will not have the same experience you had with your husband. Totally different with renal cancer ok hon?

    Faith, USE YOUR FAITH! Ask your church helpers to come pray with you. It will calm you.

    And we haven't gone far, we're here for you! (as you can see).

    Hugs, Jan

  • Callyco
    Callyco Member Posts: 57
    edited December 2016 #47
    Many thanks Jan

    it is hard to separate the two cancers. His was Non-HodgkinS, a very fast and aggressive cancer. It's just still with me all the steps I went through with him, now I  going them. I do have a strong faith and my church is awesome. Powerful prayer warriors are there. That can share stories of miracles. They have been with me on this journey. I am so glad I found this discussion group too. Everyone knows the deal cause they have walked in these shoes. I was just at my vets office getting heartworm pills for my dogs. The receptionist said she was sorry to hear about renal cancer, cause it is such a fast cancer. I didn't say anything.

  • hardo718
    hardo718 Member Posts: 853 Member
    #48
    Well the vets receptionist is wrong,

    as I am quite sure many others here will, and have testified to.  I'm sure you've read many of their posts.  It's typically anything but fast.

    Try to get motivated in taking care of some of the things you've put aside.  I know it can be overwhelming cause you don't know where to start, just take the first step & start.  Anywhere, anything, and even if it's just part of a room, or the refrigerator, or a cabinet, etc.  As you muddle your way thru one thing you may be motivated to continue so it won't be an aggravation to you as you try to recover from surgery.

    Best wishes,

    Donna~

  • Callyco
    Callyco Member Posts: 57
    #49
    A lot

    I started today getting things ready for my down time. I have 6 cats and 2 dogs and koi pond. So I am getting their stuff ready so no one else will have to deal with it. Just hope I am up fairly soon after surgery when I get home. 

  • Jan4you
    Jan4you Member Posts: 1,330 Member
    #50
    Callyco said:

    A lot

    I started today getting things ready for my down time. I have 6 cats and 2 dogs and koi pond. So I am getting their stuff ready so no one else will have to deal with it. Just hope I am up fairly soon after surgery when I get home. 

    Not only is that receptionist

    Not only is that receptionist at Vet.wrong, but what nerve to tell you something she knows nothing about!

    Anyway, figure you'll need help for sure 1st week. Doing laundry, cleaning, meals would be beneficial for a few weeks.

    BUT you may be surprised that you start feeling better than you thought. You are not allowed to exercise or lift for a good month, but you will start to feel better, especially if you have the laproscopic/robatic surgery.

    Also get that lumbar wrap with velcro to wrap around your midsection. It really supports those healing muscles. Its for bad back support, but I used it several times for post surgery. I also tucked dry ice packs inside it over the incisions (but not touching your skin) and it reduced the swelling so much I didn't need pain killers after only a few days.

    Jan

  • Ree_Maryland
    Ree_Maryland Member Posts: 161 Member
    #51
    Callyco said:

    Wow, internet made me crazy

    Appreciate your comments. You are so right about the internet. I started to have a panic attack from all the stuff out there. I have to practice what I preach to others about one day at a time. Time waiting is hard. My sister has come home for Christmas and that's a big help to keep busy and not stay focused on the diagnosis. I will certainly post what the doctor says when the CT scan is ready.

     

    Callyco

    Cally ,sorry to hear you had

    Cally ,sorry to hear you had to join this sight ,but it is the best place to be when you have to deal with cancer . Alot of people on here had laps or partial removal of kidney and still have a positive attitude .like some say on here it is not a death sentence . I had my right kidney removed on April 21 2014, SO FAR SO GOOD . would love some advice on what to eat and not to eat . I was told not to take otc drugs . which i hardly do anyway . so never give up . 

  • Ree_Maryland
    Ree_Maryland Member Posts: 161 Member
    #52
    Jan4you said:

    Usually the surgery takes

    Usually the surgery takes care of the cancer. A partial surgery is when they remove just the tumor and surrounding tissues and leave the kidney. But in my case I had to have a "radical" which is when the total kidney is removed. Mine was due to the fact the tumor was near the blood supply.

    Actually I never think of it till its my annual follow up. So no, chemo is isnt even necessary.  Once the surgeon gets the pathology report and get a good look inside while doing the surgery, you have follow up check ups with CT scan alternating with Lung xray and labs .

    For most of us, esp stage I (under 7cm) we are NED ( no evidence of disease) after surgery, but will continue follow ups for several years to  make sure. It will be nothing like what you went through with your hubby=RIP.

    I think Stage I has a 95% survival rating.

    Hugs, jan

    Ask as many questions as you need or use the direct messaging (email) section under upper left of these pages called "CSN EMAIL"  Okay?

    Hugs, Jan

    Jan , I too had to have my

    Jan , I too had to have my right kidney completely removed ,it was growing around the blood supply at the top of the kidney ,I wish there was some diet or some advice on what to eat and not eat . my kidney function seems to decline after surgery . hope all is well and sorry for your husbands passing . Even though it has been 18 mts ago I know it still hurts .

  • Ree_Maryland
    Ree_Maryland Member Posts: 161 Member
    edited December 2016 #53
    Callyco said:

    Thanks

    Hugs right back at you Jojo. Thanks for support.

    Callyco

    ps sorry to hear your lose of

    ps sorry to hear your lose of your husband . 

  • Ree_Maryland
    Ree_Maryland Member Posts: 161 Member
    #54
    Callyco said:

    Claustrophobic in Pet scan

    Has anyone had a problem with being still and not being claustrophobic for a Pet scan? What do I do, I get the shivers when I'm nervous and I can't handle closed in places?

    I had to have dr prescibe me

    I had to have dr prescibe me a Valium before my pet scan . I do not do well with closed in spaces . and it went ok

  • Ree_Maryland
    Ree_Maryland Member Posts: 161 Member
    #55
    foxhd said:

    I'll never understand.

    Don't people close their eyes when they sleep? I don't understand claustrophobia. Maybe if you had been submerged in a car and barely survived, or spent a night in a dark elevator that would be one thing. But how can anyone survive cancer if you can't lie down quietly for a few minutes? No one is trapped in a scanner. It certainly doesn't hurt. And if a bomb fell, I bet a nice cozy tube would be the safest place. How do you deal with being in a death trap compact car at 60 miles per hour? Or using a bathroom stall? What is the fear of being in a scanner? A submarine may be a death trap but a scanner?

    Anyway,The pet vs ct scan has been discussed often. The concensus is that a pet scan is not as good as a ct scan because the isotope is tied to glycogen. Faster growing tumors absorb the glycogen/isotope and get identified with the pet scan. Renal cell tumors grow much more slowly. So they don't absorb the glycogen/isotope at any significant faster rate and therefore don't stand out better than a ct can with and without contrast.

    So Fox on my next scan I will

    So Fox on my next scan I will try to close my eyes , the lying still with the arms above my head is the pits though  for 45 min. 

  • Ree_Maryland
    Ree_Maryland Member Posts: 161 Member
    #56
    Callyco said:

    Thanks Jerzy

    I got cha. Makes sense to quit sitting here worried. Instead get active and have things ready to go. Thats a good idea about granny panties and sweatpants. Not a pretty picture but makes sense in making it easy to get clothes on and off. I know everything is falling into place. I was worried who was going to take care of me and the pets while I am down. Thankfully that worry has been solved. My sister is coming down to help me at the hospital and at home. Took a load off of my mind. My church family is wonderful about calling and checking on me. They always make my day shine. With love and prayers, you can't ask for anything more.

    The surgeon had me take a

    The surgeon had me take a shower  with antibacteria dial soap the night before surgery , change my bed linens and take another shower the moring of my surgery. To keep down bacteria and infestions.

  • JerzyGrrl
    JerzyGrrl Member Posts: 760 Member
    #57
    Callyco said:

    A lot

    I started today getting things ready for my down time. I have 6 cats and 2 dogs and koi pond. So I am getting their stuff ready so no one else will have to deal with it. Just hope I am up fairly soon after surgery when I get home. 

    Dogs and cats (and fish)

    Having the dogs and cats (and fish) to take care of will be a great way to get you up and moving. 

    I only have one little dog, but he has taken on the responsibility of being my caregiver. It's pretty funny, actually. He sort of does the Lassie thing, working at getting my attention, then running back and forth from me to where he figures I should be. "UP! We gotta get up!" "EAT! We gotta eat!" "WALK! We gotta walk!" "NAP! We gotta nap!" "TV! We gotta watch a movie!" "BEDTIME! We gotta go to bed!" He's a great little cuddler, so that helps. At first he was wondering, "Why is she so CRANKY?" because I didn't want him anywhere near my mid-section, but he figured that out pretty quickly. 

    I didn't have anyone stay with me after I came home (I was at the hospital for two nights because I was so sleepy it interfered with my getting up and walking, so they decided not to rush me). The first 24 hours home was kind of strange, but I did just fine.  You'll want to walk. My goal was 5 minutes of walking every two hours or so at first. Then I've increased that as the days have gone by. 

    My daughter had offered to come stay if I really needed her. She would've felt SO needed the first day. The second day, not so much, but sort of. The third day, she would've wondered what the heck was she doing here.

    I've been missing being around people, but am making use of the phone, people who've said they'll run errands, a few folks who've dropped by.  I'm sure once you start to get settled back in at home, it'll be nice to have your sister around. 

  • Callyco
    Callyco Member Posts: 57
    edited December 2016 #58
    Back pain

    Did anyone experience the back and flank pain associated with RCC?

  • foxhd
    foxhd Member Posts: 3,181 Member
    #59
    Ree_Maryland said:

    So Fox on my next scan I will

    So Fox on my next scan I will try to close my eyes , the lying still with the arms above my head is the pits though  for 45 min. 

    There is no doubt

    long mri's suck. I had to do 2 hours a couple weeks back. Right after my ct scans.  Usually I re-play a game of golf in my head. I try to remember all my shots and the walk for 18 holes of a recent round. I have also closed my eyes and hopped on my motorcycle. I try to visualize every mile I ride to New Hampshire, or someplace similar for a 200 mile ride. Anytime I lose my thought, I just go back to where I remember being and continue from there. You could forget arms over head from early 2014 thru this past summer. Between spinal mets and shoulder mets, I had to break them up because they hurt too much. But radiation has controlled all of my painful mets and I have been essentially pain free since this summer.

    What's important is that had I not had all the scans and radiation treatments, I wouldn't be here. Regardless of surgery and drugs. Look forward to all the tests and treatments. The life they save could be your own.

  • daisybud
    daisybud Member Posts: 541 Member
    #60
    Me

    I Did!

    I still have pangs even after the surgery.  I had partial nef last February and I'm coming up on 1 Year scan.  Also had pain in the front and side . Dr thought it was my gallbladder.  Had ct scan and that's how they found it.  Best wishes 

    Kim 

  • Callyco
    Callyco Member Posts: 57
    #61
    So right Foxhd

    I have to admit. The urologist is having me go through several tests besides the Pet scan. So if there is something else going on, let's tackle it now. I am glad we are going the long mile. Just like you said, if you hadn't gone through all the tests and scans, you wouldn't be here.

    Callyco

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