Update

I would say this is best case scenario based on what you ae dealing with.  The situation sounds just like mine.  41, male, healthy, no previous issue, 10 cm tumor of right kidney, contained to the kidney.  4 months later, thanks to great doctors, support at home, and the support of this fourm, life is as close to normal as it can be.  Be strong.....you guys are going to get thru this!

Before you know it, it'll be behind you guys and he'll be on the mend.  Make sure he does his breathing exercises post-surgery, this will help prevent pneumonia.  Let us know if you have any other questions.....he's lucky to have you.

I'll keep you both in my prayers,

Donna~

To be told you have to have surgery is never good, but the fact that it's totally contained within the kidney is good to hear.  As it's his first surgery, some suggestions:

1.  The nurses will ask him to walk pretty shortly after his surgery.  Walking is one of the very best things he can do for his recovery.

2.  They'll give him a spyrometer.  It's a contraption that has a plastic hose and you do breathing exercises with it.  Make sure he does that often.  One of the biggest complications after surgery is pneumonia.  I know because after one of my abdominal surgeries, I ended up back in the hospital for ten days because of pneumonia.  The breathing exercises help prevent that.

3.  If he has open surgery (meaning not minimally invasive), they will be cutting through some pretty big muscle groups and when those start to knit back together, it's pretty painful to move.  He'll find that a pillow is his best friend to hold tightly onto if he has to cough, laugh or, God forbid, sneeze.

4.  Did I mention walking?  Because I'll reiterate.....that's really important.

I'm sure everyone else has a lot more to add, but if you can not so gently remind him about these three, that'll go a long way to helping him to recover somewhat more comfortably and quickly.

Good luck and best wishes.

To you and your husband. Yesterday was one full month from my own surgery, my tumor was over 10cm. It has been a difficult month, at first physically, then emotionally, but I think I am getting stronger every day. He's lucky he has you to lean on, I wish you both the very best!

That is excellent news good luck with the surgery and have a great recovery.

Mark

This is from my wife.  Without her, my whole experience would have been extremely different and impossibly hard.

First, make sure someone is with you at the hospital while the operation is taking place.  Don't be alone.  We were fortunate that she had one of her brothers, his girlfriend (a registered nurse) and a niece with her while I was in the OR.

Second, both this week while you're running around like mad trying to prepare, next week when your husband is in the hospital and during his recuperation, make sure to find some time each day for yourself.....some calm time either away from everyone or with a close friend.

Third, don't try to be SuperWoman.  My wife tried this during one of my abdominal surgeries and the result was she was way overstressed.  Get help for some of the day-to-day things like grocery shopping, tidying the house and doing the laundry.  Helping someone like me (and, believe me, ALL husbands are like me) is a full time job in and of itself.  Get some help.

Things should start to calm down a couple of days after your husband gets home and he understands what he has to do, what he can do and what he can't quite do yet.