Post-Op and No Energy!

Angielewwho
Angielewwho Member Posts: 2
in Kidney Cancer #1

I've just discovered these message boards while trying to do some research on what I should expect in regards to my energy levels.

I am 4 weeks Post-Op Left Nephrectomy.  The 3.7 cm mass in my left kidney was discovered quite by accident because I was having Gallbladder issues. A CT of the abdomen revealed the mass. Thank God for the Gallbladder problems, because I was not having any Kidney related symptoms! There is no telling how long I would have gone along otherwise with the mass remaining undiscovered.

The cancer was Grade 1 Stage 1 Clear Cell Cancer and fully contained within the kidney. I will go back every 6 months for testing.

 

I feel like my recovery has gone well. The surgery was done via DaVinci, the incisions were fairly small and I've just about gotten over all of the soreness at this point. What I had not expected was to be so tired! I am utterly exhausted and feel like I could sleep for weeks.  Did anyone else have this difficulty Post Op, and if so, did you find anything that improved your energy levels?

Comments

  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    edited February 2017 #2
    Give it some more time

    Angie,

     

    You just  had major abdominal surgery. Barring anything unexpected your second month is going to feel a lot better than the first. Mine was a tad larger than yours when I was nephed in the summer of 2002.

     

    Icemantoo

  • Footstomper
    Footstomper Member Posts: 1,237 Member
    edited February 2017 #3
    Your body has had a major shock

    Walk as much as you can, but if you want to sleep, sleep.

  • Jan4you
    Jan4you Member Posts: 1,330 Member
    edited February 2017 #4
    Sorry for what you are

    Sorry for what you are experiencing. You may want to have your surgeon or primary doc do a lab work up, especialliy for ANEMIA. Being anemic can make you very tired. I had to ask as my surgeon was certain it was not necessary. Turns out I was right, I was anemic.

    But see your doc ok hon?

    Hope you start to feel better and all this will soon be behind you as you live your life in FULL!

    Warmly, Jan

  • foxhd
    foxhd Member Posts: 3,181 Member
    #5
    You will

    get better. Be more patient. Looks like you hit the jack pot.

  • JerzyGrrl
    JerzyGrrl Member Posts: 760 Member
    edited February 2017 #6
    Consider it...

    You asked, "Did anyone else have this difficulty Post Op, and if so, did you find anything that improved your energy levels?"

    Consider it a gift -- Not just the gall bladder acting up, but the lack of energy (rather than "difficulty"). You've just had surgery where your innards were sliced into, looked into, moved out of the way, shoved around, trimmed, reconstructed / tidied up, put back in place, stitched up... So that's your body's way of saying, "EXCUSE ME, BUT COULD I HAVE A LITTLE RESPECT HERE?! And some REST?" Your body still needs to get itself readjusted and mend itself back together. It takes energy to do all that healing.

    As to what improves energy levels? Not eating or drinking junk. Naps, definitely. Lounging around. And... [drumroll here]: Time.  You'll discover that each week is a bit better than the one before.  Your body wants (and needs) you to be your own best buddy and take it slow-and-steady. 

    You'll get there!

  • Steve.Adam
    Steve.Adam Member Posts: 463 Member
    #7
    Hi Angie

    I am three weeks post-op right nephrectomy.

    I am somewhat tired and spend my time resting and sometimes walking.

    I feel less tired than what you are describing so maybe you are more tired than you should be.

    Maybe a trip to the doctor is justified.

    All the best to you. I've been sitting here for 90 minutes and now I'm ready for a nap. ZZZzzz...

    Steve.

  • Angielewwho
    Angielewwho Member Posts: 2
    #8
    Thank you!

    Thank you all for your responses. I think you all are correct and I have really jumped the gun and am expecting too much too soon.  I returned to work last Wednesday because I work from home and thought it would be easy to get back into the swing of things in my home office. I think I probably should have given it a few more weeks. I will definitely take it a little easier and rest as much as possible. I can take a nap during my lunch hour and my boss says it's okay for me to take longer and more frequent breaks during the day.

    I wish you all well in your recovery wherever you may be in the process and I really appreciate your input. I think I needed a dose of reality. :)

     

  • Qt34167
    Qt34167 Member Posts: 41
    edited February 2017 #9
    To be expected

    Best advice is walk, walk, and walk.  Start out short distances multiple times a day and just increase length of time moving your legs and core.

  • todd121
    todd121 Member Posts: 1,448 Member
    #10
    Radical Nephrectomy?

    It sounds like you had the entire kidney removed? It's a major, major surgery. I was tired for months. Your outsides heal faster than your insides. Also, I think it takes quite awhile for the body to adjust to the single kidney. That's my own experience.

    I had really bad tiredness for a few months. I had weird health issues for a year.

    Give it time.

    Todd

  • hardo718
    hardo718 Member Posts: 853 Member
    edited March 2017 #11
    Welcome Angie

    I had the same surgery and have said many times, I had never felt that weak in all my life.  It does pass.  Thank God.  Give it more time.  Even though externally you're healed, it takes much longer internally.  Remember the surgeon had to move a lot of things out of the way to get at the little beast that was residing in you and then cut it out.  Your poor kidney was probably like,  "Hey Dude, watch it, that hurts" and "what the hell, I was just sitting here making pee, minding my own business, why you gotta be like that?"....and then probably a few expletives. 

    Best wishes,

    Donna~

  • Zenmomma56
    Zenmomma56 Member Posts: 8
    #12
    Tired

    I am 4 months post op.   I'm still tired.  I can do one thing a day   Like I went to target  shopping that's it then in to tomorrow.  I need daily naps still.  If I don't lay down and rest. I'll fall asleep. I matter where I am like it or not 

  • Zenmomma56
    Zenmomma56 Member Posts: 8
    #13
    hardo718 said:

    Welcome Angie

    I had the same surgery and have said many times, I had never felt that weak in all my life.  It does pass.  Thank God.  Give it more time.  Even though externally you're healed, it takes much longer internally.  Remember the surgeon had to move a lot of things out of the way to get at the little beast that was residing in you and then cut it out.  Your poor kidney was probably like,  "Hey Dude, watch it, that hurts" and "what the hell, I was just sitting here making pee, minding my own business, why you gotta be like that?"....and then probably a few expletives. 

    Best wishes,

    Donna~

    Donna

    love your humor 

  • Zenmomma56
    Zenmomma56 Member Posts: 8
    edited March 2017 #14
    Steve.Adam said:

    Hi Angie

    I am three weeks post-op right nephrectomy.

    I am somewhat tired and spend my time resting and sometimes walking.

    I feel less tired than what you are describing so maybe you are more tired than you should be.

    Maybe a trip to the doctor is justified.

    All the best to you. I've been sitting here for 90 minutes and now I'm ready for a nap. ZZZzzz...

    Steve.

    Tired tired tired

    I'm 4 months post op.  I'm down to one nap a day but I wear out easy my doc said it was normal. It can Take a year to recover as it is a major organ operation and they have to clamp off your cardiac arteries and move your guts around    My blood work red blood cell count almost normal  10/11 but body still fatigues easily 

  • Ktmg
    Ktmg Member Posts: 24 Member
    edited March 2017 #15
    Being tired is normal. We all

    Being tired is normal. We all heal at a different rate, and being tried is just your bodies way to tell you that you need to take it slow for a while. Don't get down about it. Listen to your body, work with it.

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