Long time listener, first time caller. Less that 24 hrs from surgery.

Hello Boondock! I am so impressed at how you are advocating for your wife, kudos!

Yes, its a shock to hear the "c" word. But as Iceman said, under 7cm is usually stage I corrected by surgery. I was lucky to have joined here and asked so many questions, therefore being well prepared by the time I saw my surgeon.  I am 3 years NED=no evidence of disease.

She is lucky to have the robatic/laproscopic surgery technique as its less invasive and easier recovery for most of us. I have had 4 abdominal surgeries, all separate reasons, and two robatic ones. I wore a lumbar, velcro, wrap used to back backs and wrapped it around my tender abdomen. Then to reduce swelling (due to healing, post surgery) I put dry ice packs (less messy) inside the wrap, but not right on skin. As a result there is less swelling=less need for pain meds.

What hurt the most for me is that trapped gas they use to pump up the abdominal wall so surgeon can see. It gets trapped in weird places afterwards, like the shoulder. I kept moving my arm around in circles and walking to get rid of it. It does take days, Im afraid till its gone.

Feel free to email me (upper left menu) and ask any other questions.

She'll be fine, but do not rush the recovery. Most likely will be cancer free, but monitored for about 5 years or so.

Sending you both healing hugs,

Jan

BoondockSaint said:

Thank you Jan & Kat. I've already

Thank you Jan & Kat. I've already gotten her an ab wrap because I had read earlier before I joined that you had done this. We will definitely be using it. We are not going to rush things and we are going to follow the Dr's orders to a "T". It'll be tough because she is so active. She owns her own business and is very active with the local humane society in rescuing dogs. I couldnt begin to tell you the number of dogs she has rescued in the last 21 yrs we've been married.

Heck, longer than tat really. We've known each other since we were 13 and 12 yrs old when I moved to the neighborhood. We used to hold hands on the school bus. lol....went to Prom together. Me and this girl have a lot of history together and plan on having much, much more.

What a wonderful story you kids have already written. While no one can really predict the future on any given day, it looks as though you two will have lots more time together. 

It was kidney stones that enabled them to find my kidney mass, too. Who knew something positive could come out of those wretched little kidney stones?

Oh, and you get to pick the dogs up onto the sofa or boost them into the car for a while. Their mama won't break, but she'll be mighty sore for a while. Short inside - then outside - walkies will be good for her (an excellent way to get rid of the nasty painful gas). 

I'm glad you found us--although membership in this club is one you would rather avoid.  First of all, if you have been reading the posts here for a while you know the type of people that are members.  Some of the most caring, empathetic, with a good touch of "kick that cancer in the a**" attitude you'll find in any site.  We're here to help you as much as you want.  We'll share our expereinces--after all, we've all been through it.

My wife and I were childhood sweethearts since we were in elementary school, so your story resonates with me.  The only difference, I was the one with the mass and my wife was there to support me.  The mass on my kidney was found in late July with surgery in late August.  I also had a partial with Da Vinci--click on my "name" to read my story. 

Your wife is young and healthy, so recovery will not be that bad.  I encourage you to have her get up and walk as soon as she can.  That movement will help remove the gas they use in surgery.  I had surgery on a Friday and went home early afternoon on Saturday--I suspect it will be the same with your wife.  She will be sore for a while, so help her as much as she allows .  Remember movement is really a key to a quick recovery. 

As others have said with the size of her mass surgery will most likely take care of this.  In the meantime, try to keep her calm.  The night before and the morning of surgery is the worst.  You guys will get through this!

Blessings,

Stub

We are pretty much right where you are Boondock.  My husband is 2 days past surgery so if there is anything that we can do to help, please don't hesitate to ask.  Or if you just want to chat.

If it is reassuring at all, he walked 2 miles yesterday, just one day after surgery and he is in very little pain.

What a lovely history you have and there'll be many more years to add to that My husband and I are pretty much the same. Met at 15 and 17 and here we are 50 years later. So glad the surgery is over and she's in recovery. Make sure she walks as much as possible (I walked the same night) and that she uses the breathing apparatus they give you to keep your lungs clear. Mine was an open procedure yet I was home the third day and walked my butt off every single day. She may not have much appetite and that's ok. I hardly ate for a week. Maybe broth and soft boiled eggs. Also, she may have some gas pain from the surgery and going number 2 will take a while. Wishing you both all the very best!!

That's super news, and then some. I'm impressed on the 90% kidney-keeping (heck, I think even my KIDNEYS are impressed on the 90%). 

BTW, there's a good chance that later she won't remember most of what happens during the first sort-of day after surgery. Not to worry -- it's just the anesthesia's effects.  Now both of you can get some rest (Well, aside from the walking she'll need to do to work out the carbon dioxide AND get her strength back).