Newly diagnosed and upcoming surgery

2

Comments

  • sblairc
    sblairc Member Posts: 585 Member
    #22
    Pittston said:

    Decided to have surgery at

    Decided to have surgery at end of August at MSK with Dr. Russo. 

    Hoping and praying for the best.

    Thank you for your help.

    Awesome. Keep us updated

    We like to hear updates, so keep us informed. I'm wishing you all well

  • Pittston
    Pittston Member Posts: 26
    edited August 2017 #23
    sblairc said:

    Awesome. Keep us updated

    We like to hear updates, so keep us informed. I'm wishing you all well

    I will update everyone. It is

    I will update everyone. It is nerve wracking, as you all know. We are just trying to keep busy until August 28th, scheduled date of surgery. 

    Thank you.

  • Jan4you
    Jan4you Member Posts: 1,330 Member
    #24
    Well what a lucky guy your

    Well what a lucky guy your son is to have YOU as his mother!! Of course you want the best. 

    I remember my surgeon told me about how he would decide between open vs laproscopic. I have had 4 abdominal surgeries, 2 lap, 2 open. Turns out my kidney had to be removed, even though the tumor was only 4cm, due to its position near a blood supply. I always believed that the cancer went WITH the kidney but to follow up with all monitoring appointments. 

    So for me, I was glad to have a surgeon who could do both open and laproscopic. For me, it made a huge difference in healing and recovery time. But no ones tells you that for the surgeon to SEE, either open or lap, they pump up the abdomen with this gas that gets trapped inside cavity afterwards. This trapped gas hurts! Its not like the pain meds can reach a trapped gas. i use kept walking and moving my arm around in circles where it was trapped in the shoulder. After about 5 days it finally left!! Whew. 

    I also used ICE over the incisions and a lumbar wrap to support those healing muscles> I even wore it to bed. Helps for getting uP from sitting or laying down. AND I would place dry ice packs inside the wrap to soothe the incisions.

    He'll be okay. Get as much information and trust your doctor.

    Healing hugs to you and your son,

    Jan 

  • Pittston
    Pittston Member Posts: 26
    #25
    Jan4you said:

    Well what a lucky guy your

    Well what a lucky guy your son is to have YOU as his mother!! Of course you want the best. 

    I remember my surgeon told me about how he would decide between open vs laproscopic. I have had 4 abdominal surgeries, 2 lap, 2 open. Turns out my kidney had to be removed, even though the tumor was only 4cm, due to its position near a blood supply. I always believed that the cancer went WITH the kidney but to follow up with all monitoring appointments. 

    So for me, I was glad to have a surgeon who could do both open and laproscopic. For me, it made a huge difference in healing and recovery time. But no ones tells you that for the surgeon to SEE, either open or lap, they pump up the abdomen with this gas that gets trapped inside cavity afterwards. This trapped gas hurts! Its not like the pain meds can reach a trapped gas. i use kept walking and moving my arm around in circles where it was trapped in the shoulder. After about 5 days it finally left!! Whew. 

    I also used ICE over the incisions and a lumbar wrap to support those healing muscles> I even wore it to bed. Helps for getting uP from sitting or laying down. AND I would place dry ice packs inside the wrap to soothe the incisions.

    He'll be okay. Get as much information and trust your doctor.

    Healing hugs to you and your son,

    Jan 

    Thank you. He will have open

    Thank you. He will have open with Dr. Paul Russo at Memorial Sloan Kettering. We live nearby and my husband had surgery at MSK two years ago. I know that pain you mentioned to some degree. I had laproscopic surgery last winter to have my ovaries and tubes removed as a precaution, also at MSK. No cancer, thank God. But that referrred pain was memorable. 

    I am glad you are doing so well and I really appreciate your kindess.

  • Pittston
    Pittston Member Posts: 26
    #26
    Surgery was on Monday and got

    Surgery was on Monday and got home last night. Surgeon felt it went very well, but awaiting pathology. Lots of pain, took painkillers in hopsital but  hated the feeling he had so trying to avoid them now and taking 400  mg. of Ibubrofen. Has Narco if he really needs it.  Walking today but tonight has a fever of 100. Took Tylenol and already going down. Anyone else deal with this?

  • Retcenturion
    Retcenturion Member Posts: 240 Member
    #27
    Listen to the body

    I hated the pain meds but used them for sleep. Opioid constipation was no joke and forced me off them. If temp goes up call back the Surgeons office was told by our Dr to do that. Also,  I had bad night sweats from anesthesia and pain meds for 2 weeks or so post op. Hope he is resting easy...sending positive thoughts.

  • Pittston
    Pittston Member Posts: 26
    edited September 2017 #28
    Retcenturion said:

    Listen to the body

    I hated the pain meds but used them for sleep. Opioid constipation was no joke and forced me off them. If temp goes up call back the Surgeons office was told by our Dr to do that. Also,  I had bad night sweats from anesthesia and pain meds for 2 weeks or so post op. Hope he is resting easy...sending positive thoughts.

    Thank you. He is watching it.

    Thank you. He is watching it. Im just worried about infection. I am amazed that he even was able to get home last night although it wasn't easy. He did walk today a few times in his neighborhood. Not sure if he overdid it.

  • NephroMan
    NephroMan Member Posts: 10
    #29
    Pittston said:

    Thank you. He definitely gave

    Thank you. He definitely gave us food for thought about the doing it open. I am concerned and just want my son to have the best outcome. Not sure what he will do, yet. He has to mull it over and decide whether to go with a surgeon at Mount Sinai who does mainly robotic or have it done at MSK and do the open with Dr. Russo. i always feel that if it's cancer and we live near MSK, then that's where we go. 

    Best of luck!

    Best of luck!

  • NephroMan
    NephroMan Member Posts: 10
    #30
    Pittston said:

    Thank you. He is watching it.

    Thank you. He is watching it. Im just worried about infection. I am amazed that he even was able to get home last night although it wasn't easy. He did walk today a few times in his neighborhood. Not sure if he overdid it.

    I had my open partial a week

    I had my open partial a week and a half ago. I am.a 43 year old and in shape. This knocked me on my butt. First 3 days are terrible. I walked 5 mikes two days ago so dont worry, it improves quickly if you can keep.off of.the narcotics. you need those intestines to wake up.

  • APny
    APny Member Posts: 1,995 Member
    #31
    Pittston said:

    Surgery was on Monday and got

    Surgery was on Monday and got home last night. Surgeon felt it went very well, but awaiting pathology. Lots of pain, took painkillers in hopsital but  hated the feeling he had so trying to avoid them now and taking 400  mg. of Ibubrofen. Has Narco if he really needs it.  Walking today but tonight has a fever of 100. Took Tylenol and already going down. Anyone else deal with this?

    Check on the Ibuprofen. I

    Check on the Ibuprofen. I think Tylenol is better on the kidneys. That's all I take if I have any kind of pain. So glad it's over and that he's home. Some fever is expected. I think I had one around 100. But keep an eye on it so it doesn't go above it. I took pain killers for about 10 days. I felt that walking for 5 minutes every hour helped. I just walked around the house as it was winter. All the best to your son and you!

  • Pittston
    Pittston Member Posts: 26
    edited September 2017 #32
    NephroMan said:

    Best of luck!

    Best of luck!

    Thank you. How are you

    Thank you. How are you feeling this week?

  • Pittston
    Pittston Member Posts: 26
    #33
    APny said:

    Check on the Ibuprofen. I

    Check on the Ibuprofen. I think Tylenol is better on the kidneys. That's all I take if I have any kind of pain. So glad it's over and that he's home. Some fever is expected. I think I had one around 100. But keep an eye on it so it doesn't go above it. I took pain killers for about 10 days. I felt that walking for 5 minutes every hour helped. I just walked around the house as it was winter. All the best to your son and you!

    Thank you. Fever went down

    Thank you. Fever went down last night. He walked twice this morning through the neighborhood. Looks good. Appreciate your help.

  • Pittston
    Pittston Member Posts: 26
    #34
    NephroMan said:

    I had my open partial a week

    I had my open partial a week and a half ago. I am.a 43 year old and in shape. This knocked me on my butt. First 3 days are terrible. I walked 5 mikes two days ago so dont worry, it improves quickly if you can keep.off of.the narcotics. you need those intestines to wake up.

    Thank you. Glad you are doing

    Thank you. Glad you are doing so well.  All the best

  • hardo718
    hardo718 Member Posts: 853 Member
    edited September 2017 #35
    Pittston said:

    Thank you. Glad you are doing

    Thank you. Glad you are doing so well.  All the best

    Push fluids too

    Specifically water.  Helps get things moving again AND keep those elevated temperatures at bay.  Hope things continue on a good path,

    Donna~

  • Pittston
    Pittston Member Posts: 26
    edited September 2017 #36
    hardo718 said:

    Push fluids too

    Specifically water.  Helps get things moving again AND keep those elevated temperatures at bay.  Hope things continue on a good path,

    Donna~

    Thanks . He is walking and

    Thanks . He is walking and drinking water so feeling a little better each day.

  • bmickowski
    bmickowski Member Posts: 7
    #37
    Glad to hear such great

    Glad to hear such great things about Dr. Russo. We have a family member in Los Angeles recently diagnosed with a mass in kidney. His family is here in NY and familiar with MSK. we are waiting to hear plan of action but hope to have him come here for surgery

  • Pittston
    Pittston Member Posts: 26
    #38
    bmickowski said:

    Glad to hear such great

    Glad to hear such great things about Dr. Russo. We have a family member in Los Angeles recently diagnosed with a mass in kidney. His family is here in NY and familiar with MSK. we are waiting to hear plan of action but hope to have him come here for surgery

    So sorry to hear about your

    So sorry to hear about your family member, but if he is coming to NY he should go to MSK.

    I highly recommend Dr.Russo. 

    My son and I just went out to lunch and his surgery was 8 days ago. Still sore, but only taking Tylenol when needed.

  • JerzyGrrl
    JerzyGrrl Member Posts: 760 Member
    edited September 2017 #39
    bmickowski said:

    Glad to hear such great

    Glad to hear such great things about Dr. Russo. We have a family member in Los Angeles recently diagnosed with a mass in kidney. His family is here in NY and familiar with MSK. we are waiting to hear plan of action but hope to have him come here for surgery

    MSK is a great place

    MSK is a great place, but commuting and / or relocating 3000 miles is a tad tough on a body, physically and socially. Are there other extenuating circumstances that would make this a wiser situation than your loved one being treated by excellent folks closer to home? 

    After my nephrectomy, what I wanted more than anything (after a competent surgeon and excellent follow-up care) was my own pillow in my own bed, with the (mostly) reassuring sounds and sights of my own home and neighborhood. If I was in California and my family decided to hustle me back to NY (or even the "Holy Land" of NJ)? Let's just say it might have gotten really ugly, really quickly Wink ! 

    Not to mention, if the timing is to have surgery this autumn or this winter, the bulk of the ice your loved one would encounter while walking (a VERY necessary follow-up activity) in Los Angeles would be in a soft drink cup at Del Taco. Or maybe it would be fruit juice flavored and served on a stick at the local paletería.

    Either way, all the best - !

  • JerzyGrrl
    JerzyGrrl Member Posts: 760 Member
    #40
    Pittston said:

    Thanks . He is walking and

    Thanks . He is walking and drinking water so feeling a little better each day.

    As you're discovering...

    It gets better each day. All the best with the recovery process! 

  • MFoster
    MFoster Member Posts: 17
    #41
    Pittston said:

    Surgery was on Monday and got

    Surgery was on Monday and got home last night. Surgeon felt it went very well, but awaiting pathology. Lots of pain, took painkillers in hopsital but  hated the feeling he had so trying to avoid them now and taking 400  mg. of Ibubrofen. Has Narco if he really needs it.  Walking today but tonight has a fever of 100. Took Tylenol and already going down. Anyone else deal with this?

    Yes, take Tylenol bc it is

    Yes, take Tylenol bc it is processed via liver instead of kidney like ibuprofen. Hope things are better! Hoping for a good path report. 

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