Just diagnosed

steel,

Welcome to the club which no one in their right mind would volunteer to join. That was me almost 16 years ago. I was told you have Cancer and they were going to yank out my kidney (there were no paqrtials back then). Lucky you before it got too big. 

The only reason the doctor told you that you will be back to work in 3 weeks is that he has not had his kidney yanked out. Plan on a bit  longer and if your job is physical plan on longer still.

We all felt like you do now in the begining. That will pass with time. 

icemantoo

I found out in February the mass they were watching from last summer is now 4.5cm (it was 3x3 last July) and it enhances to 15 HU now (was only 6 last summer). He wouldn't say it was cancerous, but it's highly likely it is. I am having a right sided nephrectomy March 29th. I've never had more than my wisdom teeth out. I'm also scared. That kidney is also Atrophic, only about 5.5 cm but he thinks it was like that from birth. I'm grateful that my left kidney is healthy and has already been doing the work. I'm still super scared and am feeling hopeful when I read through the boards here. I'm halfway through Graduate school and a single mom, I definitaly don't have time for this!  I'll be thinking of you as we go down this road! 

steelr, I've had three surgeries over the last ten years or so.  Two were for issues related to my intestines and were pretty serious.  If you can say anything was fortunate about them, it was the fact that the surgeries had to be done on an emergency basis, so I didn't have time to think about things.  The kidney surgery was the last one I had and, like you, it was a partial robotic, so it was easier, but I had a heck of a lot of time to think about it.  I was first diagnosed with a suspicious lesion in December, 2013, but it was small and the doc at Stanford to whom I was referred said that the standard of care was watch and see if it grows, so we did.  In April, 2016, an ultrasound revealed it had grown very slightly (1.5cm to 1.8 cm), so it was decided we needed to have it removed.  Surgery was scheduled for June, 206, so I had two months to wait.

In terms of what to expect at the hospital, you'll check in probably two to three hours ahead of the time for your surgery.  They do some blood tests and get you all set with an IV line and probably give you something to relax you.  I was pretty well out of it when I got to the OR, but I do seem to recall seeing the robotic surgical equipment and saying (hopefully not out loud), "That looks f...ing cool!".  My surgery was scheduled at 3PM and was completed around 6PM.  I was in a regular room by 8PM and woke up to the sound of one of our nieces screaming in my ear.  The nurse will likely get you up almost immediately, and I was warned that would happen.  I stood for about five or ten minutes and then I guess I was whiny enough that they let me get back in bed and sleep.  I woke a few times during the night, mainly to get something to drink, and slept for about ten hours, until 6AM.  I was free to eat, and I did, as I hadn't had anything for over 24 hours, so I wa famished.  The surgical team, minus the surgeon, came in around 8 and explained that everything had gone very well and that I could likely go home if I could control the pain and could pee.  The only unusual feeling I was having at the surgical site was a little bit of pulling from the stuff they used to cover the incisions, but I had no pain to speak of.  Other folks having the same surgery have reported feeling some discomfort, but I was fortunate in that I didn't have any.  The team instructed the nurse to remove the catheter, and that was quite a relief.  I asked if I could walk, as after my abdominal surgeries, walking was very helpful in getting gas out and in getting my recovery started.  They said the nurse would walk with me when she had some time.  Fortunatey, she had time and off we went.  We walked about five or ten minutes and she said I could go off on my own, just not to leave.  Around 10AM, I reported to her that I had been able to urinate and that there was no blood present in it.  Around noon, the surgeon came in and we talked for a little while and he said that everything seemed fine for me to go home.  He had a nurse practitioner remove a drain that was put in during surgery.  That was a strange feeling coming out, but, again, no pain.  The same nurse practitioner removed the IV and I was free to go.  So, from the time that I got to the hospital to the time I left was about 25 or 26 hours.

In a sudden fit of maturity, I took my recovery slowly.  I started by walking about 15 minutes and then tried to increase that by 5 minutes a day until I was up to about two hours walking each day.  I went back to the gym about 2-1/2 months out from surgery, but I didn't start in on the weights until about two weeks later, and I went very slowly.

Just remember to do as much walking as is comfortable for you after the surgery.  Your recovery will really go a lot faster.

Thank God for small favors.  As in the kidney stone?  I too had a laparscopic procedure 5-1/2 years ago.  Not a cake walk, to be certain, but easier than I imagined.  Our imaginations can torture us with all kinds of things that are unfamiliar to us.  I went back to work at the 3 week point and honestly, couldn't do more than 1/2 days and I wish I could have waited another week.  By week 4 I was feeling a whole lot stronger.  Yes, you'll have smallish incisions but keep in mind it's major surgery nevertheless and just listen to your body.  Rest, rest, rest so you can heal properly on the inside too.  You'll heal much quicker on the outside than on the inside.  Be patient.

Best wishes for your upcoming procedure and know we're here for you,

Donna~

im also new and had an ultrasound done with showed a complex cyst 11cm!  No wonder my back hurts.  I am awaiting my MRI have no specifics except that there is 2 mm nodular within the larrger cyst.  Did anyone experience nausea or fever?  I am shocked at the size of this just shocked any comments would be appreciated I just want to get it out!

Had mine LPN July 2017. After surgical if possible limit all your activities and rest as much as possible..... get 12 to 16 weeks if possible......As LPN surgical you don't feel much of pain BUT we can't see what happening inside our body. Is a major operation.... so the kidneys need time to heal.

All the best to you! 

There are many people on this board that have a wealth of infomation. I had my surgery about 4 months my recovery was about the full 8 weeks and I still have some aches and pains. So don’t be overly concerned if your recovery is more than 3 weeks. Prayer for a successful and speedy recovery.