partial nephrectomy questions

I had a partial on 1/26.  Mine was open, so a bigger incision that I had to deal with.  They had me up walking that night.  I was in the hospital a week, due to complications from my bowels not waking up, but they took my drain tube out my last day there.  Not sure had I left after 3-4 days if I would have gone home with it.

My drain was just under my right front side.  My incision was right along the base of my ribs and the drain about 3 inches under that.  One the side, but front.

Honestly, the surgery pain wasn't that bad.  I just had that bowel thing, which made it tough.  I told my doc if it wasn't for that, I would have strolled out of there after day 2.    You will do great!

My partial was in June, 2016.  the procedure started at about 3PM.  It took about three hours and I woke up in my room at about 8PM.  The nurse got me up immediately, which they told me they would do.  That was about ten minutes or so.  I slept quite well with no discomfort until about 6AM, waking only to drink water.  In terms of walking the next morning, I asked before they mentioned it.  I walked after a couple of abdominal surgeries and it helps the healing process a lot, and these nurses actively encouraged it.  I know there were four incisions, but to be honest, I don’t remember if that included the drain or not.  My drain was placed in my right abdomen and it was removed just before discharge.  When the surgical team came to see me, they removed the catheter (the worst part of any surgery) and said as long as my pain was under control and I could pee, I could go home.  I peed a couple of hours later.  Pain was never an issue for me, fortunately.  All I felt was some pulling from the material they usee in lieu of sewn stitches.  i Got out about 130PM on the day following th3 surgery.

once home, i’d say I let my full recovery take about three months as I didn’t push too hard.  I increased walking distances on pretty much a daily basis, but I left other exercises (weights, abs, etc) on the sidelines until I felt confident I woul$n’t pop open.

No surgery is fun, but of the three surgeries i’ve Had to endure, this was the least traumatic by a long shot.

Best wishes for a surgery as equally routine as mine turned out to be.

My partial was in August of 2016.  I checked in right away in the morning (5:30).  I remember being in the surgical waiting room by 7:00.  Surgery was between three to four hours.  I was in my room by 5:00 pm, walking by 8:00 and checking out by 1:30 the next day.  Absolutely amazing!  I took the heavy pain killers the first couple days then moved to tylenol.  Try to walk as much as you feel comfortable.  This will help in your recovery and getting your bowels moving again.

Good luck!

Stub

I almost forgot...They made me use the spirometer almost every hour , every day ....the first 2 days it was a little hard but is very important to keep your lungs working...

I had a left partial neph in 2012.   Not much pain to speak of, only took pain meds once after I got home I'm happy to say.  Uncomfortable yes, but no real pain.  I was out of the hospital after 2 nights.  I did have a drain in the lower left abdomen but it was removed before my discharge.  I was up walking sooner than I wanted to, within a few hours of being awake with assistance.  Important thing.....keep up with your breathing exercises!  The last thing you need or want is to end up with is pneumonia.  The combination of laying around more than usual, sedation, pain meds and overall pain, if that applies to you will cause you to breathe more shallow and that in turn isn't a good thing for your lungs.  Take it from me, a former Respiratory Therapist.

Best wishes,

Donna~