radical neph March 22. 2023

Good afternoon

I felt like I had an obligation to sign up and post for this site helped me tremendously. I didn't have time to do it before surgery but now I am in the position to be thankful, grateful, and willing to help others. Here is my story and some tips for others>

• 62 years of age, history with uric acid stones that started at 50 . The only med a take is allopurinal to keep uric acid down.
• good blood pressure, very healthy, heavy set but solid . Road bike, played hockey, and still walk regularly
• at 50 through imaging they discovered renal cysts on both kidneys but mostly on the left , never were concerning until Feb of 2022 when my doctor said lets look into it for the cyst was 3.2cm in size located on the upper pole of the left kidney. Kidney specialist said I have mild kidney disease but would never to on dyalisis given my GFR is 95 and at my age I my kidney are functioning normal.
• Ultrasound said no solid mass, MRI inconclusive, CT in Dec of 2022 with contract stated RCC in that 3.2cm mass.
• saw surgeon in Jan of 2023. He said I'm the surgeon and you need surgery for its confined to the kidney .....xray confirmed. He said I need a partial and given where its located he still put it at 85% success rating. He said I need a full cure given my age. I signed off in the event I needed a full removal.
• Surgery was scheduled for March 22. Walk walk walk and walk......get it......before surgery my BP was 130 over 84.....and I was walking 15 to 17 miles per week. My GFR average 95 for both kidneys. Once more please stay positive and walk, walk, walk just like forest gump. It helps with your recovery. The planned surgery was 3 small incisions and it was not roboitic surgery.
• I awoke to the doctor saying things did not go as planned , the next day he said I had lots of sticky fat on the top of the kidney but the good news is that my right kidney is very good (albeit I do have a cyst or two on it!) The surgeon said they attempted sparing but the fat and the small size of the tumour (finding it in the fat ) complicated matters. For margin reasons and as well excessive bleeding lead them to make a decision to remove the entire kidney by incision of approx. 5"
• Tests on the kidney stated it was a low grade cancer and would need to be tested once a year only.
• POST surgery
• I tolerated pain and was on morphine one night of the two in hospital, I took tyennol the rest of the time ......but do not be a a hero. Take your meds!
• I was out of bed 2 hours after surgery but vomitted in my firsts attempt
• I was walking the halls the next day, and walking my street 4 days after surgery , walk walk walk if you can!
• I have noticed a changed but I do get itchy at different places of the body. It could be my mind!
• Phsically I am ok but mentally no given it was rated at 85% and ended up loosing a kidney with a 95 GFR for both kidney emotionally hurts!
• I am not sheduled to see a kidney specialist until July but I demanded to see my doctor next week for a new GFR reading and ask about why I'm itchy! Is it kidney disease. Before I had slightly higher protein in my kidneys, normal potasium, normal sodium, normal phophorus.
• I am even more cautious about eating......they say do not change your diet with one kidney.....do so please....watch the things above.
• In end......take the advise from people here....the surgery will make you a nervous wreck but its not that bad, stay positive, take your meds for at least the two days after the surgery if your not a pill taker! 4 weeks later I can walk 5 miles in one walk no problem every second day......I am loosing weight and I don't miss the foods that I ate.......buy an air fryer......if you like pizza have it veggie style with little sauce and cheese, if you like pasta have it white with garlic and olive oil, eat berries as your fruit.......and maybe get a second opinion as well for I didn't . I don't blame the doctors but it was a blow loosing a kidney for my mind was set on that 85% success rating...life has changed and I am worried silly about that right kidney with a cyst on it. I hope if I am still labelled as having kidney disease this saga doesn't continue.
• God bless all of you, stay positive and enjoy life best you can with your loved ones. Its different for all I realize this but if there is hope take the calculated risk but you never know how things will go after surgery. Good luck to all.