Recovering from radical nephrectomy

Anita J said:

Hello, I gather, you are
Hello, I gather, you are just recently home from hospital. I had my right kidney removed 6-29-09 and i was was 2 months shy of my 49th birthday. no history of cancer in family. was diagnosed with stage 3 RCC. urologist thought stage 1, but pathology came back stage 3 because cancer had begun to invade the sinus fat inside my kidney. had radical nephrectomy. no sign of cancer in ureter to bladder, no sign in renal artery and vein and no evidence of cancer in tissues and fat surrounding kidney. had 6 month scans done december 2009 and all clear, except a growth was found on my thyroid, but after a biopsy that came back negative. i go in, in a few weeks for a chest xray, blood work and another ultra sound on thyoid to make sure cyst is not growing. i feel good, still cycling and did 110 miles last week. incision still sore and i get phantom pains where incision and area where radical done. told by my urologist could occur up to 2 years. i see an oncologist for my checks. i wish you luck and a speedy recover itingle. it is a very scary time and not a day does not go by that i do not think of my cancer. i am told that eventually with time you think of it less and less.

AndrewTeoh said:

Hello from Malaysia
I am 40 and I just had an open radical nephrectomy done on my left kidney on the 9th April 2010. A renal carcinoma was found thorugh an Ultrasound by chance when I went in the hospital for my Gallstones problem.The radiographer checked my gallbladder and my kidney too. After a CT Scan, it is confirmed that I had a mass lesion which doesn't look good on the film. My Urologist said that the growth looks very suspicious and cancerous and the size was about 14cm. So an operation need to be done to remove my Gallbladder and my left kidney. After a bone scan and a CT scan, I thank God that the cancer cells has not spread but contained in my kidney.
I can walk on the 5th day.I was discharged from the hospital on the 14th April (after 6 days). During the stay in the hospital, I was given a strong painkiller called Ultraset which has a lot of side effects such as vomitting and constipation. I have very little appetite and my diet at that time consists of liquid food.
I was sent home but on the 20th April, I was re-admitted once again to the hospital but this time, I experienced severe pain in my somach (not my op wound) but bloating and pain.I was sent to the ER as my blood pressure dropped to 90/50...dangerous.An X-ray was done and the doc found out that there are alot of gases formed in my intestine. I was put on drip for 3 days and was asked to fast for that duration. You see, during my first op, my intestines and bowel has been moved and has caused my intestines to stick to each other during the course of my operation. The movement has caused the intestine not to expand and contract normally therefore causing the food and gases beng trapped in the intestine.
After 5th day in the hospital, an X-ray show that my intestines has settled and went back to normal. Liquid diet was introduces and on the 6th day, I was given soft food. I was discharged on the 7th day and ate normally on the 9th day, Hallelujah...
I went back to work after 7 days out from hospital. My op wound healed very well and I just bought an post operation binder to put around my stomach to support the muscles. I still feel some twitching of pain when I sneezed or cough. I can't lift anything heavy yet.
My Church and my family were praying for me during the course of the episode. My spirit was up during the duration and I was very encouraged that God has given me a speedy recovery. Now I am living with 1 kidney and no gallbladder. The cancer did not spread but follow up with Oncologist will be done in 6 months time. God bless!

NWKeith said:

In the same boat
Thanks Icemantoo for being a positive realist and my role model; tomorrow I'll have my left kidney removed along with its tumor. Evidently the tumor is too big for laproscopic, so it'll be the big slice, so my recovery will be longer; I'm 59 years old and to hear that you waterskied the next summer is great. Keep posting and take care everbody.

crissoid said:

It's done
Greetings icemantoo and everyon on the board, the surgery was Tuesday and I just got home about 20 minutes ago. The tumor in up being larger the 7cm ofcourse don't know the details yet but will know soon. Lost a quite of bit of blood only needed 1pint thank God. The cut isn't all that bad the pain is decreasing but the numbness in my belly feels crazy! To God be all the glory all went well thanks for all the encouraging words on this forum you guys helped me more than you all will ever know.

NWKeith said:

On the other side of the mountain
Thanks again icemantoo; I'm 6 weeks past my surgery, and life goes on. Certainly the removal of an organ is not to be underestimated in the total effect it has on your metabolism, not to mention the trauma to your insides. But we do heal. I'm grateful to be walking in the woods every morning, stopping to rest more than I used to. I'm now the old guy I used to blow by when I jogged. Humbling. I feel a bit anxious when I think of my next cat scan and tests that'll be end of August. What's to be will be. Meanwhile the little things I do, like the chopping and dicing of onions and bell peppers for my family this evening, seem to take on a special meaning. I like still contributing to whatever needs to be done. It was hard to be a patient.

icemantoo said:

On the road to recovery
Crissold, now that the big part is over (the surgery) it is going to take 4 to 6 weeks to feel normal. It does get a little better everyday. Your body just had major surgery so relax .

jazzykim said:

Nephrectomy
Hi wendyleigh,
Don't know if you still visit this site, but I had a radical nephrectomy this past March (2010) and was in the hospital on the 3rd of March and discharged on the 5th.
I myself went back to work after two and a half weeks, but now looking back, should have taken the recommended time off.

I had severe swelling when I arrived home, kept walking and moving around.
I was beginning to have the swelling reduce a few weeks ago, then after a recent adjustment (chiro) have had more swelling and can feel lumpy matter/puffiness (assume scar tissue?) on my right side. I understand your feeling of worry as to whether this will return as I don't awake or sleep without that same worry.
I had a 7 cm tumor in my right kidney and had to have it and of course the entire kidney removed through laparscopic surgery.

How are you feeling now? When did the swelling go down, etc.
Anyone reading this too who has similar or had similar symptoms (puffiness, swelling, pain, etc.) I would love your input as right now I am of course worried that it is something yet again.

Wendy, you are not alone (hope you are feeling great now).

icemantoo said:

The mail can wait a little longer
I hope as a result of your absence that they do not use your absence as an excuse to raise the postal rates.

garym said:

Update
Hi everybody, I visit the board often and don't comment much but felt it was time for an update. I'm 59 and never smoked, I'm 8 mos. post surgery (left side) and had my 6 mo. CT 2 mos. ago which was clear. My Dr. said there is a 10% chance the cancer will return, I see that as 90% that it won't. My cancer was found very early because of an accident I had on my motorcycle, a CT in the ER caught it. My condition and subsequent recovery was complicated by the injuries from the crash but my Dr.'s advice was to keep moving and try to do a little more each day. The day after I got home from the hospital following 2 surgeries I walked a mile, it took my 45 minutes, Ive walked nearly 1,000 miles since and never looked back. I just completed my first mini-triathalon with my cancer-surviving son at my side. Icemantoo, I live in Michigan as well and have been an avid water-skier my whole life, while broken bones kept me off the water this year I will be out there at 60, and I will walk my first survivor's walk in our local relay next month. As I read and re-read this board I am struck by a common thread we all seem to share, a positive attitude. Stay strong everyone and keep on fighting.