Open Partial Nephrectomy--A Message of Inspiration

avdoty said:

Great to hear you're doing so

Great to hear you're doing so well so quickly after open surgery.  Going back to work was tricky for me. I've got a desk job and felt that it would be easy to return to work. I was feeling great about 1.5 weeks post surgery so I went back to work only to find out that I was more fatigued than I thought. Had several false starts going back befoe I felt good enough to stay a full day. Good luck getting back into the swing of things. 

Hi avdoty.  We seem to be similar in that we exercise and like to get back to normal quickly.  Today is my 2 week anniversary since my surgery.  I can cough, sneeze and laugh without pain--but I have not tried all three at the same time!  I have been working from home, and I plan to go into the office next week.  I will have to keep an eye on getting tired. 

But this whole situation has changed my outlook on life and work/life balance.  In addition to my kidney issues, our office was destroyed by a fire earlier this year.  Fortunately, the fire occurred at night, and nobody was injured.  2014 has been a heck of a year for me and my family!

I made a decision to work less and live more from now on.  I am 47, and my boys are 14 and 11.  Before I know it, they will be in college.  

The other thing I will have to keep up with my commute next week is my walking schedule.  The walking has been very therapeutic for me.  My 14 year old son has been going on the evening walks with me, and this has been good bonding time with my son.

Presently, it is hard to judge my fatigue level. My sleep has been a little messed up post surgery.  I have been getting 7-8 hours per day, but I am waking up in the very early morning (3:30 or so), and I find I need an afternoon nap to get enough sleep for the day.

foxhd said:

You've got the secret

Being an optimist is as much a skill as learning to be an outgoing personality. I remember an old Lucille Ball movie. She was a street person who was groomed to be an aristocrat. With some dedication this is achievable. Sort of like years back when they had "Finishing schools" for young women. It is a mind set. I remember my epiphany at about 20 years old after a fight with my alcoholic father. I conciously committed to not be negative. I bi*ch and moan my share, but I concentrate on the positive and it is a much better way to exist.

I also decided that my personal time was far more valuable than working. I am living as happy and content as possible. Whatever time I have left is going to be enjoyable. Even as I am circling the toilet bowl on my way down. Regrets? Bucket lists? Self actualization? ..Remember that one from Maslows hierachy of human needs? Growing old may not happen. But being old doesn't come with guarenteed happiness. I have seen many many people die. Those who have lived good happy lives die in peace. Miserable people die miserably. I look at this as part of the trip. We need to make the best of it.

Regaining ones health and fitness is another interesting journey. We have a lifetime of experience of walking, exercising, and being active. Our bodies go thru a protective mode after trauma and it can take a while to return to our pre-diagnosis state. Keep moving forward. Don't push too hard. Our bodies will allow progressive improvements. Soon enough after all the bodily adjustments, we become the "new" us. The "old" us is in our past. Making the best of it is something that we all have some influence over. I have surprised myself regarding napping. What I would normally consider a waste of valuable time hasn't happened. Some days, I lie around quite a bit. I don't feel at all guilty. Actually kind of enjoy it. Who says cancer can't be fun?

foxhd, I love your take on life.  After getting kicked in the teeth twice this year, I made a decision to push back on work.  I like to have fun, laugh and make others laugh.  I actually get to do have a fair amount of fun and laughter in my job, and I will keep at it until I feel I have enough to pay for my boys' college.  But no more late nights in the office, tirelessly working on stuff that is less important than time with my wife and kids.  And I let another aspect of my life slip over the last several years.  I have been a volunteer firefighter since I was a teenager.  I became fairly inactive over the last several years, and after my diagnosis, I did a lot of soul searching.  I realized that I get a tremendous amount of satisfaction being a volunteer firefighter and responding to emergency calls. So, one thing I am going to do when I am clear to lift more than 10 pounds is get back in the swing at my local station--and they need the help.  For me, family and community service time are part of being a whole person and contributing to my mental well being.

The other thing the diagnosis and surgery did is force me to concentrate on fitness.  I have dropped 8 pounds since the surgery, and I am not doing anything too drastic--just eating more moderately, and walking 6 miles a day.  Pre-surgery, I was about 30 pounds over weight, and my goal is to get back to my ideal weight.