Robotic Partial surgery update

stub1969
stub1969 Member Posts: 966 Member
edited August 2016 in Kidney Cancer #1

I reported for surgery at 6:00 am on Friday morning.  They took me to a waiting area where my wife and I talked with a nurse and reviewed my information.  By 7:00 a doctor came to get me and walked me to the pre-surgery area filled with other patients getting ready for surgery.  While there I visited with several nurses, one of the members of the surgical team and the anesthesiologist

All of the folks were incredibly professional with a strong mix of compassion and empathy.  After marking my kidney side I was wheeled off to the surgery room—I was scheduled for 8:00 surgery.    As I entered the room all the people introduced themselves and chatted a little with me.  All the while it was very business-like.  Soon I was getting an IVs and the anesthesiologist put the mask over my nose and asked me to breath in deeply.  The next thing I remember I was in the post-op waiting area and it was a little after 2:00.  The nurse in charge of me asked several time about my pain level and was right there with answers to any questions I had and to comfort me.  I wasn’t experiencing a lot of pain but did take a couple Tylenol extra strength rather than Oxycodone, so I’d be awake when I met with my family.  At 4:00 I was wheeled to my room where my family was waiting.

During surgery my family was updated frequetly by a communication nurse and after Dr. Chow met with my wife.  He said he was able to save much of the kidney and take out the mass without complication.  (Remember mine was coming out the bottom part of the kidney, which worked great for the robotic partial) 

 

While in my room I was well taken care of by wonderful nurses.  A doctor on the surgical team checked on me around 7:00 pm.  I was able to ask him questions and he provided answers.   My pain was well managed and I was up and walking by 10:00 pm the day of surgery.  The doctor checked on me right away the next morning and said I may be able to go home (one day after surgery).  I walked and slept throughout the morning and was released about 2:00 pm. 

 

I can’t say enough good things about the staff at Mayo in Rochester.  They did such a good job throughout this ordeal.  I’ll get the pathology report in a couple days.  Until then I’m resting and walking.  Right now I’m just taking Tylenol extra strength for pain.  I’ll return to Mayo in 3 months for scans and follow-up.

On a side note—the nodule they found on my thyroid during the chest scan does appear to be another primary cancer.  I’ll travel to Rochester tomorrow (Monday) for blood work and a meeting with another doctor.  This was a big blow to take the day before surgery.  They strongly believe it is pappilary thyroid cancer.  I'll keep you updated around this issue and share my pathology report.  

Take care and God's blessings to all.

Stub

Comments

  • hardo718
    hardo718 Member Posts: 853 Member
    edited August 2016 #2
    Well done Stub

    Sounds like you were in great hands and surgery was a success.  Keep up with your breathing exercises as well to ward off pneumonia. 

    Keep us posted on that thyroid issue.

    You're in my prayers,

    Donna~

  • JerzyGrrl
    JerzyGrrl Member Posts: 760 Member
    edited August 2016 #3
    Your Mayo Team...

    Your Mayo team sounds great.  Glad to hear the neph went so well.  Hope your recovery continues to move right along. 

    Do let us know what's going on with your thyroid.  You and your care team (that includes your wife) are in my and many others' thoughts and prayers.

    Jerzy

  • stub1969
    stub1969 Member Posts: 966 Member
    Thanks

    Thanks, Donna and Jerzy.  Recovery is going really well.  No pain at this point, but I'm being very careful.  I just took my first shower and removed the tape over my incisions.  I'm amazed at how they did what they did with four little holes.  Donna I appreciate you reminding me about breathing excersises.  Even though it hurts to breath using my abs, I continue to do the excersises that you described in an earlier post. 

    Take care,

    Stub

  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    You make it sound so easy

    Just like an outpatient procedure. Well not quite that easy. May you have an uneventful recovery.

     

     

    Icemantoo

  • stub1969
    stub1969 Member Posts: 966 Member
    edited August 2016 #6
    Not quite

    Not quite, Ice.  But recovery is going much better than I thought it would.  It does help that I'm fairly young (I love to think that at 47) and in very good shape.   I'm hopeful this will continue.  To be honest my wife is doing a great job regulating my activity and checking my pain level.  

    Take care,

    Stub

  • Jan4you
    Jan4you Member Posts: 1,330 Member
    Welcome and glad this part is

    Welcome and glad this part is over and you are recovering well. Rememer, you did just have major

    surgery and your insides need to heal. I used ice over some of the incisions, but my whole kidney was

    removed. Ice reduced swelling inside and out, leading to less pain meds.

    Walking  helps alot!

    Good luck in your next phase.. enuff right?

    We'll be here for you if you want us to be, we'll walk this journey along side you.

    Sending you healing vibes and a gentle hug!

    Jan

  • Footstomper
    Footstomper Member Posts: 1,237 Member
    Welcome to the other side.

    There should be a special award for medical professionals and spouses in dealing with this damn disease.

  • stub1969
    stub1969 Member Posts: 966 Member
    edited August 2016 #9
    You're on to something

    Foots you are on to something there.  But each and everyone of our spouses or partners would get the award.  They are truly the heros in this journey.

    Take care,

    Stub

  • Teashea
    Teashea Member Posts: 89 Member
    edited August 2016 #10
    Nurses are the best

    Thank God for wonderful caring nurses. 

  • sblairc
    sblairc Member Posts: 585 Member
    stub1969 said:

    Not quite

    Not quite, Ice.  But recovery is going much better than I thought it would.  It does help that I'm fairly young (I love to think that at 47) and in very good shape.   I'm hopeful this will continue.  To be honest my wife is doing a great job regulating my activity and checking my pain level.  

    Take care,

    Stub

    "Listen to your wife"

    So a year or so after my husband had his kidney removed, in a strange coincidence my Uncle received his kidney cancer diagnosis. When asked by my  Uncle what his advice post-operative was, my husband actually said "Make sure to listen to your wife"

  • stub1969
    stub1969 Member Posts: 966 Member
    Thyroid results

    I just got back from Rochester where they did a fine needle biopsy.  The doctor did a fantastic job with this--no pain at all.  On our drive home the doctor called and confirmed that it is indeed papillary thyroid cancer.  It's strange the mix of emotions that I have with this diagnosis.  The bad part is it's cancer and that sucks!  But, the good part is that it isn't RCC, which was a big fear of mine.  I haven't gotten the pathology report back on my kidney mass, but there have been cases (mentioned both on this board and on smart patients) where RCC traveled to the thyroid.  If you do some reading on papillary thyroid cancer it's treatable and has a very good prognosis.  This was confirmed today by the doctor in our consultation.

    On a good note, I haven't needed any pain meds today.  I find it crazy that I had part of my kidney reomoved on Friday--went home on Saturday--and was up and walking around all day today.  I am pretty tired, but I feel good.  Even the Endocrinologist was impressed at how well I was doing.

    Take care and blessings to all,

    Stub

  • Jan4you
    Jan4you Member Posts: 1,330 Member
    edited August 2016 #13
    Well "glad" this new cancer

    Well "glad" this new cancer is treatable!!

    Still... ENUFF!!

    Sending you continued healing and caring thoughts!

    Jan

  • JerzyGrrl
    JerzyGrrl Member Posts: 760 Member
    stub1969 said:

    Thyroid results

    I just got back from Rochester where they did a fine needle biopsy.  The doctor did a fantastic job with this--no pain at all.  On our drive home the doctor called and confirmed that it is indeed papillary thyroid cancer.  It's strange the mix of emotions that I have with this diagnosis.  The bad part is it's cancer and that sucks!  But, the good part is that it isn't RCC, which was a big fear of mine.  I haven't gotten the pathology report back on my kidney mass, but there have been cases (mentioned both on this board and on smart patients) where RCC traveled to the thyroid.  If you do some reading on papillary thyroid cancer it's treatable and has a very good prognosis.  This was confirmed today by the doctor in our consultation.

    On a good note, I haven't needed any pain meds today.  I find it crazy that I had part of my kidney reomoved on Friday--went home on Saturday--and was up and walking around all day today.  I am pretty tired, but I feel good.  Even the Endocrinologist was impressed at how well I was doing.

    Take care and blessings to all,

    Stub

    Road Trip!

    Glad to hear you did so well on your Road Trip, Stub.  I was wondering how you'd do, so close on the heels of your surgery date. 

    A drag that what you've got is cancer in the thyroid, but I'm happy dancing that it's not RCC that's decided to take its own Road Trip AND that it's treatable, with good expected results. 

    Take care, and keep us posted. 

  • hardo718
    hardo718 Member Posts: 853 Member
    You're something else!!

    You sound like you're doing awesome, post-op and now post biopsy.  Glad to hear you're bouncing back so quickly but keep in mind the interior process is a bit slower than the exterior.  Proceed with caution.

    Praying for you,

    Donna~

    P.S.  I've had thyroid nodule biopsies on two different occasions.  The first time was intensely painful and the second hardly at all.  There's obviously a technique about it and the first one was by a doctor with very poor skills.  I was just told today my next follow-up isn't for another year.