What to expect after an open surgery-partial nephrectomy

I was 17 when i had my first tumor removed off my lift kidney and addrinal gland. It was 10cm and they called it a taratoma or something like that. The surgery went pretty well and i did recover. I just cant remember how long it took. I had 50 staples going down the front of my stomach and it went from my belly button all the way to my chest. While i was getting all the ct scans done they did tell me they found a small cyst in my right kidney but they were just going to monitor it. Which i never did.

I was 19 when i was diagnosed with cervical cancer, HPV and had it scraped and they did infact remove it all, i was very lucky they caught it early. But i was told not to expect children in my future.

I was 20 when i got pregnant with my daughter, i was alittle scared because they said i couldnt. Everything was going well. I knew I had this "cyst" but was not interested in telling the doctors because i just wanted to have my daughter. And i did give birth to my beautiful daughter January 19, 08 @ 21 years old.

After having my daughter i decided to go ahead and get this cyst looked at to make sure nothing was different. The results were not good. The MRI showed blood flowing to this cyst that became a hyperdense mass which has grown. They know its cancer, well pretty sure it is. because it was went from liquid to a mass and has blood flowing now. So they have decided because it is in the exact center of my right kidney to have an open procedure and like you removed half of it. But they are also going to take a rib?????? I am so scared about that part because you were talking about being in such pain for so long and you had kept your ribs. I am scheduled for surgery April 16,2008 and my doctor isent giving me all the information im looking for. I guess i feel like if i start asking questions i will begin to loose confidense. Thats how I stay so calm. So now im getting kinda freaked out and i would like some help. I want the truth. I need to know how painful this is and how long is till take me to recover. and what is that Jackson Pratt you were talking about and will i have it. How does that work, what will the incision look like and will there be staples again? What medication did they have you on and how much did you end up paying with your insurance. I have Optima threw my work. They pay for the surgery but i pay co-pays and crap. Please get back to me. Thank you so much.

 Also does anyone know why this is happening to a young fit female. I have worked construction for the past few years and have installed ductwork for an HVAC company for the past year. I am very fit, and just dont understand why me? I dont drink nor have i ever had a smoke. I look great! my pharmocy doesnt understand why i come in so much with all these perscriptions when im so young. And also, what were your pains. I have had side pain and back pain along with abdominal pain for the past few years. Im hoping this is and was the problem ive been having because i can not go threw another surgery.

My daughter is only a few months old and we are a young couple. Im worried we will not have enough money to get by while im out thats why i need to know when i can return. I was shooting for a week, or two. Im sure you will agree, its not going to happen. huh? 

For those of you out there wondering about recovery time...I had an open partial nephrectomy for a 4 cm clear-cell carcinoma in my right kidney. The operation was 5 weeks ago and resulted in a 14 inch incision running from myupper back down and around my right side. It was successful and all of the cancer was removed. They are certain since they did an open procedure and thus could really see what they were doing. Out of the hospital after 5 days. I had a catheter and a drain, both of which they removed before I was released to go home. A week later the staples (32 of them!) were removed. Now 5 weeks later, I can work about 3/4 of a day before I get really tired and uncomfortable (non-physical job). At night, I still have to take the pain meds (Vicodin) to get comfortable enough to be bale to sleep. During the day I am pretty much ok. I have good days and not-so-good days, but they say that is to be expected.

If you have a physically demanding job, I don;t think you could even begin to consider returning to work until 6-8 weeks have passed. I am 42, an ex-Marine, and in pretty good shape, and I still have a lot of pain and tiredness 40 days after the operation...

Good luck to all of you!