What To Expect Post-Op

Hello. This is my first posting. My husband has just been diagnosed with kidney cancer, a 10 cm tumor. They must remove the entire kidney. Because of the size of the tumor, he cannot have laparoscopic surgery.

I know it varies from patient to patient, but I would like to know what to expect. The doctor says it is a rough recovery, lots of pain. Can anyone tell me what they have experienced? It would be so helpful for me, for us, to know what to expect.

I appreciate your help. This is all such a shock and everything seems to be happening so fast.

Annie,

Thoughts and prayers go out to you and your husband.  I'm 11 days post-op from a radical nephrectomy.  My procedure started out as a lap procedure, but they ended up having to make a larger (more traditional) incision- although I don't think it's as aggressive had they not actually finished most of the work through the 3 small lap incisions.

I was out of the hospital in 3 days- so I think my situation may have been a little different.  But- as in all surgery it's best to make yourself get upright and out of bed and walk around.  I also took myself off the self administered pain killers- as they inhibited my ability to get up, stay aware and wake my body up. 

I'm a little tender (almost two weeks out) but it isn't really painful.  It feels more like pulled muscles than anything else.  My wound is healing up okay- but I have a pretty gnarly looking scar on my side.  It's about 6 in. under my armpit, just around to my slight back side and down around the front- kind of a "dog leg" right....

Walking is key- I started out first day home from the hospital walking down the street and back, progressing around the block and stuff.  Sometimes a little lightheaded afterwards- but not too bad.

I hope some of this helps- as I said I may have had a different situation here- but the overall should be fairly similar....

Dennis

Dennis,

 Thank you so much. It does help to hear that your recovery has not been too bad. Can I ask one more thing? I'm wondering about clothing--was there anything that you found that was good or bad to wear? I assume that pullovers are difficult, but I was just wondering if it hurts to have fabric touching the skin. (My husband would laugh if he knew I was asking about outfits.)

 Thank you again and I hope your recovery continues to go well.

Annie 

No problem Annie- I found that after the freedom of the always in style hospital gown- that a nice over sized t-shirt and pajama bottoms were nice.  My incisions were dressed with standard gauze and coverage tape-cleaning after showers with a topical wound cleaner that the hospital sent home.  The large incision was left exposed and I had very minor leaking from the staples.  (which were taken out last Friday).

I've moved into my regular pants and jeans (11 days post-op) and am doing fine with that.

One other thing you may want to prepare your husband for that doesn't get covered a lot is the post surgical "awakening of the insides"....  Gas pain as your bowels begin to wake up from anesthesia and pain medication was perhaps the worst of all this....  He must resist the urge to take more pain medication as this will only prolong nature.  As he gets up to walk (as they will tell you to do for this) if he can- he must not take the prescribed pain killers- like I said they will only make this more difficult.

Once he's "voided" himself of this he will feel much better.....Much better......

Dennis

Dennis,

It makes me feel so much better to hear that your recovery hasn't been the nightmare I've been worrying about. I hope you continue to improve rapidly and that you can go back to resume your normal life very soon.

Thank you again for your help.

Annie 

 

Annie,

I had a radical nephrectomy in Dec 06; they also removed both adrenal glands.  My incision was a "chevron" shaped that extended across my mid-section.  I was hospitalized for a week and it took nearly 2 months to recover at home.  I believe everyone recovers a bit differently from any type of surgery.  I am still somewhat sensitive around the incision site but all things considered, the recovery was at times challenging but tolerable.  Loose fitting clothing and a generous amount of patience is important.  Bless you and your husband - I am hoping for the best possible outcome...

 

 

Thank you. It helps so much to hear this. I occasionally encounter people who say they are in agony after four weeks and I get all stressed out. "Challenging" is the word for this whole process, isn't it?

 I am glad that your recovery is going well and I do wish you the very best.

Hi my name is Jack and I have just been through this and I am still in recovery. Had my whole left kidney removed had a 9 lb tumor on mine a little had progressed into my viens but I have had good results so far. I am a  plumber by trade for the last 30 yrs so my job depends on being physical. Whent back to work light duty I must add 6 weeks after surgery. Still sore and little pain but mostly preety good considering I was cut from left side to center of my chest following my lowest rib around. I think the best way for me to descibe it is uncomfortable. I try my best to limit my pain meds but I move so much at work I am not going to suffer, just be aware of your usage and be safe please don't use it as a crutch to deal with it all. I must admit I am scared to death about the unknown and this was all very sudden for me as well. Tell your husband to hang in there and if he ever wants to vent to me I could use someone as well to relate to. Yall hang in there I will make my prayers with yall in mind as well.

 

On 4/17/2008 anniej wrote:

Thank you. It helps so much to hear this. I occasionally encounter people who say they are in agony after four weeks and I get all stressed out. "Challenging" is the word for this whole process, isn't it?

 I am glad that your recovery is going well and I do wish you the very best.

Hi Annie,

It has been a year and a tumor in my right kidney since I had a Rad Neph on my left kidney. I had an eleven inch incision just below my ribs. The staples came out at 3 weeks and I was playing golf at 4 weeks. The key is to get plenty of rest and walk as much as possible. When your husband is able and ready for it, I would suggest getting a workout dvd for stretching. Stretching (gently at first) and massaging the scar will help a lot. Like I said, it has been a year and I still feel a "pull" in my left side from the scar tissue and stretching is the only thing that really helps. The first week home I had to sleep in a recliner, lying flat on the bed was okay for a little while. Until all the other organs fill the void it can be quite uncomfortable. As others have posted...going to the bathroom is probably the worst of all. The only thing that could be worse would be using that stupid inhaler torture device they sent home with me. It is EXTREMELY important that he start taking deep breaths and coughing as soon as possible, that will help keep fluid out of his lungs...not a good thing.

 Hope this helps and I pray things go well. Remind your husband that he is not sick, he just has cancer. Attitude is key to recovery. You will meet some of the most caring and giving people in the WORLD now.

Welcome to the cancer family,

 Mark

Mark,

Thank you so much for your message. Yesterday the nurse 
mentioned that he should practice deep breathing, but I had never read
or heard that before. It makes sense. It's just so great to feel that
there's something we can do to help the recovery and I guess just have
a little control. Oh, and I was happy to hear that the recliner helped.
I surprised my husband with one. His surgery is Tuesday. He's
practicing reclining a lot already. :->

Just so I know, when
you say you were "uncomfortable' what do you mean? Was it terrible? I worry that the pain meds don't really do much for people. I don't want to
scare my husband (and we can't do anything about it anyway), but I
would rather know what other people have experienced. Our doctor told
us the recovery is extremely painful. Was that your experience?

And Mark, you have another tumor? What do they say about it? Are you okay? Sometimes this cancer sounds like Whack a Mole.

Thanks so much for your help.  I hope you are doing well.

Annie