Post Partial Nephrectomy Blood in Urine

Hi all,

First of all thanks for taking the time to read this message.

My father recently had a partial nephrectomy performed to remove a tumor on the outside of his kidney. The pathology results were a negative for a Renal cell cancer which was great news.

The doctors then discovered a small blood clot in his lungs. A blood thinning injection was prescribed to be taken daily for 6 months to prevent further clots from reaching his lungs.

3 days after he was on the blood thinning injection he complained about an excruciating pain. Further CT scans showed that his healing kidney had started bleeding because of the blood thinner. The blood thinner was immediately stopped and a Vena Cava filter was placed to prevent further clots from reaching the lung. The bleeding from the healing kidney was also stopped by performing an embolization on the bleeding artery.

my father has now been home for a week on a long road to recovery. 3 days in he started passing little traces of blood (not clots) in his urine. At times it seems to be slightly concentrated and sometimes perfectly normal. The doctor said it is normal due the procedures that were performed on him and would continue for a few weeks. He was also told to call the doctor if he experienced symptoms such as being lightheaded and nauseous. So far there seems to be none of that.

My dad and I may be a little paranoid, but I would like to know if anyone else here has had a similar experience and could shed some light on how long the bleeding may actually last.

Thanks for your time!

Dhilhan

On 11/14/2008 Trishpm wrote:

It is common for people who have had a partial meph to have blood in their urine until the kidney heals completely.  Also, my sister, who had RCC 13 years ago (and had her whole kidney removed), had no blood in her urine at diagnosis, but has had traces ever since.  She is well and has no evidence of cancer. 

I have just received the news that I need to have a partial nephrectomy to remove a small growth on the kidney, found accidentally.  I was just wondering if your sister recovered quickly or how long it took. I am hoping to go back to work after 7 weeks, but have started to wonder if my clothes will even fit.  We have to be dressed in suits or dresses.  I wonder if I should start buying some looser clothing (I am a size 4 and pretty much wear pants rather than dresses).  Do you have any insight on this? I am 53 years old and in excellent physcial condition.  I understand the swelling might be pretty severe. 

Thanks,

Kathy