Hi,
My complications were pretty much what I wrote about.
Kidney wouldn't "seal up" so I had Jackson Pratt drain for 6 weeks. Pretty rare to have it that long. Because it wasn't sealing, I had a stent put in (now at 5 weeks) so that my kidney would continuously drain into the bladder and not get "backed up" into the kidney. That would cause more leaking out of the top of my kidney. Putting the stent in is usually a 15 minute procedure, because I'm the problem patient, I needed to stay overnight (because of nausea after sedation). Left the hospital with J-P drain and catheter and miserable. BUT.... no cancer and 2 working kidneys!! Catheter and JP drain removed after one week. Four days later- more leaking and terrible pain. Back for CT scan which showed continued leaking, SO..... catheter back in and wait.....
Thank goodness for good health insurance.
Another week- ultrasound to monitor leakage. Then catheter out! I'm very nervous, because I've been here before. I have a nurse that I consult with and she says dr doesn't want to do any surgical repair because the kidney is functioning so well. (Sort of on overtime!)
I think this length of time is pretty rare especially considering what I've been reading on this site.
I'm 8 weeks post-op and finally have all drains out. I was supposed to go back to work on Mar 31, but have been approved for extended leave. I can't imagine going back that soon (I'm a teacher) Still have soreness, numbness, and swelling.
I'm not trying to scare anyone with these complications. I remind myself every day that I'M CANCER FREE!! And I have two working kidneys.
I couldn't have done any of this without my husband (of course) and my mother-in-law has come by everyday to be with me when no one else was home (really important).
Plan on being there a lot for your Mom. She'll need it!
Feel free to ask questions. I feel like I know more about kidneys and bladders than I ever wanted to know.
katskidney