Post Surgery

[refills]

4 days out of an open partial Nephrectomy. They took half of the kidney and said they got all RCC. Still really sore as expected. I don't fell comfortable sleeping on either side, one reason being I'm afraid to hurt myself. I would try it if I only knew it was ok. I'll ask my doctor tomorrow either way. Also the dreaded bowell movement is elusive once again. A problem we all have and I have in particular, I always have this trouble. Any good home recipes? Any advice going forward?...ike

[refills]

1 day after urologist appt and I'm doing much better. All margins were clear and my prognosis is very positive. The Dr even said he went deeper in the core to be sure. My belly still feels weird and does hurt in certain positions. The RCC was a 2 out of 4, so slow growing. He told me not to worry about the very small mass on the other kidney. So good news all around. Just wanted to thank you fntn for helping me some tough times. I do wish you all my best and pray all is well with you...ike

[refills]

Staring to feel better some of the time and not so good others. The new problems seems to be deep breathing and anxiousness. The anxiety I think is just me. I have other issues I'm dealing with but just wondering if anyone has had this issue with cancer. The deep breathing is really tough and when I yawn I can't breathe right. My bowels are starting to come around. See the doc next week.

[fntn]

Like Kat said, you may want to keep up the pain meds for a bit more. They practical cut you in half and through a bunch of muscle, you will hurt quite a bit. It took me weeks before I started getting back to a low-intensity normal. But scar tissue and general surgical pain lasted for a year or so as I exercised back in the gym. And I'll second the laxative recommendation, you just need to keep searching for one that works.

[katmandu516]

Hey Ike, Those opiates are known for constipating you. But you just can't stop taking them. You need them. But tell you PCP and I'm sure he'll give you an RX for stuff to make you go. You can get it over the counter too. Like Miramax, Milk of Magnesia, Mentamucil.  There are lots of things to get you going. But don't stop taking your pain meds, you are suffering brother!  You'll be ok once you start taking something to make you go.

[refills]

Over one week out now and still in a good bit of pain in side and stomach. This is uncomfortable without any pain medication, gave it up because of constipation, breathing is somewhat labored as well. Going to PCP today but I don't see my urologist until late next week. Is this normal? Also a little light headed recently. This has been tough I gotta say....ike

[fntn]

Yep, the full blown open kidney surgerg is major. I've had a few other surgeries in the past but they didn't hurt like the kidney cancer deal, not even close, wow! I healed up find and my remaining kidney performs perfectly with the extra load (at least until recently). Hopefully you'll be doing very well also, once you shake loose the residual scar tissue. And let's hope those other tumors of yours go away, which they sometimes do.

Been 15 years for me and allnwas well until a couple of years ago. Turns out I have a rare liver disease that I didn't know about until I ended up in the hospital again. Unfortunately, the liver disease has caused my remaining kidney to go into acute failure a couple of times. But the little guy plowed through it and is still hanging in there. My doctors watch it and we have our fingers crossed.

[refills]

Thank you fntn, yeah I know I've been lucky so far with my numbers. So far no sudden urges either. I fractured my sternum a few years back, little did I know then that what I learned would come in handy now.

How are you now?  Did you need treatment of any kind? They left a smaller tumor alone on my other kidney. So I may be looking at more surgery. Hopefully next time it can be a robotic procedure. I was told afterward that this was a tricky surgery. It was a rough one for sure. (I've had knee replacement among other types of surgery) Thank again....ike

[fntn]

Getting things moving again after major surgery is a big problem for sure. Especially in your case, you don't want to be straining by bearing down. I had a kidney pulled as well for RCC. I used a very big belt with a small pillow/pad wrapped around my waist if I was coughing or straining - kept the pain to a minimum. Also used a bunch of Mililax to avoid the extreme cramping that some of the other laxitives cause. Good luck and I hope all  your margins were clean!