Renal Cell Carcinoma (Kidney Cancer) Support Group

Your surgeon described the incision pretty well. It is done in front (as opposed to years ago in back) to prevent cutting so many muscles.

I was 61 when I had my kidney removed. I was in intensive care (precautionary only) overnight after the surgery. I had an epidural for pain during surgery and about 3 days after. I suffered from continuous hiccups from reactions to anesthesia. (Turns out Valium is best fix for that). I was in the hospital a total of 4 days.

Advice to you and your b/f are to walk, walk, walk and walk some more. As SOON as the nursing staff will allow him up, start walking. Just grab that "tree" with the bladder bag and meds and WALK! Nothing speeds healing like it. Trust me on this one. Your surgeon will agree.

When yur b/f gets home, he will be in some discomfort. I expect the surgeon will give him some good pain meds. Don't be afraid to use them. Hand in hand with pain meds goes constipation. Dr Orrange had a wonderful article here on this site on dealing with that. If you cannot find it, let me know and I'll tell you what I know re: dealing with it.

Sleeping comfortably may be a problem. The incision site will be sore for a LONG time and it will be uncomfortable to sleep on that side.

I expect the surgeon will severely restrict his physical activities (don't lift anything heavier than 10 lb for 2 months, etc). Your b/f will be money ahead if he follows that advice.

Roofing is a very physical activity, but I personally don't see any reason he cannot return to it, but NOT for a long time. Let the body heal. Your surgeon will tell him when he can return to work.

That fever worries me. I assume the surgeon is aware of it?

Please stay in touch with us here on this site and let us know how it is going for you.

Hello, i want to wish you the best of luck for your fiances nephrectomy on Wednesday, Tnyank gave you some real good advice, the fever worries me too a fever the day of surgury that could cause the surgery to be cancelled,make sure the doctor knows so they can now to try and get him better for theurgery, thats real important.I can't give you good adviceon an open procedure, my fiance has a radical laporcopic procedure he is 56, it's a long surgery be prepared for at 4-5 hours ...Make sure you bring someone along with you, it makes the time more bearable..My fiance surgery lasted over 5 hours and he did just fine, he's a stage 4 with mets to his lungs and is doing very well now on treatment.The most important suggestion i can give you for the weekend is enjoy your time togeather get out of the house and try not to worry, just have a special weekend togeather...The weekend can be hard and long if your consatantly waiting around for the time to go by so enjoy yourselves..If you haven't started a journal this might be a great time to start one, there very helpful and you'll get lots of feed back from everyone at Daily Strenghs.i journal alot and your welcome to go back and look at mine it's so good to get your thoughts and feelings out, and it something that you'll always have to reread at another time..I started mine 3 weeks after Tim was diagnoised and keep it up fairly often, to me it's ALL my thoughts feelingslove and caring emotions that i can print out for the future..I want to wish you all the best with the surgery, keep up us all informed as to how your fiance makes out we all care here at Daily Strenghs
Take good care,
Becca Anne

What I read in the previous 2 replies was right on the money. I had laproscopic surgery to remove my right kidney and they seem to have gotten all the cancer with no spread. I had 2 small incisions and 1 larger one, to remove the kidney through, directly through my navel. I had morphine in the hospital and went home 3 days later with a script for vicoden. Walking is a big thing. As uncomfortable as I was I moved around the hospital floor and at home tried to get back into a somewhat normal routine. I was not allowed to lift more than 10 pounds for 6-8 weeks, but I could still get up and make coffee for my wife and I every morning. The surgery was on Dec. 29 and I am now feeling pretty normal, although I have been told to skip skiing for this year and not aggravate my abdomin for a while (6 months reccomended.) I have had some irritation in my right testicle that worried me, but I read here that this is common and will probably go away within 4 months. It has gotten a bit better by now.

The one thing I have to stress is getting up and walking. He won't want to but he will need to do it.

Two months after my surgery and my wife finally let me take the trash out to the curb by myself. It feels strange after not lifting for 8 weeks, but I feel great with no real side effects that I notice.

And I have to say that the wonderful support from my wife really made all the difference in the world for me. I can't thank her enough.

Good luck and please keep in touch.

Dick

I had open surgery and am a contractor. we do some roofing and general construction work. i wouldn't lift anything over 10 -20 lbs or whatever your surgeon advises. i had my surgery nov. 18 -08 and just now i can sleep on my side. still have some discomfort at times. today i shoveled some snow as we had about 10" yesterday. I can feel it but a lot less then a month ago. I did'nt need the pain meds after the first week home. I did not need too much help at home after the first few days. I was in the hospital a week dur to lots of blood loss. had 3 transfusions. but that is not real common I was told. the best of luck to you!!!!
lazer lenny

All of this advice is right on the money. The temp thing is a big question but I am assuming the MD has a handle on it and why it is there. The best advice (which I did not heed as I should have) is do NOT rush recovery. Stay home and relax for several weeks and, as said before, walk - walk - walk. No reason not to return to all activities later. A little aside story: several weeks after my surgery my young granddaughter, Taylor, was playing with me and I had to tell her to be careful. I showed her my scar and told her I had my kidney removed. She thought a moment and then asked, "Was the kids name Taylor?"

I just wanted to thank everyone so much for all of the helpful and anecdotal advice, thank you for the smiles, this is very frightening. We are having an extremely bad day today, he has no appetite and the fevers continue. He is going in on Monday to begin flushing. I hate for him to be gone but will feel relief that qualified physicians will be there because lately I feel worthless because I can't alleviate his pain or make him comfortable. It is very hard to see him go through this.

Yes i agree what everyone else says hope his fever is gone for his surgery or the doctor wont do it...I also had my left kidney removed thru my abdomen it was painful but if you get a pillow and hold it on your abdomen when you cough etc. it helps a little ' I wish him all the luck in the world...keep us informed!!

KCS...Brenda