Post Nephrectomy complications

I donated my life kidney in 1980 to a sister who lost her kidneys to strep throat.  I did have resultant soreness around the incision and I have had a few kidney infections and kidney stones, but my remaining kidney is functioning well.  My sister experienced tremendous agony from losing both of her kidneys, so at the time, I felt that I needed to display true brotherly love and donate to her one of mine.  The reward to this donation is that my sister is free of dialysis and is living a near normal life with my kidney.

HI!, I AM SCHDUALED TO HAVE MY RIGHT KIDNEY REMOVED.KINDA SCARED, DON;' KNOW IF ITS THE THING TO DO!

April 11 2012 they removed a 12lb.. Yes I said 12lb tumor along with my right kidney. Hospital 3days and followed my Drs orders I am doing pretty well for an operation that took 3hrs. From what I have read it takes about 9 months to a year to start to feel 100 percent. I can tell you to follow your Drs. orders for fast recovery. You will have good and bad days but you will see a great improvement in your health. Good luck.

Hi, I had partial nephrectomy surgery about two months ago to remove a complex cyst in my right kidney. After the surgery, some new symptoms take places: depression, high blood pressure, some minor pains, etc. The cyst turned out benigh like your case. I wish to communicate by email or by phone for exchange information. Particualy my depression is serious sometime. I wonder about how you have handled it.

Hi, I am 4 weeks out of a manual keyhole nephrectomy. This is my experience with some tips that may be useful My left kidney was removed after repeated infections and scans/tests showing that it was severely under size and only performing at 11% function - i made the decision to remove to avoid further infections. I am now 4 weeks since the procedure and am doing nicely. I had the work done privately. I had an epidural anasthetic (after they knocked me out) to numb from the waist down, unfortunately they didn't numb far enough up my waist and i woke up in recovery in agony. They put me back to sleep and i woke up later in my room. Dont remember much about that day as i was on Morphine and fairly spaced out. All i remember was that i couldn't move my feet or legs, this eventually wore off. I was discharged the next day. I have an incision around 4 inches to the front of my torso with about 17 staples in (on the left obviously) and 3 holes above which each had 2 staples in.

I forgot to mention for some reason they opted to staple me rather than stitch me....these were uncomfortable to lay on (as you could feel the staple digging in) and not very comfortable having removed i must say. The first few days at home were tough, i couldn't lift my left leg into bed and had to sit with a lot of cushions around me. In bed at night i found it more comfortable lay flat (probably because i wasn't bending at the waist) but the problem with this is i couldn't get up, when you try to engage your stomach muscles in any way its going to hurt, after all part of it has been cut through and sewn back up, my poor girlfriend had to be nudged awake and lift me up from the waist and then help me out of bed to the loo. I got a wee bottle (sorry i dont know its technical name) from the hospital this was a godsend, gents reading this (or carers for one) pee standing up into a pee bottle, it really is better and more comfortable than trying to sit.

I needed to be washed and dressed for the first week, i then became more mobile and bit more flexible (still with pain) and my girlfriend (who is a nurse) was keen to make me do things myself when able (one of those cruel to be kind moments i guess) but it does really help on the road to recovery if as a carer your encouraging to get the patient to start to do some things themselves when you think they are able. I suffered from constipation due to the morphine and subsequent painkillers but i balanced this out when i went home with Lactolose and things eventually "got moving". I found a cap full in the morning and evening seemed to oil the cogs!

Get a stick or cain, we weren't given one so we borrowed one (good old nan) and its a real help for getting up from the chair i must say,just use it to put you weight onto the opposite side to that which hurts and push yourself up, makes you slightly more independent as someone else doesn't have to help you up. Believe it or not laughing and coughing hurt, and if you have been watching comedy DVD's like i have this can be a problem. The physiotherapist advised to hold a cushion or folded up towel to your side and gently push in when you laugh/cough - this really does help, it doesn't hurt half so much.

I was warned about the possible pain in the chest .I was told this could be due to air that had been taken into the body when open, this presses on the diaphragm and causes pain. I didn't find this problem affected me however and was fine. I had to wear DVT stockings for 2 weeks. (yup, bang goes your sex appeal for a while, but i wouldn't worry its the last thing on your mind! lol) and have injections into my stomach each evening, i was lucky to have someone doing it who is good with a needle so it wasn't too painful, but i must admit i didn't much like having it done!

I was numb around my groin area and part of my stomach around the large incision and 4 weeks later this has lessened but is still there.I asked my surgeon today when i saw him and he said there is a large nerve which runs near the Kidney, this is often disturbed when removing the kidney, this can cause temporary nerve damage which can result in numbness in certain areas of the body. He said this often comes back with time but there are instances where the nerve does not fully recover and feeling never completely returns to the affected areas. Obviously im hoping it does return as it feels "odd" is the only way i can describe it, like my groin has gone to sleep!

My Kidney is back from the lab and is Cancer free. The reason is congenital and highly likely that an underdeveloped "tube" leading to the bladder has become smaller and smaller with time, affecting the function of the kidney, eventually it would have ceased to work at all. He said in my case its just a lottery, some people are born with a "deficient " organ in some way and this is often not discovered until mid 30's in which time its failures may become more apparent through infections etc.... Im lucky my other half is a nurse. She has changed the dressings which i removed in the third week after the staples were removed. I have left the wounds open to the elements (not literally obviously) and they have healed well, you must not pick the scabbing however as there is still a chance of infection at this point. I have driven the car a small distance today and it wasn't too bad (we do have an auto however) NB: I wouldn't have attempted this unless i have been off the "serious" painkillers now for a few days.

Im still feeling tired, went out for the first time last week (3 weeks on), just to the supermarket and for a coffee and was knackered by the time we had done, came home and had a sleep. My side is sore around the wounds and im still very nervous about being knocked in the side.

Another tip try to stay away from dogs and children, if you have small children warn them well in advance. We did our little boy and he has been really great, only kids like to climb all over you and cuddle into you (as do animals) and trust me, its the last thing you want when you feel that delicate. We found telling him about about what was being done worked and he asked to see my holes, I showed him the wounds with the bandages on and i think it registered with him that (in his own words) " my left side looked poorly". He has stayed away from climbing on me and only cuddles on my right hand side. I plan to go back to work when my "sick note" expires the end of next week.

Im very lucky, work have been great, not only was it done on the company medical insurance but they are supportive and insistent i do a phased return. My doctor has advised the same and i think if you travel any distance to work, or on public transport (as i do i work in London) you wont want to be jostled or knocked, you'll also find a work day tiring so ask you doctor to sign you back on a "phased" basis, take it easy and don't just jump straight back into a 9-5.

Im now only taking around 500mg of paracetamol in the morning and evening - im completely off the "serious" painkillers i was given, as whilst they do make the world seem like a "calmer place" they also keep you constipated, so i was happy to ween myself off them when the pain became easier to live with.

I did also suffer from cabin fever about 2 and half weeks in, its not much fun being couped up in a house with no one to talk to, just the TV for company (now i know how my poor nan feels, im going to make more of an effort to see her once im back on my feet) and i did get a bit grumpy as a result after a good talking to from my lovely but stern girlfriend, i snapped out if it! lol - i see on here some people have suffered with depression and i can see how this could get you down a bit.

I hope this helps, i have been honest and tried to inject some humour. Good luck and be patient, don't try to rush your recovery, i don't think it does you any favors, remember when your external wounds heel, your still healing on the inside as well, stuff has been cut through and sealed off and sewn up, that takes time to heel internally. :-) Matt

If anyone has any questions, feel free to post a reply or email me

Thank you this helped a lot. I had the op. a week ago so obviously am very sore but your letter has helped ease my mind.

 

 

I had an open total nephrectomy 4/4/13 because of renal cell carcinoma.  I went into the surgery thinking I wasn't going to make it because I have several medical conditions.  I am diabetic, have asthma, sleep apnea, coronary artery disease, morbid obesity, high blood pressure and am 62 years old.  The surgery went very well, I remained in the hospital 6 days, I did have alot of pain the first three days but after that it started to be less.  After leaving the hospital I was sent to a rehab facility for one week, the physical therapists really helped me get back on my feet.  One month has gone by and I feel great, I am no longer taking pain meds.  I do have a little discomfort where the wound is but I can live with that.  I just want to say, don't be scared of having this procedure done, it's really not that bad.

 

 

I had similar experience with da Vinci robot last year. I stayed at the hospital 10 days instead of promised 2 or 3, and was discharged with the catheter and a bag out of my lower body (removed after three more weeks). I thought I was going to die. I saw recently advertisement on TV from Riley and Jackson attorneys. They are investigating Da Vinci robot (not the surgeons performing the surgery). I contacted them, and they said it could be a problem with the robot. Please see their website. I recovered, but the experience still haunts me. Good luck and good health to you.

Hi im 23 years old and a single mother to a 2 year old. I am now 7 weeks pre op- i had radical nephrectomy due to infections and VUR reflux ive had since birth.

Surgery went well and i bounced back really quick. I had tonsillitous 4 months prior to my surgery and i ended up in hospital with it as i got a kidney infection at them same time. I was very poorly and ever since i havent been right- thats when they discovered my right kidney was working 12% and it needed to be removed. Is it possible tonsillitous was maybe a contribution to my kidney failure?

 

Anyway my question now is, im starting with tonsillitous symptoms again. I dont feel as unwell as before but im starting with pains in my remaining kidney could this be something to worry about? i dont want to ring the doctors yet as i could just be paranoid after everything i have been through and i started a new job a week ago after losing my job to being off sick after surgery (yes its not legal) so i cant afford to not be working.

 

 

I was diagnosed with transitional cell carcinoma and had left nephrectomy 2 1/2'weeks ago, incision lines are healing, I am getting around with min pain, my problem has been severe depression, decreased appetite. Does depression get better?

Far too late to help Ardelis, but I was scheduled to donate a kidney to my nephew in 2004.  During the final tests, it was discovered that one of his arteries was 98% blocked, a condition they called "the widow-maker".  That was surgically repaired and the surgery was re-scheduled.  This time it was discovered that I had, guess what?  You got it, a kidney infection.  Antibiotics took care of that, and the surgery was re-scheduled.  I was trying to do this anonymously, because I did not want the family (who live in Hawaii--I'm in Arizona) to look at me favorably only because. of the transplant.  If they like me, fine--if not, oh well.  That should all be removed from the donation.  I should also say that it was to be an inter-racial transplant, since I am the only whitey in the family.  But I digress.  I traveled to Hawaii for the surgery, but on the day before, I was informed that there was a cyst on the kidney--three professionals had looked at it and agreed on that diagnosis.  Once they got the organ out, it turned out that it was a malignancy, so no transplant.  My son got me to agree that he could tell them who the donor was (while I was all hopped up on morphine.)  Guess what?  They still don't like me.  Oh, well. Post-operatively, it was fairly easy, except for two things.  One, I felt like a miserable failure because I couldn't deliver what I had set out to do--is that depression?  I don't know.  Two, "muscle laxity" around the incision has left a bulge about half the size of a football.  I would recommend kidney donation if spite of everything.

I just had a right radical laparoscopic nephrectomy two months ago. I had a good surgeon that guided me through the decision for the procedure. The complication was a 5 lb 6-1/2 oz malignant tumor sixe of a volley ball as the Dr. told me. I was in the hospital for one month and physical therapy for one month but the Dr. said the hospital time was typically a week or less but the size of the tumor was the cause of the longer hospital stay. I am completely recovered with a good outlook ahead. PS - I'm 83.

I second everything Matt so eloquently says here... only I am a female. Same issues. I had trapped air in my upper body and shoulders for the first week. I did get off the pain meds very fast which I think helped a lot of things. I used regular Tylenol as needed, but it wasn't needed much. Kudos to Matt for outlining the issues. Mine were like his. Kudos to family, partners, friends, spouses for their love and care during these times.

It's been one month since my kidney removal. I had complica

I had complications two weeks out and then my dr had to do a c section to manually fix my ureter stump he left behind. It was forming a suroma. Hence the reason for c section to fix it. I had a nephrectomy 4 weeks ago. I am feeling the healing process. However, I still don't have my appetite to eat and I'm experiencing nausea. Is this all normal? If so how long should this be? It's been a week now. I also can't sleep.