Terrified

Hi Cilla.  I am exactly where you were 13 days ago. I have my appointment with the urology surgeon tomorrow and have been through some hellish moments waiting for this.  I'm glad I found this thread because it feels a lot less lonely.  It's also reassuring to hear from those who have had the nephrectomy or partial nephrectomy already. I have quite bad anxiety disorder and I've not really maintained my social relationships like I should have done the last few years so don't really have a lot of support.  I only really have two elderly parents who have a lot of issues themselves and not really in a position to support me much.   I had had a follow up ultrasound for some ongoing gallbladder issues which seemed to show lots of lesions on my liver.  I was sent for an MRI liver.  They are still kind of concerned about the liver, but happy to monitor with more scans, but they found a solid atpical cyst suspicious for malignancy on my right kidney.  What scared me was how quickly the appointment was booked with the surgeon.  They found some issues with my pancreas on the MRI which is being investigated but they aren't saying that's cancer at the moment which is a relief.  I hope I can keep it together in the appointment and not have a panic attack.

Good luck  for your appointment today.  I'll be thinking of you.  

Hi seems I’ve just gone thru same procedure as you new here an thought be good place to chat , left hospital in a blur yesterday after five days in … no info dos an don't stuff winging , just had melt down say my scar today wasn’t prepared for the size of one them .. hope was ok to reply new here today x

Hello Sunni, welcome to our friendly caring group. I am sorry to hear that you are having a difficult day today. One of my wounds was bigger than I was expecting…and it can come as a bit of a surprise…yours  are at the worst to look at right now as they are new wounds and you will most likely have swelling and bruising. They will fade in time…but the good news is that your operation is over.

Its usual to feel low after any operation  so try not to worry, easier said than done I know. 

Take care and keep us posted.

Jules xx

Hi Sunni72,

Welcome to the community as Jules said you are at a low ebb when you come out of hospital, worried and feeling low, but each day you will improve and get back to normal, take it time easy at first and give your body time to heal as everyone heals in their own time.

sending hugs and best wishes for your recovery Sandy 

Morning Cilla, I had a partial nephrectomy to my right kidney for stage 2 RCC in March 2022, and know exactly how your feeling. It is a scary time, but you will come through it, my anxiety was and still is a nightmare, but I'm glad I had the surgery. Stay strong x

Oh how I know that feeling. My op is scheduled for next week (left side nephrectomy). Been told the tumour has invaded the renal vein so to expect further treatment after the removal. I can handle losing the kidney. I can even handle knowing there’s more to come. What scares me is the CT scans (4 so far) have all detected something within the right kidney but it’s too small for them to speculate on what at the moment. 

Thank you was sent home without been told how to care for wound if was allowed to get wet what I can’t or can not do they just wanted me to open my bowel so last box was ticked an sent me home x

Thank you trying to keep out my own head with the over thinking  xx

Sunni I had a full open nephrectomy over 2 years ago for renal cancer that had spread. Massive scar but became much less noticeable over time as it got less angry and disappeared into skin.  For anyone else facing the operation, like others have suggested, the thought beforehand was probably worse than the op itself. I had a paralysed ileus, a fairly unusual complication that's possible with any type of abdominal surgery and that probably delayed my discharge rather than the nephrectomy itself. Was still home in just over a week and recovery was steady and fairly unremarkable. Since then had fantastic treatment form a brilliant oncology team. Keep talking, asking questions and trying to do as many normal things as you can.