Post operation

Hi Biker

I am pleased to hear that all appears to have gone well with your surgery and that you are now recovering at home. 

I think it is normal to feel a bit battered and bruised after surgery and doing a little more each day but being aware of not overdoing things is a good plan. 

My own cancer was different to yours so I hope that it is ok to reply. By doing so it will bump your post and hopefully someone who has had similar surgery will see it and be able to offer further support. In the meantime do give the Support Line a call if you feel like talking things through would help. 

I also had keyhole surgery and remember my consultant saying that the surgery on the inside was still the same and it was normal to feel a bit battered and bruised. I also remember feeling a bit strange for a few days after mine. I think a mixture of the anaesthetic and the relief that the surgery had happened and also a bit of a feeling of being overwhelmed that it all happened so quickly. 

I wish you well with your continued recovery and please do get in touch if there is anything that you need.

Jane

Thanks for your reply.

I think recovery is going ok, i seem to be using less pain killers and can actually move more.

Everyone else is now back at work and I am having to do things for myself, but lying on the sofa reading, eating and drinking tea is a good recovery strategy today. My aim is to walk to the village shop by the end of the week if I'm able to. I have to have that vision of me doing something tangible and make it a SMART target.

It's icy out so not going to even go out of the door today. 

Hello there i see we’ve been communicating via this forum before, so I’m pleased your operation finally went ahead. As I said before I too had a Partial Nephrectomy in Jan 2024, and I was off work for 5 months or so, as my job involves moving and standing all day. I remember that disconnected feeling. Looking back I feel it was me trying, consciously and unconsciously to process the mental and physical toll the diagnosis and operation caused. Take it easy, way easier than you think, it’s major surgery and takes time, physically and mentally. Take care and feel free to message if you need any support or opinion. Xx

I agree. The outside will always heal quickier. Internally this can take another 6 to 12 months. I have taken it easy since my operation in Dec and have only just this week gone back to driving and manged to do some cooking to this week. I am still not lifiting heavy things or cleaning. I still get pain and discomfort if I have been walking to much or moving around. I am just listening to my body and not rushing. I do a physical job and I will be talking about my return to work on 10th March with Occy health to ensure I am well enough to do some parts of my job and they cam make changes. Having cancer is covered under the disability at work act even if recovered and cancer free. So work have to try and make all request if reasonable to supprt you. I have sent 2 weekly emails with up dates to keep in the loop and nlt feel so isolated. Also I get the disconnection as the last 9 weeks has been a whirlwind and I still not sure how I have got this far. Message anytime happy to help, support or chat 

I am so glad you guys have mentioned this disconnected feeling, I thought I was going mad!  I'm 8 weeks post op and I feel emotionally exhausted. 

I tried to describe the disconnect feeling to a friend the other day. I said it was like I was on auto pilot going through the motions of my life or watching it from elsewhere.  it gives me a bit of comfort that perhaps it's a common feeling between us cancer patients.

My histology came back as benign. Very relieved at no further treatment. Recovery is weird...good days and not so good days. Walking further now but get frustrated at my lack of stamina. I still get painful twinges every now and then from my biggest incisions which, I guess, is to be expected. Planning on going back to work after half term as I cannot survive on SSP  only as I am not entitled to any other financial benefit. I thought I'd be doing so much more, but I find a walk, lying down reading and catching up on Netflix, crotchet and word quizzes utterly exhausting some days. 

Hello.

I am the same. Some days are easier than others. Get tired during the day and try not to nap. Then get to bed and wide awake like I am now. If you are planning going back work they should make reasonable adjustments for you to build up slowly. So you may have some holiday to take which you could spread over a couple of weeks and do shorter days? Possibly. 

To build up my stamina i am doing a bit more each day and then rest fully for the next day and repeat. But slowly its coming back. I am so happy your results are great! Yay :) I am still getting discomfort and pain when I try and do to much, so I just listen to my body and be guided by what it is telling me. 

Totally get this disconnection. For me its life is playing out in front of my eyes and I know I am present in the room. But feel nothing most of the time and feel like I am dreaming but I am awake. I have tried to not be disconnected whilst off work, so even though on sick I will log in and check in. You not alone, but its hard to describe to others even those closest to us.