Self isolating

Hi there and welcome to the group ,

I had my right kidney removed last month I only had to isolate 48hrs before the surgery after taking 2 covid  tests during the week before.

I was in hospital for 2 nights ,didn't have to isolate after but then again took me 2 weeks before I was going out and about again .

Hope it helps all the best Ry

Thank you, Ry, that is really useful. Just two days isolation, that IS short, but I have a list of To Do to keep me busy for this fortnight. I might even resort to housework!  

How have you found the last month since you left hospital, have you changed your routines at all, been told to adapt your diet or lifestyle?

Thank you for your help, Ry. 

Hi ,

If I'm honest I haven't found any real changes that are life changing .

I go to the toilet more frequently, found sleeping uncomfortable for a while ,and recently found I can't drink much any more ,I wasn't a big drinker anyway

think I'm very lucky but everyone is different .

I went back to work after two weeks ,working from home ,and then fully back to work from week 3 .

The first week at home after is the worst don't plan on doing anything other than sleeping.

Felt a lot better after my staples came out I had keyhole and open surgery to remove it .

I swim a lot 10k a week before diagnosis, started back lthe other week just slowly slowly .

Hope it helps have a great Sunday 

You are being so helpful, Ry, the information you are giving is fab. (Where are you living that only asks for two days' isolation - can I move to there!)  

I do quite a bit of exercise too, walking and cross trainer/gym workouts so your timescale of when you can get back to that was really useful. I will probably start with gentle walking and take it from there.

Did you have to go back to the hospital for the staples to be removed or your g.p or a nurse visit? 

Happy Sunday! x

Hi again and thanks for the kind words,

I'm in South Derbyshire and had the surgery at the Derby Royal can't say enough about how good they are.I had never been stayed in hospital before so it was better than expected.

Staples no you get a discharge letter to make an appointment at local GP ten days after surgery for the removal .

I was given a month of daily injections to do at home it's to stop any blood clotting sounds worse than it is just stings afterwards.

Anything thing feel free to ask .

Thanks Ry, I hadn't heard anything about anti coagulant injections from anyone before. Is this specifically for you and your circumstances or is it done as routine?

My position is I am so very, very lucky, my cancer was found when having ultrasounds scans for a suspected hernia (how uncool is that!) on the other side to the diseased kidney. I had, and continue to have, absolutely no symptoms! Follow up c.t scans showed a T1a/b N0 M0 tumour, confirmed by the extra standard chest and abdomen c.t scans. Both my gp and my consultant see the radical nephrectomy as being all I will need, no chemo or radio therapy afterwards.

This has left me well aware of how incredibly blessed I am to be in this position and how I probably owe my health and my life to the original radiographer. As my gp said to me, her eagle eyes and extending the original scan area probably saved my life,  I can never thank enough her or the fantastic NHS care team already around me. 

I hope you, and others, reading this link will have as positive a prognosis. x

Hi again ,

As many in the group most kidney cancer is spotted by accident ,mine was picked up on a scan for kidney stones ,I had no symptoms .

As long as everyone is still here and smiling it's a good result .

I get my 6 week check up on Thursday so fingers crossed all done and back to normal .

The injections are routine if you have open surgery.

Have a good one all the best Ry

Hello Ry, 

Just wanted to wish you good luck for your 6 week check up tomorrow, I really hope it all goes brilliantly and you walk out a very happy bunny!

Please let me know how it goes for you. x

Hi just checking in with you after your operation ,hope it all went well .

Hi Ry.

A bit of a change of plan on the day, they had to revert to an open procedure which is a bit of a shock to the system, isn't it! I was told by my consultant that after the op I would feel like I'd been kicked by a horse, it seems the one that has chosen me likes tap dancing whilst pulling a steamroller behind him!

Every day is, and will continue to get, better and further down the road to normal. I am finding that my appetite has gone out of the window but that's ok, I am a sturdy lass and unlikely to waste away to nothing!

Like you, I have been given the course of anti blood clotting jabs (I'm glad you had mentioned that, it wasn't a surprise when they started it in hospital.) The bruising is magnificent and spreads basically from my left arm pit, across my back, across my tummy to my right hip and then down my leg to my knee. I look like a walking Turner painting sunset - fabulous colours! He still believes that this will be the only treatment I will need but, of course, where we go from here will be discussed at my six week follow up.       

 How did YOUR six week follow up go, Ry? What were they able to tell you then? x