I wanted to know from people that have had a kidney removed how long they were in hospital and how long they were off work for, I am an office working but would have to drive 7 miles to and from work but no heavy lifting involved.
I see no-one has spotted your question yet - this answer should put it back up to the top of the list even though I have been of no help to you whatsoever! (I'm sorry) You may have to re-ask it in 'Ask the Nurses' section, or phone them on the helpline. Hopefully someone spots your question who has been through a similar operation. Meanwhile I found lots of info on my Dads Cancer treatments and surgery (Oesophageal in his case) on the Macmillan Cancer Care Website, Cancer Research's website is pretty informative too. Best of luck to you, Katielouie
Hi Archer. I guess everybody will tell you that your results may vary. I can only relate my experience. In September 2012, I had my left kidney removed because of a 8cm tumour. I had the operation on Monday morning and left hospital on Friday morning of the same week. I was zonked out all through Monday night, on Tuesday morning the nurses got me out of bed for a wash and to sit in a chair (I felt OK) On Wednesday morning it was too painful to get out of bed and I thought I'd had a major relapse but on Wednesday afternoon I felt great and was out of bed and walking around! On Thursday I felt almost back to normal with only slight pain around the wounds. On Friday I went home using the hospital patient transport service. Once at home I followed the discharge instructions very carefully with no driving and no lifting for 4 weeks (by 3 weeks I felt I could do much more, but I limited my activities as a precaution). With a job involving driving and sitting, I guess I could have returned to work about 6 weeks after the operation (luckily I am retired and so do not need to return to work). Some points of interest: (1) my surgery was laparoscopic - open surgery would need a longer recovery; (2) another guy in the same ward as me seemed to recover much quicker than me (but life's not a race!); (3) Try to get some support from a physiotherapist before leaving hospital (to find best way to get in/out of bed, exercises to help stomach muscles recover etc). Hope this helps, Good luck
I just wanted to pop by to say hello to you Tails and let you know that you may not receive a reply from Tomcat as this discussion was created back in 2013.
I hope they do though, but if not it may be worth trying to chat to others on more recent discussions.
I have not read any other responses but thought I would leave where I am at.
I had my left kidney removed on Tuesday 29th Dec 2020. I was allowed home the following Sunday, so, 5 days after the surgery. I could have gone home the day before but I didnt feel confident.
It has been just over two weeks now and I have been suprised at the progress. I have managed a couple of walks over a mile, although I do feel tired afterwards.
I have not tried driving yet and not ready to sit for any length working from home (lockdown allows me to do that). I think by next week though I will be trying to structure something where I can work but will not be sitting all day.
They didn't really say anything but rest. Staples come out and then I had a chat after 2 months with the surgeon who then confirmed what what wrong with my kidney (it was cancer but the good news that it was contained to the kidney). but other than that, it's just don't lift too much. I did lots of walking though (on the level)
Hello Andy, i have just been reading your story about having your kidney out and was wondering how you are doing. The reason been my husband might have to have his right one out as the consultant thinks he has a tumur in his ureter. Can you tell me if you had your ureter out as well as your kidney. Also did you have a catheter in when you left hospital and if so for how long and who took it out. My husband is going for a dye ct scan in 2 weeks so that the consultant can see if the lump he saw when he had a tumer out of his bladder has changed in any way as the byopsy came back inconclusive. If it is a malignant tumer in the ureter then the good kidney has to come out and the ureter. Also can you tell me how you got home from the hospital as i cant drive and i am not sure i wont him to come home in a taxi. ( we have no family to fall back on).
Hope you dont mind all the questions but i wont to be prepard for the worst if it should happen.
Hi Renny, apologies, only just picked up this post. Hope everything is going as well as it can.
mine was straight forward. The tumour was contained in/on the kidney that prevented it working. It was cancerous but didn't know that afterwards. Fortunately it had not spread beyond the kidney.
regards getting home, my partner picked me up. It wasn't a comfortable journey but the morphine helped.
