A Diary of K Henley’s kidney cancer operation recovery period.

 

 

12th January 2004 Monday:

                        I was admitted to the Academical Medical Centre Amsterdam and allocated a bed in

                        H5 north, the Urology surgical ward. I attended the ultrasound department for a scan

                        to accurately locate and size the cancer in my left kidney.

 

13th January 2004 Tuesday:

                        Awoken at 6.30 am and prepared for the operation and transported to a cubicle in the

                        recovery ward. At 8.00 am I was transferred to an operation theatre where I was sent

                        to sleep.

                        I woke up much later in the recovery room being told by a nurse that my operation

                        had been successful and that my cancer was gone. I cannot remember much, drifting

                        into long periods of sleep until late evening. I did not experience any significant pain                     

                        except for a sharp twinge in my left abdomen when I changed position. I stayed awake

                        most of the evening suffering a little discomfort due to the tubes in my throat, urine

                        catheter and drain from my lower abdomen.

 

14th  January 2004 Wednesday:

                        Following a visit from a doctor at 10.00 am my tubes in my throat were removed

                        along with the urine catheter and an intravenous needle from my left hand.

                        I was told that there had been some complications with the operation and it took five

                        and half hours to complete and that it had been completely successful and I no longer

                        had the cancer.

                        A nurse examined my wound dressings and found about six large blisters on my left

                        Abdomen on my waist line, she thought they were plaster burns and left them

                        uncovered. The remaining wounds were covered with new dressings. I was put on

                        a dosage of two 500mg paracetamol tablets three times a day.

 

                        After getting cleaned up and a change of clothing I was allowed to get up and sit in a

                        chair, I did not experience as much pain as I expected, there was some pain from my

                        wound area when I moved or strained my body but it was bearable and disappeared

                        as soon as I sat down.

 

                        In the afternoon I was able to walk without too much pain and was able to go to the

                        toilet unaided. I was also able to sit down at a table for my food. Sitting was not a

                        problem as I was able to quickly find a painless sitting position.  

                       

                        I wish to point out that after the removal of my urine catheter I had three accidents

                        from the involuntary passing of urine. This condition disappeared overnight.

 

15th January 2004 Thursday:

                        The second day after the operation followed a partially sleepless night, I went to sleep

                        At 10.00 pm and woke about 2.00 am after which I just could not fall off to sleep.

                       

                        Through the day I gradually got stronger and was able to take much longer walks by

                        the evening. In the afternoon the drain from my abdomen was removed.

                        The pain level from my wounds was slightly reduced from the previous day. I was

                        also feeling some surface pains from the blisters on the left side of my waist which

                        had been chafed by my pyjama cord, a nurse applied new skin dressings.  

 

                        I was informed by a doctor that I could go home. I arranged a flight for noon Friday.

 

16th January 2004 Friday:

                        I had a slightly better night sleeping from 10.00 pm to 5.00 am but was not allowed to

                        dress before the doctors round at 9.00 am. I was then pronounced as fit to travel.

 

                        I had to leave A.M.C  before 10.30 am to catch my flight and discovered while

                        dressing that I had gained approximately five inches around my waistline. My trousers

                        could not fasten and my fly was left half  open. It was necessary to make a hole in the

                        end of my belt to hold my un fastened trousers up.

 

                        I left on time by taxi and my son arranged wheelchair transport at the airport. The

                        door to door transit time was about four and one half hours. I was extremely tired on

                        arrival and was in pain mainly from the blisters on my waist which had been chafed

                        by the tight belt of my trousers.

 

                        I went to bed at 8.00 pm and slept till 6.00 am next morning.

 

17th January 2004 Saturday:

                        After a good nights sleep I felt much better, the pain was easier in the wound but the

                        blisters around my waist hurt whenever I moved. This I managed to ease after my son

                        went to the shops for looser clothing. I found that walking was not painful only when

                        I exerted myself getting to my feet.

 

                        Later in the day I noticed a localised swelling in the centre of my wound area and later

                        When I undressed for bed I discovered that swelling had occurred to my left leg below

                        the knee also my left foot. I decided that it was water from the wound area and would

                        check it out tomorrow.  

                       

18th January 2004 Sunday:                

                        I had another good nights sleep and felt as if I was improving the pain was very

                        Moderate and I decided to stop taking my paracetamol today. I still hurt around my

                        waist due to the blisters.

 

                        After my shower I looked in a full length mirror at my wounds for the first time and

                        noticed extensive severe bruising to my left kidney area and right hand waist. I

                        decided to see my doctor tomorrow to have it checked out along with the blisters

                        which were open under the dressing.

 

 19th January 2004 Monday.

                        I felt quite well when I got up today, moving without pain.

                       

                        I drove my car to my doctors surgery and had my bruising checked and blisters

                        redressed. I was told that the bruising was OK and normal and that the blisters

                        skin had been removed and dry plasters were to be applied every day.

 

                        I went also for a walk in the local shopping centre.I was surprised how freely I

                        could walk. It was painless but I tired quickly.

 

                        I checked my waste measurement again today and was disappointed that it was still

                        At 43 inch which is 5 inch above normal. This I am told will disappear spontaneously.

 

20th January 2004 Tuesday

                        This is the seventh day following my operation and I am sleeping normally though the

                        night. I have very little pain now except for the blisters which have now dried up and

                        are less painful.

 

                        I went for a two mile walk today. I walked at a slow pace initially and at about three

                        quarters my normal pace. I did not feel any pain from the operation but finished a

                        little breathless and very tired.

 

                        Over the week I have been surprised on the speed of my recovery, some slight pain

                        from the operation still remains which I believe will soon go. All I need to do now

                        is to build up my health and fitness. I can now  start to plan for my future.   

 

27th January 2004 Tuesday

                        It is now two weeks after my operation and I am feeling more like my old self.

 

                        I still feel a little pain in my left abdomen occasionally but it does not affect my    

                        mobility. I have been walking about three miles a day but I feel tired after my walk.

 

                        I do get a little breathless if I over exert myself but I feel confident that my fitness

                        will return soon with a steady routine of exercise.

 

17 February 2004 Tuesday

                        It is now 5 weeks after my operation and everything is getting back to normal for me.

                        My waist line has now reduced and I can now wear all my trousers.My scars are healed

 

                        I don’t feel any pain now from the operation and I have resumed some of my normal

                        activities. My wife and I have attended a special function and also a dinner dance within

                        the last two weeks. I surprised myself at the dance, jiving with some young females,

                        I felt young again.

 

                        I am still going to take it easy, I still tire but that may be due to my age as I am

                        approaching my 81 s t birthday. I am confident enough to start to play golf again this week

                        which really means that I am almost over my operation..

 

                        My next bulletin will be mid April after my hospital scans.