Out of the hospital again - minus a kidney and a hernia! [View all]
Wednesday I had my second set of procedures - left kidney removed via hand assisted laparoscopic surgery and mid-line hernia repair. The healing from this compared to the TAVR (trans arterial valve repair) will be much slower. For one thing, I had my first solid food this morning, if half a cup of thin oatmeal counts as solid food.
I have two small incisions on my left and a 6" vertical incision right across my belly button. The big incision is a little sore, but not really painful.
The mass on my kidney was a stage 1 cancer - completely enclosed in the kidney with no signs of spreading. The five year survival rate is 81% and we will do follow up imaging to make sure there is not additional signs of cancer.
The hernia was worse than the doctor thought - couple of loops of intestine were pushed through. Eventually they could have become damaged and blocked which can be very serious. Now instead of my tummy pooching out, it goes way in. I'll have to get used to my new figure!
I came home today and have slept most of the day. Now eating my third meal since the surgery.
Now for the bad news - my sister called after I was out of surgery Wednesday. Mom was in so much pain Tuesday her caretaker took her to the emergency room. The pain was caused by three collapsed or shattered vertebrae. Along with the spine problem, on the X-ray they saw tumors scattered across her body, the worst in her liver. She is now in hospice at home. Since she is a 96 year old woman with worsening Alzheimers, any treatment other than palliative care would just be a cruelty. 
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