Today's the day my kidney comes out.

[knitter4democracy]

I've been posting in the Health forum, but I wanted to put in a quick post here to let everyone know.

I was diagnosed last week with kidney cancer, and they're taking it all out today. It's a rather large tumor, but we're all hoping and praying it hasn't spread at all. We'll know more in a couple of days after the pathology report comes back. My tests so far say it hasn't spread, but we'll know a more accurate picture after the surgeon and pathologist get a good look.

If you have a minute, please send some good vibes our way (well, Kalamazoo, since that's where the surgery will be). I'm leaning on all of the prayers and good vibes and loving thoughts of my friends and family to get through this. We'll all still fairly nervous this morning with such a major surgery today and not really knowing what the treatment plan will be when I wake up.

In fact, my four year old son's so nervous, he puked all over me this morning, so I got to have two showers and two outfits already today. *sigh* Maybe it's a good sign or blessing or something. ;)

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Sending Reiki to you to help with your surgery and healing.

Be well and live a good life.

[knitter4democracy]

31. My best friend's doing that, too.

That stuff works. Thank you--I'll need it.

[Kookaburra]

36. You bet it works!

I'm also sending. Be well, dear one.

Sending love and light and healing energy to you.

[faithnotgreed]

84. siince you said it all spankiejane may i just tag along on your post?

thank you kindly

[NNadir]

2. Best wishes for a quick recovery!

[berner59]

8. Good vibes coming from NY...

Best of luck...

[jhrobbins]

3. Doing it right now. Good luck and G_d bless....

And when you get back, look me up - I'd like to talk to you about knitting - I guess that's what your nick means.

[knitter4democracy]

18. I can always talk knitting.

I usually do at the Knitty.com messageboards, though. I'm bina there.

[xultar]

4. Good Vibes in the air to you today from Xultar in GA!

Also sending Prayers and Love to the entire family.

Give your son a hug and a kiss from me and my 3 Chihuahuas and 2 cats.

[myrna minx]

5. We are all here rooting for you.

May you have a rapid recovery. :hug: My prayers are with you and your family.

[LeftishBrit]

6. Very, very best thoughts to you!

All best wishes for the surgery and for a good recovery.

[TAPat]

7. Good vibes heading your way!

K & R

[Warpy]

9. Yes, that barf was a second baptism

The great news is that you can live well and quite long on one kidney.

The bad news is that you'll be hurting. The worst pain is 24-48 hours after the op, when the anesthesia wears off and you can't just sleep through it.

Take as much pain med as you can get. It's a tool that will help you recover faster by allowing you to get out of bed sooner and walk a little better.

You'll be miserable for about a week, and then it will start to get better.

I know you'll do fine.

[knitter4democracy]

24. I did have that thought.

I'm more worried about how to deal with everything once I get home, actually. I wish I could take good pain meds. They don't work on me if they're derived from morphine, grrrrr, so I'm left with anti-inflammatories. Fun. :eyes:

I have lived with bad pain before, and I know I can do it again.

[Warpy]

33. It often takes a bit of doing to find the right pain med

There are some that make me hurl everything but my shoes, but there are others I tolerate quite well.

MAKE them try several medications until you find the right one. There are not only the opiates, there are a lot of synthetics and semi synthetics out there.

I always found something my patients could take, even if it took a whole 12 hour shift of trying with loads of antinausea medicine.

If all else fails, ask for Dilaudid. They hate giving that one, it's the junkie's best friend, but often that will work when nothing else does. Other people have had good luck with Darvocet if they can get by with milder meds. Ultram is a relatively new drug that can work wonders and has a low incidence of side effects.

Toradol is a good drug and a lot of people have reasonable pain control on it if they don't move. However, moving after surgery is the key to preventing complications. You know what made you sick in the past. That will give them a place to start.

[knitter4democracy]

136. Thank you for that. You're right.

They found a good system with an epidural. I can't take Dialatud, Ultram, or most of the others, but the epidural's working very well. Thank goodness.

[flying_wahini]

10. i will be sending my healing and positive vibes your way;

my most powerful and deep ones that come from my heart!
A faraway hug to you.

[trotsky]

11. Good luck to you, k4d.

We're all pulling for you!

[Greybnk48]

12. Good luck to you!! n/t

[Viva_La_Revolution]

13. put me on the list. Good vibes and

several :hug: and good thoughts.

[terip64]

14. Sending good vibes! I'm in Chelsea so they don't have as far to go!!

[knitter4democracy]

32. Send me some of the Common Grill's rolls, too.

:)

Those are super good. Great. Now I'm drooling . . .

[terip64]

39. Email me your address and I will!

Any other requests? I am an Italian woman who takes feeding people very seriously. Any request at all?

Edited to add that I am a great cook, not braggin, just saying.

That is why I HAVE to go exercise. I am my own worst enemy.

[WinkyDink]

15. Good vibes and best wishes for a full and speedy recovery!

God bless you!

[peace13]

16. Peace and love to you today and always!

You will be in recovery before you know it! Hugs to your sweet little person. Peace on earth, Kim

[Solly Mack]

17. Good vibes coming your way!

Wishing you the best outcome and a complete recovery.

[rox63]

19. Prayers, blessings and positive healing vibes

heading your way. :grouphug:

[displacedtexan]

20. Thinking of you...

[mnhtnbb]

21. Good vibes coming your way from Chapel Hill. My four year

old (in 1990) puked all over our bed (my husband was conveniently out of town) in the middle of the night. It's become a family story. While I was cleaning him up and changing the sheets/blankets, he asked me, "Mommy, am I gonna' die?" When I told him "no", he brightened right up and replied, "I knew that!"

[knitter4democracy]

29. Sounds like my guy.

He's so worried about me today that he threw up. *sigh* He's that kind of kid. I'm trying to find ways to help him deal with his fears.

[Sydnie]

22. Sending good vibes your way for a quick recovery

and a great prognosis.

[CrispyQ]

23. Good vibes coming your way.

The best to you for a speedy recovery. :hug:

[Mend]

25. bright healing light from Florida...let us all know how it goes.

[twilight_sailing]

26. Very best wishes to you.

I rarely pray but today I will.

[bleedingheart]

27. I will be praying for you...

good luck!

[rubberducky]

28. Ann Arbor here sending best wishes!!

Hope to see you back here soon!!

[NashVegas]

30. All the Best Luck to You

and big hugs, too.

[katmondoo]

34. All the best to you

lots of good thoughts are being sent to you. Feel the vibes, they are love

[Libby2]

35. Sending good thoughts your way.

Oh your poor little boy too.

[Generic Other]

37. Good Luck and Best Wishes

You will be in our thoughts today.

:grouphug:

[Wilber_Stool]

38. Does this mean I now have

A Gal in Kalamazoo, zoo zoo, zoo zoo?

Good luck.

[elehhhhna]

40. Will bounce love & good wishes from here (TX) to K'zoo tonight...

off the moon. You'll know when.


Best best best ,
E

[Spazito]

41. I will be thinking of you and will concentrate on positive thoughts

only. Best wishes for a fast and complete recovery.

[pecwae]

42. Bright blessings

healing light and vibrations winging to your side.

[Suziq]

43. Sending Healing Vibes from NJ and Michigan . . .

and prayers for a speedy recovery. :hug:

Hubby grew up in Michigan.

[Subdivisions]

44. I haven't had the honor of meeting you prior to this, but I just

wanted to send my thoughts and good vibrations your way and offer you and your doctors my hopes for a safe and speedy procedure that will bring you home stronger and healthier than ever.

Peace and love to you, knitter4democracy.

[Horse with no Name]

45. Prayers to you k4d

You're one of the good ones. :hug:
Wishes for healing.
You aren't alone.
Please make sure someone keeps us updated.

[npincus]

46. blessings to you, friend

wishing you all the best, and a quick recovery. Please let us know how are are as soon as you're able.

[madrchsod]

47. good luck...make sure someone updates us....

sending some good vibes your way`~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

peace be with you and yours

[annabanana]

48. The puke of a 4 year old 'IS' magic, you know....

You will come through with flying colors, and good news.....

[malaise]

49. All the best

Get well soon. A good friend had one of hers removed two years ago and she's fine now. You'll do OK.

[Lost4words]

50. I dont know what to say, except good vibes and prayers to Kalamazoo

post haste!

[Nite Owl]

51. All good vibes coming your

way! Think positively and let us know as soon as you can.

:hug: from a fellow knitter.

[Missy Vixen]

52. I'm sending all good thoughts and wishes

knitter4democracy, you know the chicks with sticks have to stick together, and that's what I'm doing for you.

I will pray for a miracle working surgeon, a speedy recovery, and all good things for you and your family.

Julie

[soup]

53. Thinking about you

and hoping for the best.

Friendly reminder - don't try to do too much too soon after the surgery. Let someone else do it, or let it go until the dr. says it's ok.

[fleabert]

54. You will be in my thoughts- and I will send my best healing vibes as well

And I will have my stitch and bitch do the same. We will think of you as we knit- would you like me to knit you a kidney pillow? :-) (only a fellow knitter would understand that offer) I don't know if there's a pattern out there, but I'll figure it out if you want one - a 'replacement' of sorts. ((((hugs)))) :hug:

[Marlie]

55. So sorry

Get well. Hugs to both you and your son. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

[Lars39]

56. Best wishes to you,knitter4democracy!

:hug: Wish I was nearby to help in some way. :hug:

[RebelOne]

57. Good wishes for a speedy recovery and hope all goes well.

My sister passed away a few years ago from kidney cancer. By the time it was diagnosed, it was too late. It was inoperable. She was only 54. Fortunately, yours was caught in time.

[Judi Lynn]

58. Many people thinking of you throughout this challenge, knitter4democracy.

Looking forward to hearing you've started mending, and hoping it will be far easier for you than you had feared. One step at a time, hang in there.

We're pulling for you. You're not alone.

[sallyseven]

59. Bless you. I will send a white light to you

[movie_girl99]

60. sending more good vibes from TX n/t

[melissinha]

61. good vibes being sent your way to Kalamazoo

stay positive and know that all at DU are pulling for ya.

:grouphug:

[Catherine Vincent]

62. Good luck on your surgery.

And I hope everything works out A-ok for you and your family. :hug:

[AtomicKitten]

63. best wishes on a successful surgery and speedy recovery

:)

[I Have A Dream]

64. Sending light & healing energy to you, k4d.

I'm also sending energy for your family to help them get through this difficult time.

:hug:

[Delphinus]

65. Sending energy,

Reiki, good vibes, protection, healing ... everything I can think of.

I read your story over in Health and, although I didn't comment, was blown away by what you, and everyone else, said.

Take care and keep us posted.

[mongo]

66. Best wishes for a speedy recovery

and a good prognosis.

I Had a kidney taken out at age 9 -- damn good thing we come with two of them!

[OzarkDem]

67. Sending good vibes and prayers your way!

Please keep your hope alive and going strong. You have every reason to expect a good outcome.
:hug:

[area51]

68. Best wishes & good vibes.

I hope you have a speedy recovery.

[Katzenjammer]

69. The *very* strongest witchy prayers for a long, healthy life

May you be freed of this cancer, and its ilk never trouble you.

[rockymountaindem]

70. Best wishes n.t.

[Jeanette in FL]

71. Sending positive and healing white light your way

Hope that all is going well and hope to hear from you soon.

[misternormal]

72. Prayers are with you... n/t

[Change has come]

73. Thinking about you from Nevada

:hug: Get well soon. Steve

[CTyankee]

74. I lost a kidney to arterial stenosis 30 years ago

I'm still going strong. Once you heal you will be fine. I wish you the best!

[helderheid]

75. healing vibes on there way to you!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[SmokingJacket]

76. Hey, I know a couple kidney cancer survivors. They're doing great!

I bet you will too!

Best of luck to you! :hug:

[Raksha]

77. Sending love and prayers to you. n/t

[nicknameless]

78. Best wishes and prayers for you, Knitter.

On to a speedy recovery.

:hug: :)

[qanda]

79. Sending hugs and prayers your way

And to your sweet son.

[Hekate]

80. Swift and gentle healing for you and strength to your family

:grouphug:

Hekate

[roguevalley]

81. good wishes and healing light to you, my friend.

[symbolman]

82. You have the good will and wishes

for good health from all of my family - we'll be thinking of you "I've got a GAL, in KALAMAZOO!" Like the old song.

I hope the surgery is not too painful and that you have a swift recovery, thank god we have SPARES in our body, eh?

BEST WISHES FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!

[gully]

83. Praying for you and yours!

Thanks for taking the time to keep us up to date.

[CornField]

85. Definitely a blessing!

I mean, kid puke equals love, right? :)

Lots of good vibes headed your way. Hope by now the surgery is complete and your family has relaxed some. I'll keep a candle lit for you tonight.

[Arugula Latte]

86. Good luck to you, knitter!

I hope everything went well. I'm sending good thoughts. :hug:

[Bushfire]

87. wishing the best for you

:grouphug:

[cyberpj]

88. I swear to you, I had the same thing done 28 years ago. They took

my left kidney, the pole, the tumor-of course, an adrenal gland, some lymph nodes and half a bottom rib. I was 28 at the time, I'm 55 today and doing fine.

Reiki energy and healing thoughts going out right now - betting you're in recovery and lotsa groggy...........

[readmoreoften]

89. best of luck, we'll be knitting for you!

(our brows at least-- until we hear good news from you!)

[devilgrrl]

90. Sending good vibes your way.

I hope you'll be fine. :hug:

[kitty1]

91. Through Christ, that tumour will be history; God Bless

[Gormy Cuss]

92. Best wishes for a full recovery.

cyberpj posted a story that is very similar to the one of a dear friend of mine -- 30 years later, still doing just fine on one healthy kidney. I hope the surgery goes well.

[KatyaR]

93. This is why I love DU--we support our own because we ARE our own.

I will be thinking good thoughts for you and keeping my fingers crossed that everything works out fine. Thank goodness you don't need a kidney to knit! :)

Hope to hear from you soon.

[knittinliberal]

94. Positive vibes coming from CO! nt

[Sacajawea]

95. More good vibes and warm wishes from New York...Get Well Soon!

:hug:

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

96. One of your kidneys is gay?!

Oh come on. You needed a good laugh on a day like today. Just hope you're not reading this tomorrow because the sutures will hurt like hell.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

[sandnsea]

97. Best of everything

Mostly peace and strength to deal with whatever comes your way - hopefully just a short recovery period and then better days ahead!

:hug:

[crikkett]

98. I'm hoping and praying that you're surgery's a success

and the cancer is removed completely. We'll be thinking about you and wishing you a speedy recovery, happiness and joy for you and your family!

-a wannabe knitter

[AwakeAtLast]

99. Prayers and thought to you!

I hope your recovery goes well. I have a 4 y/o, too. I cannot imagine what you are going through! :hugs: :hugs: :hugs:

[graywarrior]

100. Add me to your good wishes vibrations.

[mtnsnake]

101. Best wishes, k4d. Get well quick & stay away from too much hospital food!

:)

[conflictgirl]

102. Wishing you well from here in the Saginaw area!

Best wishes for a quick and total recovery!

[yorkiemommie1]

103. all my very best wishes and prayers

from SoCal.

[derby378]

104. Muy bueno vibes from myself and ginbarn

We hope everything goes well.

:grouphug:

[union_maid]

105. Good vibes to you

My husband had the same thing a few years ago. Tumor was big, but all has been well and is expected to remain so. The doctors do monitor the function of the remaining kidney, but that's largey because he's diabetic. I also had an uncle with the same thing many years ago, when cancer was even scarier than it is now and there he was fine, too. Lived to be a very old man. Hope your recovery goes smoothly and you're feeling great soon.

[proud patriot]

106. Sending healing vibes and strength your way

:hug:

[laylah]

107. Blessings to you

Knitter...keep us posted.

:hug: Jenn

[guinivere]

108. I hope everything went well.

I will keep you and your family in my prayers. My needlepoint and knitting buddies are doing the same.

[texasleo]

109. aww. good luck

:grouphug:

[ninkasi]

110. I am sending all my love

and healing thoughts your way. May this surgery make you well, and may your recovery be fast. Prayers, good vibes, and positive, loving thoughts are being sent to you.

[likesmountains 52]

111. Crossing my fingers for you..hope you're knitting again soon!

[lonestarnot]

112. Good vibes through the tubes on their way!

O8) :loveya:

[blonndee]

113. Best wishes for you K4D.

Hoping that all your good signs continue as such.

[Th1onein]

114. Oh my God! I hope you are going to be okay!

I'm sending prayers and good vibes to you, all the way from Texas.

[Kurovski]

115. Prayers and good vibes coming your way.

You're such a sweetheart, dear knitter4democracy,
that you'll have lots of good wishes from everywhere.

I haven't seen you for awhile and just want to let you know that I still remember your kindness during the Katrina fund drive. :loveya:

[Garbo 2004]

116. Thinking of you and sending good vibes and prayers your way. n/t

[ulysses]

117. all best to you!

:thumbsup:

[OhioChick]

118. You're in my thoughts and Prayers.

:hug:

[susanna]

119. My prayers coming from Detroit, KFD. n/t

[alittlelark]

120. Best wishes to you in Kalamazoo.

I lit a candle.

[flamingyouth]

121. Best wishes to you

Keeping you in my thoughts. :hug:

[AZBlue]

122. They say bird poop is "lucky" so vomit must be too!

All good thoughts and prayers and energy going your way! Keep us posted!!

[mmonk]

123. Best wishes for a speedy recovery

[Mnemosyne]

124. Know we are here. Hope all

went well today!:hug:

So much good energy coming your way!

[gulfcoastliberal]

125. Best of luck! My uncle had the exact same thing about 17 years ago and he'

ago and he's doing fine to this day. Hope you have a good support network to stay with you in hospital, because that often can save your life - nurses are too overworked and/or uncaring to attend to your needs if something goes wrong or you need something.

My dad is an MD and he had 2 back surgeries at UCSF hospital. Both times my mom stayed during his recovery - and both times he wouldn't have lived if not for her being there. The first time he had a delayed reaction to the anesthesia that would've killed him, because no one but my mom noticed the problem. So keep a good support staff with you! I hope it hasn't spread and you shall live long and prosper.

[DeepModem Mom]

126. We're here, all pulling for you -- blessings on you.

[Swamp Rat]

127. .

:hug:

[calimary]

128. Got my fingers crossed for you!

May the surgery go well, the recovery smooth, and the results clean as a whistle.

[sutz12]

129. Best wishes for a successful surgery and a quick recovery nt

[Skittles]

130. thinking good thoughts for Kalamazoo Knitter

yes INDEED

[Divine Discontent]

131. hope & pray it went well!

[flyarm]

132. wishing you the best of luck and prayers coming your way!!

my sister had what the doc's thought was a cancerous kidney tumor some years ago..and it was just a globe on her kidney..and wasn't cancer at all...so i wish you the same diagnosis!!..but you have two kidneys..so i will pray the other one is healthy and you heal wonderfully..and are cancer free!!

If it is cancer..i will pray they get it all..and recovery is fast..

god bless you and your family...heal well and get back to us soon!!

we will miss you!!

my kindest thoughts and healing thoughts!!

fly

[Erika]

133. All the best to you

Good vibes all around.

[upi402]

134. LOL for your son. Is a gay kidney unusual?

Anyhow, glad your kidney is able to have the courage to face a homophobic Jesusland and come out today.

[Diane R]

135. Very best wishes for a successful outcome n/t

[buddhamama]

137. Good vibes !

May the operation be a success and leave you cancer free. All my best to you! Speedy recovery. Peace. :hug:

[Pharaoh]

138. Well , your in recovery now

And I was too late to send you vibes for surgery, but I have some intense love to send your way now in recovery,I have a surgery of my own coming up on the 25th.

This too shall pass,you shall recover 100% :loveya:

on edit: I'm just across the pond in Wisconsin so this should be extra potent!:hug:

[kedrys]

139. Good vibes to you!

:hug: We're all pulling for you. Get well soon! :loveya:

[Truthy Nessy]

140. A speedy recovery.

You are in my thoughts today. You have many friends who care that you will have a sucessful operation and recovery.