Here I am, 3+ weeks out from surgery, heading towards 4 weeks and doing great (well ... great-ish). My incision is healed, I can drive again, walk as much as I want and do most things by myself. That is the “glory" of laparoscopic surgery with robot assist! While I am still limited in lifting stuff and I can't vacuum this very dirty house yet (which only bothers me - not my husband - because he is blind), I am feeling very fortunate to be living in an area of the country where this advanced technology and skilled surgeons using this technique are readily available to me. Add that to my very supportive family, and you have a near perfect experience.
But it is “near” perfect only.
The remaining kidney has been a little slow in picking up the pace of its job. The kidneys are very hard working little organs that don't get enough credit for the work they do - until they don't and then you got trouble. In fact, you would never know there was a problem until you are in serious trouble. My remaining kidney (I will call her Leona going forward - 😁 in honor of my mom, her middle name, who suffered with kidney disease most of her life and died of kidney failure and dementia), Leona was expected to take a dip in her functioning, according to the surgeon right after surgery. And she did dip by about 20 points off normal function. Two weeks later she had dipped another 5 points. hmmm. But some other values were abnormal and my surgeon asked me to make a few adjustments to my eating and 4 days later I repeated the lab work. Previous abnormals were corrected but Leona was now down about another 5 points ... treading very close to levels of kidney failure.
Hey ... what gives, Leona!!!
But my surgeon and my internist both were ok with the values, so who am I to argue. My own research indicates that kidneys are slow to adjust to change and that Leona could take months, maybe a year or more, to reach a level that is normal for me. In the meantime, I have to eat healthy (well ... I will have to eat healthy the rest of my life, of course,) drink a lot of water every day and get various labs and diagnostic tests to track Leona’s progress. And while I wait, I feel pretty good. I have to remind myself that all is not yet back to normal and won’t be for some time. But to look at me - I am good!
And I think I mentioned that they also discovered that I have an enlarged liver. Today I saw my GI doctor and we had quite a chat. They will be tracking this liver now. And, of course, there is a diet for that liver (that is somewhat different from the kidney diet that I must also follow) and that discussion resulted in a referral to a speciality nutritionist who can help me sort through both conditions. I’ll table that discussion for another post - after I see her in a few weeks. My GI doc said that enlarged fatty livers are a quiet pandemic in our country due to SAD - the Standard American Diet. It is known that 30% of our population has this condition and there are probably another 10-20% who have it and don’t know they have it. She said she even has it! Without diet and exercise intervention the condition can develop into scarring on the liver and lead to cirrhosis ... and eventually liver failure. An special MRI test called an Elastography has been ordered. It will look for any scarring or cirrhosis. She feels pretty sure my liver is ok for a number of reasons - one of which is the normal contours have not changed - it is just too big. A good sign. That test won’t happen until September when I am entirely healed.
I haven’t come up with a good name for my liver yet. I am open to suggestions. 😃
So that is my current status. I’ll be back sooner rather than later - I have many many pictures on my phone of stuff I wanted to post to the blog. It has just been a very busy time.
Talk again soon.
9 comments:
You have learned a lot about kidneys and your liver and I learned about them from reading your post. It sounds like your recovery and healing after surgery is going well, thank goodness.
Obviously I am not having to hear all this stuff about myself, but it really does sound pretty good overall. I hope it only gets better; I appreciate you keeping your blog pals informed.
It must be frustrating to get through one procedure and then find other things to worry about. I hope they can work out a suitable diet for Leona and, may I suggest, Lennie. But it sounds like you are doing well and don't stress about the hoovering (or any other housework come to that) or maybe invest in a Rumba (automatic hoover) if it bothers you too much. Take care.
So good to get an update! It must seem somewhat nerve-wracking waiting for things to return to a semblance of normal. But at least you understand it's a pattern of healing and the doctors are okay with it. I'm so glad you are getting nutritional and dietary advice. That seems to be overlooked so often, in favor of pills. I'll be really interested in what they tell you. Nothing wrong with having to eat healthy for the rest of your life!
It is good to hear from you and know that you are healing well and progressing to a new normal in kidney function. It sounds like you are in good medical hands there for sure! Take care!
It’s good your liver condition was discovered sooner, not later. I hope the diet isn’t too restrictive and you can still enjoy your food. Delicious meals are an important part of life!
Sounds like your surgery went well. My Dad had that one, on his knee, night and day difference! I hope yours goes as well!
Leona and the "upstairs neighbor yet to be named" sound to be needing some love and care, but you seem to have it in with good people, and you have people to work with to make choices, so hugs and good wishes!
Cat
Super glad to read this update, and also to hear that you are healing well - laparoscopic, robot-assisted surgery is pretty amazing. Easy to think you're fine because of the teenie weenie scars on the outside. The nurses in recovery reminded me that although I looked great on the outside, my insides had been through it! I had weight restrictions for 6 weeks and I actually took a couple more before returning to lifting at the gym. Sending healing energy to your kidney, Leona. Hoping that she just needs a little more time to get up and running well again Sometimes our bodies just need time. Sure sounds like you are doing everything needed to support both kidney and liver health. Yay You!!!
I was going to ask what name you were going to give to your liver. lol I vote for Lennie. I'm sorry to hear your mother suffered and died with kidney disease, but I did chuckle that your named yours after her. Your attitude is terrific about the situation. You just seem to have a great attitude in general, Elaine.
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