July 4th, 2010 | 
Author: My Recovery at Home
I was allowed home 2 days after the operation. The journey home was okay. Couldn’t really avoid all the bumps and potholes in the road so had to support my abdomen during the journey. It was good to be home. Own bed, own bathroom etc. Couldn’t keep my eyes open so had not been home for long before went up to bed. Now of course, my bed does not raise up like the hospital one. So with great effort I got onto the bed at a sort of an angle and then couldn’t move, lol. The pain in my abdomen was intense. Oh well – I just stayed there on the bed sort of laying across it – and went to sleep. Woke about 5am feeling refreshed and wanting the bathroom, but quite a battle to get out of bed. took around 10 minutes trying to work out the least painful way.
Decided that the next night I would sleep with lots of pillows behind me so my upper half is already raised, just like the hospital bed was. It would then be much easier getting in and out of bed as would not have to use my abdominal muscles as much.
In myself I felt very well. Still bloated which was uncomfortable rather than anything else so hopefully the extra 4 kilos would go soon. I got tired very very quickly. In fact I had only been up for around 3 hours and was walking back from the kitchen with a cup of tea and almost dropped it as I found my eyes closing as I walked. The tiredness just came out the blue!! I know I was told I would feel tired, but I was not sure if that meant bodily tired i.e. no energy, or tired in wanting to go to sleep. Now I know. I had to go back upstairs and get some sleep. I arranged the pillows so they were like a backrest. I have a memory foam mattress which is bliss. I could get into bed a lot easier now with little pain. I got a good hours sleep and woke refreshed. Around 3pm the same thing happened and I found my eyes just would not stay open, so got another hours sleep. I must say the first four or five days was like this. Suddenly feeling sleepy when I had only been up a few hours. I didn’t fight it as I knew my body needed the rest. I was also going up to bed around 7pm or 8pm in the evenings. I actually felt more comfortable laying propped up in bed than sitting in the chair downstairs, which squashed my abdomen up a bit and was uncomfortable. I had very good night sleep for the first week, most nights not waking at all until the morning. Pre operation I would wake about 3 or 4 times needing the bathroom. I also found that sleeping with my upper half propped up I could breathe a lot easier as well which I am sure aided a good night sleep. In fact I have continued to sleep propped up and find it much better than laying flat in bed. When I have saved the money I may just invest in a bed where I can raise the back up. I am surprised at the difference in quality of sleep I get this way.
The first week was obviously the hardest as I was not allowed to do much and I felt tired so quickly throughout the day and there was a bit of pain when I walked or used my lower abdomen. For some reason the first couple of days I forgot about the pain medication. Duh! After that I took it and made sure I took enough. Although I still had some pain, it was not troublesome. In fact I was quite pleased I had a little bit of pain as it reminded me to take things easy. I enjoyed being spoilt and looked after the first week!
Some people get no pain at all. I believe the only reason I got pain was because I am overweight and the pressure of a tummy “overhang” on the incision area coupled with gravity pulling down on it when I walked, just aggravated everything! If you picture walking with a bowl of jelly ….?? Yup I think you have the picture! If I held in my abdomen muscles which then supported the incision area, then I had no pain at all when I walked. Of course remembering to take the pain medication would have helped!
Once 10 days had passed then I noticed a quicker improvement. I was not sleepy during the day any more, although I did physically get tired. It was quite some time before energy levels restored themselves. Incisions were healing nicely and everything was just great.
I also heard that the recipient was doing excellently well! That is the best news of all. Wonderful!
Recovery continued and things are great. It has been a while since the evaluation finished in October 2009 and some time since kidney donation, so I hope I have remembered everything, I did make notes at the time but not always. Anyway I hope this blog gives a good insight into the process of becoming an Living kidney donor and the actual donation process itself. I know if I had another spare kidney I would do it all again without hesitation.
Tags: 77 Responses to “Recovery at home after Kidney removal”
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Hi Sam
I am sorry to hear you have to have your kidney removed, must be a great worry to you and your family. How is your left kidney?
I can certainly say that having my healthy kidney removed caused me no problems at all except for the obvious i.e some after op pain and discomfort and that was around the incision. Internally I would never know a kidney had been removed, no discomfort inside. Today I feel just the same as before and I would not have known I only had one kidney.
I hope the operation goes well for you, and it is straightforward and the recovery afterward plain sailing re the op. I can honestly say I would go through it again if I had another spare kidney to give and I am a bit wimp normally!
Take care, I do hope your left kidney is okay and everything works out for you.
I would love it if you could post back after the op to let us know how it all went.
All the best and thanks for posting
Di
xx
Hi was a bit scared about donating my kidney but have no worries after reading your account of how it affected you .Hopefully mine will be plain sailing .Iam donating my kidney to my husband in nine days so will post how things have gone after .
Thanks for your very informative posting
Liz xx
Hi Liz,
Nine days time!! I have marked the date in my calendar and will be thinking of you both on that day. Please do post back when you can and let me know how it all goes for you both. I am excited for you and thrilled. Which hospital are you donating at, if you don’t mind me asking.
Look forward to hearing from you
Love Di
xxx
Di, I have just been reading you blog as my husband is going to be donating a kidney to our son, and as I am reading this I get a call to say the op will be on 6th April, how strange, this blog has helped me to understand what will happen so I can support him and also my son…thank you again and well done for what you have done…
Sue
Hi Sue,
So glad you found the blog, I know it has helped quite a few people who are going through this. Can I ask at which hospital the donation is taking place at? Is it the left or right kidney your husband is giving to your son?
All the very best to your husband and son on the 6th, and also to you as the “one in waiting!”.
Di
x
Hi, I am on day 25 post donation, and don’t take any meds at all now, I feel the same as I did before but tired, still. I don’t sit still though, and I know I will get back to normal, I am even going to my dance class tonight but will take it easy. I was ready to go back to work after a week, but they wouldn’t let me! Back to work Monday. It’s the boredom for me! Hubby – my recipient, is looking and feeling great, so the satisfaction is amazing!
Sue, my husband and I had the op at the Freeman in Newcastle on the 3rd of March, you weren’t there were you? We may have passed in the corridoors!
Hi Debbie,
Glad you are feeling fine. yes tiredness can last a while, the body has been through major surgery and has to adapt and heal. Goodness I am glad you didnt go back to work after a week, lol, your body would still be very fragile inside. I have to say although boredom hit me, I took advantage of the “taking it easy” to catch up on reading lots of books and doing all the things I wanted to that before could not!!
So glad you are doing great and that your hubby is feeling great, that is fantastic!!
Di
x
just got home after left kidney removal and searching the net for other people in the same boat to compare notes. I feel totally whacked and although not in great pain am in some discomfort caused by wind. Hope it heals as quickly as it seems to for some of you on here. As far as those of you donating a kidney you have my deepest admiration and I’m sure that of the recipient, all power to you
regards
Bill
Hi Bill,
Kidney removal does seem to affect people differently. I know people who felt full of energy after removal and others, like myself, that had to take daytime naps for the first week/10 days and took around 8 weeks before normal energy resumed. I had discomfort in my right shoulder for a few days as a result of the gas they pump into you but that soon went.
Hope you have a speedy recover and just post if there is anything you wish to ask about.
Best wishes
Di
xx
Hi,
just wanted to say how helpful this blog has been.I’m hoping to donate my kidney to my Dad and am still going through all the assessments. I am meeting the surgeon tomorrow for the first time, so hopefully this means we are coming to the end of all the testing(first test was done almost a year ago. Any way this blog gave me a good insight to the operation and recovery so thank you
Itang xx
Hello Itang,
I am so pleased this blog has helped. Gosh a year, what a long time, but sounds like you are nearly there, how exciting for you all.
Please don’t hesitate to ask anything if you feel you want to know more about certain aspects.
I wish you both well and thoughts with you both.
Take care and I hope a date gets set soon!
Di
xx
Hi Di,
I have read and re-read your blog many times, it has answered many questions, thank you.
I donated my left kidney to my boyfriend last week. We are both doing well
and I am feeling fine in myself, although very tired! I am still very bloated, were you bloated for long after?
And one more question, if I may, I find when I need to go to the toilet I need to go now, and can’t wait, I am assuming that the bladder has been a bit battered and is probably bruised, and this is why I can’t wait (it is getting better, slowly) did you find the same?
Thanks for you help
Manda xx
Hi Manda,
Thank you for posting, and thank you so much for reading my blog. Am pleased it helped.
Your boyfriend has a very special girlfriend, that’s for sure!!
I was bloated for some time. I know the very day after the operation I had put on 4kg! I cannot remember exactly when all that bloatedness actually disappeared except I know at the beginning of the second week of recovery putting on a pair of jeans was uncomfortable, so went back to skirt. You do need to make sure you are drinking enough water – around 1.5 litres spread out during the day. We need that water to help flush the toxins through the kidneys. Or should I say kidney in the singular, lol.
I did also find that with no excersise I also bloated. So I would make sure each day I had some if only walking around the house or with company up the road and back, I felt a lot better for doing that.
Urinating I can’t say I noticed anything. I tend to go to the loo a lot anyway and most times I don’t have much notice, but that is just me. I don’t remember it being any worse after the op. Main thing is that you are urinating. The colour should be pale yellow to only just tinged with colour. That shows you are hydrated. If urine is dark yellow (generally first thing in morning can be like that as no fluid during night) then you need more fluids. Not being given much notice to pee could be due to what has happened, I really don’t know. All I can advise is keep an eye on the situation, as long as no pain when you urinate or blood in the urine then maybe see how you go and if not much better mention it at your 6 week check up (or whenever it is arranged for you). You can always give them a ring at any time if you are concerned. As they say better safe than sorry though if that was me I would see what the next week was like and if it got worse then maybe just give a call. I don’t know if the catheter can do that? At this stage I personally would not be too worried. I had problems with the other output area, lol!! That took over a month to decide to behave.
Can’t really offer much more re that but pse do let me know how you get on, hopefully will improve in next few days. But don’t delay phoning someone if you stay worried as you don’t want an infection to appear and I really don’t know why you need to go in a hurry I am only making guesses.
Are you both home now? Hope both your recoveries go to plan. Should be a great Christmas ahead of you both ….
Di
x
Thank you Di,
With regard to the bloating, you have put my mind at rest. Patience has never been my strong point.
Yes I am making sure I am drinking lots, and it is a good colour at the moment. I tried some trousers on today …… no way!! so am back in track suit bottoms for now. I have been walking down the road, if nothing else the fresh air makes me feel better.
My boyfriend is not home yet, his calcium levels are a bit high, but apart from that everything is working well and he is feeling much better (well maybe a bit bored now), hopefully he will be home this weekend, I am off to see him shortly and will let him know we have “spoken”.
Thank you again, I will post over the wekend to let you know how we both are.
Manda xx
Hi Manda (and Di)
I donated last month and I understand how you are feeling. I would get some urgent signals from my bladder at night, struggle to get out of bed and shuffle to the toilet and then find out it was a false alarm! The good news is that this subsided after my bloating went. Whilst you are still bloated I can only assume that the gas is pressing down on your bladder giving you brain and body slightly funny signals..
Best wishes for a good recovery for you and your boyfriend
Hi Livingdoner and Di,
Thank you for your comments, they have put my mind at rest and I am finding each day is getting better as the bloating goes. I can now “hold on” if I have to.
All is going OK here, Gary came home last weekend, we still need lots of regular trips to the hospital to ensure his levels are ok, but at the moment things are good
I am doing well, still tired, but I suppose that is to be expected.
Today is 2 weeks since the operations, and I think we are doing really well. We are both relaxing lots, with a daily 15 min walk to aid the healing process.
Thank you aagin, best withes
Manda xx
Hi ya,
My name is Alisha, I am 24 years old and just got home after donating my kidney to my 18 year old cousin. Have to say feel much more at peace after reading everyone’s comments and stories. I am also bloated tired and my tummy and ribs still ‘pop’ with the gas they pumped during the surgery. Takes me a good while to get comfortable before I lie down, with a hundred pillows to support my back, neck, knees etc.
In the end it was totally worth it seeing my cousin’s levels come down to normal in a matter of a week! He also just got home and it’s great to see the color and life back in him. I would just like to say that don’t let anyone ever tell you that you are too young, too delicate looking etc to be a doner. The body and mind are amazing things able to take on any task no matter how daunting it may seem!
Love and peace
X
Hi Alisha
Well done you and how wonderful to be able to watch your cousin “come back to life” with your kidney.
Yes the first few days of recovery I think we can all relate to.
The youngest altruistic donor in the UK is 25 years old and the oldest 82 years old. Upper age tends to be what I am asked about most. But of course the other end is also important. It all boils down to the health of the donor regardless of age or how they appear. I gather from what you said you had a few objections along the way.
Donating today is so totally different to say 10 years ago. The surgery is so much kinder to the body and also we are not sick being got better but very healthy people able to cope well with recovery.
I am so glad you are both doing well and that your cousin is now home. That is great news. Thank you for telling us about the both of you and how you have been feeling in the early days. It certainly helps knowing loads of other people go through the same recovery stages!!
All the best
Di
xx
Your blog is great…Thank You. I am nearing the end of my assessment to donate to my husband of 26 years. My final test is scheduled for a week from tomorrow (the CT Scan). Hopefully our transplant will then take place the first or second week of February. The information i have read on your has been very helpful in what to expect.
Thank You Again!!
Hi Laura,
How lovely to wake up to reading your comments. It is positive comments like yours that spur me on to keeping this blog going, knowing that it is still helping people.
The very best to you both. How wonderful it will be to “have him back” and you can both get on with life and enjoy all things together.
Thank you so much for posting. 2012 will be a year to remember for you both.
All the best
Di
xx
Hi All,
I have had my left kidney removed, after they discovered a calculi, that caused damage in the functioning of the kidney. I had less than 1.6% function. The stone was massive, and apparently been there for a long time. I had no pain in my side and this was totally out the blue.
My story actually started with a cough that kept me up at night and eventually my wife had enough and said i should get to the cause of the cough as i have been using nornal flu meds from doctors, and this never helped. I went to an old school friend, that started a doctors practice close to where we live, and he did all kinds of tests. Eventually he did a routine urine test and also an ecg. The ecg picked up some electrical patterns that was not normal. After being reffered to a cardiologist, the specialist told my wife and I, that i had dilated cardiomyopathy (heart failure) and that i needed to be hospitilised immediately.
In hospital i mentioned to the specialist about the results of the urine test and they did a kidney scan. This showed that the kidney was also not functioning!! So now i had heart failure and a kidney had to be removed. They told me that i could not have the kidney removed untill the heart could withstand the aenasthetic…..and it could take a year to be strong enough. In the doctors rooms, i asked the cardiologist, what the prognosis was if left alone, and he said 30% of people that have the heart disease only lasts about 5 years!!!
Well i spent some time int he hospital, resting and undergoing all sorts of tests and procedures. Eventually after almost five mnths of heart meds, they said that my EF rate is much better it increased from less than 20% to almost 45% where normal is 55% to 75%.
This resulted in my kidney being removed on valentines day….almost five hours in theatre. I had some severe abdominal swelling due to the gas, it looked like i had a soccer ball in my tummy!! The first week i battled to go to the loo, but this was also as a result of the meds. The pain meds has a side effect that prevents the body from making soft stools. So after some suppositories, i finally did the business and the tummy started subsiding.
I was also very weak, and slept a lot. After 6 weeks i started work, but am still feeling tired in the afternoon. I have some pain still at the wound site, and then also some at the side just below the ribs.
I also have some pain under the belly button area. I think that is from the scarring….but will check again with the doc….
Thanks for your informative blog…
I was never sick before, and am only 35. Two kids and wife. Do not drink excessively (About three or four beers a week) and do not touch hard liquer.
If you would like to know more just ask!
Reg,
Etienne
Hello Etienne,
Wow what a tough time you went through. Brought tears to my eyes reading it. Such a worrying time for you and your family, especially when out the blue like that.
Just goes to show, that no matter how “minor” one thinks a symptom may be one must always get it checked out. Who would thnk that a cough would have led to that.
The abdominal swelling you had due to the gas being pumped into you is quite normal. Often though most has dispersed leaving a “pocket” up in the shoulder which can cause some discomfort for a few days.
I think many people can sympathise with you when it comes to the bowel movement!!! I advise everyone that when laxatives are offered, take them!!!! lol ….
Tiredness seems to affect people differently. I was like you and very very tired, getting sleeps during the day. I think I was back to normal as far as tiredness at 2 months. It is 2 years since I donated and I still have some pain in the main incision (bikini line) if I press there which I do when drying after a shower, so I think it can be some time before all discomfort/pain disappears.
You are still in early days after your operation but sounds like you are doing okay. Yes every little niggle etc must be reported to the doctor at your check up.
So, Etienne, tell me … your other kidney is working fine? Nothing wrong with that one?
For such a large stone in your left kidney how amazing you had no pain. In a way a shame you did not or it could have been caught earlier perhaps.
So how is your heart? Do you need any operations or should you be okay on medicine?
Just think, because of a cough it was then found you had heart and kidney problems. We so dislike bothering a doctor over what we class as “minor” – yet it is those minor niggles that we really do need to get sorted.
What a story … thank you so much for sharing with us. Would love to know how you get on with your check ups etc. Please post back and keep us informed.
Thanks
Di
xx
I’m two weeks post surgery having a diseased kidney removed. Feeling pretty frisky but still tire easily. Went to the office a couple of days, only worked about 4 hours each day but I sit behind a desk.
I know pain meds can cause constipation, so I remembered an old remedy from my child bearing days long ago…………prune juice. It gently softened the stools and worked within a couple of hours. Helped relieve the bloating and made me feel so much better.
Thanks for the blog, it helps to know while every experience is different, there is a lot of common ground.
Hi Cathy,
So pleased you are feeling a lot better. You made me laugh when you mentioned prune juice. As a child there was always prune juice available in the food cupboard and three times a week my mother would give us tinned prunes and juice for breakfast to “keep us regular” as she would put it.
General Anaesthetic is well known for caused constipation as it stops part of the bowels from working properly. Can’t say prunes were on the breakfast menu in hospital, but maybe they should have been!
Thanks for posting and hope your recovery continues.
Di
x
Hello Di,
The heart is ok for now. I had another appointment at the cardiologist today. My bp was very high, so he has increased the meds. it was 160 over 125. I have had some lower back pain so i will be going to the urologist soon again. I have no problems with bowel movement or passing water. The big concern is that i have to stay away from too much protein…..and being a south african, that is easier saying than do-ing!
Hi Etienne,
So glad heart okay. That annoying BP … have to keep an eye on that for sure.
Lol – staying away from too much protein, yes can imagine could be hard!
Hope all goes well when you see the urologist. Thanks for posting back as to how things are. Always great to keep in touch.
All the best
Di
x