Swollen stomach after kidney removal
More…
More…
More…
More…
1 posts since
4 Jul 2017
I had an Open Radical Nephrectomy 15 days ago and currently have a very distended stomach to the point where I feel like I might burst. I like look like I am heavily pregnant. In a checkup two days ago my consultant said my bladder wasn’t emptying properly when I go to the toilet. Could the two be linked or have I likely got digestion problems too? I’m waiting worried that my remaining kidney is failing.
1310 posts since
14 Feb 2011
Hello Lima,
Thanks for posting a question. I am sorry to learn that you recently had surgery to remove a kidney.
I am afraid that I don’t think that I can be particularly helpful in answering your questions as I am not directly involved in your care. Although I am unsure why your stomach should be so distended, I really don’t think that it is going to be related to your other kidney failing. This does not sound like a typical symptom of this.
Occasionally people with kidney failure can have a swollen abdomen due to an accumulation of fluid, but this usually is accompanied by fluid elsewhere in the body. This can show up as swollen legs, hands and eyelids. Also. I imagine that you had a blood test to check your kidney function prior to your check up with the specialist. This should have identified a problem with the function of your other kidney, if there was one. But I think that given the circumstances it is natural to worry about the health of your other kidney, but from what you said it does not sound like this is the problem.
I am afraid that I also cannot reliably tell you why your bladder is not fully emptying. Very full bladders can sometimes cause swelling in the lower abdomen (pelvic area), but usually if this was the case you would be in a lot of pain and discomfort. So I don’t think that this is causing the problem. Other possible reasons for a distended tummy are a buildup of gas and constipation.
All I can really suggest is that you discuss the situation with a health professional involved in your care. If you have a specialist nurse you could leave a message with them. If not you could see your GP. You could also telephone your kidney specialist’s secretary and say that you have a few questions to ask. They may be able to arrange for you to speak with them again.
I am sorry that I cannot be more helpful. If you have any other questions please do contact us again. If you would like to telephone our free phone number is 0808 800 4040. We are here from Monday to Friday between the hours of 9am to 5pm.
Kind regards,
Jean
2 posts since
5 Jul 2017
Hi Lima I’ve had exactly the same as yourself…..my operation was Jan10 of this year and my tummy is still sore and swollen,i’am still drinking loads to get the other kidney use to being on its own !!
3 posts since
23 Nov 2018
Hi Skybobm, I know it’s been a while since you posted on this thread but I’ve been searching for information about having a sore painful tummy after having a kidney removed.
4 weeks ago I had a laparoscopy to remove my left kidney due to kidney cancer. 4 weeks on and although my wounds appear to have healed well and the swelling in my tummy has gone down a lot the left side of my tummy still looks distended. The pain had started to ease off considerably by week 3 but this Tues I’ve started to get a painful, pinching, stabbing type of feeling over the distended area especially when I’m moving around.
My follow up appointment with the consultant is not for another 3 weeks and it will be a total of 7 weeks before I get to know if this is all part of the healing process.
Is this something similar to what you experienced yourself?
Hopefully you’re feeling much better than you did last year.
1256 posts since
9 Jun 2011
Hello TM67 and thanks for posting in the nurses topic area,
I’m afraid I can’t explain what is causing this new painful stabbing feeling. If it doesn’t settle don’t forget that you can see your GP for advice.
I hope it eases off soon, but do get some medical advice if it doesn’t.
Take care,
Julia
3 posts since
26 Nov 2018
I had the my kidney removed 7th of november and i was healing really well untill i caught a cold and i think whilst sneezing something pulled, i now have a pulling stabbing burning pain over the wound site, cant see a hernia but its very upsetting as i was doing so well
3 posts since
23 Nov 2018
Hi Sandyboro71, the stabbing pain I had in my 5th week of recovery lasted for about 6 days in the end. I’ve no idea what caused it but I have continued to have strong aches in my left side especially under/in my lower ribs front and back all in the area it hurt prior to having my kidney removed 6 weeks ago today. I don’t know if it’s normal or not and I have to stop myself worrying about it. Hopefully the consultant will be able to put my mind at ease when I have my follow up appointment next Thursday and fingers crossed your stabbing pain will ease off the same as mine did. Take care.
1 posts since
13 Dec 2018
I also had a radical nephrectomy 5 weeks ago and for the past week have had soreness and pain in the lower ribs of the side that the kidney was removed. I thought it may be result of being more active and bad posture but interesting to hear that others are experiencing similar discomfort. I have had my follow up appointment and do not have a further appointment until March. It would be reassuring to hear of any feedback or is this something I should be concerned about.
541 posts since
25 Jun 2018
Hello and thanks for posting
It’s still early days following an operation ,despite many people sometimes thinking they should be back to normal by now.
It can take a good few months for pain and generalised discomfort to settle down. Everyone’s recovery will be different, so there isn’t a set time for people to feel they should have recovered by. Daily gentle exercise with rest and regular painkillers to initially get on top of any pain, should also help.
If you are worried or concerned , do get in touch with your specialist nurse (if you have one) or specialist team. Alternatively, you can always make an appointment with your GP to go over any symptoms.
I hope you start to feel a little less sore soon
Wanda
2 posts since
2 Mar 2019
I’m almost same. I had a nephrectomy on Feb 11th all five wounds healing well but very bruised. I developed a urine infection last week and doctor gave me a weeks antibiotics and today I’ve woken up feeling really sick bringing up just water..
601 posts since
23 Aug 2012
Hello and thanks for posting,
You may be having a reaction to the antibiotics, or your infection may be worse or not clearing. It would be wise to make contact with your GP surgery promptly, and let them know.
Or you can ring NHS 111 for advice too.
I hope that you feel better soon.
Best wishes
Vanda
We are currently trying to get an impression of how satisfied Cancer Chat members are with the answers the nurses are posting to their questions. We would be very grateful if you would take a few minutes to fill in the feedback survey here https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=L4lzROBx_EaN7Cc5ArUT…
3 posts since
15 Jul 2019
Hi,
Just stumbled on this website whilst looking for anything related to my symptoms.
I’m worried as my stomach has become much more swollen since having a radical nephrectomy 6 weeks ago as well as what appears to be blood in my stool (with a smell of blood). I have a large haematoma under one of the 5 incisions which is very painful. Also, the largest of the incisions keeps scabbing over then seeps so its not healing properly. I’ve had my follow up appointment and found out that the remaining kidney is ‘struggling and impaired’. I find it hard to go back to my consultant as i feel like i’m constantly being dismissed.
1310 posts since
14 Feb 2011
Hello and thank you for posting a question.
I am sorry to learn that you have had surgery to remove a kidney and also about the other symptoms that you have. This must be difficult for you, particular as you feel that your specialist is not very supportive. I wonder if you have a specialist kidney nurse, they may be able to help.
I am a bit limited in what I can say as it is really only a health professional involved in your care who can suggest what the cause of the symptoms might be. But I am wondering if you had laparoscopic( keyhole) surgery. To do this a lot of air is puffed into your abdomen. The air usually goes away and is absorbed within a few weeks. But I am aware of some people who have a distended abdomen for a few months, so the swollen abdomen could still be related to the surgery. If it is, things should improve bu t it may take a few more weeks.
With regards to the feeling that you have blood in your stools, I don’t think that this is likely to be connected to your operation. So it might be a good idea to get your GP to check this out. But just a thought, if you have been prescribed any medications containing iron this can make the stools black and a little smelly. Also if you are having problems with your wound the nurse at your doctor’s surgery may be able to help.
As for the struggling kidney, it must have been difficult to hear about this, but hopefully it’s being monitored and you have been given some advice about managing the situation.
6 weeks is a relatively short time to recovery from major surgery, so I would not expect you to be back to normal by now. But things should start to improve.
Please get back to us if you have any questions. If you would like to telephone the number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.
All the best,
Jean
Swollen stomach after kidney removal
Research & References of Swollen stomach after kidney removal|A&C Accounting And Tax Services
Source
0 Comments