Solitary kidney health

After my surgery, I recovered quite quickly, I thought. Four or five months later, though, I still needed to rest more frequently. My energy level was down. In doing research about kidney disease, I discovered that it takes quite a while for your body to truly recover - up to a year. Eventually, I felt better. I didn't have headaches - perhaps someone else has had a problem with headaches. Surgery is very hard on one's body, so be sure and walk a lot, get plenty of sleep, drink enough water - whatever it takes to heal your body.

@azkidney57 Some transplant centers have a protocol that say "no alcohol". I find that alcohol doesn't really agree with me anymore, so I just do not drink except maybe one drink every couple of months. As we get more years under our belts, our bodies take more time to recover from any major stressors, Your nephrectomy qualifies in that category. Be gentle on yourself. Remember your sole kidney is now doing the job that two used to do, so your fluid intake needs to be quality to help that kidney do its new job! So glad you have checked in and let us know how you are doing!
Ginger

Had kidney/tumor removed last week, still recovering. Still do not know If I am free of cancer, seeing oncologists tomorrow morning for first time. Surgeon said the margins were negative.

@haroldpingel1943 that’s great that the surgery is behind you, and that the margins were negative. Hopefully the oncologists will have good news for you too. There will be big sighs of relief, please let us know so we can feel that relief with you.
I see that is your first post, so please allow me to welcome you to Connect.
JK

Thanks, will keep posted.

@azkidney57 I cannot speak to living with one kidney, but my mother had one kidney removed when I was nine years old. That was over sixty+ years ago. Back in those old days, there were no specialists in the town in which we lived. We had a family doctor, a surgeon, and an ob/gyn, and they were our friends. I do not know why they decided to remove a kidney; I do remember them saying it didn't work and was not formed correctly. But she had the surgery, and back in the old days she was in the hospital at least ten days. My dad hired a private nurse for her, and then she came home and was cared for at home until she was able to get around. We always had a maid to take care of the cooking and household chores, so no problem there. From that time forward she lived without incident with one kidney and I never remember that she had any problems as a result. I recall the surgeon saying the one good kidney would take over and function efficiently, and it did. My mother lived to age 78. Her kidney was fine when they did the autopsy. I tell you all of this so that you know that a person with one kidney can live a long life; she did and never worried about the situation. I wish you well.
Carol

Thank you for comforting message.

Thank you Carol that is reassuring to hear about your mom living with a solitary kidney. It helps me to hear experiences like this. I appreciate your reply!

@azkidney57 I am glad I could share this with you. I forgot to tell you that my mom did not die because she had one kidney; she died a natural death. She lived a long life considering what health care was then and what the life span was then. So with all the care we have these days, someone with one kidney could live into their 80's or longer.
Blessings.
Carol

Thank you. Am 76 so hoping for many more years. Cancer doctor thinks removal of kidney got all of cancer removed but not willing to say re occurance is 0%. Will watch it with Ct scans every six months. Again thank you.