Kidney removal - discharge

When You Were in the Hospital:

You had surgery to remove part of one kidney, all of one kidney, or a kidney, the lymph nodes near it, and your adrenal gland.

You may have an 8- to 12-inch surgical cut over your belly or along your side. If you had laparoscopic surgery, you may have three or four small cuts.

What to Expect at Home:

Recovering from kidney removal usually takes around 3 to 6 weeks. You may have some of these symptoms:

• Pain in your belly or on the side where you had the kidney removed. The pain should get better over several days to a week.
• Bruising around your wounds. This will go away on its own.
• Skin redness around your wounds. This is normal.

Activity:

Plan to have someone drive you home from the hospital. Do NOT drive yourself home. You may also need help with everyday activities for the first 1 to 2 weeks. Set up your home so it is easier to use.

You should be able to do most of your regular activities within 4 to 6 weeks. Before then:

• Do not lift anything heavier than 10 pounds until you see your doctor.
• Avoid all strenuous activity. This includes heavy exercising, weightlifting, and other activities that make you breathe hard or strain.
• Short walks and using stairs are okay.
• Light housework is okay. Don't push yourself too hard. Slowly increase how much you exercise.

To manage your pain:

• Your doctor will prescribe pain medicines for you to use at home.
• If you are taking pain pills 3 or 4 times a day, try taking them at the same times each day for 3 to 4 days. They may work better this way.
• Try getting up and moving around if you are having some pain. This may ease your pain.
• You may put some ice over the wound, but keep the wound dry.

Press a pillow over your incision when you cough or sneeze to ease discomfort and protect your incision.

Make sure your home is safe as you are recovering.

See also:

• Preventing falls
• Bathroom safety - adults

Wound Care:

You will need to keep your incision area clean, dry, and protected. Change your dressings the way your doctor or nurse taught you.

• If sutures (stitches), staples, or glue were used to close your skin, you may take a shower.
• If tape strips (Steri-strips) were used to close your skin, cover the wounds with plastic wrap before showering for the first week. Do not try to wash the Steri-strips off. Let them fall off on their own.

Do not soak in a bathtub or hot tub, or go swimming, until your doctor tells you it is okay.

See also: Surgical wound care

Diet:

Eat a normal diet. Drink 4 to 8 glasses of water or liquids a day, unless your doctor tells you not to.

If you have hard stools:

• Try to walk and be more active, but don' t overdo it.
• If you can, take less of some of the pain medicines your doctor gave you. Some can cause constipation.
• Try a stool softener. You can get these at any pharmacy without a prescription.
• Ask your doctor or nurse what laxatives you can take.
• Ask your doctor about foods that are high in fiber, or try psyllium (Metamucil).

When to Call the Doctor:

Call your doctor or nurse if:

• Your temperature is above 100.5 °F.
• Your surgical wounds are bleeding, are red or warm to the touch, or have a thick, yellow, green, or milky drainage.
• Your belly swells or hurts.
• You have nausea or vomiting more than 24 hours.
• You have pain that does not get better when you take your pain medicines.
• It is hard to breathe.
• You have a cough that does not go away.
• You cannot drink or eat.
• You cannot pee (urinate).