# Surgery Monday, wish me luck! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 11, 2009, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surgery-monday-wish-me-luck/509625 "2009-09-11T00:19:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surgery-monday-wish-me-luck/509625/1 "2009-09-11T00:19:14Z")
As mentioned in a previous thread, after many, many ordeals with my kidneys, mostly my right kidney, on Monday morning I am being hospitalized for a nephrectomy-complete removal of my right kidney. Not only has it been nothing but trouble for the past five years or so (producing stone after stone, infection after infection), but now, it harbors a very large stone that is harboring an infection. The infection will not clear up for good until the stone is gone. The kidney is so atrophied (and only functioning at about 10%) that they really can’t get the stone out without chopping up the kidney. And they don’t want to. The damned thing has gotten to the point where it’s doing more harm than good. So, on September 14th, at 10AM, my urologist will remove my right kidney. With luck, I’ll only be two nights in the hospital. I should be home some time late Wednesday. My husband has arranged for a week off to help care for me. After that, I will rely on my support network, and fortunately, I have a good one! So, wish me luck, say a prayer (if your heart is in it), send good vibes, whatever. I’ve had probably close to a dozen major surgeries over the years, and you’d think I’d get ho-hum about them after a while, but I don’t. If I give myself time to think about them, I freak out. I had all my pre-op testing today: renal scan, chest X-ray, EKG, all the necessary blood work (except for the type and cross, which will be done Monday morning). And I can use all the good vibes you have. I’m told it’s 6-8 weeks for a full recovery. ---
**Author:** ![Covered\_In\_Bees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surgery-monday-wish-me-luck/509625/2 "2009-09-11T00:35:39Z")
Surgery shmurgery. People live through surgeries all the time. Hold my beer and watch this… Okay maybe I can’t recreate someone living through a surgery, but still. 😛 You’ll be fine and posting on the SDMB before you know it. I’ll pen you into my schedule as “Send Good Vibes to norinew.” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surgery-monday-wish-me-luck/509625/3 "2009-09-11T00:54:56Z")
> [@Covered\_In\_Bees](#): > > Surgery shmurgery. People live through surgeries all the time. Hold my beer and watch this… Okay maybe I can’t recreate someone living through a surgery, but still. 😛 > > You’ll be fine and posting on the SDMB before you know it. I’ll pen you into my schedule as “Send Good Vibes to norinew.” 🙂 OK, I’ll hold your beer, but, fair warning: if it’s _good_ beer, I may drink it while I’m here! After all, beer _is_ good for flushing the kidneys, and mine need all the help they can get! 😉 Thanks for penciling me in! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surgery-monday-wish-me-luck/509625/4 "2009-09-11T01:00:20Z")
When I had my last surgery, I asked the doctor when I could resume having sex. He suggested that I wait until I was out of the recovery room. Good luck. This one may be a pisser. ::rimshot:: ---
**Author:** ![Covered\_In\_Bees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surgery-monday-wish-me-luck/509625/5 "2009-09-11T01:06:51Z")
> [@norinew](#): > > OK, I’ll hold your beer, but, fair warning: if it’s _good_ beer, I may drink it while I’m here! After all, beer _is_ good for flushing the kidneys, and mine need all the help they can get! 😉 > > Thanks for penciling me in! 🆒 I’m not actually a beer drinker, so you can have it. If I hand you a can of Dr Pepper on the other hand, every single drop better still be in it when I retrieve it or you’ll be having more than just a kidney removal surgery. And you’re not actually pencilled in, I use [Google Calendar](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=529766). 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surgery-monday-wish-me-luck/509625/6 "2009-09-11T01:25:31Z")
We expect pictures! OK, maybe not. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surgery-monday-wish-me-luck/509625/7 "2009-09-11T01:46:46Z")
Good luck! (Sorry, I can’t think of anything pissy, er… pithy to say.) ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surgery-monday-wish-me-luck/509625/8 "2009-09-11T02:18:16Z")
Best wishes are headed your way! I’m sure you’ll keep us posted. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surgery-monday-wish-me-luck/509625/9 "2009-09-11T02:22:58Z")
> [@VunderBob](#): > > When I had my last surgery, I asked the doctor when I could resume having sex. He suggested that I wait until I was out of the recovery room. Y’all have some awesome doctors. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surgery-monday-wish-me-luck/509625/10 "2009-09-11T02:43:19Z")
Best wishes and hefty prayers! **{{{norine}}}** ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surgery-monday-wish-me-luck/509625/11 "2009-09-11T03:01:08Z")
I will indeed add you to my prayers and to the intentions of the entire congregation. Here’s my wish that you are back and posting soon and that this illness is nothing but a memory from here on! ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surgery-monday-wish-me-luck/509625/12 "2009-09-11T03:12:44Z")
No fun! Sending out a wish for a safe operation and a speedy recovery! ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surgery-monday-wish-me-luck/509625/13 "2009-09-11T10:39:14Z")
> [@VunderBob](#): > > When I had my last surgery, I asked the doctor when I could resume having sex. He suggested that I wait until I was out of the recovery room. > > Good luck. This one may be a pisser. ::rimshot:: Body fluid humor just gets me all hot and bothered! But then, you knew that, didn’t you? ;)😃 I may actually have to have at least _some_ kind of sex _in_ the recovery room. My surgeon is awfully cute! [http://www.baltimoresun.com/media/photo/2009-03/45333484.jpg](http://www.baltimoresun.com/media/photo/2009-03/45333484.jpg) My doc is the guy standing up, and believe me, that pic is _not_ a flattering one. He’s a cutie. A charmer, too! The fact that we’re both happily married shouldn’t stop us; after all, it’s not like either his wife or my husband will be in the _recovery room_. 😉 **Covered\_In\_Bees** , you can have your Dr Pepper. But if you don’t drink beer, you’d probably pick a piss-poor one (see, y’all aren’t the only ones who can make pee jokes! 😛 ); I’ll have a Sam Adams Boston Lager, please! **runner pat** , if they’d let my hubby in the operating room, he’d watch! And if they’d let him bring his camera, believe me, you’d get your pictures! Bleah. **BiblioCat** and **Scarlett** , thanks for the good wishes. I’m not sure when I’ll feel up to checking in again, but as soon as I can, I’ll make at least a brief post to let y’all know how it’s going. Of course, I hope to be under the influence of lots of good narcotics, so I don’t know how coherent it’ll be. . .especially if I wash the narcotics down with the Sam Adams! **kopek** , thanks! The more prayers the better! **Khadaji** , of all the posters on this board, I feel a certain kinship with you because you’re the one poster I know of who gets hacked on maybe even more than I do! Thanks for the good wishes! ---
**Author:** ![janis\_and\_c0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janis_and_c0/32/21_2.png) [@janis\_and\_c0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janis_and_c0)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surgery-monday-wish-me-luck/509625/14 "2009-09-11T11:46:31Z")
STOOPID ROTTEN KIDNEY. I wish you a s-PEE-dy (sorry:)) recovery Hon. My prayers go with you _hugs_ ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surgery-monday-wish-me-luck/509625/15 "2009-09-11T12:20:01Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Y’all have some awesome doctors. Not really. My last surgery was an orthopedic procedure on my right hand. I didn’t get any for 3 weeks. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surgery-monday-wish-me-luck/509625/16 "2009-09-11T12:35:53Z")
Good luck and hope you have a speedy recovery! I’ve had a couple of kidney stones but nothing compared to the trouble you’ve had over the years. At least the darn thing won’t be able to cause you any more trouble after this. Oh, and once they give you the drugs, you’ve got an excuse to flirt with the doctor. You can always blame it on the anesthesia later! ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surgery-monday-wish-me-luck/509625/17 "2009-09-11T13:28:38Z")
Kidney, shmidney. If it’s trouble, then I’m glad you’re getting rid of it. Hope things go quickly and easily and you’re up and around in no time. I’m sure you’re in good hands. Surprised they didn’t toss the type and cross in with the rest of the blood work. Did they say why? ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surgery-monday-wish-me-luck/509625/18 "2009-09-11T13:38:12Z")
**Norine** , did the doctor tell you that you’ll wake up in a bathtub full of ice? ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surgery-monday-wish-me-luck/509625/19 "2009-09-11T13:52:58Z")
All my best thoughts **norinew**. You deserve to have this over with. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surgery-monday-wish-me-luck/509625/20 "2009-09-11T14:01:29Z")
> [@janis\_and\_c0](#): > > STOOPID ROTTEN KIDNEY. I wish you a s-PEE-dy (sorry:)) recovery Hon. My prayers go with you _hugs_ Thanks for the good wishes, but I don’t for a minute believe you’re sorry for the bad joke! 😛 > [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > I’ve had a couple of kidney stones but nothing compared to the trouble you’ve had over the years. At least the darn thing won’t be able to cause you any more trouble after this. That’s really the bottom-line reasoning behind this surgery. At this point, the kidney is doing more harm than good. Hopefully, even though my left kidney produces stones, too, after this, I won’t be sick as often. > [@](#): > > Oh, and once they give you the drugs, you’ve got an excuse to flirt with the doctor. You can always blame it on the anesthesia later! I like the way you think! 😉 Unfortunately, lying on the recovery room table, hair up in one of those silly little caps, devoid of any makeup, cologne, nail polish, etc. (all of those things are a no-no going into surgery; I can’t even use _deodorant_ that morning!), ‘sexy and flirtatious’ is not how I’m feeling! I’m more likely to turn on the charm to whoever I think is most likely to give me more morphine! 😃 > [@Antigen](#): > > Surprised they didn’t toss the type and cross in with the rest of the blood work. Did they say why? For reasons I don’t understand, a type and cross has to be done within 72 hours of the surgery; I had my blood work yesterday, surgery’s not 'til Monday. So, missed it by 24 hours! Ugh. Oh, well. The nurse at my surgeon’s office said they’ll probably just draw the type and cross through the IV line after they get the IV going. And fortunately, there’s a particular nurse in surgery at that hospital who seems to have a _gift_ for getting an IV started on me (I can be a ‘hard stick’ sometimes). I always ask for him by name! **VunderBob** , now, what kind of question is that? I mean, part of the whole ‘waking up in a bathtub full of ice’ thing is the _surprise_ factor. If he told me, it’d ruin the whole effect! And frankly, if there’s enough morphine involved (or IV Dilaudid; that’s good, too), I don’t give a damn how much ice I’m in! 😉 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surgery-monday-wish-me-luck/509625.md?page=2)