Liver resection at mskcc- how long will I most likely stay in the hospital?

[mariane]

Hi!

I am getting my liver resection on January 26th. I need to book hotels/apartments. How long will I most likely stay in hospital? When can I fly back home after surgery? How should I prepare for my chemo break besides taking Cimetidine?
I am scared but there is no choice. It is good that I am getting resection.

Happy New Year for everyone!

[cptmac]

Dear Mariane,

Unfortunately, there is no tried and true answer to your question. The only answer is, it depends.

Some people go home within a week, others are there much longer.

I truly understood the meaning of taking things day by day when I went through this journey, and sometimes I took it second by second.

In this second I feel good, and all is well.

In this minute I feel awful, but in another minute I will feel well again.

Prepare for the worst - ie bring things to read and things to do, but hope for the best - that you don't have time to have spare time.

I know this answer doesn't help, but it really does depend.

I had my colon surgery four weeks prior to my liver surgery. Sailed through my colon surgery. Had complications after my liver surgery. Was in for a while.

But, here I am, over 10 years later, alive and kicking!!! And that's what it's all about...

[mariane]

Thank you. Cptmac! I will be happy when I wake up from this surgery.

[midlifemom]

I was there 5 days BUTT as cpt says, everyone is different.

[Stanfordmom]

mariane,
I stayed in the hospital six nights after my liver resection. I was recovering fine and getting ready to fly home three weeks after the surgery, then I had some liquid collections and infection. I had to be re-admitted to the hospital for another week. I waited another week after discharge to fly home finally.

If everything's goes fine, you should be able to fly home two to three weeks after your surgery.

Good luck with your surgery and your recovery!! I will pray for you.

Sha

[LeonW]

Marianne,

As said, it all depends. Mine was said to last about a week, but I stayed almost a month as too little liver left kept it from getting started. But don't be scared as this was pretty exceptional. Everyone is different and some are more different than others; there is always a chance that things work out less well than average. BTW, in our health system (Netherlands), hospitals are only paid for 'typical' costs; exceptions are at their expense which means that they are only paid for 8 days big-house time. All the extra is on their account. From which you may conclude that anything over 8 days is pretty exceptional. In your shoes I'd plan for the time your doctors estimate. Take it day-by-day and improvise your way out, if necessary.

Keep in mind that resection is the best treatment. I left hospital 26 months ago - everything still clean. Am back to normal life again.
Wish you the same / happy 2016
L

[mariane]

Thank you so much! I know how unpredictable surgery/recovery can be.... Anyway I have no choice and have to hope for the best.

Because of my endometriosis ( I have a new haemorrhagic, painful cyst again) I asked Dr K for ovaries removal. She agreed with me and they want to proceed with taking them out as well on the same day. It will be long, long day for my surgeons and me.

[crazylife]

My husband had colon and liver surgery and was there 8 days. Good luck to you and God bless!

[BrownBagger]

I had double lung surgery there and was only in the hospital for 4 days.

The sooner you start walking and the more you walk around the ward, the sooner you'll be outtathere.

[jalusa]

Best to you... I hope to follow you soon.

[mariane]

Thank you for everything!

Jim, best wishes to you! We are on this trip together and together we will win the battle!

I know I have to get up from bed as soon as possible. I try to walk as much as I can now to get stronger. Warm winter and mild Georgia climate helps. If only had rained less! I try to predict how much time I need since I need to arrange childcare.

[juliej]

Mariane, I was in the hospital for 7 days but I had a liver resection + resection of primary tumor + HAI pump implanted, all in one surgery. The odds are you won't be in there that long. That said, much depends on how you do, any complications, etc. I think we have a somewhat similar biology. I had a strong response to chemo too and a significant reduction in the size of my liver mets before surgery. However, I also had lung mets at diagnosis, one in the bottom of each lung. They were both removed in a second surgery (3 months after my liver resection) along with an ileostomy reversal. So I have had two major surgeries, each with 3 procedures. I am now NED.

As BrownBagger said, the sooner you start walking after surgery,the sooner you will get released. (Walking stimulates the body's natural healing processes.) As for pain relief, I had an epidural for the surgery (I highly recommend an epidural!) and oral pain medication (Oxycodone) afterwards. They will make sure you are as pain-free as possible because too much pain keeps the body from healing. I didn't feel like eating much right after the resection, but my appetite gradually came back. I think the oxy pills were part of the problem because when I started weaning myself off them, I could eat more. I craved certain foods too -- salmon, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, orange juice -- anything orange! I think my body needed some nutrient in those foods. It look about 3 months to gain back the 15 pounds I lost during surgery so I was underweight for awhile. Eat fresh, healthy, organic food whenever you can.

Try not to be scared. Just think of how good you're going to feel when you wake up and know the tumors are gone! I also had Dr. D'Angelica for my liver surgery! He will take very good care of you. PM me if you have any questions about anything. I'll be sending prayers and holding you in the light on January 26th!

Hugs!
Julie

[mariane]

Thank you, JulieJ! You story is so uplifting.

I think we have one more thing in common. We both like to be active. I also love to jog, climb mountains, swimming. Loosing weight after surgery is my concern. I was always slim and I have hardly anything to loose. We will see.

Happy New Year to you and everybody! Stay in NEDville forever!

[j'swife]

So glad to hear you will soon be rid of this!
The only advice I would add is
1 to find out when Dr D wants to see you post op. and plan to stay that long ...hopefully in a hotel using new york's vast galaxy of good restaurants that deliver .. or supermarket delivery if you refuse self indulgence.
2we have relied on the helmsley tower patient accommodation s - all with kitchenettes - a block and a half from the hospital. they are sympathtic about doctor-driven schedule changes and even cancellations. Because you wont pay the horrible NYC hotel taxes at this non profit, the total cost is about the same as the midlevel hotels in the area.

my DH was in for six nights after 8 hrs of surgery to resect primary and liver mets. He is a determined hostpital lap-walker. But he was very weak on release . We stayed another 3 or 4 days and walked upper east side laps, but he was weak for several more weeks... (and we do not have small twins..)

In sum, you will need to get whatever help you can to get your strength back over several weeks. And celebrate. .
All the best..

[LeonW]

We stayed another 3 or 4 days . . . but he was weak for several more weeks...

Good point. I was rather disappointed when family doctor that recovery could well take longer than the 100 days I had allotted.
Don't be overambitious in your planning. Not that recovery is difficult, it just may take longer than you wish to regain normal energy levels. Listen to your body.

Best wishes (for now and a happy 2016)
L