And life goes on.... 15th Dec'08

Hi there!
I have in the past week been reminded softly by some, reprimanded by others-for not having informed them how I am faring . So as anxiety among friend and loved ones seems to be escalating-I have finally got down to giving you the run down of events of the past 2 weeks.
I am feeling fine-just a slight pain-which is natural. The stitches were removed the day before. I am attaching an article I found incredibly informative on the Urology.Health.org site. Of course for those of you who I am sure would rather
hear about it in short from me-well here goes…
I am minus my right kidney and right adrenal-and apparently at the age of 49, the doc says one kidney is more than enough to survive for the rest of my life-he gives me a good 40 years more-though ideally I would prefer a lesser sentence!
A day before the surgery Ann Robinson who conducts a quiz programme on BBC Prime (The Weakest Link), gave me an added piece of information-that the only organ in our body which double up to perform the function of 2, in the event of having lost one of them due to ill health-is the kidney. God bless her for the timely bit of information!
The surgery went off real well - 4hours + 2 hrs to regain consciousness! Dr.Choquenet was really so good. There were a few hiccupsin the post operative care due to the callousness of a couple of day nurses-but the night nurses more than made up with their care, concern and timely help-not to mention their calming cuppa tea!)-so all in all-I was okay. Besides, I know I have to live out my past karmas!
The Biopsy (conducted post surgery-for kidney operations), showed that the tumor was an Onchocytoma-which is considered a benign tumor today-though until recently it was also considered a low grade cancer. The doctor told us this was among the largest tumor he has removed-the right adrenal had to be removed as well cos the tumor was on the top 2/3rds of the kidney-incidentally-the article I am attaching reinforces this point. The tumor had to be removed-there is no doubt about it.
Anyway, the good news is that it is not malignant, not a carcinoma, there is no metastasis to other organs, the vena cava and blood vessels are safe, the lymph node is safe. My kidneys are functioning well so far. Will have to be careful with the medicines I take in-no brufens, aspirins etc, I have to lower my salt and sugar intake-and therefore keep my bp and triglyceride in check.
My sons have taken turns with keeping me company-Prahlad through the surgery, and Siddharth-now. I know its been hard on them-they can’t for the life of me (!!)understand why they can’t do the things they want to do, go to the places they want to go to-why does amma have to fall sick!?!
My husband has been his usual humorous self-but sometimes I wish he were more serious-but then he wouldn’t be Narayan then right? Like the time he, Sid and Anita laughed when the Doctor asked whether my appetite is good still-N actually said “Nothing to worry about, that is very good” – I found myself laughing too!!
Anita was here right after the surgery for a good 10 days-during which she cooked soups and healthy food for me-I hope I was not too tough on her! If I was, God help her to understand that it was Nimo in bad times-that she promises
to be good next time over! Seriously, she was truly wonderful!!
That’s it guys-
Merry X’Mas and a Happy New Year !!
love,
Nimo