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Adrenal surgery and tumour removal post surgery pain?

Posted , 8 users are following.

rachel_36939
rachel_36939

hi I've just had major abdominal surgery to remove a 15 cm benign tumour from my adrenal gland. They took it out successful plus my left adrenal.  I've been recovering well and am 3 weeks post surgery. However in the last week I've started to feel a real heavy dragging feeling (more towards the end of the day) in the area where the tumour would have been. Does anyone know if this is just normal feeling and just takes time or if this is something to worry about? 

0 likes, 31 replies

31 Replies

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  • nancy54455
    nancy54455 rachel_36939

    Posted

    Hi Rachel, I can't answer you. In 3 weeks I am having surgery to remove my left adrenal gland. I am 2 1/2 years post surgery and appalled to have my PET scan light up. On the better side, only one adrenal gland looks cancerous, nothing else lit up. 

    After surgery, l'll let you know. All the best, 

    Nancy

    • irene64333
      irene64333 nancy54455

      Posted

      Hi, Nancy.  I just want to know how you feel after surgery.  How did everything go?
  • rachel_36939
    rachel_36939

    Posted

    Hi Nancy

    I’m so sorry for you to have to go through this. Is the tumour large? Is it self contained? Must adrenal masses are benign so try not to panick. Mine was 15 cms the size of a melon! Mine was benign thank god. Is it’s major insxion or key hole? X

  • david30665
    david30665 rachel_36939

    Posted

    Rachel,

    I hope things have been going well after your surgery. I am having my adrenal gland  removal surgery in less than two weeks and I was wondering if you have any advice for me thanks 

    • rachel_36939
      rachel_36939 david30665

      Posted

      Hi David 

      It’s fine don’t worry. Mind was a 15 cmtunour so I had a huge surgery and all is great now mine was benign is yours? We can live with one adrenal just watch your blood sugars so you keep that one heathy. And don’t rush back to work and no lifting!! Good luck xxx

  • beth51164
    beth51164 rachel_36939

    Posted

    Hi! I just had an abdominal u/s followed by a CT scan and we found a 17 cm large adrenal mass. Having no symptoms really other then pain in my left mid/upper back/side. Terrified bc everything says the larger the mass the more likely it’s cancer! Very healthy 35 year old women here. It appears encapsulated so that sounds good. Praying it’s an adrenal adenoma. So hoping it’s benign. Did you have any symptoms Rachel?
    • rachel_36939
      rachel_36939 beth51164

      Posted

      Hi beth

      Please don’t panic it sounds like it’s exactly the same as mine! Everything says cancer larger than 2 inckes BUT all my doctors and surgeons said I’d be dead by now as adrenal cancer is very aggressive! I’m sure you are fine although I’m not a doctor it sounds the same and I wa so healthy too with no symptoms aside from a but it IBS when are they taking it out? Surgery was pretty major but I’m all Healthy and fine now 13 weeks later xxxx

    • rachel_36939
      rachel_36939

      Posted

      Also encapsulated is a great sign as cancer attacks and spreads 👍

  • beth51164
    beth51164 rachel_36939

    Posted

    Your right! Everything over 2cm I think or over 4cm they say is usually cancer. But to me being so large it has to be benign. My obgyn who ordered abdominal u/s that originally picked it up is terrified bc of size but my surgeon thinks it will be benign. Did you have pain on your side/back where it was? I am pretty thin so they can definitely feel it. Having surgery dec 28th! Terrified of the surgery as it will be a good size cut! I am in Daphne Alabama. Where are you located? Did they think bc of size initially that yours was cancer? So hard to find anything online about these large adrenal masses!
    • rachel_36939
      rachel_36939 beth51164

      Posted

      No pain but I am litttle too and I could feel mine too. Honestly I don’t think you have cancer it probably been there growing for years and years.  Yes it’s big surgery but I was up in the shower sat two Home day 7 back at work week 7.  Nothing online about large adrenal masses but large benign tumours are common! You will be fine relax and enjoy Xmas xxxx
    • beth51164
      beth51164 rachel_36939

      Posted

      Thank you soooo much for the encouragement! I was so scared and stressed for an entire weekend to where I couldn’t even eat. My appetite is back and I am always hungry lol! My stomach is being pushed so it’s not full size. I am pretty fit and always in the gym so i am sad my nice tummy will have a huge scar lol but really i am ok with that. Least of my worries! Just started feeling pain there 3 weeks ago so it just has reached a point where maybe a nerve is being pressed. When mine was 15 cm I️ obviously wasn’t feeling pain either. Where are you from? 
  • beth51164
    beth51164 rachel_36939

    Posted

    How old are you if you don’t mind me asking
    • rachel_36939
      rachel_36939 beth51164

      Posted

      I know how you feel I could  not eat for weeks and was beside myself with worry. I’m rally sure you are fine and yes same here fit and healthy and gutted to have a big scar too!!!!  I’m 41. So very young to have any adrenal issues let alone a huge tumour!!!! What’s your email I’ll send you a picture of mine it’s massive.... I felt a jiggle in my back which now I think was the tumour pressing and yes I could r eat much as my stomach couldn’t expand! Same here! Xxxx
    • beth51164
      beth51164 rachel_36939

      Posted

      Sounds like a very similar situation we both have! We are in Disney. Leaving in the am. 6 full days in the park and i did great! Lots of energy and eating like a horse lol. We are all

      Exhausted though and ready to be home! Just frequent meals since I cant eat a lot like I usually can ha. Where are you from?

      Beth 

      Moderator comment: I have removed the email address as we do not publish these in the forums. If users wish to exchange contact details please use the Private Message service.

    • beth51164
      beth51164 rachel_36939

      Posted

      I know what you mean. I stressed so bad when i had my abdominal u/s on a Friday and had the entire weekend to wait until i could see a surgeon. It was bad. Couldn’t eat. Next they did a CT. Did they ever suspect yours could possibly be cancer based on size? So you never had any other symptoms? Every have chills, low grade fever, or headaches? So glad I have someone to ask questions to! I tried sending my email but not sure they will allow it as message says pending approval? Strange! Also who removed yours? General surgeon or specialist?
    • rachel_36939
      rachel_36939 beth51164

      Posted

      They said they really couldn’t say until it was removed but they doubted it was as adrenal cancer is very aggressive and for it to be cancer and that size it would have sores everywhere and I would have been very very poorly.  So I’m sure you are fine! At least you had Disney to take your mind off it!!! Please don’t worry you will be great and back on your feet on no time. Xxx
    • beth51164
      beth51164 rachel_36939

      Posted

      Did you ever have chills, low grade fever, headaches? Also who did your surgery? General surgeon or specialist?
    • rachel_36939
      rachel_36939 beth51164

      Posted

      I’ve emailed you some photos!!! Hope you are not squeamish!

      I live in Epsom England x

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