| Re: Post Nephrectomy Swelling?
First of all, I would call your surgeon first thing in AM to tell him/her about the abdominal swelling. There could be 2 things contributing to it: You now have one kidney having to work the load of two, and you may be getting some ascites, fluid buildup in the abdominal cavity. This can occur until the remaining kidney gets used to handling the extra work load of getting rid of excess fluid and toxins. A diuretic can be used to help get that swelling down, prescribed by your Dr. There may also be some gas buildup in GI tract, as the GI tract stops moving after surgery for a few days, and gas and stool can build up, causing distention. This usually clears up after a few days to a week, so try to let the gas pass and keep track of BMs to make sure you are having them.
| 
