Got a call from my urologist about half an hour ago, and I’m feeling just a little blue. Off and on, for almost six years, I’ve had kidney stones and the recurring infections that go with them. Five lithotripsies over the years, lots of antibiotics, and the damn kidney(right one) just wouldn’t heal. Recently I have had an isotope renal scan, and a sonogram, and the urologist even got a second opinion on them from another doctor.
Bottom line is that the kidney is not functioning, and could be harming my health with the infections, so out it will come, probably the first week in January. This is scary. To coin a cliche, I thought things like this only happened to other people.
Any Dopers out there ever had this done to them? How long did it take you to recover? The urologist said it is likely I will actually feel better afterwards, since I won’t have the irritations and infections. Did that happen to you or not? I need to hear that things are going to be alright from someone who has been there.
I’m suspecting that I too need another kidney. The left one has become a problem. I got kidney stones twice in 2002 and once in 2003! Those doctors at Kaiser suck. I even got a bill for 8,000 for ambulance transportation and hospital stay when I drove myself and didn’ stay overnight in the E.R. I went to my primary care physician and she suspected I was pregnant! :rolleyes: The nshe sent me home with nothing. The next day I was in the E.R. with diagnosed kidney stones, kidney infection, and pus and blood in my urine. I’m only 19 and I fear my kidney will fail sooner or later. I asked how to prevent kidney stones and the doctors have no clue. They just said drink water. I want to know if I’m doing something to cause this?
ILikeMadonna, my urologist is good, and he says that most of the time it’s not something anyone does that causes stones. After all, the first time I got them they were on both sides, and the left kidney hasn’t caused me any problems since. If it was a lifestyle thing I would think the little suckers would come back on both sides.
Water is good, and I have developed a taste for cranberry juice, which is also said to help. I’m at work now, but at home I have a link to a site about kidney/urinary matters and I will put the link up then.
percypercy, thanks for the story about your aunt. I’ve just been scared that this will change me, or reduce my life expectancy or something. Many of the women in my family live to a healthy old age, but I’m beginning to think I’ll bring down the curve. My grandmother will be 99 in a month, I’d hoped to live a long time too.
See this thread, started by my brother. You can also search on his username (exact match = Fish) and “kidney” for other posts on the subject. Maybe he’ll show up here too.
Waaaaaaay back in the 60s my grandfather had part of a kidney removed because he had the same problem you had. That sucker just wouldn’t quit making stones. AFAIK he didn’t have any after that.
My gosh, Baker, my thoughts and prayers will be with you. Presumably you’ll be fine on just one; healthy people donate one kidney (to a family member, or other genetically appropriate recipient) all the time. Hang in there, kiddo!
My father lost a kidney to cancer when he was about 66. He’s 81 now and as far as I can tell he’s had only minor problems. The doctor assured him before the surgery that one kidney was plenty, and so it has turned out.
I wish could offer some encouragement to you. Just know that you will be in many people’s thoughts and prayers. Mine included.
An aside to anyone who who doesn’t know: This lady has class, guts, and a very warm heart. She deserves our support.
I still have both kidneys, I have passed several very small stones though, fun fun fun.
But, my mother had her right kidney removed many years ago because of exactly the same thing. When they finally removed her kidney there was a stone the size of her thumb in there. This was about 30 years ago. And she did fine after that, even better than she had been before, no more infections. I’m sure the techniques have changed a lot, they made a very large incision to get to the kidney and she was laid up for several weeks. I remember we had a maid while she recuperated. But, she did just fine.
