# Any Dopers ever have a kidney removed? I need stories. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 13, 2003, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-dopers-ever-have-a-kidney-removed-i-need-stories/212940 "2003-11-13T00:33:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-dopers-ever-have-a-kidney-removed-i-need-stories/212940/1 "2003-11-13T00:33:50Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![percypercy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8baadc/32.png) [@percypercy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/percypercy)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-dopers-ever-have-a-kidney-removed-i-need-stories/212940/2 "2003-11-13T03:46:37Z")
My aunt has one kidney because of a car accident. She leads a normal life. -Lil ---
**Author:** ![ILikeMadonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8baadc/32.png) [@ILikeMadonna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ILikeMadonna)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-dopers-ever-have-a-kidney-removed-i-need-stories/212940/3 "2003-11-13T03:56:16Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-dopers-ever-have-a-kidney-removed-i-need-stories/212940/4 "2003-11-13T18:27:20Z")
**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. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-dopers-ever-have-a-kidney-removed-i-need-stories/212940/5 "2003-11-13T20:09:53Z")
After some wild partying one night, I woke up the next morning in a bathtub full of ice… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-dopers-ever-have-a-kidney-removed-i-need-stories/212940/6 "2003-11-13T22:06:04Z")
[See this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=190875), 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. ---
**Author:** ![Snuggles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Snuggles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snuggles)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-dopers-ever-have-a-kidney-removed-i-need-stories/212940/7 "2003-11-13T23:11:41Z")
I have 3 kidneys, although I’d be scared to actually go under the knife to donate one. _blushes_ I’ve never had MAJOR surgery before. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-dopers-ever-have-a-kidney-removed-i-need-stories/212940/8 "2003-11-13T23:52:29Z")
**ILikeMadonna** , here is the website my sister sent me. There may be an ad first, ignore it. > **[Latest News, Videos & Guest Interviews from the Today Show on NBC](https://www.today.com)** > > Find the latest tips, advice, news stories and videos from the TODAY Show on NBC. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-dopers-ever-have-a-kidney-removed-i-need-stories/212940/9 "2003-11-14T02:16:43Z")
Three kidneys? How the heck would THAT happen? ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-dopers-ever-have-a-kidney-removed-i-need-stories/212940/10 "2003-11-14T04:44:44Z")
I have a friend who lost both due to [lupus](http://www.lupus.org/) . She’s doing just fine. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-dopers-ever-have-a-kidney-removed-i-need-stories/212940/11 "2003-11-14T05:24:35Z")
I should point out that she has a transplant. ---
**Author:** ![SnoopyFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@SnoopyFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnoopyFan)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-dopers-ever-have-a-kidney-removed-i-need-stories/212940/12 "2003-11-14T05:26:07Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-dopers-ever-have-a-kidney-removed-i-need-stories/212940/13 "2003-11-14T05:28:53Z")
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! ---
**Author:** ![SandyHook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dec6dc/32.png) [@SandyHook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SandyHook)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-dopers-ever-have-a-kidney-removed-i-need-stories/212940/14 "2003-11-14T07:10:55Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-dopers-ever-have-a-kidney-removed-i-need-stories/212940/15 "2003-11-14T11:37:54Z")
**Snuggles** I have three kidneys too. We could start a kidney freaks club 😃 ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-dopers-ever-have-a-kidney-removed-i-need-stories/212940/16 "2003-11-14T15:58:09Z")
I just now saw this thread. Bummer! ☹ 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. ---
**Author:** ![FallFast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ba9def/32.png) [@FallFast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FallFast)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-dopers-ever-have-a-kidney-removed-i-need-stories/212940/17 "2003-11-14T17:57:16Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![SnoopyFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@SnoopyFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnoopyFan)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-dopers-ever-have-a-kidney-removed-i-need-stories/212940/18 "2003-11-14T19:37:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by calm kiwi \* > \*\ ***Snuggles** I have three kidneys too. We could start a kidney freaks club 😃 \*\* I’m thinking “Hey baby … I have 3 kidneys” would be a GREAT pickup line …