My left kidney has never given me a spot of trouble. I don’t know if I was born with a shitty right kidney, or if it developed over time. But, when I was 10, I had severe pyelonephritis on the right side and was hospitalized for a week. I remember it pretty well. It started as a UTI, because I clearly remember screeching on the toilet, having to pee but not being able to squeeze out a single drop. Then, over 3 years ago, I had a kidney stone on the same side. Last week, I developed a UTI that has progressed insanely quickly to (lucky me!) right-side pyelonephritis.
Motherfucker! Can’t I just nuke this little dickwad from orbit and be done with him?* My left kidney is quite angelic, she’s never bothered me. It’s always the dude on the right. I’d be much happier with one working kidney than dealing with a bum. >:[
*I ask this out of pain and frustration, with humor on the side. I understand that it’s probably really stupid to consider removing a kidney prior to legitimate renal failure. Still,
When I was in medical school a surgeon with a knack for pithy maxims told me the indications for amputating a limb were “the 3 D’s: Dead, dangerous, or damn nuisance.” Sounds like you have two out of three. Have you broached the prospect of a nephrectomy with a doc?
I don’t think it’s that simple to remove, as you already know. Even when transplants are done the old kidney is left in to make the process simpler. If that kidney is working at all it’s making your other one last longer too. It takes both of mine to function at the level of single kidney so you wouldn’t want to get rid of one that has any function left. Too bad about the problems though, I know it sucks, I’ve been in severe renal failure twice. Great way to lose weight. Well, effective way, not all that great.
Maybe I should get a kidney function test? I don’t know how much it’s functioning, but it makes sense that keeping it in would help the left one last longer.
Renal failure sucks, TriPolar! I’m hungry but I just don’t feel like eating. Maybe I’ll try to force down something simple and hydratey, like cereal & milk.
I’m amazed doctors haven’t been prescribing periodic creatinine level tests for you. I wasn’t hungry much either, but I was in bad enough shape that my whole digestive system was shutting down. There wasn’t much point in eating, everything would come out one end or the other before long.
It’s not serious enough to require hospitalization. Maybe they would if I were admitted.
I was just researching the antibiotic I was prescribed at Concentra, and the fucker gave me Nitrofurantoin which is ONLY indicated for simple UTIs–NOT pyelonephritis. What a dildo.
I know it won’t help with your present problems, but as far as down the road - have you ever had that kidney and ureter formally assessed? It might be that it is for all practical purposes functionless and as such is more of a liability than an asset. A simple kidney function test probably wouldn’t tell the story about the bum one if your good kidney is functioning well. You only need one to do the whole job.
Kidneys do sometimes get taken out when they are dead, dangerous or a damn nuisance (see for example). Alternatively, there may be a less extensive anatomic problem, such as v-u reflux, that may be amenable to less extensive surgical or even medical management.
Ask your doctor why he’s not getting regular creatinine level tests. It’s only a blood test. It won’t tell you how well each kidney is performing, but it should give you a better idea of the area of concern. Normal level is one. Two means your kidneys are functioning together as well as one healthy one. Anything above that is a matter of concern. I’ve hit 5 and they were wondering how I was still standing. If you are at 2 or below I assume they wouldn’t really consider any further action necessary since you can stay alive quite well that way and you don’t want to do anything risky on top of that.
