constant worry

Hi darronb

We are all worriers to an extent. If you don't mind me asking what kidney and bladder problems do you suffer with?
We all know our bodies better than anyone, if you feel something isn't right than in my opinion it's better to get it checked out. I think when we have chronic health issues it is normal to worry especially about or loved ones and the affect it has on them.

Hang in there..

I will apologise now for this be very long.

My problems started about 12 years ago when I started to pass blood in my urine. My doctor sent me straight to see an Urologist. A cystoscopy was done and it was found that I had polyps inside my bladder. These were removed and I thought that was that, job done.

Six months later I started to pass blood again and the same procedure was carried out, but this time my consultant advised I would need a flexible cystoscopy every 6 months to check no more growths reoccurred and it was not changing to something more sinister.

On both of these occasions biopsies were taken and it was all non cancerous. The consultant I was seeing at this time was an old fashion man soon for retirement; I did not like him very much. He was not a people person, and after a short time he did retire and my case was taken over by someone else.

After more cystoscopies and biopsies is was found I had a condition called cyistica cystitis and this was caused by a long team low grade infection of the bladder and it has left me with a high bladder neck line. I short it means I have difficulty fully empting my bladder.

At this stage everything seemed to be stopping stable, no more blood and no more polyps, so my consultant discharged me from is care.

My subsequent kidney problems were found by accident with a routine ultrasound on my liver and it was found that my right kidney was very enlarged. So another trip to see the urologist.

I had various tests done, an IVU and a Reno gram and another test I can not remember what it was called but I had tubes stuck in every orifice I had.

The outcome was that my right kidney had 4% function and the left one has 94% function. The reason why the right kidney failed was that the Ureter had been blocked at the bladder due to a blockage. I felt no pain/discomfort, no knowledge that it was failing.

After this my consultant has been keeping an eye on me with 12 monthly appointments. I thought “Well OK. You can live quite happily on one kidney” and I was hoping this was where everything would stabilise and I would live happily ever after. Oh no.

12 months ago I had another Reno Gram (They injected me with a radioactive dye and took x-rays of I exiting through the kidney and bladder) the results came back with some of the dye staying in the Ureter for longer than it should and I was told to make an appointment to see my consultant for 6 months.

At this appointment the consultant wanted to have a cystoscopy, and a Retrograde pyelography and a stent fitted if it needed. When I had this done I opted for a spinal anaesthetic. When the consultant got inside he could not find the opening of the Ureter in the bladder so he could not continue with the procedure.


After this I went for an IVU (Intravenous urography) and an MRI scan. This found there was some sort of anomaly on the ureter at the base of the bladder that was cursing the blockage. When I was having these tests done I also had a blood test to check my kidney function. These results came back with a high creatinine level. I was taken into hospital to have a nephrocapy and a stent fitted. (They inserted a neddle into my back and punchered the kidney Then fed a wire from the kidney down into the bladder, then a tube was fed over this wire into the bladder and the wire was removed. This was all done via a local anisthetic in my back.

So this is were I am at the moment. I am waiting to go back into hospital on the 11th April to have the anomally removed and the bladder rejoined to the ureter futher up.

You have been through a lot also.
It sounds like you have UVJ which is the ureter being obstructed at the connection of bladder instead of the UPJ which is the ureter obstruction closer the he kidney.

Those tests are no fun either, especially the lasix renal scan..YUK!!

Best of luck and keep us posted.

Nobody can blame you for being concerned. You have been through a lot. I think we all tend to worry about our health, specially if we have health concerns. It's easy to say don't worry, but very hard to do. Let us know how everything goes. Best wishes

Hi all

I am out of hospital after yet another operation and this one, the same as the last did not go to plan.

I had a spinal anaesthetic again so I could hear all that was going on.

The consultant went in with a cystoscopy again and with a stent fitted he could see where the Ureter joins to the bladder and it is in completely in the wrong place, he says it is on the centre line, what ever that is and quite low down by were the prostate is.

He removed the stent I had fitted, but I don’t think he meant to as there was a bit of cursing when he did it. He then tried to insert another stent but could not get the guide wire up the Ureter into the kidney. He tried several times and got more frustrated as he went alone.

Then he reverted to some surgery. He cut away the some of the thickening around the Ureter to remove part of the blockage. I was in the theatre for 2 hours. I was fitted with a catheter and wheeled back to my room.

I stayed in over night in the hospital and had the catheter removed early in the morning, but was unable to Pee so they had to fit another catheter. I was send home in the afternoon with the catheter still fitted, So I am at home now with a bag strapped to my let. (Nice).

I had some blood tests done to check my kidney function and they are OK at the moment, I have to go for another blood test Tuesday.

I am now very saw and very depressed, as I will have to go back and have a much bigger operation to replant the Ureter to another part of the bladder.

Hi

I'm sorry you went through this all.
Why didn't they put you out for the procedure? I get put under some sedation for some procedures. I've had many cystoscopies and they are no fun, as you know.

I am wondering why they didn't repair the blockage while you were already there.
Is it because they didn't time in the surgical room?
It sounds like you have UPJ or UVJ. Did the doctor mention these words to you?
I've been through it 3 times now.
With that surgery they do remove the bad part of the ureter and reattach it to the either the kidney or the bladder depending on which type of blockage you have.

Please know we are hear for you. I understand getting sad after having been in the hospital and hoping they fix us the first time only to have to return.
Keep us posted and feel free to pm us anytime.
Thinking of you and wishing you the best..