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The light is shining on my newly borrowed laptop (Thanks V!!! ). I am lying in the same "hotel" that I have taken over since Saturday. This room is smaller than the last one that I stayed in only 8 weeks ago, but after a few re-arrangements, it’s more desirable. Yes, I am back at Md Anderson.
Last Saturday we called my surgeon because my right leg was very swollen and I was starting to have some pain above my right knee. Dr. Pollock suggested that we (Sean and I) come here to see him right away. He was concerned that I had an infection and a possible blood clot in my leg. We arrived at the ER just after 9pm. By then my leg was swollen even more and very red. Dr. Anaya, Dr. Pollock's fellow, has been treating us this whole time. He had me hooked up to an IV antibiotic right away and drew some blood to run some tests. By 3am, the swelling and redness was all but gone, but they still admitted me to the hospital to run some more tests. By 5am, I was in a very large room on the 9th floor (only to be moved to the GI section on the 5th floor the next day). Later that day I had an abdominal CT scan and an ultrasound. I hope to never have the abdominal scan again - I had to drink 3 glasses of barium somewhat masked by the taste of apple juice. I also don't want anymore apple juice for awhile. The next day we received the results. It showed that my right pelvic area had filled up with fluid and scar tissue was blocking part of the flow in my right ureter. Dr. Pollock decided to place a drain into my abdomen along my incision line and observe the fluid that had seen and also with hopes that the blockage in the ureter would come out. The ultrasound was amazing to watch. In his English accent, the sweet radiologist showed me what everything was that we could see in my leg and when he told me to flex my foot and we would watch and listen as the air would shoot up to my heart. Result – NO BLOODCLOT!! 
My thoughts were just interrupted by my morning blood draw. I didn't feel the "stick" at all. I can already tell that this is going to be a great day.
The next day (Monday) I had a drain put into part of my incision to begin to drain what Dr. Pollock called a Transudation. The fluid had filled up almost all of my newly empty space and while it needed to drain, he and Dr. Anaya would take a sample daily to check for any bacteria. I was still on IV antibiotics, but they were concerned that I could have an even deeper infection. After 3 days of no sign of bacteria, he removed the drain (yesterday). Dr. Pollock was truly so wonderful to come in and check on me everyday. He is an astounding surgeon with the most remarkable bedside manner!!
Interrupted myself - time now is 6:30am and I am really really hungry. This yummy hospital food is free to patients and I am ordering it all to make up for that "50 dollar Kleenex box". (See back of my shirt design for explanation)
On Tuesday, I went in for a Renal Scan. This time I only had to drink 1 glass of water and they infused more fluid during the lasix part of the test. The whole test was about 45min. I watched the screen during the process. In the beginning, I saw my bladder (small at the time) and both of my kidneys. As the time and fluid wore on, my bladder size increased and the right kidney began to disappear while the other one stayed the same. I knew that something was wrong, but I wasn't too worried as I awaited the results. Later that day one of the urologists, Dr. Gaston, came into discuss the results. He explained that the blockage was causing my right kidney to function at 27% and the left at 73%. They needed to put in a temporary stint to take over for the right ureter. Hopefully after 3-6 months both kidneys would function 50/50. (If not, they would put in another temporary stint until my body healed enough and I would then have major surgery on my ureter.) I was supposed to have this surgery on Wednesday, but after not eating or drinking anything that day Dr. Gaston called to say that they were going to have to move it to the next day because it would probably be after 11pm before they would be getting to me. So, I ate a big late lunch/dinner and we went in yesterday at about 10am. I remember waking up around 4pm yesterday in the most excruciating pain I have ever felt. The nurses kept telling me to just hang tight and as soon as they got me back to my room I could go to the bathroom and get some pain medicine. Yes - they really said that!! I was already crawling out of the bed to go to the bathroom myself when someone realized what was going on. I was having bladder spasms of the worst kind. I am still hurting, but nothing like yesterday thank goodness. I have been so fortunate to have Mai, my night nurse. She couldn't have taken more splendid care of me!! Dr. Black and Dr. Gaston, my urologists also been quite heroic and I visited with Dr. Black this morning. He said that I will come back to see Dr. Ward, their urology specialist, in 3 months to have the stint taken out. There is some concern that my ureter may not stretch out like it needs to. They had some trouble putting the stint in through the blockage, but he said that the placement looks wonderful and I have a really good chance that all will be fine when I go to have it taken out. Please, please send an extra prayer for me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dr. Anaya, will be coming this morning to check on me and I will get to go home after that. And my breakfast just arrived. Double YEA!!! I titled this blog, A Blessing in Disguise" because if I hadn't come in (thank you Lisa for catching this!!!) we wouldn't have known about my right kidney until about 3months later when it failed. Wow. It is truly so amazing how your body can talk to you – if only you listen... I want to also send a special Thank You Dad, Diane, Brookie, V, Sami, Karen, Lisa, Wendy, Anouk, Ashlee, and everyone else that helped forward on my progress. I can't wait to sleep in my own bed, play with all of our "children" and get to see my kiddos and all of you!
Again, thank you for all of your prayers and good wishes!!
Carpe Diem!!
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Posted by amandahawes on 2008-03-07 11:06:23 | Rating: | Views: 241
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