Quick recap, my Ureter / Stent plugged up 2 1/2 months ago and my Creatinine shot up from my post transplant baseline of 211μmol/L ish or 2.4mg/dL to 1100 or 12.5. Turns out my Stent had Barnacled up and blocked my Ureter and I was backing up with waste. Symptoms were basically Stomach Flu like.
They put in a nephrostomy tube and My creatinine came down in about 2 days. Over the next 2 months they removed the Stent then I went in for 4 Balloon Dilations of the ureter, all via a tube coming out my side used for access for the Ureter work. After each of the the 1st 3 dilations they left an internal / external stent in the ureter to try to have it heel open allowing good waste drainage. On the 4th and last dilation the ureter scar tissue gave way and for a week and a half I was Pissing like a Champ without a Stent of any sort. They left a nephrostomy tube in me as a backup plan if the Ureter closed up.
Here’s a picture of the plumbing with a transplanted, graft, kidney installed.
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3 days before I was to go in for the final nephrostogram / drainage die test then nephrostomy tube removal the Ureter Closed up partially ( after 10 days of peeing great naturally ). I was still Pissing OK but my kidney had to back up and pressure up then Push the waste to my bladder. This caused my creatinine to climbing. I figure it had closed up as I was starting to feel like crap again and weight was up 3 lb overnite and stayed up. A creatinine test confirmed it was backing up.
Sept 24, Initially this was the day everything was to be pronounced GOOD, the Nephrostomy tube Removed and I’d go home ready to get back to normal life.
Instead they did a Nephrostomy test which confirmed the blockage then worked for about 20 minutes to get a wire through the nephrostomy tube, through my transplanted kidney, through the blocked ureter and into my bladder. Don’t get me wrong, they did know what they were doing. If they just poke around or just try to push through a tough spot it could make holes that cause more problems. It sounded like it took a lot of finesse to get it. ( There is absolutely no doubt when the wire hits the inside of my bladder. I instantly felt like it was tickling the inside of the end of my dick and about to hit my knee. It hadn’t gone that far, it’s just how t felt, all 4 times. If your partially sedated it’s not to big a deal, I havent been the last 3 times, my choice for various reasons. This last round it would have been a much easier ride with the drugs running. The 20 min of poking around was a drag at times. )
NOTE : if your going through this and have an internal / external stent get the doc’s to shoot some freezing into your bladder via the tube, it helps dull the weird feelings.
They pushed an internal Stent down the wire and into my Ureter then pulled all extra parts out. I have only the internal stent in me and a bandage on my abdomen ,1st time in 2 1/2 months that I have not had a tube hanging out me. I DEFINATELY FEEL FOR YOU PEOPLE ON PD DEALING WITH A TUBE DAY IN DAY OUT. I KNEW I HAD IT LUCKY NOT HAVING TO DO PD, BUT NOW I REALLY APPRECIATED EVEN MORE, not that I didn’t before.
The next step is a Ureter Reconstruction Surgery, date to be determined, but we’re anticipating it to be in the next couple months. I’ll update with a surgical plan when I know it. Until then I’m just happy to have the internal Stent in me so I can get back to work and also get in shape for the next surgery to make recovery quicker. I do know the Slice will be similar to the transplant slice and I’ll be in hospital about 1 week with a couple of months recovery. That’s all doable for sure. At least this time I wont have those crazy anti rejection drugs to get used to.
Just wanted to say, I know your pain. While I am a female going through your issues, I can so relate. I do not have a donor kidney but I do only have one. OBGYN removed an ovary 2 1/2 years ago and crushed ureter to only good kidney. Tried to avoid ureter repair by going through a bunch of ureter replacements attempting to get the ureter to open and stay open. After 4 tries and 1 year, they removed the stent and I pissed like a horse for 1 1/2 until like you in Sept. started feeling like crap, Got sick and went to hospital because suddently stopped pissing. Creatin level up, kidney stressed so nephrostomy tube in back, bag on leg. Great. Ureter repair now a necessidity going in Dec. 17 2010 for repair. Will let you know how it goes.
AL’s Reply Good Luck I’ll definately be thinking of you as the whole thing is still very fresh for me. I’ll send some prayers your way as well. Take Care.
…” I was still Pissing OK but my kidney had to back up and pressure up then Push the waste to my bladder. ”
How did you know? Was it that pulling pain from the top of the kidney? Sorry, I have so many questions.
AL’s reply,
I didnt have kidney pain as this was in my Transplanted Kidney which does not have any feeling as no nerves were hooked up.
we figured it out by Bloodwork and a bit ore unhealthy feeling ( and confirmed it when the Radiologist uncorked the tube from my kidney and got sprayed )