3rd && 4th repair procedure at 10 month post-op comming up...

[florihupf]

Ok, I have to vent a little bit.

Just coming back from the urologist checking on my 8 month post-op ureter reimplantation surgery. That was needed because an ADR at L5/S1 was damaging my left ureter so that a good two inches of it decaded and urine was going into my abdomen for a week or two.

So the thing is, the CT scan revealed that the reimplatation is starting to close and revision is needed to keep it open and prevent the left kidney from going down. That would be the 3rd revision after the ADR.

Also they will fix my left side hydrocele which developed because of the ureter damage as well. All in all, I am GRUMPY!

Tomorrow (coincidence) I have a follow up with the spine surgeon and he will try and figure out why I still have left side leg pain and pain when lying down and twisting, but that's all soooo minor compared with the urology troubles...

Well, this is how it is when you're on the " < 1%" side of things...



PS: We need more Instant Gremlins!

[mmglobal]

Florian,

I'm so sorry about your ongoing problem. I never realized how important access surgeons are. Not only do we have to worry about the experience level of the surgeon implanting the device, we also have to worry about the access surgeon.

Yes, I used to think that 80, 90, 99% were all excellent odds, until I became a less than 2%'er myself. Now I see many people like you who are living the horror of complications that they should not have to worry about.

Vent away... you deserve it. I hope everything goes well.

Mark

[Harrison]

Florian, I'll be thinking about you. Thanks for posting and sharing your story. I wish we could something to help, but you have our prayers and support. Do let us know how things progress.

Rich

PS: I'll try to kidnap some instant graemlins to make you less grumpy. The best things in life are free...

[florihupf]

Thanks all guys...

Just for additional info: So I was seeing the spine surgeon today because of increased leg pain and he was saying: "Well, then we have to restart physical therapy, Florian." ~ Then I was saying: "Well, I never got physical therapy." ~ He: "Oh, uhh, hmmm.".

Oh well...

[Justin]

Gosh I hope the physical therapy goes well and that you can find some relief in the future.

Good luck with everything we are pulling for you!

Justin

[Alastair]

Hi Florian,
it certainly sounds as if you have been in the wars with this urology problem.

I can only hope that now this has been resolved, that your spine symptoms and problems will improve dramatically. It's a matter of being a patient patient -- -- --lol

I am sure things will work out for the best
Best wishes,
Alastair

[Harrison]

hey Florian, I reread your post trying to figure out how your last visit went. How are you doing? What's the latest on your condition? I hope you are feeling better mentally and physically...

[florihupf]

I am off to surgery in one hour... I'll let you know who it went after I am able to use the keyboard again, hehe... ~ Those doctors, he said it's a minor thing to do, however, they booked the OP for 5 hours...

Wish me luck!

[Harrison]

Jeez! I hope it goes smoothly and it's the final chapter in a long series of episodes. Good luck with all!

[florihupf]

Hi all,

so it took only three hours. The hydrocele on the left is repaired and everything around the private area is swollen quite a bit. However, the doctor was saying he has seen way worse post-op swelling, so I consider myself on the lucky side here. Just coming back from the doctor's office where he removed the drainage pipe.

On the ureter side of things he went inside it and looked at it using those endoscopic things and he said that scar tissue was closing it down to less the one millimeter where the ureter was reimplanted into the bladder. They put a metal wire through and inflated a ballon for ten minutes to widen things up. Afterwards he placed a (bigger then last time) stent to keep the connection open. It' s always a literally breathtaking undertaking to see the washroom with the stent, but it's only for two weeks (and not a month as it was on last time).

Will it be ok then? ~ I don't know; there will be another CT scan to check if the connection is open in a couple of months, but I have the feeling that it's now my livelong responsibilty to check on those things. The strange thing is that I don't feel the ureter being obstructed, only when it's way to late there's a feeling of "mass" on the left flank.

The good thing is, that due to all the pain medication I don't have back pain right now. Tee hee... Can only get better from now on, I think.

I really have to write the whole story for Richard, so he can put it on the web-page. Maybe I do this after the next hydrocodone, which will make it funny to read.