We're goin' in...

Since we already know that the kidneys are being slackers... and with good reason... it's time to go in and stick it to 'em.

It appears, at least as of my writing this, that the left side has been a really bad boy... 'er girl. The ultrasound showed what we already know and that there is mass pressing on the drain (ureter) of the kidney. There's a kink in the hose. The plan is to perform a percutaneous nephrostomy (PN) on her tomorrow. They will also potentially be placing a stent as well. The determination will be made tomorrow as to whether both kidneys will be getting tubage.

Initially they talked about the PN and I wasn't crazy about the idea of her having to have tubes coming our her back. Having the opening there is a great invitation for infection. I inquired (and expressed a preference to) about a stent. Here's what I was told. Since the stent is plastic, it's susceptible to collapse, it's also possible that they might not be able to get it through the ureter due to compression.

Discuss...

We did and so the plan is to do both. We want the best chance for this to work and have the fastest turn around of her kidney function. Which will get her back on track for the trial and best case scenario is the trial med works... reduces the pain and so on and so forth.

Side note... we've hit a bit of a snag with her pain regimen in that she's having trouble keeping the methadone pills down... they go in and hit that rubber bottom and come on back out. She was getting 4mg of dilaudid/hr... now since she can't take the methadone, it's 6mg/hr. That dose would most likely lead to a stoppage of the heart in you and me.

Pray that all goes smoothly tomorrow and pray that the tubes do their collective jobs and drain those under achieving kidneys... we need to get her back on her feet... and boy do we need to get out of the hospital

Check please...

KEIYTAP