posted
It's times like this that I'm glad I have good health insurance through my job.
Back in October, I had my wisdom teeth removed.
Back in the beginning of March, I had a tonsillectomy.
And in June, I get to have one more medical procedure.
Two summers ago I suffered a UTI. Which was so much fun, let me tell you. Because I always fall into the trap of "ignore it for a bit and see if it goes away by itself", I suffered for about a day before going to the ER and getting antibiotics. I then went to my primary care physician, and he sent me to a urologist because UTIs are less likely in men and should be investigated.
The positive? My UTI just seems to have been a passing infection. The negative? They gave me a CT scan and found a 1.5 centimeter 'mass' on my right kidney.
Because it was so small, my urologist elected to keep an eye on it with MRIs once about every six months. And in a year since they've been keeping an eye on it, it's grown about a centimeter to be 2.5 centimeters. During this time I have had no other noticeable symptoms.
So now my new urologist (my old urologist sent me to him because he's an expert kidney surgeon) has elected to go in and cut the little blighter out. They feel that there's an 80% chance that it's just an abscess, and a 10 to 20% chance that it's cancer.
Luckily, in the event that it is a cancer the treatment for my little 'mass' is surgical removal. So the worst case scenario seems to be that I'll have had a tiny cancer nipped in the bud.
As with all surgeries, I'm a little nervous going into this one. And it's going to be annoying that I'll have to be out of work for at least a month, if not two. (Thankfully I will be getting paid for most of that.) I'm not looking forward to how I may feel during that month, as I doubt it will be pleasant.
Anyway, I just wanted to bore you all with my medical history. I like keeping you folks informed, because after the surgery I'll either drop off for a while or be on here constantly to fight off the boredom of being on bed-rest.
posted
I'm sorry. I've been watching my 5 year old go through multiple UTIs and bladder and kidney infections, and I weep for her pain, so I definitely have sympathy for yours. Good luck with your surgery. I hope all goes well.
Posts: 21182 | Registered: Sep 2004
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posted
Mooselet had kidney issues (though secondary to the primary urethral valve issue) and needed surgery (for the primary), and his birthday is June 10th. He's doing great now, so consider it a good omen.
Posts: 6213 | Registered: May 2001
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posted
Well, stock up on good books! I'll be praying for you - try and let us know how things are as quickly as possible, though of course take care of yourself first!
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
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