Q’s testing resulted in a call then some waiting for 96 hours for the urologist to talk with the nephrologist and then the nephrologist to call me (after an email and a call to the coordinator). Friday night – while holding off a dinner for seven women – I spoke with Q’s doctor (was it 30 minutes?) about the treatment options which are less than stellar and invite other issues to the party known as rare complications.
First, Q’s kidney isn’t happy but it’s only doing just a little bit worse than December. While her creatinine is a bit higher than in December, the size of the kidney – enlarged due to blockage causing hydronephrosis – is the same. Second, to do something about it likely will take away from her quality of life for little gain. It re-introduces Q to potential UTIs again (remember that year of more than 20 UTIs? Her becoming septic? Hospitalized?) Right. A more aggressive caregiver or doctor could have pushed, but both her transplant nephrologist and I agree that less is more for Q right now.
We know she is going to need another kidney and a first liver. We’re trying to keep her stable. If there is something we can not do because of the risk to her quality of life, then that is what we want to do. So, no surgery to “fix” the blockage. Because for us, things rarely go as planned in the medical realm.
We are at Emory at this moment, on their transplant floor in a procedure room. For G, they are worried about rejection as well as a rare complication for transplant patients. They noticed a lab value for something besides kidney function is higher and it’s associated with a rare complication. It’s been over 14 years since his transplant, so these things aren’t unheard of, but it’s never easy to hear. We are waiting to see if his labs from this morning have trended up again (as they were last week) and they will do a biopsy. Then we will figure out what testing is needed to rule out The Rare Complication. Because no. Rare just loves us. But no.
It’s a lot. Don’t ask me how we do it. Because today I do not know.
Wow! That’s so much on your plates. Let me know how I can help. If I’m not home, I’ll volunteer the hubby. š
I am sending love and anything you need. I am lifting your children and your family in prayer. Whatever you need Iām here for your family.