Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Going into surgery tomorrow morning.
I've been missing in action from my blog not just because we've been busy with the process of getting closer to adopting Boo (although that's been in the works and still is), but lately I've been even more busy going to various doctors and specialists and having tests run, for some health issues that have been recently discovered.I think long ago I mentioned that I have only 1 kidney (my right one was removed when I was 2 years old).
Well, at an annual physical, it was discovered that I had over-the-top high blood pressure, which is not normal for me. My blood pressure has always been within normal ranges, until recently.
My Primary Care Physician (who I think is awesome) was alarmed and acted aggressively by ordering all sorts of tests on me. She started with blood work and focused on my kidney, telling me that sudden high blood pressure was often a sign of kidney problems and, since I only have one, she was quickly starting to look there.
After all the tests were run (including an ultrasound, a cat scan, and x-rays), it was determined that I have two very large stag horn kidney stones in my one remaining kidney. Left unattended, they are ticking time bombs waiting to go off and the results will not be pretty.
I was referred to a urologist and a nephrologist, and they even consulted with other doctors in their field and it was collectively decided that I needed to have surgery to attempt to have the stones removed (they're too large to pass on their own or be dissolved by medicine and lithotripsy is not a viable option in my case) while I'm in relative good health and not in a crisis situation.
So, tomorrow I go under the knife for a rather invasive surgery that involves cutting into my one remaining kidney. The surgeon did her job very well in informing me of the risks (internal bleeding, infection, accidental damage of other internal organs, renal failure, need for dialysis, even death). As Oronzo and I sat there and listened to her spell all of this out and then signed the paper listing all of these risks, the terror set in.
I'm terrified. I'm terrified that things will go wrong and that I won't wake up from this surgery and I'll never see my kids or husband again. I'm terrified that I'll wake up from surgery and have no kidney left. I'm terrified of all the worst case scenarios.
And it's a bit surreal to have to sit down and explain to your 4 1/2 year old and 2 1/2 year old children that Mommy has an owie in her kidney and has to go to the hospital for an operation to make it all better. The picture I've attached is the one I showed Snuggle Bug because, bless his heart, he's a worrier and I knew that giving him a visual image would help him process. I thought about crossing out the right kidney, that's missing, but thought that might just confuse him.
And today I spent the day filling out Durable Health Care & Mental Health Power of Attorney forms, as well as Living Will forms. I'm 41 years old and I'm having to face the reality that these forms need to be filled out now, not some day, but NOW.
So, please, if some of you are still reading after my long absence from blogging, please say a prayer for me and my family tomorrow, that all will go well.
I'll be heading in to the OR at about 8:30 AM so that the radiologist people can prep me for the surgeon who starts her procedure at 10 AM. The surgeon told me that the procedure normally takes under 2 hours, but she suspects mine will be longer so she booked the OR for 4 hours!
Thank you! God willing, all will go well and I'll be able to provide you all with an update over the weekend or early next week, depending on how well my healing is going.
20 Comments:
My Goodness OW, I will be thinking of you!
Please ask Oronzo to update if you are not able to? Wishing you much strength and light. Have Faith.
Mieneke
Im praying for you. I pray you have a quick and speedy recovery.
I too only have one kidney (my left was removed when I was 5 1/2), so this kind of thing is something that I also worry about happening.
I will keep you and your family in my prayers. I hope someone will update!
I've never commented before, but I Have been reading for for a couple of years. I wanted to wish you good luck for a safe and uneventful surgery. Thinking of you and your family.
I will be praying for you!! And for Oronzo and the kiddos. We serve a great God...He is good!!
I didn't read this until today, when I suppose you are currently in surgery. I am sending my prayers your way and certainly praying for a good outcome for you and your family.
I just read this. Based on your timeline, you should be out of surgery by now, so I wish you a speedy recovery!
You know I totally understand your fears .... and will be praying for you aggressively. I am going through my own round of surgical consult, for all kinds of scary, scary things. So, we will need to just hold spiritual hands and jump into the fray together.... Give Oronzo a hug and tell him I will have John pray for his needs specifically. He gets it. Oh, how he gets it ....
I can certainly understand your fears with everything the surgeon told you...but it sounds like your primary care dr was on top of things by ordering the blood tests and focusing on your kidneys - and at least the issue was found quickly.
You know you'll have many people praying for you tomorrow...praying for the surgeon as she's operating and the nurses, and for you too, for peace of mind. Praying for Oronzo and the kids as they wait for you to get out of surgery.
Praying, praying and prayigng some more. Hugs! Jen O.
Covering you and your family in prayer.
So sorry! Praying that everything goes well and that you will have a speedy recovery. :)
Wow, I was just online and trying to find the Five Ingredient Friday gal again and just read your blog, I pray your surgery went well yesterday! Here is a devotion I shared with my cousin who underwent gall bladder surgery today...http://proverbs31devotions.blogspot.com/2009/09/different-way-to-look-at-suffering.html
Praying everything turns out well for you!
Hope everything went well. Thinking good thoughts for you!
I just saw this but I am praying that things went well and you recover quickly!!!
Thinking of you and hoping all was well and you'll be back to update us soon.
Well, I read this late and wasn't able to pray for the surgery, but I will pray for a quick recovery. My son has nephrotic syndrome, so I can sympathize with the scariness of kidney procedures!!
Blessings to you from CA.
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Mine son is a worrier too and pictures always help him to understand better and relieve the worry
I hope you are recovering quickly.... Keeping you all in my prayers. Hugs!
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