Stoned Again....and fistula too. Lucky me!

Pat, Actually, now that Dr. Gill is in California, it wouldn't be so far for me to go to see him. I changed my insurance last time out so that I can now go out of state for medical concerns. My doctor tried to make it sound like no big deal...and certainly to the medical folks, it isn't...I'm the one who has to go into the OR again and take a week off from work, etc. etc. Certainly not a rough road ahead but still a bumpy one while I would simply prefer a smooth one. The way it's going, I'll never get to the stage where I can graduate to yearly appointments. Good thing I love my doctor.

Melodie, I am glad there was good news in the cancer department. I'm sorry that you have to figure out what to do about CT scans and a fistula. Have you had high creatinine levels in the past? When my husband was in the hospital and his creatinine level was approaching 3 he had a consult with the nephrologists. They said he would should not take oral contrast but could use IV contrast. I don't know what the difference is but is worth discussing with your Dr. and the radiologist. I have read that being well hydrated before the procedure and drinking liquids after the procedure helps wash out the contrast faster and would dilute it. I don't have the references at hand. Some of what I know is from other Bladder Cancer survivors experiences that they have written about.

I hope that your major medical concern can be addressed to your satisfaction.

((((Hugs)))) Julie

My dear Melodie.....what a bummer. well they give it 12 weeks to close but i don' know how long you've been doing it? If it doesn't close then its surgery. I'll bet my Dr. Gill could do it laparoscopically?? Hmmmm i'll have to ask him. I did just read an article which said the mixture of the various stuff going into your bladder including potassium, calcium...or whatever could cause stones so there ya go. Don't ask me where i read it as i was researching the fistulas...they have so many kinds of fistulas..i had no idea.....just know Hal better behave:S
xxoo Pat

Oh for heavens sake, Melodie. Wish you didn't have to deal with this nonsense. Congratulations on the big win though - no reoccurance!

The link that Pat sent you in a previous post - said that the treatment for a fistula is typically conservative. Curious what your doc said about what to do next. Can't the hole just heal by itself?


Of course you can handle this Melodie - just wish you didn't have to.

Sending the love..

Gracie

Had my 6 month check up yesterday. Good news is the doc doesn't see any reoccurance of cancer.

I came prepared with my 'show & tell', a small packet containing seeds I had collected when emptying my bladder....seeing is believing...he now thinks I do have a fistula...a small hole between the bladder and the colon where stuff that should be going to the colon is instead going into the bladder. So he wants me to get another CT scan next week, where they would put contrast into the bladder, colon and I think, the rectum. I think I am going to postpone that appointment because I have some other medical concern that I presently consider a higher priority. Besides which, he doesn't think the scan will reveal where the hole is but it would give them a picture for future comparisons. I'm thinking I don't want yet another CT scan done again so soon as I get concerned about how the kidneys are affected by all those scans. I need to ak him what my latest creatinine level was.

And the fistula leads us to the idea that because there is a hole, it might explain why I continue to produce stones. The scan revealed I have 4 of which three are now a cm in size so he wants them removed. He told me the UW Medical Center recently got a new doc from UCLA who specializes in stones so guess he would be the man for the job.

Oh well, it's not anything that I, God and the good doctor can't handle. Just another bump in the road....or should I say just another stone.