-
help, help, new surgery needed!
Sorry to be so brief, but here’s the deal. Doran picked up an infection a couple of weeks ago. He was put on Levaquin. He started his second round of treatments last Thursday. Sunday night, he got another fever.
We call the resident on call, who sent us to the local ER for cultures. On Tuesday, his current chemo doc had him get a vancomycin IV, because the cultures were starting to come back staph neg something-or-other.
We went down Thursday for his second chemo, and the doc said no, he is being admitted for additional tests, and IV antibiotics.
OK, I can handle that. He had an ultrasound of his kidneys, and ultrasound of his abdomen, and a radiological scan of his kidneys.
Then, he called about 20 minutes ago to tell me he is having surgery tomorrow, to “have a bag put on one of his kidneys.” He knew nothing more, and, as you can imagine, was ready to quit….quit everything. I told him unless he promised me that he would hold on until tomorrow morning, I was jumping in the car, and driving down RIGHT NOW, despite having set through a seven hour meeting today and then driving two and a half hours home.
OK, so far.
Now, I just called the nurses station and demanded some answers. Turns out, the doc was just on his way into the room to talk to Doran, and explain more. I’ll be calling back in about 15 minutes, if he doesn’t call me.
Can anybody tell me what’s going on? I assume that one of his kidneys isn’t functioning the way they want, and that an outside drain will take the strain off, and that this is temporary. Have any of you heard of this happening?
I’ll let you know more when I know more.
Stephany in Iowa
-
6 Replies
-
Yes, they put him on Vancomycin for a couple of doses, then Infectious Diseases switched him to something else for two doses, and now he’s back on Vanco. Nothing is growing, so it must be working.
He’s got the tube in his left kidney now, and he’s outputting urine, so the pressure is off the kidney, and then they can maybe figure out what the obstruction is. Or maybe they’ll never know.
Anyway, when I got home, I called him, and he had just finished two cheeseburgers and a chocolate shake. I don’t think he’s feeling too bad. He promised he’d call if any of the residents came in, and I still hope to bring him home tomorrow.
Thanks for all your support, guys. When something like this comes up so suddenly, it’s great to have a place like this to vent.
Stephany in Iowa
-
[quote author=Julie link=topic=1435.msg10455#msg10455 date=1195277037]
You may want to find out if the Staph is the MRSA variety (methacillin resistant Staphlococcus Aureus) that is being discussed in the news lately. This means it is difficult to get rid of but I think they can test the staph to see what antibiotics it will respond to. I think it is important to ask what to expect with that kind of infection.
[/quote]Well fortunately, if it is MRSA, he’s on vancomycin, which is the drug of choice for treating hospital acquired MRSA
-Warren
TaG3 + CIS 12/2000. TURB + Mitomycin C (No BCG)
Urethral stricture, urethroplasty 10/2009
CIS 11/2010 treated with BCG. CIS 5/2012 treated with BCG/interferon
T1G3 1/2013. Radical Cystectomy 3/5/2013, No invasive cancer. CIS in right ureter.
Incontinent. AUS implant 2/2014. AUS explant 5/2014
Pediatrician
Sorry to hear about the complications Stephany. My dad had ureteral tubes in place for a couple of weeks post op, so I imagine they are just placing or replacing those types of tubes to drain off the urine. Hydronephrosis is caused by the backing up of urine into the renal pelvis (part of the kidney), then the kidney swells and fluid backs up even further causing fluid around the kidney. This can be very uncomfortable, and if not treated can cause further kidney damage.
Sounds like this is the most prudent course of action, that is for sure. I hope they figure out what is going on quickly, I imagine they will scope the ureters and look for the obstruction! Wishing you the best!! andrea
You may want to find out if the Staph is the MRSA variety (methacillin resistant Staphlococcus Aureus) that is being discussed in the news lately. This means it is difficult to get rid of but I think they can test the staph to see what antibiotics it will respond to. I think it is important to ask what to expect with that kind of infection.
Volunteer Coordinator
ABLSC
OK, it is hydronephrosis, just like Pat thought, and it’s not “surgery” per se, but a “procedure”, to take the strain off the kidney (functioning at 20%), until they know what the blockage is.
And guess what he has a history of? Kidney stones. Anybody want to make up a pool of bets?
Stephany in Iowa (I’ll know more tomorrow)
sent you an email Stephany…..please check……Pat
Sign In to reply.
