Mary's Journal

I have had a very difficult week and here is a great place to just get it out. Family and friends are great, but they haven't been through it. I have been so fatigued. Friday and Saturday night I was in the ER with hydrophrenosis. That is an enlargement of the kidney due the inability to pass urine. I have blockages in both kidneys and it is the most agonizing pain I have ever been through. I am still in pain, although not as severe. Monday I saw urolgy, Tuesday I saw nepherology. I have been diagnosed with a rare congenital kidney disease where my ureters are stenotic. My kidney function keeps dropping. I need stents put into both kidneys. The nepherologist believes my kidney function will restore once I have surgery. For now, pain meds, fluid restrictions, diet restrictions, medication restrictions. Of course everything is sent to my cardiac surgeon who is waiting for my kidney function to go up do he can move forth and it went down. Initially they canceled my tests, then after reviewing further called me and told me they don't my heart is strong enough for kidney surgery. I went and had MRIs without contrast today on my heart valves. This will give him more information. So now I wait. My hope is that my heart surgery can be done ASAP if that's the case, my kidneys are making me very ill. I need that ASAP to limit damage to my kidneys. I guess I am scared. I am 51 and just really hoping someone helps me and will move forth with one or the other surgeries.

I had COVID in December and it has caused kidney failure. I see a nepherologist next week about dialysis. Next week I am scheduled for MRIs of my heart valves and vascular system of my chest and then to see the surgeon for a consult. It's unlikely they will be able to do the MRIs now due to the kidney failure. They say I can still get my valve replaced but the surgeons need to figure put another way to get the images they need. Has anyone else been through heart surgery with kidney failure? I can't believe how quickly my health has declined.