Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) Support Group
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a progressive, genetic disorder of the kidneys. It occurs in humans and other organisms. PKD is characterised by the presence of multiple cysts (polycystic) in both kidneys. The disease can also damage the liver, pancreas and rarely the heart and brain.
Hello again everyone. This is not PKD related, I don't think anyway? But with PKD anything is possible! I was recently released from the hospital. The first time was a routine hernias surgery, 3 of them that ended up with 10 incisions. I had to have an NG tube inserted, OMG, is was a nightmare, then the Ileus stopped functioning, everything went to hell!. I finally was released and sent home, severe diarrhea and vomiting persisted for another week and I had to be admitted again with very bad dehydration! Finally I was sent home after another week in the hospital and now I have pretty bad swelling in my ankles and feet! I am getting up on the average of 12 times per night to go to the bathroom!! When I get up in the morning, the ankles and feet are normal, but by the end of day, the swelling returns! I am really scared that something else is going on. I have reduced all salt and keep my feet up as much as I can, but to no avail, the same thing happens! I have an apt with the surgeon this Friday and don't trust him a bit. I know that I got an infection resulting from the hernia surgery to begin with as they were testing me for C-diff and other things which are very, very serious. Allegedly the results came back negative! I am scared that they gave me drugs in my IV that have affected my kidney function, potassium for one! I know I was severely dyhydrated but not many hospitals are concerned with patients with PKD!
Sorry for the long winded letter but I have worked to hard and too long to have everything flushed down the toilet for hospital incompetence! Any and all advise will be taken so seriously!
Lots of love,
Norma ...
Sorry for the long winded letter but I have worked to hard and too long to have everything flushed down the toilet for hospital incompetence! Any and all advise will be taken so seriously!
Lots of love,
Norma ...
So sorry to hear you've had continuing problems and spent more time in hospital. Ankle swelling can have a number of causes, not just kidney issues, though I suspect that you won't rest easy until you've had your function checked again. It may settle down on its own, but to help matters, the advice is to put your feet up for 2-3 hours in the early evening to allow some of the fluid to re-enter the blood and be passed as urine before you go to bed. Your legs need to be as high as your heart. Don't drink late in the evening and avoid tea and coffee after 4pm. Some blood pressure meds can cause ankle swelling. I can't recall whether or not you take these, Norma. If you're not happy after seeing the surgeon, see your GP so that all possible causes of the problem can be considered.
Take care,
Chewitt
I wonder if it is gout, or just a lot of toxins that can't seem to get out after all the drugs. There really does need to be some labs to check things out. When was the last kidney function checked anyway?
Please keep us in touch about all of this!!!!
We are all pulling for you, take care, sending love and blessings!
Love Heather
Now I want to tell you all that I have been to hell and back! Surgeries, sickness, multiple hospital stays with my creatinine rising every, single day!! IV's with crap in them that was trying to kill my kidneys and me! It's been over two months now and when I finally got home, to stay that is, I resumed my daily herbal meds that I take, I took them in the hospital but not as I should have and my creatine rose like a rose bud! Rising beautifully and killing my kidneys! But haha - now that I am home and taking them every day, my numbers have dropped like a hot potato!!!! Creatinine is 1.5, iam going to make it and it will be cold day in hell before I ever go into a hospital again!! For any reason! Hospitals don't care about kidney function and give you meds that will damage your kidneys! Be very careful about unnecessary hernia surgeries!! There is plenty that can go wrong, believe me, I know! I am living proof after spending two different period in the hospital for routine hernia surgeries, that things CAN go wrong! But, I fooled them all, am here to continue my support for all of you!
Prayers for Helen ...
Lots of love,
Norma ...
Glad to hear that you're doing well again. I know what you mean about hospitals. There was a case in the news recently about a young diabetic woman who was in for routine surgery, but who died because nobody remembered to monitor her insulin levels. They're great places to pick up infections, too. Let's hope we can all stay away as much as possible.
Take care,
Chewitt
on ankles I was reminded of a drug for bp, Norvasc, which may help some patients but is notorious for causing edema but doctors love to prescribe it.
keep up the good work