Just another day at the Office

Well it was just another day at the office. I arrived for the laser ablation of the stones and they couldn't reach the stones. So nothing was accomplished. Dr. Keys left word for me to follow up with him yesterday which I did. He explained that the location of my stones were such that he didn't have instruments long enough to reach them. He hooked me up with another Doc that specializes in the hard to get stones. I met with him this morning and we have a third plan. This is the plan that I thought that the would have done in the first place but now it's what we are going to attempt. Because of my other health issues I most likely will have to spend 2-3 days in the hospital after the procedure. I think I won't have to stay that long I feel much healthier than I have in the past but I'm the eternal optimist...LOL A common surgical treatment of kidney stones is PCNL (Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy). PCNL requires having a tube placed into the kidney through the back by a radiologist (a nephrostomy tube). Then at a later time in the operating room we can place instruments through this tube and into the kidney to remove the stones. Often this procedure can be done the same day that the nephrostomy tube is placed. PCNL is most appropriate for very large, complex stones. PCNL is the most aggressive and has the greatest chance of making you stone-free with one trip to the operating room. It is the treatment of choice for large complex stones in the kidney.  The doc said he would have to break the stone up before he could start removing it. In most cases the nephrostomy tube can be converted to an internal urteral stent (a plastic tube positioned in the kidney, ureter and bladder). This may be done at the time of PCNL or sometime after surgery by a radiologist. Usually after the internal stent is placed the nephrostomy tube can be removed. PCNL usually requires 1-5 days in the hospital. I have to set the proceude date yet get the blessing of my other doctors, have to work it around pre-trial date of 6/20 and appts to see attorney. But the guy I met with today is the "goto" guy if you have large stones and according to Dr. Key s I got a boulder When I get the date set I will make a post 'til then I'll just just, just, just hope like hell that it doesn't try to move. Til then Have a great oneAJJ