Kidney issues - questions and concerns...

Sam Hall15 said:Performing a kidney removal in an outpatient setting is a reckless move unless you have absolutely no other choice, and frankly, that logic applies to most surgeries. That said, the priority now is ensuring the wound heals properly without any infection and managing a solid post-op recovery. Provided there aren't any major underlying heart or lung issues, the recovery should proceed smoothly, allowing for a return to a high quality of life with just some extra precautions...

The doctors in my family have told me that a kidney removal is actually straightforward enough to be done as an outpatient procedure. Sure, people love to spin those horror stories about organ theft—you know, getting knocked out, having a kidney snatched, and waking up on a curb with nothing but a surgical scar. Of course that sounds crazy; obviously, anyone would aim for the most ideal hospital conditions possible. My point was strictly about the level of expertise and the facility where the surgery takes place.

Look, there's no reason to panic here; everything is going to turn out fine. They clearly had to move forward with the removal to prevent things from spiraling out of control. Rebecca Moore8, just try to get some rest.

Angela Wright said:The doctors in my family have told me that a kidney removal is actually straightforward enough to be done as an outpatient procedure. Sure, people love to spin those horror stories about organ theft—you know, getting knocked out, having a kidney snatched, and waking up on a curb with nothing but a surgical scar. Of course that sounds crazy; obviously, anyone would aim for the most ideal hospital conditions possible. My point was strictly about the level of expertise and the facility where the surgery takes place.

Look, there's no reason to panic here; everything is going to turn out fine. They clearly had to move forward with the removal to prevent things from spiraling out of control. Rebecca Moore8, just try to get some rest.

Hmm, I always assumed that to ensure a kidney stays healthy and usable for transplant, you'd need an entire team of surgeons and nurses. And frankly, I don't think just knocking someone out would cut it—you'd need actual anesthesia. If someone were stealing a tooth, sure, they might just knock you out and you'd wake up missing a tooth, but this is different.

Angela Wright said:The doctors in my family have told me that a kidney removal is actually straightforward enough to be done as an outpatient procedure. Sure, people love to spin those horror stories about organ theft—you know, getting knocked out, having a kidney snatched, and waking up on a curb with nothing but a surgical scar. Of course that sounds crazy; obviously, anyone would aim for the most ideal hospital conditions possible. My point was strictly about the level of expertise and the facility where the surgery takes place.

Look, there's no reason to panic here; everything is going to turn out fine. They clearly had to move forward with the removal to prevent things from spiraling out of control. Rebecca Moore8, just try to get some rest.

They needed to clear out some blood that had pooled on the kidney. Once they drained it, they tried to stabilize the organ, but they said every time they tried to stitch it up, it kept bleeding through, so they just had to take the whole thing out.

It isn't really about technical difficulties, as the surgical procedure itself isn't overly complex to perform... however, the entire process—including anesthesia, the risk of bleeding, maintaining hemodynamic stability, and the subsequent recovery period—is quite demanding.

Angela Wright said:The doctors in my family have told me that a kidney removal is actually straightforward enough to be done as an outpatient procedure. Sure, people love to spin those horror stories about organ theft—you know, getting knocked out, having a kidney snatched, and waking up on a curb with nothing but a surgical scar. Of course that sounds crazy; obviously, anyone would aim for the most ideal hospital conditions possible. My point was strictly about the level of expertise and the facility where the surgery takes place.

Look, there's no reason to panic here; everything is going to turn out fine. They clearly had to move forward with the removal to prevent things from spiraling out of control. Rebecca Moore8, just try to get some rest.

Wait, since when are kidney removals outpatient? I'd love to learn more about that, so definitely keep us posted...
By the way, maybe ask those "family doctors" how many kidneys they've actually removed themselves before claiming it's "that simple."
Good grief!

Anonymous said:Wait, since when are kidney removals outpatient? I'd love to learn more about that, so definitely keep us posted...
By the way, maybe ask those "family doctors" how many kidneys they've actually removed themselves before claiming it's "that simple."
Good grief!

This whole mess started because of some headline in the news about people being snatched off the streets—or wherever—and shoved into these mobile clinics that supposedly meet sterile standards, just to be anesthetized and have their kidneys harvested for resale.
I’m done arguing with these "doctors." Honestly, I’ve had my fill of them today, especially with their massive egos and the way they only show up when they want to lecture you, but the second you need actual, expert advice, they suddenly lose their tongues.
I've laid out the info I have. So, if any "colleagues" who are actually smarter than my own lot want to take over the debate and decide who's "smart" versus who's "brilliant," feel free to "explain" the reality of the situation to the common folk. Personally, I couldn't care less. There are much bigger fish to fry here.

It looks like you really took quite a beating today 😁
I believe the main point here was simply to highlight that kidney surgery isn't exactly a walk in the park. Even if some might perceive certain procedures as straightforward, there are always a million underlying complexities that aren't common knowledge...

Way to go, Angela Wright!
It really is quite fascinating to observe how certain "doctors on duty" tend to pounce on specific terminology that they deem interesting, while the actual core of the matter—which is figuring out how to truly help people—gets pushed right to the sidelines.

Angela Wright said:This whole mess started because of some headline in the news about people being snatched off the streets—or wherever—and shoved into these mobile clinics that supposedly meet sterile standards, just to be anesthetized and have their kidneys harvested for resale.
I’m done arguing with these "doctors." Honestly, I’ve had my fill of them today, especially with their massive egos and the way they only show up when they want to lecture you, but the second you need actual, expert advice, they suddenly lose their tongues.
I've laid out the info I have. So, if any "colleagues" who are actually smarter than my own lot want to take over the debate and decide who's "smart" versus who's "brilliant," feel free to "explain" the reality of the situation to the common folk. Personally, I couldn't care less. There are much bigger fish to fry here.

Dear Angela Wright,
your post is the definition of "lecturing," considering you're talking about stuff you don't understand and handing out advice that has zero basis in reality. Talk about an ego trip.

feralharbor89 said:Way to go, Angela Wright!
It really is quite fascinating to observe how certain "doctors on duty" tend to pounce on specific terminology that they deem interesting, while the actual core of the matter—which is figuring out how to truly help people—gets pushed right to the sidelines.

Look, feralharbor89,
before you drown us out with all that applause, take a second to actually read what these "on-call doctors" have been posting. You'll see just how much advice and genuine support they've provided to people in need right here on this forum. They do all of this pro bono, in their own free time, too. It’s a shame you aren't checking the private messages, because that's where even more questions get answered.
At the end of the day, we're just trying to fight against medical stereotypes and stop people from playing doctor without any training.🙂

Anonymous said:Look, feralharbor89,
before you drown us out with all that applause, take a second to actually read what these "on-call doctors" have been posting. You'll see just how much advice and genuine support they've provided to people in need right here on this forum. They do all of this pro bono, in their own free time, too. It’s a shame you aren't checking the private messages, because that's where even more questions get answered.
At the end of the day, we're just trying to fight against medical stereotypes and stop people from playing doctor without any training.🙂

😉 👍 🙂

I understand why people find it easier to relate to laypeople, especially those who have walked a similar path, but that doesn't make them competent to give advice—certainly not the specialized kind, right...

Anonymous said:Dear Angela Wright,
your post is the definition of "lecturing," considering you're talking about stuff you don't understand and handing out advice that has zero basis in reality. Talk about an ego trip.

Oh, please. Why don't you go ahead and point out exactly where I gave medical advice without citing my professional background? Right here? I shared what I learned, and so what? Is this some high-level medical board meeting or a public forum where regular folks show up too? Sorry, but just because you have a medical degree doesn't mean you're the ultimate authority on every single health topic under the sun. Even us laypeople know a thing or two.
What a joke. 😍

Anonymous said:Look, feralharbor89,
before you drown us out with all that applause, take a second to actually read what these "on-call doctors" have been posting. You'll see just how much advice and genuine support they've provided to people in need right here on this forum. They do all of this pro bono, in their own free time, too. It’s a shame you aren't checking the private messages, because that's where even more questions get answered.
At the end of the day, we're just trying to fight against medical stereotypes and stop people from playing doctor without any training.🙂

I'm sorry, but in this topic I keep "visiting," I haven't seen a single doctor offer anything remotely intelligent—aside from the mods who pop in occasionally because they work in the field.
It’s truly a shame I can't see all those people you claim to have helped.
Talk about being a know-it-all. ☕

Hey everyone, you guys have wandered a bit too far off track!

Casey Palmer5 said:Hey everyone, you guys have wandered a bit too far off track!

I am not. 🤷I gave that guy an answer, and I dealt with those callouts that didn't have anything to do with the actual topic.

I’m still keeping a close eye on this thread, just waiting to see if Rebecca Moore8 drops any more of those brilliant insights of hers.
So far, Sam Hall15 is the only one who’s actually offered anything concrete. Everyone else just latched onto my tangents like a drunk clinging to a pier.

I underwent kidney surgery this past July. They performed a lateral resection on my right kidney because it was almost entirely destroyed due to an overly narrow ureter, which they also attempted to widen. They left a small portion of the kidney intact to see if it would still function—since I’m only 19, they aren't ready to remove the whole thing just yet. They told me to contact them immediately if the pain returned... and here we are. My entire right side is tightening, my urine is cloudy, and I've developed a fever. I can feel another wave of intense pain coming on. I'm waiting for a friend to pick me up so I can head to the ER. Has anyone else dealt with something similar? Am I looking at another surgery, or is this a typical setback? I know it isn't supposed to be this way, but that last surgery was brutal, and I honestly don't know if I can handle it again 😢((((((((((((

It’s honestly pretty tough to call things like this on a random online forum, you know? Best of luck with everything!

Okay, so I’ve got this massive issue going on with my left kidney!
The pain is seriously unreal—like, beyond belief. I spent basically all day yesterday and the day before just hanging out at the hospital, running through endless tests and eventually getting an ultrasound. Turns out, it wasn't even my kidney—it was actually a bladder infection (which, thank God, is mostly gone now), and my kidney is totally fine! They gave me some Spasmex to deal with the pain, but honestly, I have no clue what the hell is going on... why does it hurt this much?! I’ve downed a ton of Spasmex and nothing—not a single thing—is touching this pain!!!!
I am absolutely struggling here. Please, if anyone has advice, let me know what I should do?

An ultrasound allows us to see the physical structure of the kidney. When we are dealing with acute inflammation, the kidney usually looks perfectly normal on an ultrasound—you typically won't see any visible changes unless there is more severe glomerulonephritis, or perhaps in cases of chronic inflammation where the kidney tissue begins to develop scarring.
Ultrasounds can certainly pick up kidney stones, but generally only once they reach about 5mm in size or larger; anything smaller than that is virtually impossible to distinguish from the surrounding kidney tissue on an ultrasound scan.
What does this mean for you? Well, it means it is entirely possible to have a tiny stone in your kidney that simply doesn't show up on the imaging. Furthermore, if a stone has already started traveling down the ureter toward the bladder—which, by the way, causes excruciating pain, often compared to childbirth—it won't be visible on an ultrasound regardless of its actual size.

Since you were prescribed Spasmex, I am assuming the medical conclusion was that this is indeed a stone rather than an infection.
It is worth noting that the Spasmex they gave you isn't actually a standard painkiller; instead, it acts as a muscle relaxant for smooth muscles, such as those found in the ureter. The goal is to help the ureter relax around the passing stone, which should make the movement much less painful.
While taking the Spasmex, it is absolutely vital that you stay hydrated—if it is indeed a stone, you really need to flush your system out.
If there is nothing else you need to do, why not just lie in a warm bath to help your body relax while you focus on drinking plenty of fluids?

Brandon Kern said:Okay, so I’ve got this massive issue going on with my left kidney!
The pain is seriously unreal—like, beyond belief. I spent basically all day yesterday and the day before just hanging out at the hospital, running through endless tests and eventually getting an ultrasound. Turns out, it wasn't even my kidney—it was actually a bladder infection (which, thank God, is mostly gone now), and my kidney is totally fine! They gave me some Spasmex to deal with the pain, but honestly, I have no clue what the hell is going on... why does it hurt this much?! I’ve downed a ton of Spasmex and nothing—not a single thing—is touching this pain!!!!
I am absolutely struggling here. Please, if anyone has advice, let me know what I should do?

Word on the street is that kidney prices in Canada have been dropping... 😉

Seeking medical advice through an online forum from a bunch of random, unqualified strangers is, to put it bluntly, just plain stupid.

A young woman I know, who is 28, is dealing with some incredibly intense pain in her right kidney. The real concern here is that the kidney is actually collecting blood, which is clearly visible on her imaging results due to the swelling. She’s also currently right in the middle of her menstrual cycle, having expected her period a few days ago. About a month back, she was admitted to Washington, D.C. General Hospital because she’s struggling with anemia, where she underwent a blood transfusion and was also treated with homeopathy. While her overall health seemed to improve after that, she’s now facing this major issue with her right kidney retaining blood—something she has had issues with in the past and has undergone numerous tests for, though nothing ever quite this severe has happened before.

Has anyone else dealt with something similar, perhaps regarding specific treatments or recovery processes?

I would truly appreciate any insight or advice you might have to offer, thank you very much.