« Thoughts on diabetes and kidney failure »
Introduction: August to October 2006
On Diabetes…
Thankfully I don't actually have diabetes (though I was tested for it), but I did spend the best part of two months on a renal ward were many of the patients developed kidney failure and other problems as a consequence of diabetes. It tends to give you a different perspective on things. I'll put related information and links on this throughout this article, but suffice to say if you have or think you could have diabetes then get and follow expert medical advice. Trust me on this, you really don't want to walk this road if you can avoid it!
On Kidney Failure…
Unfortunately, acute renal failure I do have. In my case - after a lot of testing and scans - it was attributed to a rare bilateral obstruction of my ureters, possibly due to extreme dilation of said ureters caused by neural damage (I have HSP). Regardless of the cause, notwithstanding the negligence at Whiston Hospital, the good staff at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital managed to identify the underlying problems and fitted me with stents.
Basically, I couldn't pass water properly through my right kidney and not at all via the left one, so it all backed up and the excess - about 8 to 10 litres of the stuff - was crushing the life out of them and in the process slowly killing me. And yes, untreated kidney failure will kill you, you get anaemic, your blood pressure rockets and your blood salts go all to pot leading to heart failure. For curious doctors and the medically minded I had Level/Grade three nephrosis.
Luckily your kidneys are amazingly resilient and opening up all my plumbing via surgically implanted tubing drained of the excess and things are greatly improved. Note that 'Acute Renal Failure' tends to build up fast, but can reverse equally quickly, unlike 'Cronic Renal Failure' which is slower, more insidious and generally irreversible. I'll be in and out of hospital for some time to come but at least I'm off the danger list.
Thanks…
Just a moment to thank the many staff at the Royal who made me feel comfortable, tolerated my teasing and who put me back together, as it were. Naturally it extends from the porters through to the surgeons and consultants. I reserve my rights not to thank the staff and sub-contractors responsible for the awful meals mind!
Anyway, particular thanks go to:
My renal team:
Dr Schultz (consultant) and Drs. Matthew, Tamsin and Reema
Many of the nurses on 3B, notably:
Sisters Yvonne and Angie
Nurses Maria, Bernie, Yvonne, Dot, Barbara…
Care staff Ian and Tony
My dietician
and Matron Karen for being on the ball
ISS staff:
Paula, (aunty) Fran and Patsy, amongst others.
