« A diary of hospital life following a diagnosis of acute kidney failure »

5th September 2006:

Oh dear gods that was a bad night! Today improved greatly though!

I was violently ill in the night. It started at teatime yesterday and progressed to the sort of headache that feels like people are stabbing needles into your eyes. By 2am I was retching so hard and for so long that I was coughing up blood from the torn muscles in my throat. I tried a little water and a spoon of porridge at breakfast - and didn't even anything at all for hours after that. Ewww!

The nausea did pass after late morning and I was able to eat my dinner fine, thankfully, though the headache albeit muted stayed for several hours longer.

ECG test done in the afternoon.

Then I saw a dietician
Whiston have A LOT to answer for that, or the lack of it. I could of been - and indeed literally was - killing myself with what I was eating and drinking, due to Whistons gross neglect. If you don't know, kidney patients can't process electrolytes like potassium, so they just build up. Then they (can) kill you. I'll copy the banned list up sometime, but it pretty much comes down to the fact you can have a tiny spoon of some vegetables, maybe a small apple, but really hardly any fruit, few vegetables and absolutely no fresh fruit juice.
And I was drinking litres of the stuff every day!
*Mutter*

After dinner I was seen by no less than a team of three doctors. Considerations include the toxin effects of the Ibrufen on kidneys - I was taking then fairly often, helps with the other aches and pains - but if you have anything remotely wrong with your kidneys, Ibrufen can destroy them.

They did discuss other matters, largely revolving around the scans taken at Whiston (no-one looked at them there, it seems!) and the probable build up of fluids in the ureter and kidneys, causing problems.

Whisked off for ultrasound of my kidneys and bladder at 4.30pm. No fuss, no bother. Needed doing so you go get it done. Couldn't be more different than Whiston!

Prescribed amlodopine to help lower my rocketing blood pressure. Another thing Whiston ignored completely.

In the evening I was 'given' a catheter to help empty my bladder, sort out the needing to go every 50 minutes and generally relieve pressure. Note to the curious, Yes, it bloody HURT!

Anyway, based on the initial look (ie not study) of the ultrasound scans it appears to be a prostrate problem, the urine backing up in my plumbing and putting pressure on my kidneys. Whether it's an infection or what we'll have to see.

I should also be seeing urologists sometime today. And I did. A doctor and a consultant talked to me, then donned rubber gloves for a probe and…

Have you ever seen the comedy film, 'Evolution'? Remember the bit were Professor Harry Phineas Block (actor Orlando Jones) is infected with that giant bug and they go it with forceps?
There's no like for lubrication…
There's ALWAYS time for lube!!!

Well, I really understand that part a lot better that I'd like, though I do laugh every time I see it all the same. Several blood samples were taken to test for prostrate (cancer) markers.
[ They did all come back clear ]

Shortly after that I was taken for x-rays. All digital at the Royal too. I'm impressed! At least I feel like something is actually being done. Blood pressure is being monitored four-hourly too, here.

Visitors

Mum and Dad came up in the day.