March 19, 2012

Kidney stones

The answer to the tummy pain etc. appears to be kidney stones!

Dr G says that given my recent improved PET scan, this is the likely scenario. When tumor cells die, they produce uric acid. This settles in the kidneys and forms stones. 

My symptoms and areas of pain match the clinical diagnosis of kidney stones. The clincher was when I described yesterday's pain and held my hand over the lower left side of my abdomen -- the stone passing?

I also awoke this morning with much less pain which has now dwindled away to almost nothing. 

Today's ultrasound did not show a stone, and since my pain is gone, that also points to kidney stones as the culprit.

Dr G posted his diagnosis in my electronic patient record at the U, and sent email to Dr Gadi as well. I haven't heard back from SCCA yet.

This is why I so love Dr G. He thinks outside the box on a regular basis.

Dr G double checked himself on all of the above, and then prescribed NSAIDs instead of opiates for pain (400 mg of ibuprofen three times a day if needed).

Whee!

3 comments:

  1. Sometimes we are too quick to assume something really bad. I am very glad to hear that it is 'only' kidney stones - a nice, normal, non-cancer ailment.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I never thought I'd say "Yay! Kidney stones!" in all my life.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Joyce Loveless12:04 PM

    I agree with Debby! I don't know you Jill but I am extremely relieved for you that it's not cancer related- I'm relieved sitting in my office all the way in MD!

    ReplyDelete

Contributors