Grandma's in the hospital again...

[Tonichelle]

This time it's her kidneys. Just got the call from my uncle (the one I barely tolerate) even though she's been in the hospital for twelve hours he's blaming my grandfather for not telling me (um, dude YOU were at home, YOU were by the phone YOU could have called. G'pa was a little busy). That's beside the point, though. My uncle said he doesn't know what's going on because it's 'all medicine to him' and he'd make sure grampa called me tomorrow. :sheesh: Says they're going to test her for 'women's cancer, or something like that.'

At this point I'm more annoyed with my uncle than I am worried about my gma... if gpa came home tonight (which he did) then it's not an immediate seriousness... if that makes sense... that and I'm in denial.

[dorispulaski]

Well, kidneys are serious, but

1. A person has two and can, if need be, spare one.
2. Dialysis, while unpleasant, is not an immediate death sentence. My cousin Jean was on dialysis 25 years before she passed away in her 80's.
3. Kidney transplants, while expensive, work well in a large percentage of cases.

http://www.utmb.edu/renaltx/srate.htm

In Texas, they say 5% death rate for a cadaver donor, and better than that for a live donor.

[Dee4707]

Toni, sending big ((((((( )))))))) to you. I will keep you and grandma in my prayers.

[Tonichelle]

thanks to you both. there's an update on our family blog - http://akreitters.blogspot.com/

[Blue Bead]

Toni....I'm so sorry to learn your grandma is hospitalized once again; the woman just can't catch a break, can she? If she does require dialysis (and I'm not saying that's what her situation will turn out to be, by any means), her life style will change considerably but life can be maintained that way for quite a few years. I speak from experience. My late husband was diagnosed with kidney failure in the early 1990's and had a cadaver transplant in 1993. He lived for 12 years after that, free from thrice weekly dialysis sessions. His transplant failed after 14 years and he resumed hemodialysis sessions until his death.

If your grandma's situation does go into dialysis you can PM me for information concerning what she will be up against in the short and long terms. (((((((hugs for the whole family)))))))

[Tonichelle]

Talked to G'Pa about fifteen minutes ago. G'ma will be going in for surgery tomorrow morning. He is a little confused about what they will be doing, but he believes they're going to be removing part of her colon as well as putting in a coloscopy (spelling?) bag.