Two Months Ago...

Two months ago right now, I was sitting in the Chicago airport. In the evening, I boarded a plane and flew back to Pennsylvania for the first time in two years. It sometimes feels like I've been back in the US forever, but other times, it's hard to believe I've been back for two months already.

It's been about a week since I had my kidney stent put in. I've had some days with quite a bit of pain, but I have some pain pills if I need them and have been feeling better, even without them, the last few days.

I saw the physician assistant again on Wednesday. The plan is to wait a month, to give the kidney a chance to recover function now that it can drain, and then do a nuclear medicine test to determine how much of the work each kidney is doing. I will have a follow up appointment after that test when I will find out what the doctors plan to do next.

Back from the hospital

I had my procedure this morning at the hospital. It went really well. They were amazed at how quickly I got over the anesthesia and released me from the hospital about an hour after I first woke up!

The conclusion is that this defect in my left kidney that has been there since I was born, so they will see how things go over the next few days and then decide what to do next. I have a follow-up appointment scheduled for later next week.

For now I am feeling fine, pretty much back to normal, just a few hours after the procedure.

Thanks for your prayers!

Medical drama

No, I'm not talking about ER or one of those other medical shows on TV... Over the past week or so, I've been experiencing my own, real life medical drama.

It started way back when I was still in PNG with some bad lab test results. That led me to see a kidney specialist here in North Carolina last week. There was some confusion as I was told I was pre-diabetic, and then told that was wrong, but that I was in stage 3 of chronic kidney disease. And now it seems I was told that in error too!

I had a kidney ultrasound yesterday morning which produced some drama when the doctor's office called me back and told me I needed to go see another specialist that same day. At that visit they explained that the scan showed my left kidney is having some issues and they need to investigate further.

This investigation will consist of an outpatient surgical procedure to get a better idea of the kidney situation and try to relieve some of the pressure on the kidney. I'll be going in at 5:30 tomorrow morning and having my surgery at 7:30. I should be home by the middle of the day.

Please pray that the doctors can figure out what is causing this kidney problem and how to fix it. Thank God for a new friend who is going to drive me to and from the hospital and for the couple who are having me stay at their house afterward.

Yet Another Busy Week

I know I can't get away with titling all of my posts "Busy Week," but sometimes that seems like the most appropriate title! (Here is my *now finished* to do list for the past week:)
This week has been busy, and even though it's only Thursday, the bulk of what I had to do this week is over. Last weekend I was busy having fun with some of my new friends and earlier this week I had a lot of assignments and other things for class (including a big test!).

Tuesday and Thursday I had doctor's appointments and didn't get conclusive results from either. That means follow-up tests and appointments in the coming weeks.

I'm meeting with the VMS director tomorrow to talk about a potential assignment for me here at JAARS. Thanks for your prayers for my health and future assignment.