I got my stent out today

[kellyt]

Whew!  That's done, finally.

The doctor said I could watch the removal of the stent on the monitor if I wanted to, plus I could see my bladder and stuff.  Well, I wanted to.  So I was all prepped and ready to go when I saw them moving the camera around and then realized they were headed straight for my privates!  I wish they would have told me to look AFTER the camera was in my bladder!   Traumatized!!!!!!!   

[Rerun]

         


Just Kidding....... we don't really want pictures!  I'm glad it is out and you are home!

[willieandwinnie]

  Kelly. Glad it is over with. 

[kidney4traci]

Kel -I am glad you posted this... why do you have to have this stint in for so long?  6 weeks?  What for, does it hurt?  Many ? from the newbie about to go through it..... thanks!!!

[Mimi]

Whew!  That's done, finally.

The doctor said I could watch the removal of the stent on the monitor if I wanted to, plus I could see my bladder and stuff.  Well, I wanted to.  So I was all prepped and ready to go when I saw them moving the camera around and then realized they were headed straight for my privates!  I wish they would have told me to look AFTER the camera was in my bladder!   Traumatized!!!!!!!   

Ha, ha, ha don't be traumatized Kelly.  Once yoou get ESRD all dignity goes out the window.

[kellyt]

Don't you know it, MiMi!   


Traci, the new kidney is connected directly to the bladder and the stent is placed to keep the ureter open and keep it (the ureter) from bending or kinking (I think it's the ureter).  Anyway, it also helps take the pressure off the sutures so that it does not become weak and cause leaking.  This is how it was explained to me.  I hope I understood it correctly.  At six weeks that's all healed and the kidney is connected nicely (or should be anyway).   
Six weeks seems to be the magic #, although sometimes they can take it out early if it slips or starts causing you problems.  They don't want to leave it in too long, as it will start to cause problems.  There was absolutely no pain (physical, that is ).  I was just not ready at all to see my foof displayed on the monitor screen covered in Betadine!        Pardon my language!     I was not at all prepaired..   

I tried to get it out last week, but they had no appointments.  Mine was causing a little discomfort to my bladder ever so often making it feel like I had to pee all the time, but nothing I couldn't deal with.  You won't even know it's there.

My doctor was also a big joker.  He was holding up the stent after he removed it and shaking it at me asking me if I wanted to keep it for my scrap book!  I said "God no!  I don't even want to look at it!"   I saw enough.  The inside of my bladder was really cool!  I expected it to be smooth, but it's not.  It looked alien like.

[kidney4traci]

    you have me howling with mental pictures!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[kellyt]

All I can say is Thank God they don't have a monitor for you to watch at the Gyno's office!   

I've never been one of those "Know your body" kind of gals.

[monrein]

Whew!  That's done, finally.

The doctor said I could watch the removal of the stent on the monitor if I wanted to, plus I could see my bladder and stuff.  Well, I wanted to.  So I was all prepped and ready to go when I saw them moving the camera around and then realized they were headed straight for my privates!  I wish they would have told me to look AFTER the camera was in my bladder!   Traumatized!!!!!!!   

Ha, ha, ha don't be traumatized Kelly.  Once yoou get ESRD all dignity goes out the window.

You can say that again.  I usually start stripping off my clothes before anyone asks me to and then I realize I'm at the dentist's.   

[RichardMEL]

hey glad it is out kelly but spare a (small) thought for we boys and how they have to go in....

ARGH!!! I sure as hell do NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT want to see any bloody part of that!!!!!!!

[Wenchie58]

Stent removal....LOL  it's such a traumatic thought for most...was for me too!  I took the easy route, I "passed" mine 16 days after transplant.  When I realized what I had in my hand at midnight one night I called the transplant "on call" and asked her....is this little tube with a curl on each end my stent?  She said....where did you get your stent?  I replied.....Ummmmm...where did you leave it?  It was uncomfortable, but not painful...no after effects...they were shocked and made me bring the stent in to them so they could make sure it was all there.  I did however ask for a discount because they didn't have to remove it!   

[kidney4traci]

OMG - More mental pictures!!!  UUUGHH!

[kellyt]

I was told that if I passed it just to let them know.  After reading about the stent removal, I was hoping I would pass it.

[RichardMEL]

I hate to bring this up but.... if it's a male and it's attached to the urether? uh... does that mean it might get passed out the hard way??? my brain is spinning out on that idea!?!

this gets worse each time I think about it!!! 

(yes, I am a big wuss!)

[kellyt]

I'm not sure about that.  You should definitely ask!  I'm a whimp when it comes to stuff like this, but not for other things.  Really wierd!

Looking at the stent inside the body - I could see one end perfectly well (that's the end they lassowed with the camera thingy), but the other side was tucked inside the bladder or kidney or something.  He drew my a picture before going in, but once the camera was in nothing looked like the photo.     Maybe I was just too traumatized by what had happened earlier!

He just pulled the stent right out, so I don't even know what was holding it in in the first place!  Mine was a white tube looking thing with a black cap on the end.  Nothing like the photo they showed me.  Maybe the other side had a hook on it.  I refused to look at it when it was out!   See...whimp!

I had no bleeding or problems following the removal, BTW.

[kidney4traci]

Either way, I'm with you RichardMel, I can't see passing that, especially for a guy!!!

[okarol]

I went to visit a transplant patient last week. She showed me her scrapbook with all the photos, menus, receipts and memorabilia from her transplant. Taped to one page was the stent! I never thought to ask to keep it, but she saved EVERYTHING! It was kind of cool because I never really looked when they removed Jenna's.

[kraze]

So my brother just walked into the living room to ask why I was LAUGHING OUT LOUD!  This story of your stent removal is hysterical.  I too was traumatized by  my stent removal and was not at ALL prepared for the surgeon to tell me I could WATCH the procedure.  Although I guess it's cool to say I've seen my own bladder - how many people can say that?  I may save it for 2nd date conversation instead of opening with it on a first date though.....what do you think?  hee hee

[kellyt]

My only advice to others is to wait until they say the camera is inside your bladder to look!  Then close your eyes when they pull it out!

And DON'T take a date with you to the stent removal!  ha ha   Not even your MOTHER!!!!        no wait... 

[RichardMEL]

I am SO not looking!!!! I think if/when the time comes I shall prefer to think about having a date with kraze.... yeah.. that will occupy my mind just nicely I think!!!!     

[Lucinda]

Cheree was very brave about having hers out.  Never said much about it except that it was getting done and then when it was done she said it was a bit unpleasant but not too bad.  I think the biopsies were probably worse for her.  I know I would hate having to lie still for hours and not be able to move after having one.  You are all brave soldiers as far as I am concerned.  xx

[adairpete]

Oh wow! Now I'm not looking forward to a transplant-a stent is placed for 6 weeks!  I had a stent placed when I had a kidney stone removed by laser lithotripsy and I'm still traumatized by that damn thing!  The urologist wanted me to leave it in for 1 week and I pulled it out myself after 3 days-I couldn't take it anymore!  Everytime I peed I would lie doubled up on the couch for 30 min before the cramping and pain would stop long enough for me to move around (and I was on vicodin at the time!).  It was uncomfortable to sit, stand, walk, and there's 6 weeks of that! Ugh! 

[Wenchie58]

Until the.....uhhhhh "passing" I couldn't even tell the stent was there.  It caused no discomfort at all.

[kellyt]

I agree with Wenchie.  I didn't know it was there until the 5th week when it was poking my bladder.  No pain at all!  Just felt like I had to pee.  Really, it was no big deal.  But I'm sorry you had such trouble with your last stent.  Sounds horrible!

[donnia]

Oh my goodness Kelly!!!   I was not offered the option to watch..... and boy am I glad!!!!   

Oh, I never felt any discomfort with my stent either.     (Except when they removed it    )