Update from Tigerlily

Hi Everyone, Audrey, Nelly and Edwin

Thought I should just update you on my surgery to remove a 9cm/4" ovarian cyst that had twisted on its ligament. Sorry for the gory details, but the surgery went really well - in at 11am and out at 7pm the same day, then out and about the next day. This keyhole surgery is fantastic in experienced hands.

I've had hardly any post-op problems from the op itself. Interestingly, my serum calcium had crept back up to around 2.45 (9. since the parathyroid surgery to remove 3 x hyperplastic glands in December 2014 (which I always thought was still a bit high, with a PTH of 4.something) and it was in January 2016 - but post the ov. cyst surgery it dropped to 2.33 (9.32) which is the lowest it has been for the last 10 years, I would estimate.

Problem is, I still have this left upper abdominal pain that I've had since at least 2011. A recent ultrasound has shown that the 7cm gallbladder polyp has not increased in size over the last 12 months (and is not blocking any exits), but that a small kidney stone of 3mm has now been seen, but in my Right kidney (not the left where the pain is).

Edwin and Nelly might be able to tell me if the LHS side pain could in fact be coming from this tiny kidney stone in the Right kidney? It seems unlikely, I would think. I waited like a patient patient to see if the left upper quadrant pain would subside after the ovarian cyst was removed, but it is still there.

I'll keep this short in the hope that someone might know about this (but have other stuff to post about separately).

Love to All from Tigerlily xxxx

Ooops, silly me, just re-read all paperwork and the 3mm possible kidney stone seen on US is actually in the left kidney! Left kidney, left side pain in waist area and just under ribs.

So, to re-ask the question, could a tiny left-kidney 3mm stone be causing me such left upper quadrant pain?

Thanks for any input - hope everyone is as well as can be expected.

Love from Tigerlily xxxx

Hi Tigerlily,

Glad the op went well. Interesting that your Ca dropped afterwards.

Afraid I can't offer any educated insights into kidney stones but my understanding is that size and pain don't necessarily correlate so it could be a tiny stone causing problems, like the princess and the pea.

Lots of love,
Dee


P.s. I'm planning to do a 6 month post-op update in a month or two but things are much better and I've been busy working (which in itself is a great reflection of my current health) BUT I am dropping by the forum every so often and have not forgotten you all!

Hi Tigerlily

Sorry I didn't reply earlier but its a tad hectic here. Really glad to hear that the op went so well, amazing you were in and out so quickly, I think when I had it done I was in a week but that was back in the dark ages so things have moved on thank goodness.

Your stone could be causing pain just depends where it is located and if its moving, one of my stones was 10mm when last measured but its in a position that theoretically won't cause issues, hmm we will see. Presume you have had pancreas and spleen scanned as they are on that side.

I'm currently having serious uti issues which could be connected to kidney cysts and stones probs, I am on my 3rd lot on antibs and picked up a higher dose this morning as the lower one wasn't doing much, I'm seriously fed up with this

So apart from all that we have the plumbers, electricians and plasterer in doing a new bathroom, messy chaos ! youngest daughter (18) has gone down with chickenpox and my beautiful baby cockerel is poorly so happy happy days at Edwin and Nelly HQ

Hope your pains settle down Tigerlily but if not keep pestering the pesky docs.

Love
Nelly xx

Hi Dee

Good to hear from you and that everything is going well, we will look forward to hearing all your news sometime.

Love
Nelly xx

Hi Dee 

Great to hear from you - thanks for your input - yes, Princess & Pea is me generally!

Waiting to hear your update when you are ready to post - hope you are still going from strength to strength!

Love from Tigerlily xxxx

Hi Nelly - hope things have calmed down a bit now by you - a new bathroom would be a fine thing, though.

All these plumbing issues (inside and out!) can be a right pain, can't they? Yes, pancreas and spleen were included in the US and were unremarkable", as they say. I have a urology appointment next week. They picked up on it rather quickly, whereas the gastro won't see me until May. I think I shall have to pluck up the courage to ask one of them for an MRI to put my mind at rest, as I feel this has been going on for too long now without a firm diagnosis. I'll let you know how that pans out!!

Sorry to hear you have UTI's to contend with as well, Nelly, the same as Audrey. A lot of issues seem to overlap for us, don't they?

I hope your daughter and the cockerel have recovered now, that Edwin is doing well, and that you are all able to get out now and enjoy some sun.

Love from Tigerlily xxxx

Well, I am so sorry I have not been on here more often or replied to all of your messages.     All of my own stupid health issues are keeping me VERY busy.    Twenty-one appointments within 6 weeks.    I'm so tired of it all.    And we decided to clean out our attic a week before I broke my toe and 2 weeks before I was diagnosed with the adrenal insufficiency, so I've been rather worn out.   Actually, the adrenal insufficiency was affecting me so, that I was unable to use the computer, the telephone, or speak to people in person.   The stress mace me very weak, shaky, and nauseous.    Feeling much better now that I started on the hydrocortisone.

Tigerlily, VERY glad to hear the cyst removal went so well!   It's always so nice when something goes well!      Yes, that is strange how the calcium dropped when the cyst was removed.   So many things in our bodies don't function normally when something else is off kilter.    Maybe this is another example of that.     

VERY glad to hear the calcium dropped, by the way!     My latest calcium was 9.5 with a PTH of 24.   I am very happy with that.    It's been 2-1/2 years since my parathyroid surgery.    This is the best my levels have looked in that time.    I think I can check this disease off of my list, but there always seems to be something else to add.

Nelly, I am very sorry to hear you are having so much trouble with the UTIs.   I knew you said you had 1, but I was thinking this was a rare occurrence.   I didn't realize you were also dealing with multiple infections.     I often wonder if our bodies are just so worn down from all we're dealing with, it just can't fight anything the way it normally should.     I do hope you got them under control.    Would you ever consider taking a low-dose daily antibiotic?    I fought that for many years, but finally gave in, and I have to say, it has been pure HEAVEN not having a UTI for 5 straight months!!    I mean, PURE HEAVEN!    As mentioned in other posts, I was getting UTIs every 7 days for a few months.   My bladder hurt so darned badly all the time, it hurt to stand or walk!   The poor thing had to be very damaged from not being able to heal for so long.    I am hoping I will be able to stop taking this antibiotic before long, but if they don't lift my bladder again, I don't know if it will work to stop it.     I also mentioned in an earlier post that I know hypothyroidism, adrenal insufficiency, and iron deficiency can all be the cause of frequent infections, and I've been dealing with all 3 for many years, so I'm praying once these issues are taken care of, I will be able to get off of the daily antibiotic, and the UTIs will stay away!     As my luck goes, though, I'm not counting on it.

Dee, great to hear from you again!     Seems we're all having trouble getting on here as often as we'd like.    It's always nice to be able to come back and say hello and keep in touch though!

Well, I need to get my journal done for the day.   That is a pain, but it really comes in handy so often as I continue struggling with health crap and need to remember what goes on with my body and in my life from day to day.

Onward we go!

Audrey