I am of the 1%, now awaiting kidney reconstruction

Mine has been the road less travelled, the worst case scenario. I will write it here, so that everyone knows that eeven when the odds are harshly against you, you can pull through.

I have an abdominal hysterectomy on August 6th.
At the time we did not know that my left kidney's ureter had been severed during the procedure.

2 weeks post op: felt great
3 weeks post op: tight belly distention
4 weeks post op: had my appointment with doc. complained of the now horrible constant pain. looked 6 months pregnant.
she was pretty sure it ws just swelling that would go down in another 2 weeks
5-6 weeks post op: unable to walk across a room. spiking fevers.
went to my 6 week post of follow up, ordered CT scan for next day

After scan nurse took me aside and said, "You are not going anywhere. You are extremely distended, pale and you can barely walk".
My dcotor admitted me to the hospital that day.
They finally discovered my ureter had been severed and that FOR SIX WEEKS urine had been collecting thoughout my addomen.
A team of urologists were assigned my case. When they opened me up they ccould not operate b/c every ogran was filled with puss. They spend over an hour irrigating and cleaning me up. They doubted my left kidney would ever work again.
They wondered if I'd make it through surgery.

I got a neftrostomy, a cather out of my left kideny that empties into a bag on my leg.
MIRACLE: THe kideny works!
MIRACLE: The urologist is amazed i survived so long, I should have gone into major organ shut down by then.

I am now feeling much better, no more pain, no more distentsion. Each day they come to my home and give me IV antibiotics. In a few months they will do the surgery to reconstruct my left kidney, re-attach it to the bladder.

IF YOU FEEL PAINFUL DISTENTION THAT GETS WORSE< GET A CT SCAN.
I almost died from this, I cam very very close.

Omg. Prayers and blessings to you for a speedy recovery!!!!

Oh my gosh, I am so glad you went to the MD! Best wishes on recovery. Please keep us posted...

Pipa, you were simultaneously very unlucky and very lucky. Good luck with the rest of your recovery.

Thanks for sharing. Bless you and wishing you a safe recovery here on in

So sorry to hear of your situation, and oh my goodness... what a story you have to share with us! My bladder was nicked during my hyster because of so much scar tissue in my abd. cavity. Doc acted as if it was no big deal. My hyster was 10/25/11. I am still dealing with complications of a nicked bladder. I have been distended, filled with urine in my abd. cavity... 3 seperate times. Not to that extreme as you, Pipa, but I panic when I have extreme gas pains, in fear it is my bladder starting to act up, or my abd. filling back up.
My heart goes out to you, and I send you many hugs. (((Pipa))) I desperately crave affection frequently during this past yr, I think because I feel so broken, who would want me? Please keep your head up. I am pleased that you report having a team of urologists. I can only hope that they listen to you symptoms from now on and act quickly.
I wish you the best. My prayers are for your continued strength and for the doc's to know what they are doing, and for upcoming surgeries to be successful!
Keep on keeping on, Pipa. The fight is ours to win.
~Debspaw.

I had the same thing happen to me. Left Ureter severed. My left side was so swollen I could hardly move and they told me it was just gas. I was in the ER 2 times, and ER never did figure out what the problem was. The Gyno that did the surgery finally sent me for an IVP, and CT scan and then they found the leak. ER had done CT and never did even see the leak. I know what you are going through. I had the Nephrostomy bag and have now had my major surgery and had the Ureter re-implanted into my bladder. Had to have my bladder moved to the left to reach the Ureter, and now the bladder is attached to my left hip muscle. I didn't get the infection that you mentioned. I did get one after my major surgery and received IV antibiotics. I believe that is what you are talking about when you say kidney reconstruction. They will be putting your Ureter back in you bladder. Then they will take off the bag on your left kidney. right? Take care!