Homepage – Forum › Forums › Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer › Ultrasounds – Kidney Check prior to my next Cysto
- This topic has 11 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 10 years, 7 months ago by
KIOWA.
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June 16, 2014 at 4:40 pm #8088
EddieM
ParticipantHello everyone!
This post is both a question and a potential discussion point. Next month I have my 6 month cysto check (fingers crossed) but 2 weeks prior I have an ultrasound on “ye ol kidneys” and I’m wondering if this is standard practice after three post TURBT cystos?
Just to break it down I had two 3 month checks and now my first 6 month check. According to my Uro, there is a less than 1% chance that cells have ventured up stream and dropped in for a visit.
Anyone have any comments, questions, suggestions or advice?
June 16, 2014 at 5:31 pm #17618StephenW
ParticipantHi Eddie,
It could be that your most recent blood work showed an increased creatinine level. In my case, the bladder tumors partially blocked the ureters from the kidneys so they didn’t drain properly. You should ask your urologist about why there is a need for the kidney ultrasound.
Stephen
June 16, 2014 at 8:40 pm #17620Jack Moon
KeymasterHi Ed
I had an ultrasound prior to my 1st cysto ordered by my GP, then after my 4th cysto after being all clear I had a kidney ultrasound, Uro just told me being safe to insure all was fine up there.
JackJune 16, 2014 at 9:18 pm #17622Greg
ParticipantA thorough uro! He is just being ultra sound.
Either that or he is trying to pay off his Mercedes.
All the best.
GregJune 17, 2014 at 12:48 pm #17624EddieM
ParticipantThank you for the feedback all!
Some good info for those that aren’t aware of the landscape.
Greg…..you should write greeting cards! 😉
June 17, 2014 at 10:20 pm #17625Augsburg
ParticipantNicely said, Greg! Eddie- I agree with Greg, it appears you have a good Uro on your side!
June 24, 2014 at 6:25 pm #17651marysue
ParticipantDocs are divided on kidney checks. My first uro didn’t bother as he felt everything was in the bladder. My second uro wanted to do a check along with the cysto when he took over my care just to get a baseline of where things stood. I stubbornly refused because I react to contrast dye and still deal with bad childhood memories of IVP x-ray experiences and drug reactions etc.. I was also fed up with all the intrusion into my body at that time. That was probably not the brightest thing to do but the doc let it go. It’s not an approach I recommend. However it turns out everything is A-ok so I won’t do it unless there is reason to.
June 25, 2014 at 8:46 pm #17659EddieM
ParticipantThanks for the feedback gang.
I’m looking forward to getting the Ultrasound over and done and then my 6 month cysto mid month (c’mon all clear!)
marysue, the mention of contrast dye makes me twitch. When I had my last CT the warming sensation from the dye was fine but I couldn’t get the taste of garlic out of my mouth for days. I was told people either taste garlic or metal. I suppose the prior over the later is a plus.
Ed
June 25, 2014 at 10:10 pm #17660marysue
ParticipantI haven’t had a contrast exam since 1973. I was fifteen. I remember tasting metal, feeling hot and like I was going to pee my pants. I was told at the time this was normal and have been told by others since. What bothered me most was the side effects of headache and flu like symptoms that I had for 2-3 days afterwards.
With the last exam the headache was so bad I was in such a bad mood (almost psychotic) and ended up nearly killing my friend’s older sister when we got into a fight. I was so mad I went for her with a baseball bat. Thankfully her older brother intervened and wrestled the bat off me before I could get a good swing. The older sister was a real bully and pain in the you know where but that is beside the point. I had no business attacking her like that. When everything was said and done – my mother was mortified at my behaviour and I owe thanks to my friend’s mom who was a nurse and figured out the reason for my unusual behaviour. She was aware of my medical issues. I at that point told my parents I wouldn’t be going for any more of those exams. Whether any more weren’t needed or not, I don’t know but I never went back to the urologist after that.
I had other contrast IVP exams prior to that one as prep and rechecks for the surgeries I had to correct urogenital birth defects. These exams were very invasive – details I won’t go into here and gave me a real fear of x-ray type machines and the actual exam process. I have had x-rays and ultrasounds since with no dye and don’t have any real effects other than feeling a bit tired afterwards. Because of this past history I won’t consent to a contrast exam unless there isn’t any other way to figure things out. My current uro is now aware and promised that if it ever became necessary to do a contrast exam we’d find a better way for me.
But that being said I don’t recommend my attitude or approach to a medical situation that requires these exams. I doubt many people have had the history I have with these exams. I suggest talking to the doc or clinic to find out if there is a way to counteract the bad taste in your mouth afterwards.
Best of luck for a positive outcome. Stay in touch.
June 26, 2014 at 6:19 am #17668KIOWA
Participanti think what you have here is a very thorough and conscientious surgeon. Why risk anything. It is not at all unusual for an ultrasound to be done. Now if they send you to a particle accelerator for atom smashing, well then you have a Greg problem.
Ki
June 26, 2014 at 12:46 pm #17675EddieM
ParticipantMmmm…garlic smashing!
Ed
June 27, 2014 at 2:01 am #17678KIOWA
ParticipantWell then there is that. Not a thing wrong with garlic. When I get tired of eat, I mean smashing atoms, I smash and eat garlic.
Ki
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