NOV 12, 17 .. FRIENDS ASKED ABOUT MY KIDNEY ISSUE
Two friends, Bob and Carolyn, asked me about my (left) kidney. I figure that if they have questions, maybe others will also have questions, so I decided to do a time-line review of my left kidney situation.
This episode happened during my visit and stay in Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia, during August of 2017.
Aug 14 .. Upon awakening, I noticed some pain / discomfort in my lower left abdomen area. I took it easy the rest of the day.
Aug 15 .. The pain / discomfort remained. I cancelled a fully booked and paid for train trip into Southern Russian Siberia to visit friends in the city of Irkutsk. This was a major decision because a friend from Mongolia was going with me so I had to cancel his trip as well. I did not want to go into Russian Siberia and have a medical crisis.
I went to a hospital / clinic in Ulaanbaatar and was seen by a doctor. After a hands-on and ultrasound examination, he diagnosed my problem as one involving my left kidney. He then sent me to another hospital for a CT Scan.
Aug 16 .. I saw my doctor and he advised me that the CT Scan showed a possible tumor in my left kidney and insisted that I return to the United States for further evaluation.
Patti flew into action and arranged an appointment for me with the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
I flew from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, to Hong Kong, China.
Aug 29 .. I flew from Hong Kong and met Patti in Seattle, Washington. We two then flew to Minneapolis, Minnesota. A friend drove our truck from Royal Oak to Minneapolis and met us at the airport. We three over-nighted in Minneapolis.
Aug 30 .. We drove to Rochester, Minnesota, the home of the Mayo Clinic.
Sep 1 .. After getting a CT Scan at the Mayo Clinic, my doctor said that the CT Scan showed a liquid filled cyst NOT a tumor. The chance of cancer is less than 1%. The chance of problems with performing a biopsy is 12%. I agreed not to pursue a biopsy at this time.
His Prognosis : We will wait for six months and re-evaluate the situation then.
Both Patti and I were so stunned with this good / great news that we were numb. We felt at the very least a biopsy would be performed.
This brings you all up-to-date on my kidney issue. Thanks so much for you interest.
Smiles,
Patti and Cap
4 thoughts on “NOV 12, 17 .. FRIENDS ASKED ABOUT MY KIDNEY ISSUE”
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Cap- Explained very well. Thank you
I have had two instances of blood in urine after long runs. Complete work ups both times determined it was due a sensitive prostate which is common with long distance runners.
We walk 3 or 4 a day now.
Thanks for the good news.
Thanks Bob and Carolyn for your interest. Walking not running. Good idea. I had no idea long distance runners have this issue of blood in the urine. Smiles from the frozen North. Cap
So….. Does the pain/discomfort continue. If not, why not? Why then and not now? If it doesn’t, good.
No. No pain. No discomfort. Makes me wonder why I didn’t just wait it out for a few more days. Makes me wonder IF I wasn’t hit in the lower abdomen riding a crowded bus. I hate to write this but I feel like it was a MISdiagnosis in Mongolia. I don’t have a clue as to why no pain after the 14th and the 15th of August.
Patti is of the opinion that, and she is correct : There is definitely something going on in my left kidney call it a tumor or call it a cyst and it is good to know about it even if I was just hit in the lower left abdomen on a bus. There is something to be said for this point of view. The problem is the cost and the loss of the time. Loss of a trip into Southern Russian Siberia with a Mongolian friend. The cost to fly back, to go to Rochester, Minnesota, to be treated by Mayo Clinic doctors, etc et al. We made the most of it with our long trip from Rochester to Royal Oak via other areas of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and now me being back in Alaska. So I have absolutely no misgivings whatsoever. What ever will be WILL BE. Que sera sera. Thanks for your interest. Smiles from both of us. Patti and Cap from the library here in Anchorage.