It’s almost 11 PM, and my day started around 5 AM and has, thus far, included 2 meals from McDonald’s, 2 ERs, one 3 hour ambulance ride, a PBJ, a most delightful conversation with a yoga instructor/Uber driver, and being known by name on sight to the hotel front desk staff.
What do we know so far? Other than acknowledging that having a catheter feels better than an overfilled bladder, not much.
Babygirl had a urinary catheter in place from last Saturday morning until about 12:01 AM Friday. That catheter had to be changed, and was frequently manipulated during multiple irrigations. From the time of the catheter removal until about midnight last night, (24 hours) Babygirl was voiding reassuringly clear urine, but not in large amounts.
Then there was the clot. And then the urinary retention.
What we don’t know is whether or not the inability to pee was due to blockage caused by additional clots, or whether it was due to spasm of the urethral sphincter as a result of having a catheter for 6 days. All of the urine today has been bloody (from Hawaiian punch to pink lemonade) but with no clots. However, the AMOUNT of urine she is making is excellent – more than 2 1/2 liters today, actually more than she drank for the day.
Her blood work doesn’t look bad. She is gaining ground on the anemia. Her potassium is normal. Her kidney function is stable, maybe a little better, but it still sucks.
Additionally, her weight continues to rise due to water retention. We’re up 55 pounds in just over a week. Nephrology will be seeing her tonight and reassessing the plan for this, I guess.
For right now, she is admitted. She told me that she is going to be angry with me if I show up at 8 AM. “Get some SLEEP, mom!”
That is the plan.
DeeDee
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- Source: http://kidneedsakidney.blogspot.com/2023/06/so-what-duck-just-happened.html