hydronephrosis diagnosis

tripledaggerWed95976

So after a week of thinking I had a horrible uti and kidney stones, I found out (after having a kidney ultrasound) that I have hydronephrosis in both kidneys.  They're now giving me the option of: a) dealing with the pain until it goes away, which MAY last until after I give birth, b) having a catheter drain the fluid from my kidneys, c) placing a stent into my urethra until after I give birth.  The pain is pretty bad so I'm thinking I will for sure do the catheter... I also would do the stent but I'm afraid to... I'm afraid it would be very bothersome and uncomfortable to have the stent up my urethra until after I give birth.  
I'm wondering if any of you ladies have experienced hydronephrosis and what you did to deal with it? Also if anyone has had a stent, what was your experience?
i should also add, medically I don't NEED to do the catheter or stent unless it gets much worse... They are options that have been given to me that the doctor says may help to relieve the pain

KidShrink

Do they think it's a pregnancy complication for you, or something that was bound to come up, just hadn't yet? I can tell you from my experience working with a teenager who had a similar condition (chronic though) that the swelling/irritation of the kidneys can lead to chronic pain, which is what I was seeing her for. She had a few surgeries and a fee drainages and had bad scar tissue from it all, leading to really bad pain. The longer an internal organ is irritated for, the greater the likelihood of there being long term consequences in terms of chronic pain. From that experience, I definitely wouldn't recommend sucking it up. However, I can't say anything about which of the other two options is best. Sorry you're going through this! Hope it resolves quickly! 

tripledaggerWed95976

KidShrink said:

Do they think it's a pregnancy complication for you, or something that was bound to come up, just hadn't yet? I can tell you from my experience working with a teenager who had a similar condition (chronic though) that the swelling/irritation of the kidneys can lead to chronic pain, which is what I was seeing her for. She had a few surgeries and a fee drainages and had bad scar tissue from it all, leading to really bad pain. The longer an internal organ is irritated for, the greater the likelihood of there being long term consequences in terms of chronic pain. From that experience, I definitely wouldn't recommend sucking it up. However, I can't say anything about which of the other two options is best. Sorry you're going through this! Hope it resolves quickly! 

Thanks so much for your response! They are going to further investigate but for now they seem to think it is congenital and that it has been asymptomatic up until now, but it's now getting painful because I'm pregnant and my uterus is pushing up against my ureters.  So, basically it is something that should go back to being asymptomatic again after I give birth.

 That is terrible about the teenager you were seeing, this pain is so bad I can't imagine having to deal with it as a chronic condition!! Just this past week of dealing with this has been so horrible.  I cried myself to sleep last night because I was in such bad pain, and I'm so frustrated that I feel like there is no end in sight 

ayeshaohara

Seriously pregnancy is a bitch isn't it? Unearthing these conditions we never knew we even had! I'd definitely go for an option that will reduce my pain...pregnancy is painful enough! I hope it goes back to being a symptomatic after delivery. That would be good!! Fingers crossed 

tripledaggerWed95976

ayeshaohara said:

Seriously pregnancy is a bitch isn't it? Unearthing these conditions we never knew we even had! I'd definitely go for an option that will reduce my pain...pregnancy is painful enough! I hope it goes back to being a symptomatic after delivery. That would be good!! Fingers crossed 

Ugggghhhhhhh yes, pregnancy is a bitch and a half!!!  Thank you so much for the well wishes, I pray it goes back to being asymptomatic because this pain is horrendous!

mrstmoose

I've never had this but if you're in that much pain, trying to tough it out until May sounds awful. I think going for whatever will make you most comfortable is probably your best option. Keep us updated and I hope you feel better soon!

KidShrink

@tripledaggerWed95976 : you're very lucky if it's congenital and was never an issue until now. My patient was 13 and close to requiring a kidney transplant. She was undergoing some injections to remove some of the chronic pain from all the interventions and frequent infections, and I was there to accompany her...well she was squeezing my left hand as it was being done, and I had the diamond of my engagement ring stamped in my pinky for the rest of the day (I felt pain too, but shut up and sucked it up for her!). The disease essentially kills kidney tissue (hence 'nephrosis')...so definitely don't delay getting treatment. 

LadySamLady

I don't have any experience or advice but just wanted to say I'm sorry you're going through this. It sounds painful and stressful. I hope you will be able to have some relief soon, dealing with that kind of pain until May sounds really terrible and hard. Please do keep us posted! Take care of yourself and I hope you feel better really soon!!