spec4 e4 Posted August 11, 2015 Report Share Posted August 11, 2015 jump on a scale at the truckstop the other day and I am down to 246lbs. A lot better then 272 lbs. I still have to get the band fill on the 8th of Sept. Then the real work begin. Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AzRednek Posted August 11, 2015 Report Share Posted August 11, 2015 That's nearly 10%, pretty good!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlunity Posted August 13, 2015 Report Share Posted August 13, 2015 Just give up wheat. I went from 209 to 157. BUT BUT Drink a LOT of water..I did not and found my self pissing blood ..Kidney stones from dehydration. Coffee or beer wont work..gotta be lots of water....The Hippy told me but who listens? karl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Hess Posted August 13, 2015 Report Share Posted August 13, 2015 I've given up Wheat Beer. Does that count? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlunity Posted August 13, 2015 Report Share Posted August 13, 2015 Hold off on the wheat belly...seems that is is not kidney stones but something called a Renal mass of 7 or 8 cm in the right kidney They are talking about removing the kidney...I trust the doc but I am getting a second opinion. Don't KNOW that the diet did any harm but until I do I no longer recommenced it karl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Hess Posted August 13, 2015 Report Share Posted August 13, 2015 That sucks. Keep us informed, Karl. We're all pulling for you. And, fortunately, God put two of those things in you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spec4 e4 Posted August 13, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2015 Hope all work out for you Karl. Let us know. As for diets, tried them all. Only diet that was working for was NutriSystem (sp?). But once I became an diabetic, and my job was on the line, I need to do something. Since the operation, my sugar has been down to 95 to 115 without meds. Doctor took me off the meds and told me to take it when I need too. I think this will work out for me. I was up to 305 and felt like an beach whale. Now I am able to move alittle more. And that's an good start. The operation cost over 17,000 in my area. But could not afford two operations. We can across another driver that had it done in Mexico and cost a lot less. I check into it and told to the people that had it down, some was face to face and they have no complaints. Total cost for two operations and plan tickets was about $10,000 plus two weeks off. The fills are not bad, 300 for the 1st, 150 after that, no fill then it's 60 for the visit. Will keep everyone update on the first visit. Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spec4 e4 Posted August 13, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2015 NutriSystem help me get alittle bit down after hitting 305. Before the operation I was around 272 to 275 Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlunity Posted August 13, 2015 Report Share Posted August 13, 2015 Thank you gentlemen...karl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AzRednek Posted August 14, 2015 Report Share Posted August 14, 2015 Hold off on the wheat belly...seems that is is not kidney stones but something called a Renal mass of 7 or 8 cm in the right kidney They are talking about removing the kidney...I trust the doc but I am getting a second opinion. Don't KNOW that the diet did any harm but until I do I no longer recommenced it karl Good idea on another opinion but I hope you're not caught up in the VA system. I'm no Dr but awaiting VA and putting off what ever treatment Dr #1 recommends might not be a good idea. I know two people living just fine with a single kidney but use good common sense. Don't rely on advice from non-Dr's. Go outside VA if necessary. If paying out of your own pocket watch the bottom line and avoid duplicating any treatment, tests etc. Might not be as costly as one might imagine outside the VA system if you hand carry medical reports, films, lab tests etc visiting Dr #2. Good Luck!! Take my word for it, its hell getting old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlunity Posted August 14, 2015 Report Share Posted August 14, 2015 thanks AZ Now, being old : ) I have medicare from AARP and I do keep an eye old bottom line. It will be about 3 weeks till they operate, if they do. The Doctor, whom, I just met, is taking a week off and then two weeks to evaluate.....seems..like a bit of a wait but from what i can find on the net, it seems normal. What do you guys think of the wait time? karl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AzRednek Posted August 14, 2015 Report Share Posted August 14, 2015 What do you guys think of the wait time? karl Karl as what I jokingly often refer to myself, a professional patient. Specialists to me anyhow all seem to work on a very tight schedule. Once your foot is in the door and you're an established patient. The wait times aren't as long. I'm not all that familiar with AARP but if the wait time is excessive. Might be worth checking what AARP's out of network benefits are worth. I've begged receptionists telling them I'm desperate for an appt. Majority of the time they will say "see what I can do" and call back. Doesn't always work but if they have a stand-by list for cancelations it might get you in sooner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlunity Posted August 14, 2015 Report Share Posted August 14, 2015 Thanks AZ. Good advise. karl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Hess Posted August 14, 2015 Report Share Posted August 14, 2015 3 weeks doesn't seem too long. That thing has been in there a while. 3 more weeks isn't going to make any difference at this point. I think you are OK there. As far as a second opinion, "You're Hard Headed, Too." Seriously, though, a surgeon is not going to go taking out kidneys without a very damn good reason. If anything, maybe a fine needle aspiration of the mass to get an idea of what they're dealing with, but if looking at what tests are already done, a surgeon decides that's gotta come out, that's gonna have to come out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AzRednek Posted August 14, 2015 Report Share Posted August 14, 2015 Karl, something else to consider. What if Dr #2 disagrees??. Then you have to go shopping for a third or fourth. I got stuck between differing opinions on my Cancer treatment. Not simply the differing opinions but between two huge egos and an obvious personality clash between the two Oncologists. Dr #1 in order to prove she was right. Wrote letters to various experts around the country, university heads and drug (Chemo) manufactures. Everything I saw agreed with #1. #2 seemed to me more concerned about his percentages, what Dr #1 said was his win/loss ratio. I consulted two other Oncologists. One was simply a telephone consult. Both seem to side with #1. One saying he didn't really have enough information. After the other said if it were me or my family I'd do everything she (#1) says. The disagreement was my continuing another 6 months of Chemo that would have required three 20-30 day hospital stays before beginning the stem cell harvest. #1 feared an unsuccessful harvest. #2 felt my chances of surviving 5 or more years was better if I continued the Chemo before the harvest. I lost Oncologist #1. She gave up her practice to devout all her time to Breast Cancer research. She's either on to something hot or as another Dr told me. She's the sole beneficiary of an estate worth in excess of a billion with a B. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlunity Posted August 14, 2015 Report Share Posted August 14, 2015 Thank you for the advice. I do have a question about the length of time I've have this large 7.8 x 5.6 cm mass. Eight months ago my eGFR, Albumin, creatinine levels were very normal...Would this not have indicated kidney damage at that time? Karl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlunity Posted August 14, 2015 Report Share Posted August 14, 2015 Just at the time that Buds has a sale on ARs...Gad karl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Hess Posted August 15, 2015 Report Share Posted August 15, 2015 One functioning kidney is plenty to give you normal-ish labs. Hard to say how long it's been there. Ask your doc what he thinks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlunity Posted August 15, 2015 Report Share Posted August 15, 2015 Thank you sir, I shall. The Doctor is a very thorough and professional fellow, and I am sure he knows what he is doing..He went to med school not I,,but I like to check things out. TWO more questions if I may? (1) I was reading about fungal masses can be mistaken for cancers which can be treated with statin drugs, have you heard of that? and (2) Is it possible that a bruise from a bad fall last year on the back could be mistaken for a dark mass from a bruise in the kidney? Like a dummy I had a desk chair with rollers on a concrete floor. I put my tail in the chair, and it went one way and I the other. Ouch! Now i know why ya don't put a deckchair made for rugs on a concrete floor!!!!! Karl Ps i did not go to the doctor over it..I felt too much like a jerk : ) Never said I was smart...good looking yes..smart???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FC Posted August 15, 2015 Report Share Posted August 15, 2015 I'm glad you have two kidneys. My guess is no to both of your questions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlunity Posted August 15, 2015 Report Share Posted August 15, 2015 Thanks FC. I am glad of it too : ) Seems that these thing take years to grow. Something like .025 cm per year so this may have been around 28 Years!!!!!!!!Gad... Seems unfair after eating all the health food!!! I have gone back to German Beer! Always a silver lining : ) karl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Hess Posted August 15, 2015 Report Share Posted August 15, 2015 Yeah, I'm with Tony on those 2 questions, Karl. A mass in the lung, maybe (and probably not), mass in the kidney is different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlunity Posted August 15, 2015 Report Share Posted August 15, 2015 Thanks guys. I figured as much but it never hurts to ask gentleman who KNOW. More tests next week or so,,,,Now I know how my students felt Still could be worst now I am OFF of the bud lite and can go back to Pauli Girl beer...... Hey...I fear to ask....ur horrors...Can you drink beer with one kidney???? Karl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Hess Posted August 16, 2015 Report Share Posted August 16, 2015 Yeah, sure. Take it easy on the NSAIDs, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlunity Posted August 16, 2015 Report Share Posted August 16, 2015 NSAIDS..not a problem. I dont take any thing unless the Docs prescribe it. I am calling my Gp tomorrow..tests this week and the Surgeon will be back from vacation next week so I would think the operation should be within the next 3 to 4 weeks. No pain or anything except blood and clots in the urine...more frequently alas. Still that was a good thing if not for the blood I would not have gone to the doctor. I had blood in the urine about 20 years ago when I did 10 to 12 miles in the desert but it went away after drinking water. So i drank some water and it went away till July then a few time drank water gone...but in this August it came back with clots..Figure it was just kidney stones, but I went to the Doc, ( A very good man; once he saw the pictures, he moved fast) and he sent me for a scan for stones and they found the mass in the kidney.. and so it goes....I read that these thing grow at 0.25 cm per year so 7.5 cm must have taken over 30 years!!! Stage two as long as they get it out before stage 3..no worries. They say that this is very hard to detect without a scan and who gets those for no reason? Interesting times. Karl PS The hippy is worried about blood and clots in the urine for perhaps a month until the operation. She fears that I will get anemic and she read that type O blood..will have a problem clotting I told her that I had nose bleeds as a kid and they always stopped but she worries. : ) . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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