Once I arrived at Newcastle, they asked me loads of questions again, then took my blood pressure, blood tests. Urine samples etc. I then had to wait three hours for the renal consultant to come and se me. He walked through the door followed by a bunch of doctors. My first words weren’t “hiya” or “how are you?” They were “I’m going to die aren’t I” crying my eyes out. His first reassuring words to me were “ No your not”.
He explained about the protein leaking out and how the kidneys worked, then he moved onto the biopsy, this info was scary. All this information swirled around my brain. Another doctor came and took some blood and put a canular in my arm so I could be put on a drip.
I was eventually taken to the children’s ward. I was on a continuous drip of protein and frusemide. The frusemide was to make me wee out all the excess fluid. I didn’t get much sleep due to the constant urge of needing to wee.
Renal doctors came next morning to assess me, I had lost 9kg approximately 1 stone 4 pound in weight. They gave me a more detailed insight to the biopsy and told me it had been booked for Friday afternoon.
Wednesday and Thursday went by slowly. I just sat and waited anxiously as more doctors examined me. By Friday, I was down to 79 kg and the doctors expected me to loose 10 more kilograms.
Friday afternoon eventually arrived, I got into my hospital gown and waited, there had been an emergency so I’d have to wait a bit longer. They eventually came and I wasn’t fit enough to undergo anaesthetic. My blood pressure was 179 there was also a rash on my back so the biopsy was cancelled.
The weekend in hospital how great. The dietician came to see me explained I would have to go on a low salt diet, that meant no crisps, takeaways or bacon sandwiches. Renal doctors came and told me the biopsy was now Monday.
Monday arrived, the morning passed very slowly. 12:30pm the nurse came and checked my blood pressure, 128 this was acceptable. I waited for the trolley to arrive then I was off. I was a little frightened of being put to sleep, but once they put the anaesthetic in, I was out like a light.
When I came round from the anaesthetic I was in the clouds, I was still dead drowsy. I can remember shouting at the doctor to get me my glasses, and when I was back on the ward, I kept trying to get out of bed and sneak to the toilet.
The results wouldn’t be back until Wednesday, so Tuesday was gonna be a long day. Mel and Katie came to visit me this cheered me up a bit, as I hadn’t seen them in over a month. My dad and Wendy came up after they had gone so I wasn’t on me own.
Wednesday, Nikki and Heather came to give me the results of the biopsy. Heather went onto explain I had something called F.S.G.S (Focal Segmental Glomerular Sclerosis). All this meant was there is scarring to the holes in my kidneys which was causing them too leak out protein.
F.S.G.S isn’t too common in people my age it’s also serious. No one knows why it happens it just does. They had discussed a six-month treatment, which they thought would work.
Woah! Was my initial reaction. The next few days were just completely blank; I just sat and cried. The renal doctors came and told me I would be discharged on Monday. First, piece of good news in days. I phoned my dad and Wendy to tell them.
I am at home fully now currently halfway through my treatment. Taking each day as it comes just hoping the treatment will work.
