[jarlbulgruf]

Misdiagnosed kidney problem in favor of lumbar pain

by jarlbulgruf on Wed Feb 25, 2015 2:18 am

Yes, that's what happened.

Everyone has that feeling now and then, especially if work entails lifting heavy loads. This particular event started February 2014. Company doc says just back pain. A x-ray, few medications and a week later, no help.

Went back, got the same meds, but now with PT sessions. Liked it a lot. But pain was increasing. Decided to take my case outside the company. More but different meds, x-rays came along, PT sessions also ordered, no help. Sadly this lasted up to 3rd week of April. By this time the pain was too much. I had a vacation coming up by May. I decided to cancel my vacation and pursue this problem.

The last weekend of April, a Thursday (over here), I woke up 4 am to extreme pain to the whole body and breathing a little painful. Asked my wife to accompany me to the same hospital that morning. I told the receptionist my case and asked where else I could go, ER being the last recourse. He said try the Allergy, Immunology, Respiratory and Sleep Disorders (AIRS) unit. So of I went.

Told the lady doc my history. Showed all x-rays, med reports. She was baffled. Asked for any blood works done initially. None, I answered. All said back pain. Now I was having pain in the chest during deep breaths only. Mind you, there was a MERs-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus) outbreak that time. Doc ordered a baseline bloodwork on me.

Just before an hour passed, when the results came in, the doc immediately ordered her nurse to take me to ER for acute RENAL FAILURE. I asked WHAT? WHY? My creatinine was a 10+, Uric was at 17. At the ER, four docs ganged-up on me. Blood was extracted again, questions poured in. They were pinching everything below the belt - which BAFFLED them cause everything was responsive, no bloating. Waited for the blood results, same. The lone lady doc at the ER was screaming DIALYSIS! But the other three male doc countered. They said I was not exhibiting any classic symptoms of renal failure.

After forty-five mins of trying to find out what was wrong with me, one doc came back and before he could ask a question, I strongly emphasized that everything below the belt is functioning just right. Augmented that with a thumbs-up and a mischievous wink of the right eye. So off he went, he silenced the dialysis-crusading lady doc, and had me admitted to try to lower the numbers by watering me down. (Sorry forgot the term for that!).

Fluids were IV'd in, and had to drink lots more, And liters-in must match liters-out. I also had dex IV'd in to boost my body and lessen the pain now. Thank GOD the numbers started falling on the third day. If it didn't, Dialysis-Doc would win.

So next was whether I had MERS due to breathing deep pain. X-ray showed some fluids but not enough to cause the pain. Blood was drawn this time to be profiled in Germany for the MERS. CT scan was done on chest. Found some scarring. MRI done to take a closer look. Finally two biopsies (chest and lower back) to nail the diagnosis.

By the end of the third week, 25th of May, my haematologist burst into my room declaring "We know what's wrong with you! So now you can leave the hospital and can start your medication!" Another: WHAT the ... ?!

So, it seems my medication can be done through the Outpatient Clinic. And I was so feeling right at home with them.

Story of my life. Sounds familiar to anyone else?