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Hydronephrosis

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Posted 6/19/2009 4:46 AM (GMT 0)
I have had Hydronephrosis for a couple of years (bulge in my kidney). The thing about it is that I don't have kidney stones nor do I have ongoing pain. It was discovered by accident when I had an ultrasound for something completely different. Everyonce in a while I have a deep stabbing pain in the kidney area and then it goes away. I have no idea what that is. My dad does have polycycstic kidney disease, is that genetic?

My urologist is pretty casual about all of this and not worried about anything as long as I don't have ongoing pain. Everything seems to be working. Every once in a while I wonder if everything is okay but I'm not really worried. I just thought I would start this thread so that I could hear about other people's experiences and get a little more educated.
Posted 6/19/2009 5:32 AM (GMT 0)
I had hydronephrosis as a result of Vesicoureteral Reflux -- This is the abnormal backflow of urine from the bladder into the ureter and up to the kidney. It was all at the same time of kindey stones, kidney infection and pregnancy.

I can't really relate because mine was INCREDIBLY painful and was something they worried about..ug!

I'm not sure if there is a genetic/hereditary issue in your case. I would just follow up with your urologist and see if this is something that they need to follow. I was reading that sometimes this can be found at birth and it is rather benign.

Good Luck- I hope someone else has closer experiences to share with you!
Posted 6/19/2009 10:25 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome Stronglady

PKD is a genetic disorder. If one of your parents have this disorder you have a 50/50 chance of inheriting it. If you have it one of your parents does who might not know they have it. My mother died her autopsy showed PKD but she never knew.

If I were you I would research, google everything, ask questions on forums. Thats how I found this wonderful site, while researching PKD. My first and second urologist just shrugged my condition off. I finally got the third urologist to go in and look. In the end I was seeing a Nepherologist and going to a pain clinic.

It doesn't matter if your pain is on occasion or all the time. Your body says something hurts that means something is wrong. I would keep on getting opinions until you find a doctor who will listen and research on his own time to try and find answers for you. It took me awhile but it finally happened and thank god it did.

Tonight I will research alittle for you and see what I can come up with. Some Doctors might think its no big deal but this is our bodies our life we should take things alittle more serious.

Chat with you soon
Laurie
Posted 6/20/2009 12:01 AM (GMT 0)
So far through my time researching this is that it could be from the urine backing up causing the stones. Have you always had stone problems? If not something in your diet might be triggering them also. If that is the case surgery will help the stones pass but you still would create stones. I will always create stones but with all the stents put in to stretch the tube the pain is so much better to deal with.

Either way its a win win situation for you and me...lol If I were you I would stand up and do the giggy dance....

Laurie
Posted 8/12/2009 5:15 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the info. Sorry I took so long to check back, I forgot I had posted here until I got a reminder from my doctor.

The thing is that I have never had kidney stones. We have no idea what causes the swelling. I just realized that PKD is hereditary and that I found out a couple of months ago that my dad has had it for years. He is seeing a Nephrologist in a few weeks because he has anemia and they don't know why.

Wasn't too concerned before, now I am!
Posted 8/12/2009 9:56 AM (GMT 0)
I hope your dads appointment goes well. Some people can have PKD and not know it. My mother didn't know it we found out from the autopsy results after she passed on 7 yrs ago. But it wasn't the PKD that took her at age 54 it was CHF. The people who do not feel anything wrong with the kidneys with PKD will only notice it when the kidneys get to overwhelmed by the cysts and the kidney's then enlarge which causes pain. So far thats what I've learned.

Laurie
Posted 9/3/2009 4:07 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Stronglady

I had hydronephrosis and it was caused by an obstruction in the ureter. Different things can cause this obstruction. Of coarse kidney stones, a crossing vessel, scar adhesions, retro (backflow of urine from the bladder), and a floating kidney that floats down and makes the ureter kink. If this obstruction comes on slowly, then not much pain can be felt. I spoke with a lady who had severe hydronephrosis and never had any symptoms. Most people end up with multiple kidney infections because of the urine sitting in the kidney too long. But se had NO symptoms. So I believe your condition need to be monitored. Maybe once a year have a CT or IVP (whatever test they have done to compare). A really good test is called reterogrde pylogram. This show details of the ureter and collecting system and would show any major obstruction that would need immediate attention. This test requires annesthesia.

I agree with the other poster, this conditiion should not be sloughed off just because your symptoms are not screaming at you.
Posted 9/6/2009 4:49 AM (GMT 0)
Dad had his appointment with the Nephrologist. I have not been able to talk to him about it but talked to Mom. I have to be a little bit careful there as I am not sure that she knows why he went on the visit or perhaps he just hasn't told her everything. Mom did tell me that he has really high Potassium. I will have to look for an opportunity to talk to Dad alone. I know that it isn't good if he doesn't tell Mom everything but they are 79, Mom has severe mobility issues and is very dependant on Dad and he may not feel like scaring Mom if he doesn't have to. We'll see.
Posted 9/6/2009 6:34 PM (GMT 0)
I hope your dad comes around but when my grandmother was in her 80's she refused to anything the doctors said other than taking her meds.

I don't know how I would react when I get to that age. But hopefully he will see where you are coming from.

Please keep us updated
Laurie
Posted 9/23/2009 5:30 AM (GMT 0)
Dad's a retired doctor so he is more likely to see the sense in what a doctor tells him. He does not need dialysis at this time. His Potasium is really high so he has to get that under control.
Posted 4/7/2011 1:31 PM (GMT 0)
I found out I had PKD in November of 2009. Trying to get into a few forums here to learn more. I have a urology appointment and dont really know what to ask him. I have been having dreams at night that have been causing me to wake up and have excessive worrying. Just trying to get a idea what doctors have done for others on here. The pain some days is unbearable and i cant sit in front of my computer for long periods of time.
Posted 4/28/2011 12:04 AM (GMT 0)
My older son (now 21) was born with hydronephrosis. On an ultrasound the day before he was due, his bladder looked really full and they were worried about an obstruction, so they delivered him by C section....the nephrologist took him and he promptly peed all over him! Everyone cheered.

But on followup, they found hydronephrosis, and we dutifully went to specialists for several years..... but he never had symptoms, stones, etc. Eventually the situation resolved itself.
Posted 6/16/2011 2:06 PM (GMT 0)
HI, Hydronephrosis means 'water on the kidney' & is simply when the urine cannot drain out of the kidney for reasons already mentioned by KaraJO. Mine was caused by a kink in the ureter preventing the urine from draining. The kink was caused by a hypermobile kidney which dropped 5cms causing excruciating pain. (Nephroptosis). The kidney was fixed in place but the strictures still show from time to time. They are now thought to be caused by spasm. This condition is very rare but only poses a problem if the pain is bad. My pain is 24/7 & severe. If you get no symptoms don't worry about it. It's common to have a hypermobile kidney but if it causes pain it can be treated.. I hope this info may help.
Posted 6/21/2011 9:49 PM (GMT 0)
Stronglady4me,

Hi, I also had it found during an ultrasound for something else. This was like 19-years ago, and I have not had any problems with it. My Doctor was not real concerned about it either.

Warm Wishes sent your way.
Your Healingwell Friend,
Serenitee
Posted 6/21/2011 10:24 PM (GMT 0)
I joined just to post :) I had a parathyroid tumor years ago, and as a result, I have bone spurs and little 'rock's all over, attached to my innards, and my spine, etc. I just had an MRI and it is noted that I have 'parapelvic cysts on right kidney' and it goes on to say 'not clear if it is to the 'point of' hydronephrosis but should be explored'.

Wouldn't it show up on an MRI? I haven't been to a urologist yet..I'm in pain from the spine, from all the 'rocks' that are pressing everywhere anyway, so can't distinguish the difference in pain on that side in the back.

I also have other disabilities (serious..one rare...Hyper IgE Syndrome, critical asthma, etc.) and really hate to see any more doctors (ever..I'm 56 yrs. old, but that's not happening). I've been told three times by my regular doctor I have occult blood in urine, my back pounds when I have to go urinate on right side, and I have to void constantly. I'm female, if that makes a difference.

I'm afraid I'll go and see a doctor and be told 'It's fine' and sent on my way (that's happened before...I had a one POUND calculus in the uterus and on ovary, attached to back of spine, and for two years after they knew it they shoo'd me away).

I'm looking for advice from people who have this, and I thank you much in advance for any help you can give me (I feel like Im on the 'other side of the table' I've been a patient advocate now for over 23 years).
Posted 8/23/2011 6:40 AM (GMT 0)
hello im vanessa and my 2yr old daughter was born with hydronephrosis her was severe im not sure if it caused her any pain because she was a newborn im pretty sure it did because she used too cry a little too much and nothing seem to comfort her she had a couple of mri's and ct scans and due to the hydronephrosis she was diagnosed with a uti she used to get alot of fevers due to the infection so she was taking antibiotics for a very long time the neurologist told me that her problem can fix itself but it didnt so she had to get surgery at 11 months old they had to place a ureteral stent a month later she had it removed the doctor said everything went very well i missed an appointment for an ultradsound to check up on her kidney so im trying to reschedule again... for some reason after my daughters surgery she struggles so much to do number two i wonder if it has to do with any of this anyway as a young mother it was very hard for me to go through this with my little angel and im glad to know that a website like this was created i wish you all the best and god bless u all
Posted 10/22/2011 11:01 AM (GMT 0)
Vanessa, my situation is a bit different from your daughters, but i had hydronephosis discovered in my body at the age of 16. I had several severe kidney infections and urinary tract infections in a time period of a few months which is very abnormal, so the doctors performed a CT scan and ultrasound. They found that due to a blockage in my ureter that I most likely was born with I had developed severe hydronephrosis which had caused my kidney to grow to 6 times the normal size. I am now 22 years old and the last 6 years of my life I have progressively gotten worse and worse and less and less healthy, I had constant and worsening pain in my side and back, frequent infections, a loss in health overall due to lowered immunity, fatigue, anemia, constant vomiting, several hospitalizations, and worst of all many emotional and mental health problems. During this time I have seen several urologist and tried several different treatment options, which included close monitoring of my kidney function and growth, medicines, and procedures such as a having a stent inserted, which is very unpleasant. After years of the medical expenses, the hassle of seeing doctor after doctor, taking so many medications, and running so many tests but still being unhealthy and in pain the entire time, the conclusion was because it was discovered after so many years I had lost too much function and gained too much harmful bacteria in my body from the hydronephrosis to keep my kidney. I am now 2 and a half weeks post op from having my kidney removed and it has been one of the most miserable experiences of my life. I say all this to encourage you in knowing that because doctors found this in your precious daughter so young and have already taken action look at all she might have been spared from later in life. Enjoy and celebrate in her health.
Posted 7/30/2013 6:55 PM (GMT 0)
Hi my name is Danielle, When i was pregnant i had Pyelonephritis. I had it for a few months without knowing i had it. Then when detected, was hospitalized. Now 4 years later, I have Hydronephrosis. I had an IVP done but there was no detection of an obstruction. My health has got worse over the past 7 months or so. I am now very fatigued, low duel consistint pain in my kidneys, a metallic taste in my mouth, and elevated heart enzymes. Along with having to urinated alot especially at night. sometimes my urine will be very dark and my kidneys hurt really bad. Other times its a light pain with clear urine and can only urinate a little bit. Im getting worried but doctors cant find any thing. Any advice would be helpful. Thank you.
Posted 7/30/2013 7:41 PM (GMT 0)
Danielle88-

Welcome to Healing Well. Unfortunately you have posted to a very old post and only Serenitee has been seen in the last year.

I am going to start a new thread for you and it should get more responses.

Take care,
Bill
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