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Has Anyone here had a Kidney Biopsy?

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Posted 3/31/2008 10:08 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Y'all! Has Anyone here had a Kidney Biopsy? My Nephrologist thinks I better get mine ASAP, and my Rheumy supports him....

What was it like? Did it hurt? Were you better within a day or two? Please tell me everything you can about your experience....

thanks,
Townsend
Posted 4/1/2008 1:41 AM (GMT 0)
(((( Townsend )))) I've never had a kidney biopsy but wanted you to know you will be in my thoughts and prayers. Please let us know how it goes.
Posted 4/1/2008 2:21 AM (GMT 0)
Townsend,

I had one done two years ago, and it was not bad at all. My Dr. gave me medicine before and during the procedure, and all I felt was pressure on my side. After it was done I had to lay flat on my back for a few hours, and then I stayed the night at the hospital. In the morning I was released. I can say that I was sore after the biopsy, but it was not too bad. I rested for the next few days and was as good as new.

I hope this helps,

Karen
Posted 4/1/2008 3:10 AM (GMT 0)
I'm curious too, I might be needing a biopsy soon also (although if it's necessary I'm going to try to put it off until AFTER my wedding in two months). I hear it's pretty invasive, and want to avoid any crazy invasive tests if at all possible...
Posted 4/1/2008 3:14 AM (GMT 0)
Had a kidney biopsy over 2 years ago and it was no big deal.  They put me out with some kind of a twilight anesthetic....no pain and I woke up a while later. 

All invasive procedures have an element of risk but it was necessary in my case to determine if I had permanent kidney damage and how much.  I was in a life threatening situation for a variety of reasons and they wanted to determine how bad my kidneys were.  Fortunately, they were not that bad and have been controlled by meds ever since.

If your nephrologist and rheumy both want you to get it then do it.  Permanent kidney damage or the loss of one of both is life threatening.  The biopsy procedure is normally painless and without complication.

Bill

Posted 4/1/2008 9:18 AM (GMT 0)
I hope your biopsy goes well. Have it done no matter your fears or concerns. Two of my family members who had lupus died of kidney failure because their doctors thought they were hypocondriacs and by the time a biopsy was done it was far too late- no time to find a donor even.

If your neph says get one do it and if your rheumy agrees then consider it a red flag and do it ASAP!
Posted 4/1/2008 1:39 PM (GMT 0)
I had one done 9 years ago. I was already hospitalized because of my kidneys, so it was just one more procedure they were putting me through to find out what was wrong with me. My neph just gave me local ansthetic, and after it was over I had to lay completely flat on my back for a couple of hours. I don't remember completely, but either it was the i.v. they had me hooked up to or the drugs they gave me so I wouldn't feel the biopsy or maybe a mix of both, but a half hour after I was back to my room I had to pee really bad. Insert bed pan. I filled that thing up twice before my bladder was empty. My husband was laughing so hard, the fool almost spilled it on my bed.

Anyway, I didn't feel too much pain after the anesthetic wore off. I was sore, but it wasn't any kind off soreness to complain about.
Posted 4/2/2008 4:15 AM (GMT 0)

Hi,

I had a kidney biopsy done 5 years ago. I was awake for the whole thing but they give you something to relax you and they numb your kidney so it doesn't hurt. You do have to lay flat on your back for 6 hours afterwards but it isn't bad. The next day I had some mild pain but nothing major. I would not be afraid to have another one done. I would rather have that done than a colonoscopy! Good luck and try not to worry, it isn't bad at all.

Sandy

Posted 4/2/2008 1:55 PM (GMT 0)
I had a kidney biopsy about a month ago. All they did was give me a couple shots to numb the area...I was awake and aware for the entire thing. It really wasn't that bad though, the only part I felt was when they took the actual pieces of my kidney...felt like i was being punched in the kidney. Entire thing took about 45 min. Afterwards I had to stay off my feet for something like 4 hours and it just felt like a sore muscle after that. After some bed rest, a couple days later, I forgot I even had it done. No big deal.
Posted 4/3/2008 3:48 AM (GMT 0)

I have had 4 biopsies done.  They are really not that bad at all!  They gave me something to help me relax before and numbed the area.  As the others have said you just feel pressure.  It sounds scarier than it is.  I'm the biopsy queen!!!  I think I could do one myself!  Try not to worry and don't put it off too long sometimes it can take a while for the results to come back.  Judy

(That's the worse part to me,  waiting!)

Posted 4/3/2008 5:15 AM (GMT 0)
Hey!
I had a kidney biopsy done about a year ago. I was nervous at first because they informed me of all the risks and how there can be complications and everything but it wasnt nearly as bad as I imagined. The worst part about it is when they are numbing the area the needle pinch hurts a little but thats it. After that, the area is completely numb, the only weird part was that you could hear and feel the doctor puncturing your skin (it sounds like someone is poking a sharp stick through fabric or something) but since its numb you dont feel anything. During my biopsy they had to poke two holes because they werent sure if the first sample was in a good area or not. Other than that it wasnt a bad experience at all. hope this helps!! good luck!
Posted 4/3/2008 9:27 PM (GMT 0)
i have quite a few done, they dont hurt at all and to be honest they didnt bother me one bit
Posted 4/4/2008 11:37 PM (GMT 0)
same here, i've had like 7 in the last 13 yrs, both asleep and awake, and neither hurt and i was fine afterward. I just had to lay still for a few hours and then i got to go home the same day each time. With asleep, they gave me general ani and i was asleep the entire time and woke up in a hospital bed and watched tv for a bunch of hours then went home. With awake, they numbed the area and i just layed there, when it was over i layed there and watched tv for a bunch of hours then went home. but just remember to take it easy for a day or two afterwards.
Posted 4/13/2008 7:51 PM (GMT 0)
I had a kidney biopsy last year.  I went to the hospital at about 7am and they checked me in and got an IV running and about 45 minutes before they came to get me they gave me a valium to take the nervous edge off.  In the operating room I was awake and they administered some heavy drugs into my IV and I went from sober to slobbering drunk in about 20 seconds :) haha.  Anyways they took 3 sample which I cranked my head around to watch and didn't feel a thing.  This taking all of 10 mintues in the operating room.  I had to order something to eat when I got back to my room and then lay on my back for about 4 hours.  They checked my blood after that to make sure things were okay and I was out of the hospital by 3 pm.  I went to work the next day and was just advised not to lift over 20 pounds or so for about a week.  I felt like maybe someone had kidney punched me for a few days but the procedure was not horrible at all.  Good luck.
Posted 4/15/2008 12:17 AM (GMT 0)
I have had two done. It really is not so bad as long as you are not flaring during the time you have it done. I was in the hospital and I was already extremely sick so my recovery was a bit difficult. My advice would be to consider how your body is doing at the time of procedure. You will have some pain after but not as much if you are not flaring and already having some issues because of the lupus.
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