Monday March 13, 2023

Update # 220

22 and 17

Good Evening All,

Thursday the 9th, Jeff had a laparoscopic Pyeloplasty at University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City. He is home and doing well but let me explain it.

Remember back last Summer when Jeff had his June StL appointment? The day before a Cardinal game was enjoyed but with hot temps. Jeff’s blood work on Monday showed a bit higher than usual kidney number. Doc D. gave Jeff a bag of fluids and then added a CT scan. Jeff also received a 2nd bag of fluids on Tuesday before returning to Iowa.

The CT scan indicated a possible blocked renal artery. That’s when the great debate began with 2 doctors in Waterloo. One said no the artery was fine. One said Jeff needed to return to a specialist in StL. During this discussion, a stent was put in to keep things open. After 3 months, a 2nd stent replaced the first.

As a family, we talked about Jeff heading to StL for a kidney specialist. That would mean finding one, getting an initial consult, plus whatever tests this doctor may want to do. Each trip would be at least 2 days if not three. Six hours is a long drive. Some research and recommendation from a Waterloo doctor, an Iowa City urologist agreed to meet with Jeff. This is only a 70-minute drive from home. Jeff and Meridith met with Dr. Steinberg for a consult on November 28, 2022. He wanted to get some StL records of Jeff’s medical history and requested a 2nd appointment on Jan. 6, 2023.

At that meeting, Dr. Steinberg was also not sure of the exact situation with the kidney. He scheduled a dye/x-ray test for Jan. 30th. After the dye is inserted, he would take an x-ray every 2 minutes to observe the flow. That would help him determine the next step.

Sunday, Jan. 29th, Jeff had severe vomiting for hours. Later in the day, he and Meridith went to the ER. Jeff needed fluids and the ER doc thought the blood work showed a bacterial infection. Jeff was admitted for an overnight stay. The next day Jeff was diagnosed with food poisoning. Saturday, he and Meridith had ordered take-out food. Jeff stayed a 2nd night for fluids but was home by Noon on Tuesday.

This little episode meant that the Iowa City test had to be cancelled on that Monday. But Dr. Steinberg did not wait long to reschedule. In fact, the test was done that Friday, Feb. 3rd. This dye/x-ray test did not show a blocked renal artery. Jeff had a kinked left ureter. It could be corrected with a laparoscopic Pyeloplasty. So, March 9th at 7:30 am, Jeff had the surgery. Interesting, all these years of treatments and procedures Jeff never had a surgery.

Jeff and Meridith were down and back home in less than 48 hours. Dr. Steinberg said all went well and deemed the surgery a success. But the surgery did take twice as long as expected. Dr. Steinberg said he had to go very slowly since Jeff’s previous treatments had caused issues with some inside organs being stuck together. And he also told us that the bowels have some GVHD. We knew the GVHD had settled in Jeff’s lungs but never knew it also settled in this spot. Dr. Steinberg said once he got to the ureter, straightening it out was easy. Jeff is to be off work for 4 weeks recuperating.

Timing of the surgery worked well; Meridith has Spring break at her school next week. Ken will drive me to Waterloo on Friday the 17th. He’ll spend the weekend and return home on Monday. Ken will return for Easter, and we will head home on April 10th.

I held off writing this update since we needed to see what each step in Iowa City would tell us. Then it made more sense to wait for the surgery and tell you how Jeff did through it all. The doctor had told Jeff there would be pain afterwards but Jeff said it was more of a dull ache. That man does have a high tolerance for pain. Amazing!

Twelve weeks after the surgery, Dr. Steinberg wants to perform another dye/x-ray test. That will be sometime in May. Jeff’s StL appointment is June 19, so I will wait till after that time before I send the next update.

We appreciate each of your continued prayers for Jeff. Those prayers help the number of years at the top of the update keep increasing. The journey has been long for Jeff, but your love and support keep him strong and enjoying life. Thank you, dear family and friends.

Have a great Spring and Happy Easter.

Love and blessings,

Marcia