Update 8/2/24 – The tube went in this past Monday and the stent came out on Wednesday. The pain from the stent was overwhelming. I’m so relieved it is gone. I will have another after the main surgery for about a month. I’m starting to get used to the tube. There is a lot to adjust to and think about constantly. I have to be very careful to not pull on the tubes and not let the tubes or bag be above my kidney. And it needs to stay super clean. The site is starting to heal. I can lean back mostly fine. I appreciate everyone’s support, emotional and financial. I’m a lucky lady in ways. ❤️
I have been convinced to reach out in this way and ask for help. I have attempted to cover this as much on my own as I possibly can but now my credit is maxed out. I’m blessed with pretty good health insurance, a job that has been putting up with all the time off, and an excellent support system. I’m just not able to make ends quite meet. I’m traveling 6 hours by car for care due to stage 4 endometriosis. In this journey with endometriosis, my left ureter has become blocked with scar tissue. This was initially discovered during a hysterectomy in November of 2023. It has been an arduous and painful journey to find healthcare providers that are skilled in this area and do not have wait times too long to save my kidney and keep me able to work. If things continue to allow, I will have a tandem surgery for ureter reimplantation and endometriosis excision which is currently scheduled for mid to late September. In the meantime, I have to have a couple of procedures to get there. There will be, at least, 5 total trips to Charlotte before I’m through. Next up is the placement of a nephrostomy tube. This also has to happen in Charlotte due to needing a highly skilled Interventional Radiologist to get it safely placed under the conditions I’m in. I will stay near Charlotte for two nights for the nephrostomy. I will need to stay for about 10 days for follow up care after the final surgery. You probably don’t want to know the details but I’m an open book if you do so just reach out to me. I’m grateful for anything you can spare to help get me through. Some of the medical supplies I will need are going to add up very quickly. If I collect more than is needed, I will donate to https://www.nephrostomyliving.org
Lots of love and gratitude,
Andrea O’Donnell