Biopsy

I go for my biop tomorrow not knowing if I have kidney cancer or not.My Ct scan on a abnormal renal cyst was monday and I have not heard the news.I have a viral load of 3.2 mill and am ty 1.I also have symptoms like pressure around the liver and slightly swollen spleen and fatigue.My question is about the meds given during Bi Op,,versed and fentanyl isn't it?versed is a drug that can cause some very bad problems for people like me who take darvocette twice daily and valium daily for combat realted problems.I have a 1/2 life of these things built up in me and I was wondering if i should worry about these meds as the web says they can cause life and death problems in some cases.I guess I'm worrying for nothing but I'm carrying a terrible load right now.Today 1 yr ago was the day my son was found dead after having been missing for a week and not hearing if I have cancer or not is eatting me up I even worry about being MT,my stomach for that long as they said 4-6 hours in recovery and I can't eat after midnite.With all this stress my stomach is in knots and has and will cramp up when MT.will they bring you water after they have been thru for a while?Thanks God Bless
Bob
DAVMarine
and yes I have PTSD and its broken my iron courage I once had.

[livindabest]

   It is really quite painless.  The current meds you have might be all you need.    The V.A. doc. ordered me 2 oxys to take on way to Tripler Hosp.  I was feeling fine !  They lay you on gurney , give you a couple shots of local painkiller, and polk the 'needle in to liver. I felt a slight pinch as it went threw skin but the liver has no nerves so no feeling their. 15-20 min.later you wheeled to a hospital room to lay on your side for 3 hours. and watch tv. (that was hardest part since i felt fine.)
   They offer you whatever snacks they have, juices, cookies whatever.      If doing this at a V.A. clinic or hosp. You must have some body pick you up afterwards they will not even let you bus home.   the ol' C Y A .
                  Take care,   R.
                                    
        

[frijole]

I am very sorry about the loss of your son.  I cannot image the pain that would give.  I hope you have spoken to the surgeon and the anesthesiologist about the pain meds you are already taking.  I would think that they might need to modify what you take for the surgery but I really don't know.

Are you going in for a kidney biospy or a liver biopsy or both?  Good luck.
frijole

[Liv]

Hi Dave,

A lot of people don't need to take any kind of pre-medication for the biopsy.   Like others have said, they numb up the biopsy site with an agent like novacaine (usually Lidocaine).  It stings for just a few seconds then they take the tissue sample.  Some people might feel a little pressure during this part but that's it.  The procedure itself takes only minutes and some people have pain afterward but many people don't and think going to the dentist is far worse.  I had some pain afterward and for that I got a small dose of Fentanyl / IV.  Fentanyl is fairly short acting so it doesn't linger in the body.  If you're already taking Valium they might suggest that you just take your usual dose or increase it for the procedure, especially if you're worried about drug interactions.  You lay on your side for several hours afterward and that's it.  Best of luck to you and know you're in our prayers for all that you've been through in your life.

[dlr2007]

You still have courage- you're just using it in different ways now. I'm so very sorry about your son- what a terrible loss. You do know there's a grief/loss forum on this site, right? I go there as well as here- my loss was different and further in the past than yours, but I still need to think and "talk" about it on there sometimes, as well as give what little advice I can.
  The biopsy is really not bad- if you haven't gotten the chance to discuss your meds with the docs before, definitely ask them when you arrive for the bx. It takes some time to prepare so you'll be able to talk to them. The worst thing that'll happen, if they think the meds are a bad mix, is they'll give you something else. Or even if they want you to do it without additional meds, it's no biggie. I had one stone cold straight and sober 12 years ago- it's over so fast you won't believe it.
  I hope everything comes back alright with your kidney. I'll be watching for your posts to see how it's going.
Best wishes and prayers,
Dee

[tumbleweed1999]

Sorry I'm late getting in here.  I pray that everything has gone ok today. -:) Please let us know how you are doing.  This is a great group - like extended family - so feel free to post away; vent, question, comment whatever.  Don't ever think that what you say is not important - even if it is only to you.  Just puting it down helps sometimes.

I understand PTSD. My husband is a Nam vet and has been in denial for 40yrs. -:(    Have you gone thru' the "in-house group therapy" the VA has?

Take care, Bob.  We hope to hear from you soon.

God Bless
Geri

[DAVMarine]

Thanks so much for your help and support and prayers the biopsy went fine and it was just liver.I still have not heard if I have kidney cancer or not and the Doc that did the biop today went and checked my records and the results have not been entered on the computer from the ordering Doctor.He did say he has seen many complex kidney cysts that are not cancer but are very very sore and need drained or removed and that they could do the scope to do either.I didn't need meds for the biopsy just numbed my side and away we went.I had to lay on my right side for 2 hours and sit for 2 more and eat and then they cut me lose.I am a little sore and had slight shoulder pain which passed in 20 minutes.Thank you for the kind words about my son he was one of kind,football,baseball,music,producing videos and dvds and was a senior in college when he died,he was missing for 5 days and found in a swamp near where his car had been towed from after it ran into the swamp but only a little ways and I drove it it wasn't hurt.We have no cause of death its listed as an accident as there was no foul play and he had so much going for him they never thought of him doing himself any harm and neither do I as we spoke the night he disappeared and he was excited cause he had produced a dvd for a group and made enough money to buy a new commercial grade video camera the next day.He gave me the money to buy it online for him but by dawn when I dropped by to pick up and take he and my wife to college,stepmom and he went to school together,he wasn't there and the search began.All we got from the state was papers saying unkown accident.The college gave my wife his degree when she walked.Enough about that you all have your own problems thanks for the loan of an ear.They want to start treatment around the 10th of OCT but I'm waiting on the news on the kidney in case surgery is required first.God Bless and the DAV is not Dave it's disabled american veteran.I'm Bob and again thank you for the helping hand

[debnevada]

How are you feeling right now?

Deb

[DAVMarine]

I am sore at the spot they removed the tissue and my liver is sore or under pressure all around it but thats each day and the spleen.They also drew blood to look for a node cancer that comes from having played in agent orange in the bush.I'm wearing out the prayer lines and praying you good people each are better tomorrow.Thanks for asking.
Bob

[tumbleweed1999]

Did they warn you about lifting, stretching, that sort of thing for a couple of days?  If not, those are good things not to do until that area has a chance to heal up.

I am so sorry about your son.  We parents were not made to outlive our children, tho' only our Lord knows why we do.  My prayers are with you at this time of memory.

Geri

[ladywhy]

Hi Bob,
I can't imagine what it must be like to lose your son and on top of that, not know what happened...what a tragedy, I'm so sorry. Hope you feel some sense of relief to have the bx behind you, I hope you get good news reg. bx and kidney. If nothing else...patience is something we here have to learn, cause like someone above said."This is a waiting game."
Wishing you hte best.
Yvonne

[Trish77]

Hi Bob,

How old was your son, if you don't mind me asking.  He sounds like he lived life happy and full while he was here and while you were blessed to have him.  My own son is 21 and also lives life full in every way.  I have two daughters also who are 22 and 24.  I cannot imagine losing any of them and I'm so very sorry for your own loss.  Gentle hug to you, Bob.

Yes, everyone here has their own problems but seems always time to listen to each other.  Listening is not a stretch, Bob.  I'm glad your biopsy went well.  Worst part is thinking about it ahead of time, yes?  Mine was last Monday and I'm sore a bit where they took the tissue out also but I was a dolt and was lifting and moving things the next day...didn't think to take it easy and didn't realize I needed to. Doh. Here's hoping for good results from your kidney tests.  You certainly have your hands full.  You've done battle before it seems...now you have a different kind of battle on your hands.  Different kind of enemy, different kind of weapons to fight it with.  I know you can do it.  Hang in there...a step at a time.  Rooting for you all the way, Bob.

[frijole]

[frijole]

[frijole]

Well, that was wierd -- computer went haywire.

I am glad the biopsy went well.  I will look for you to post your results soon.  The story about your son is compelling and tragic.   There is just no understanding some things.  
about all we can do is go forward but that is easier said then done.
frijole

[DAVMarine]

My son was 33.He was a high school football player that went 6'5 at 270 and could lift a car.The Arkansas Razorbacks started watching him and offered us tickets to come to the games and for him to sit with the players but he was burnt out.He started football,baseball,basketball at 7 and he was just burnt out.He turned them down and went to college in 91 on a scholarship he earned for his grade point and stayed two yrs and discovered he had a talent for playing a guitar.He dropped out and began playing in a band that signed with Toni Bon Jovi,Johns uncle and they recorded metal music in New York and toured for a few years and he decided he wanted to go back to school.His goal was to teach upper level math, it was so easy to him but he got bored after 160 hours and changed his major to radio telly and producing and had commericals run on TV he wrote a south park espisode and was to graduate in 06 with his step Mom ,my wife when this happened.As I said they gave us the degree anyway.He was much loved by so many at the college including his professors.He was a gentle giant who always had time to tudor or help in any way and I should have learned from him in life not the other way around.Having been a combat Marine squadleader in Vietnam at just 19 it made me very hard and short tempered.The reason I tell all this is because of the age,at 33 one would wonder why he was a senior in college.My wife has gone on and she has her BA and she will have her MA in Dec about all she has left is her oral boards.She walked summa before and I think she will this time.She has two different colleges shes going to teach at starting in the spring of 08 and my health problems are placing a terrible burden on her trying to finish but she never says a word.She finished her last sem of her BA with the loss of a child she raised since he was 8 and the loss of her Dad two months later as he died Thanksgiving day 06.Shes used to being pounded but its time she caught a break.She is 12 yrs younger than me.Sorry to run on but I'm not feeling well and was just not paying attention how long I had gotten.God Bless
Bob

[DAVMarine]

I just got the call from my doctor and I DO NOT have cancer in the kidney or the cysts.Thank God for his blessings and you good folks for your love and prayers and support now I can pray for a good report on the blood work on the nodes they are probably swollen because of the Hep C but they are being safe since I was exposed to Agent orange.I am so ready to begin treatment so the good Lord willing I will one day be virus free! Thanks to all
Bob

[DAVMarine]

I just got the call from my doctor and I DO NOT have cancer in the kidney or the cysts.Thank God for his blessings and you good folks for your love and prayers and support now I can pray for a good report on the blood work on the nodes they are probably swollen because of the Hep C but they are being safe since I was exposed to Agent orange.I am so ready to begin treatment so the good Lord willing I will one day be virus free! Thanks to all
Bob

[Trish77]

I'm celebrating for you, Bob....very very pleased to hear your news and thanks so much for sharing it.  One step at a time, dear Bob.  

Thank you... for the lovely words about your son.  Very blessed to know what kind of person he graced our world with.  The angels are certainly richer to have him as was this world while he was here. You have such cherished memories and I'm glad for that for you.  Gentle hugs to you, Bob.

Rooting for you all the way.

Trish