Health Problems: Who Has Had Serious Issues?

[Janus]

Janus, I can't imagine what you're going through. That's got to be a really tough situation to deal with.

I'm doing okay with it. The worst part was right after the diagnosis of the PKD. At the time I was having some discomfort including lower back pain. It became very severe one morning and I went to the Emergency room. The preliminary diagnositic was a kidney stone. They did an IVP, found a blockage, but also noted the enlarged and cystic kidneys. After the finding out I had the PKD and learning that the pain and discomfort I was having was symptomatic of the disease, I thought that I was going to have to live with the pain, and that possibly that it had already progressed to an advanced stage.

Then my urologists sent me for an Ultrasound, and then on the basis of that, a CT scan. That's when they found the tumor. As it turns out, Kidney cancer and PKD share symtoms. It was the tumor and not the PKD that was causing the pain. Since having my right kidney removed, I have been symptom free.

In fact, I may even have the PKD to thank for the early detection of the cancer. From my understanding, in many cases by the time the Kidney cancer becomes symptomatic enough for one to seek attention, the cancer has grown beyond the kidney and spread to other parts of the body. It is just possible that the PKD and tumor together caused me greater symtoms than the tumor alone would, thus prompting my visit to the ER leading to the detection of the tumor.

 

[Kerrie]

Janus, I wish you even more courage and strength while dealing with PKD. I have heard that kidney pain feels worse then labor pains a woman experiences without any kind of pain killers...For that, I admire you!

 

[Janus]

I KNEW there was something I liked about you! Ivan is part Finnish!

How much so? And which part(s)?

You Finns are sweeties!

Yep, stubborn, but sweet!

 

[Tsu]

How much so? And which part(s)?

As much as is important and the parts that count.

Actually, he believes he's at least 25% Finnish. Probably more.

Yep, stubborn, but sweet!

He's 100% stubborn for sure.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Hey Janus I'm really sorry to hear about your problems.

One thing that many people take too much for granted is good health - if you have it count your blessings. Life can turn on a dime.

I understand us Finns have many relatives here in Oregon. I did some work for a Sauna company from Finland. Turns out there are many Mackies here - the traditional name for my family...well, first Palo-Mackie then just Mackie. My great-grandpa changed his name when he moved to the US to escape political persecution of some sort.

 

[Janus]

Hey Janus I'm really sorry to hear about your problems.

One thing that many people take too much for granted is good health - if you have it count your blessings. Life can turn on a dime.

I understand us Finns have many relatives here in Oregon. I did some work for a Sauna company from Finland. Turns out there are many Mackies here - the traditional name for my family...well, first Palo-Mackie then just Mackie. My great-grandpa changed his name when he moved to the US to escape political persecution of some sort.

My grandfather did the same, the original was Parviainen. He shortened it and gave it a more "English" spelling. His brothers, who had moved to the US too, also shortened theirs, but one just shortened it to Parvi, and the other shortened it and changed the "i" to a "y".

The original family name means "from Parvi", as Parvi was the name of the village from which the family originated. Parvi is also the Finnish word for "flock"

 

[Tsu]

From my understanding, in many cases by the time the Kidney cancer becomes symptomatic enough for one to seek attention, the cancer has grown beyond the kidney and spread to other parts of the body. It is just possible that the PKD and tumor together caused me greater symtoms than the tumor alone would, thus prompting my visit to the ER leading to the detection of the tumor.

This is true. I'm very glad yours was caught early. I hope you continue to do well! We NEED you here!