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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

WWYD re: operation in pregnancy?

6 replies

ShalomToYouJackie · 27/11/2020 07:57

Looking for some advice.

I'm 17 weeks pregnant, due in May
I had a nephrostomy fitted 3 weeks ago for a kidney stone blocking my ureter. Since then my mental health has really deteriorated, I'm regularly waking up lying in my own wee, I'm still getting the extruciating kidney stone pain, my boyfriend has to do everything for me like helping me to the toilet and helping me get into bed, I've not slept properly in 3 weeks as I'm in so much pain I can't lie down properly.

I really really want the nephrostomy taken out and to have the operation to remove the kidney stone. One of the consultants and another doctor I've spoken to are completely against it despite it being offered to me 3 weeks ago, they say it's too risky for the baby as I'd need a general anaesthetic which can lower my blood pressure and cause a miscarriage, when they break up the stone it could cause an infection or sepsis and cause miscarriage and they'd have to use an x-ray although it would be a tiny dose of radiation. They keep telling me there's a risk of miscarriage or "mental retardation" of my baby. I'm under a maternity consultant who also said to avoid surgery.

There's another consultant who I've not spoken to since I was discharged 3 weeks ago but he said if the pain is too much to call him and I can have the operation. He was really nice. He also said the chance of any of those risks happening is about 10%.

What would you do? I can't manage like this until June (when they want to do the operation). My mental health is really struggling, I'm sat crying all day, my depression has come back, I'm in pain every day, I'm not sleeping, I feel like I'm going mad. But it seems really selfish for me to have the operation when there's a risk of miscarriage.

Do I just need to pull myself together and manage until June?

OP posts:
Milkshake54 · 27/11/2020 13:03

I nearly ended up in a non-planned GA a few weeks ago, the surgeons told me it was the safest time for me to have it in pregnancy as I was in my third trimester... apparently the most risk was in the second - can you ask them whether it could be explored for when you reach 28+ weeks?

Although, I did some research when I was preparing for surgery and there were lots of threads on mumsnet with women who did have GA at all stages of pregnancy!

Although the surgery I was going to have was low risk, minor surgery too - it was on my leg so not near baby etc.

1940s · 27/11/2020 15:03

My honest answer... I'd wait. I think my mental health would be worse if I miscarried or had a baby born with lifetime of special needs. I'd focus on making life easier until June - adapting bedding / adult diapers etc

sleepyhead · 27/11/2020 15:07

Can you ask them to investigate any other options for the pain? I had a kidney stone a couple of years ago and I can't imagine being in that sort of pain for an extended period of time - is there any chance that the stone will pass on its own?

The risk to the baby - and 10% isn't to be sniffed at - is obviously incredibly important, but I really would worry about your overall health if you have this amount of pain ongoing.

88bowie · 27/11/2020 15:14

Ring and speak to the consultant again, no dr is going to says yes straight off the Bat due to the very small risks but still risks, they maybe able to do it under spinal which is safer for baby than a ga to. It's a decision only u can make and have to weigh up the pro and cons and if u are unable to live with the medical issues then have the operation. mental health is just as important as physical health. What does ur partner think ?

Greybeardy · 27/11/2020 15:15

It sounds like you need to talk to your consultant obstetrician and urologist to discuss whether your original plan needs re-considering. There is clearly a balance of risk and benefits to both you (and your baby) relating to either going ahead with surgery or managing without and no one here can really talk to you about that because no one here knows the specifics of your case. If they don’t agree that surgery is indicated/ safe at the moment then it may be worth asking if there is an anaesthetist who specialises in pain medicine who may be able to suggest ways to improve your pain control until surgery is safer. (From an anaesthetist).

ShalomToYouJackie · 28/11/2020 09:57

Thank you for all your advice. I actually ended up back in hospital last night and am here for a few days as I now have a kidney infection because the tube was kinked and not draining.

I saw the nice consultant this morning. I explained the impact this has had on me, my mental health and my partner too who has now pretty much become my carer but he is also now completely refusing to do the operation so I guess that's the end of that 😕

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