How long?

 I have been at my sister’s house for almost two months since being released from the hospital with a nephrostomy tube in place. It is so kind and hospitable for her and her husband to have me here so long, with still an undetermined amount of time ahead. 

I was pretty ill when I went to the hospital in August. (And now it’s October!) I had been in the hospital in July for a couple days for the same problem: a severe kidney infection. When I came back through the ER, I stayed for four or five days. My admittance and early days there are kind of a blur.

We (me and all the medical people I’ve seen) are keeping the infection at bay now with antibiotics. The nephrostomy tube is to relieve pressure in my left kidney (which is enlarged) and keep it alive until we get a more permanent solution. A home care nurse comes weekly to check on it.

Part of the reason I have been at my sister’s for so long is that I had an almost month-long delay in getting a diagnostic scan. I was supposed to have the scan on September 12th—already four weeks after I left the hospital, though I saw three different doctors in those four weeks—but, when I showed up, there was some preliminary procedure that was supposed to have been done before the scan but wasn’t. It took weeks—and a lot of phone calls on my part—to get the various medical offices to communicate and get that preliminary procedure scheduled and the scan re-scheduled.

Incidentally, the preliminary procedure was ridiculously simple and only needed to take about 15 minutes, but no one could do it unless they had an order. 

I had the scan yesterday and emerged mildly radioactive. The radioactive material injected into my veins should be pretty well gone by now, but if I tried to travel by air I might set off an alarm. Fortunately, I have no travel plans, except for my long-delayed trip home, whenever that happens. 

My scan was on a Friday, today is Saturday, and presumably on Monday the doctor who issued the all-important order will review the results. I hope to hear from them soon about what we’ll do next. 

My most fervent prayer for myself is that when all this is done I will be truly well. I have been having recurring UTIs for a year and a half at least. The theory is that it has been the same infection the whole time, temporarily alleviated by antibiotics then coming back. So I’ve been in pretty lousy health since I retired and probably for some time prior, mostly just feeling tired and listless. 

It's a process

I want to be well. Then I’ll say with Moses: “Make us glad as many days as you have afflicted us, and as many years as we have seen evil” (Psalm 90:15). 

Right now I’m in the earlier verse: “Turn, O Lord! How long? Have compassion on your servants!” (Psalm 90:13).

Oh, and if anyone is wondering, my wonderful niece(-in-law) is taking care of my dogs. Since she and my nephew have a young daughter whose friends come around to play with them, I gather the pups are having far more fun than they ever have with me.

And of course I’m grateful for modern medicine, kind medical professionals, loving and caring family and friends who have provided so much help that I don’t know what I’d do without them, and for prayer support. That’s the counterpoint to delays and frustration.

Also my sister is a great cook.