Floppy kidney

Posted by laujodrik @laujodrik, 4 days ago

My right kidney dropped down because of an obstructed ureter which tore it off. I had surgery to put it back from a surgical urologist and it dropped twice. . My GFR is quite low when it drops. I need both kidneys to be working or I could end up on dialysis. I’m in perfect health and not sure why my kidney won’t hold in place. This Dr has excellent credentials and did it robotically. It’s called a floppy kidney. Does anyone know of other doctors that operate on your kidney that’s not cancer? I’m am 80 but with the exception of this issues my numbers are great.

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Kelly, Moderator | @klp | 3 days ago

Hi @laujodrik! It sounds likes what you're describing might also be called a floating kidney, or nephroptosis. What a frustrating situation, especially when your health is otherwise great! I believe that a urologist would be the correct specialist to treat nephroptosis since it's a surgical fix, but I could be wrong.

There is an older conversation about this condition that you might find interesting: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/recently-diagnosed-with-nephroptosis-auyone-else/. How long have you been dealing with this?

laujodrik | @laujodrik | 2 days ago

In reply to @klp "Hi @laujodrik! It sounds likes what you're describing might also be called a floating kidney, or..." + (show)

@klp thank you for sending me those articles. Yes, I know it’s also considered a floating kidney. I saw my urologist yesterday who did the surgery. He says he has never had to do this procedure a third time and really didn’t want to. I can be a candidate for more scar tissue and other issues. I’m not in considerable pain or very little though it’s alarming regarding my GFR. He wants to take an IVP, which is a very outdated procedure at this time to see how far it dropped. He said, if he had to he’d bring it up with some mesh like they do with hernias. He believes part of my problem is I’m thin and my insides are very different than they should be. My ureter cord wrapped around my kidney and tore it off, which I may have mentioned, and doing so moved some of my organs. My primary, nephrologist and regular urologist is very against me having this procedure done a third time. They want to do numerous bloodwork to see if they can get my GfR to go up. Possibly with medication and a special diet. Also when your kidneys are comprised the calcium you get from food or pills does not get absorbed properly. Even though I worked out my entire life I have osteoporosis. My mom had it as well who also was very active. They feel it’s heredity. It’s concerning on that level as well. I have a lot to consider at this time. The discomfort/pain I can live with. I can’t with dialysis. I’m considering the conservative route for now and see what happens. Thank you again. I love this website. BTW my recovery was not very painful with exception of the stent I had from my original blockage of my ureter for 4 weeks . I guess in that respect I was lucky.