More about kidneys - again!

Another zero biopsy! That’s 5 for 5. Can’t get better than that. I’m feeling really positive today. I know that Scott is improving. It is still uncomfortable for him to have all of this fluid retention. He is a bit frustrated because he was told that a heart transplant would resolve the annoying and sometimes painful bulging and tightness in his abdomen due to excess fluid. Now it seems like his kidney failure is keeping it going.
People keep asking how his kidneys are doing. That is a hard question. They are definitely NOT functioning as normal kidneys do. Normal kidneys clean toxins from your blood, regulate amounts of postassium and other substances in your body and get rid of extra fluid in your body.
All of the extra stuff is filtered through the kidneys and out of your bladder as urine. Since the transplant many doctors have discussed Scott’s kidneys with me. Early on they were very optimistic because Scott was still peeing a little. If kidneys don’t work at all – you don’t pee AT ALL. So they were working a little bit. They also measure creatinine and urea levels through blood tests. Your kidneys get rid of these substances from your blood. Blood tests are taken and these levels are measured. If kidneys are working these are kept at low levels. If the levels keep rising it means the kidneys aren’t clearing them out effectively.
I keep hearing that the kidneys are amazing at recovering. They sometimes don’t work for months and then, miraculously start working again. I do think that this is the exception not the rule. The more time that goes by the less chance of the kidneys recovering.
About 2 weeks ago Scott stopped peeing altogether and his creatinine jumped up suddenly. Scott had become dehydrated and his kidneys had nothing to work with. Scott was told to drink at least 2L of fluids a day to give his kidneys plenty to work with and every chance to recover. His urea levels have dropped this week and they say that the creatinine levels usually follow. He has been peeing a bit more too. That is a step in the right direction. Is it enough??? It is a waiting game just as it has been for the last 2 and half months. I’m so interested in how much Scott pees and his creatinine and urea levels and how much extra fluid he has in his body. Hopefully it won’t matter soon! I certainly continue to pray for a return of kidney function and I appreciate all of you who have done the same! Let’s keep at it!