lol kyro has a.....tumor?

[kyro]

I debated whether or not I was going to put this out here, but I have absolutely no reason to I guess. POG has been an absolutely huge part of my life. Its inclusion into the 2+2 forums came at one of the darkest times of my life. I was a college dropout, I was losing the love of my life, my relationship with my parents was strained, and I was rarely happy. POG was my escape, and it still is to a certain extent. Things have been far better now, but I’ve become friends with some great people through this forum, that I never would have if it wasn’t created. You guys are pretty much a second family to me, and despite my overaggressive ways at times, I care about the lot of you, and so I feel you have a right to know this.

For the past month, I’ve had occasional blood in my urine. This was always accompanied by extreme (and I mean extreme. Think sitting in a car having drank a 64oz soda and having 5 miles to the next rest stop. Now multiply that by 500.) pain in my abdominal area. This would occur every 10 minutes for an hour and a half one weekend. It eventually went away, and then it would come back the next weekend out of nowhere.

For the past month I’ve assumed I’ve had kidney stones that were just being stubborn and didn’t want to pass. Eventually I got referred to a urologist. I went to the urologist yesterday and gave them a urine sample. The initial test they did said it looked clean and they would run some further tests. (Also, apparently I passed the prostate exam with flying colors. Who the hell grows up saying “I wanna check guys’ prostates!”)

However, I just received a call from my urologist. Apparently a second test run on my urine showed small signs of a protein that is often linked to tumors. It’s 90% accurate.

I have to go back tomorrow to give them another sample, for which they will run further tests to figure out what’s going on.

I have no idea what’s happening, to be honest. All I know is, I could have a tumor in the kidneys, and for the next week it’s all that’s going to be on my mind without really having any clue.

Frankly, I’m petrified. I promise to keep you all updated much like the ‘lol kyro has a date thread.’ Like I said, you all are my long-distance family that I probably spend way too much time with, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. I love you guys.

[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]

[Fishmonger]

Jesus. Don't know what to say. Sounds bad, but I hope it's nothing.

[Iron_Yuppie]

Good luck man. Even if it is a tumor, most of those are normally benign, right?

[durron597]

we banter all the time but i consider you my friend, and i feel terrible for you. this sucks.

i hope it works out for you man.

[fnord_too]

Yikes! Did the doctor say anything about what having a tumor at your age means? I don't know anything about kidneys, but I did a quick wiki on kidney cancer and that is 1. very rare, 2. more comon in women 3. has some hereditary risk factors and 4. usually occurs in men > 55 (when it does occur in men). That was from a quick skim, but it does not seem to really fit your demographic at all, so my first guess would be that it is somoething else.

Whatever you were told it may be, I would start researching. Especially, I would start researching who the leading kidney experts are. In anything serious (or potentially serious) you really should do a lot of research, ask lots of questions, and get a second oppinion from an expert in the field. That will likely mean taking a trip.

Also, doctors generally do not understand statistics (this is based on studies, not my anecdotal evidence). What does he mean by 90% accurate? 10% chance of false positive? That doesn't even mean anything without prior probabilities.

Also, patients who ask a lot of questions and in general are a pain in the ass get better care on average. Again, this is from studies.

I doubt you will be able to relax until you at least know what you are dealing with, but researching and preparing will not only help your prognosis, it may also make you feel a little better since you will be doing something other than just waiting, which sucks more than anything.

Hang in there, even in the worst case your prognosis is probably very good, and you are probably not in the worst case scenario.

edit - I really should preview long posts

[dmk]

gl [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]

[chuckleslovakian]

somehow this wasn't as entertaining as the date thread. Just dont headbutt the doctor in the nose. GL

[VoraciousReader]

You are in my thoughts.

Blessings.

[kyro]

[ QUOTE ]
somehow this wasn't as entertaining as the date thread. Just dont headbutt the doctor in the nose. GL

[/ QUOTE ]

If he puts his fingers there again, I just might.

[Patton4]

You gotta whole bunch of people here who are sending positive thoughts your way. You are young, so the odds of everything being fine are WAY in your favor! We'll be thinking of you though.