"Urine is formed in the kidney and is passed to the bladder by the ureter. A ureteric stent is a hollow drainage tube placed at the time of transplant in the ureter to aid urine flow. A stent is made of plastic. The length of an adult sized ureteric stent ranges from about 9-12 inches. To remove, a person is placed under general anesthesia and has to breathe through a tube down the throat. A surgeon removes the ureteric stent by inserting a small telescopic tube with a camera through the urethra and into the bladder." My stent was poking me whenever I urinated. It was due to be taken out on Monday, April 20 at UCDMC. My appointment was at 11:30 AM but the surgeon wasn't done with his previous surgery until 7:30 PM. I was starving and dehydrated by the time it was my turn. The actual procedure only took half an hour, but they kept me an extra 2 hours afterwards because my blood pressure went up to 170/105, but medications brought it back down. It was a long day, and I am glad it's over. I no longer have to go visit a nephrologist weekly, only monthly but I still have my blood drawn twice every week. My blood pressure medicines have been reduced from 11 pills to only 2 daily because my blood pressure is no longer as high. I am still on a low potassium diet. My next procedure will be a biopsy of my new kidney, in mid june. My sister Silvia says she is feeling well.
