nephritis... - Kidney Disorders Message Board

Spack · 03-08-2007, 07:50 PM

Hi guys,

I have a friend who was suffering from panic disorders a couple of months ago and got really depressed. I didn't know it at that time but she tried to kill herself, she took a lot of tylenol (around 3 bottles in two days) and some other anti insomnia medicines or something.

She had to be admitted into a psyche ward, the doctors tested her and apparently both of her kidneys had been seriously damaged. She was put on dialysis immediately, and two months later she just totally relapsed (at this point she had stopped taking the drugs) and had to be rushed to the hospital, her kidneys had seemingly stopped working.

Anyway, the doctors got really worried as transplanting her kidneys seemed to be the only option but there were just too many complications at that moment which made them reluctant and hence did not immediately go for the transplant.

Anyway, they put her on dialysis again and thankfully she recovered. She visits the hospital around 2 times a week for dialysis and will keep on doing this for 5 more months

I am just so worried about her.... she does say that the doctors believe she has a chance of making a complete recovery. I am just really worried, do you guys have any idea what might happen? Can she really make a recovery? I just wish I had been there to stop her from taking the pills...

Cora1003 · 03-09-2007, 04:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spack

Hi guys,

I have a friend who was suffering from panic disorders a couple of months ago and got really depressed. I didn't know it at that time but she tried to kill herself, she took a lot of tylenol (around 3 bottles in two days) and some other anti insomnia medicines or something.

She had to be admitted into a psyche ward, the doctors tested her and apparently both of her kidneys had been seriously damaged. She was put on dialysis immediately, and two months later she just totally relapsed (at this point she had stopped taking the drugs) and had to be rushed to the hospital, her kidneys had seemingly stopped working.

Anyway, the doctors got really worried as transplanting her kidneys seemed to be the only option but there were just too many complications at that moment which made them reluctant and hence did not immediately go for the transplant.

Anyway, they put her on dialysis again and thankfully she recovered. She visits the hospital around 2 times a week for dialysis and will keep on doing this for 5 more months

I am just so worried about her.... she does say that the doctors believe she has a chance of making a complete recovery. I am just really worried, do you guys have any idea what might happen? Can she really make a recovery? I just wish I had been there to stop her from taking the pills...

What your friend has is acute kidney failure (vs chronic). The docs will never say that there is a chance to get off dialysis unless there really is one. I certainly hope that she does recover.

Just to keep in mind, if she does not recover and remains on dialysis, the process to get a transplant is a long one. It involves lots of tests and if she doesn't have a friend or family member who can give her a kidney, the wait can be years. Also, most transplant centers will have you meet with a social worker or a psychiatrist to make sure that you will be compliant and take good care of the gift of life that you have received. I suspect that she will need a lot of help if she ends up going this route.

The bottom line is that there is a chance she can get off dialysis. It depends on how much damage she did with the drugs. Usually function comes back fairly quickly, but if they are still saying there is a chance, then there is.

Cora

Spack · 03-09-2007, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coravh

What your friend has is acute kidney failure (vs chronic). The docs will never say that there is a chance to get off dialysis unless there really is one. I certainly hope that she does recover.

Just to keep in mind, if she does not recover and remains on dialysis, the process to get a transplant is a long one. It involves lots of tests and if she doesn't have a friend or family member who can give her a kidney, the wait can be years. Also, most transplant centers will have you meet with a social worker or a psychiatrist to make sure that you will be compliant and take good care of the gift of life that you have received. I suspect that she will need a lot of help if she ends up going this route.

Cora

Thanks for the reply and the wishes

I really hope she makes a complete recovery too, but don't you think it is kind of weird that the doctors told her she will have to keep up the dialysis till the end of August and by then she will hopefully make a complete recovery? I mean how do they know it's gonna take 6 months?

If it's not much trouble, can you please tell me what difference there is b/w chronic and acute kidney failure?

I am sure if she gets a second chance she will treasure it, she is out of the state of depression she was in a couple of months ago; and just seems to be exactly like the friend I once had despite her poor health.

Edit: Never mind, I did some research and found out the difference b/w acute and chronic renal failure. Thank you anyway...

Edit2: Oh and I haven't asked her yet whether it indeed is acute kidney failure or not. I just don't want her to get freaked out, I don't think she knows the difference b/w the two and from what I have read, chronic kidney failure can never be cured. And I am afraid if I ask her about it, she will dig up the reports and find out that she has chronic kidney failure and that it can't be cured

Anyway, do you really think it is Acute kidney failure? From what I read, acute kidney failure usually usually heals on its own with in a couple of weeks.

Isis498 · 03-10-2007, 11:57 AM

Even though is probably acute, they may be wanting continue with the dialysis for months to make sure her kidneys are recovered as well as they can be.

Oddly enough, with Tylenol overdose, it's usually the Liver that is damaged instead of kidneys. Ibuprophen is the one that is usually worse for the kidneys. But there are always exceptions to the rule. Both can damage both.

Good luck to her.

Spack · 04-18-2007, 07:33 PM

I am sorry, I know it has been a long time since I last posted but I am getting worried again

My friend is still on dialysis, a couple of weeks back her toxic levels rose sharply and she had to undergo dialysis within a couple of days to reduce them.

She doesn't really know what's going on, and I don't want to push her. She is just really depressed, she was telling me something about her kidney functions rising slowly, but that the kidneys could relapse once again, and she is worried that she could.... die... is that true? Or is that just depression talking?

Just for the sake of it, lets go through the worst case scenario. Even if her kidneys do die, she could always undergo a kidney transplant. How long will it take for her to find the donor? Will she be able to find one in time?

I don't get it, why isn't she already on the transplant list? Do you think its because the doctors are hopeful? Or do they just not put you on the list until your kidneys completely give in?

I am so scared... I can't even begin to think of what she is going through...