2 months post-op complications

Do you know what your potassium level is or was in the ER? Both times my Dad was in the ER the potassium level was WAY high and they "cleaned him out" to get this to come down.

When you were in the ER, what treatment did they do?

All ER docs and all other very qualified docs did not catch my Dad's Metabolic Acidosis. When I found out this could be the cause of his problems, I called immediately. He was still released from the hospital even though one of the doctors said it could be the problem.
Since it was going to take about 4-5 days (over a weekend) to get to the Cardiologist and Nephrologist (kidney doc) I told my Dad to start dissolving 1 teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water at night and drinking it (read this on the internet). My Grandmother did this for years, so I didn't think this could hurt. When my Dad finally got to the kidney doc, he asked if that was that all he was taking... that he did need more. He was put on pill form of baking soda - sodium bicarbonate. Within a day or two he was a new man!

Make them check for this! I would figure that if they disrupted your bowel, maybe that could disrupt the electrolytes in your body for an electrolyte imbalance - something that pointed me in the direction of metabolic acidosis.

Take care,
Karen E.

absolutely make them test you for metabolic acidosis....you would think they would have done this already? You have all the symptoms. But i'm worried about the kidney function....where is the water going if its not being eliminated from your body. This really is an emergency and you need to find someone competent enough to find out why your kidneys aren't functioning properly. Something is wrong with the plumbing. All those drugs you are taking are just building up in your system if not eliminated. You really must demand your surgeon/ urologist or anyone that you trust is completely aware of all thats going on. What besides hydrating you has the emergency room done?Call your doctor............Pat

New to the forums... read everything when diagnosed - was a godsend of information!
Had a complete bladder removal on January 10th, with urostomy exterior pouch set-up. Surgery supposedly went well - but was over 8 hours. :o
Probably have had every complication there is, (possibly not, but feels like it!) Bowels wouldn't work, (sluggish), finally started to work well, was discharged after a week in ICU. 3-4 days later admitted to emergency with bowel obstruction, didn't have to have a surgery - just back to full starvation mode. (Had interesting discussion with specialist - newest research on taking solid foods or foods in general after surgery is if you don't feel
like eating - listen to your body and don't!) Released 5 days later. Back to emergency in about a week - extreme dehydration, blood pressure bottomed out - potential cause.... infection. Released after 4 days. Back to emergency 2 more times (with dehydration & almost black-out state - w/low blood pressure)- about 5 days apart... They can't find a cause.... the latest is that a hormone that balances the fluids in the body may not be -being secreted enough or too much, (have to measure all liquids going in and out)
I just read about the "Metabolic Acidosis" - could this be a possibility even though its not an internal pouch. Or possibly has anyone else had these symptoms and their doctor came up with something that maybe my doctors can do some tests for ??
Symptoms:
severe lethargic
no appetite
low blood pressure
cycles of low urine output ( no matter how much water consumption)
dizzy - body imbalance
short to no memory

Maybe I'm expecting too much from myself, but it is two months - and I'm back to the hospital every two weeks or so, for saline/IV therapy .... I can't get on with my life and get into a routine of changes and everything if all I do is keep ending up in the hospital.
Any suggestions.... ?????
Thanks for any ideas!
All the best