"My spouse's surgery of their kidney stones"

My spouse has had a history with a kidney infection and an obstructing kidney stone that was diagnosed on a CT-scan at another hospital but not removed. They ended up on loads of antibiotics even though, I believe in cases it was not necessary as there was no infection.  In the past, my spouse has had so much antibiotics, painkillers or other medications, like their blood pressure tablets and antibiotics do not work anymore, so treatment became more and more difficult. This culminated in the second half of 2017 into dangerous kidney infection because the kidney stone was blocking the ureter. During the next day, my spouse developed a high fever. In the afternoon they went to Royal Perth Hospital (RPH) for surgery. Thanks to that fever, otherwise I feel they most likely would have been sent home again with more antibiotics and painkillers!

In the night they inserted a stent to keep the ureter open. They could not laser that stone because of the infection. My spouse was discharged a few days later with loads of antibiotics enough for three weeks! Although I believe they had no infection! The hospital promised my spouse to laser the stone within 4 to 6 weeks.

In the following months, my spouse suffered unbearable pain because of the stent. They had to go back to RPH to the Emergency Department. They were sent home but had to go back the same day because of the pain. The hospital admitted they were discharged too early the first time. My spouse was admitted to the ward but discharged the next day. Also, they gave my spouse Fentanyl as pain medication, which is not allowed to be given to them because they have a stroke condition.

Later, my spouse got bacteria again and according to a nurse, it was the stent to blame, because it was left too long inside. My spouse was forced to take more antibiotics otherwise they threatened not to do the surgery! A few months later, my spouse got their final surgery, stone lasered and stent removed. They were sent home with more antibiotics. A bad experience was that they did not get their breakfast at the usual time. When we asked for it, I believe they got a left over from somebody else!

This is just the beginning of a story which becomes most interesting and which ended in an unexpected way! During the following 6 months, the pain did not go away, so we decided to do another test. At another hospital, my spouse had an ultrasound done. To our great surprise and shock, they detected 4 large kidney stones again! They measured: 9x12mm, 10x10mm, 9.6mm, 7x10mm.

We contacted RPH. The Urologist told me that they will contact us within two weeks’ time. It never happened. The pain became worse and worse. We decided to go to a private hospital. Perhaps they could do something much sooner. In this hospital, they made another CT-scan which confirmed 4 large kidney stones. My spouse stayed overnight but the Urologist did not want to do the surgery because if anything went wrong there was not the necessary care in this hospital. So, the Urologist referred my spouse to Fiona Stanley Hospital. After a few days, we were called for a pre-admission checkup. They were treated as urgent and category 1.

Shortly after this, my spouse was in so much pain that the ambulance brought them to the Fiona Stanley Hospital Emergency Department. My spouse was screaming from the pain and immediately admitted for surgery the next morning. Another CT-scan confirmed 4 large kidney stones. My spouse had to fast from very late at night. The next morning, I went to the hospital early in the morning to help my spouse because they are disabled. They were ready for surgery, which was confirmed in their file. In the morning, around eight hours later, the Head of Urology came into the room with a lot of other people. They told my spouse straight away that the surgery was not going to happen and my spouse must wait another 6 months. Although my spouse was in so much pain we were sent home! They were lowered from category 1 to category 2. This without explanation.

All this time spent in Fiona Stanley Hospital, my spouse did not get any food until discharge later in the afternoon. My spouse was referred to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital because the waiting list was much shorter according to the Head of Urology. After 2 weeks my spouse was in so much pain that we went to the Emergency Department at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. There they were admitted and the hospital made another CT-scan, where they found the same kidney stones but much bigger. My spouse stayed overnight and was sent home with a lot of pain medication that I feel were useless because of the side effects, thanks to the antibiotics in the past, their immune system was badly damaged.

One week later again terrible pain. This time we went to a different hospital for further treatment. My spouse could not sit down, sleep, or make any movement. Another CT-scan was made, which confirmed the large kidney stones caused the pain. My spouse was sent home with more useless pain medication.

After 2 days my spouse suddenly remembered their mother's home remedy against kidney stones from a long time ago. My spouse took the home remedy 1 month long until their surgery. They improved a lot and after 3 weeks tiny pieces of kidney stones came out! But because we were not sure about the result of this home remedy we did not want to cancel the surgery. We had a pre-admission checkup coming. There the doctor told us that before surgery a CT-scan would be made. Any medical situation can change.

On the day of surgery at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, no CT-scan was made, no blood or urine test was made. A very strange thing because before coming into surgery the hospital told us my spouse had still a bacteria and put them again on antibiotics. But they did not check anything. The doctor would perform the surgery who also knew that 4 stones were a big job. When my spouse came out of the surgery they brought them on the ward.

In the evening, the doctor came relaxed and laughing into my spouse’s room. They told us it was an easy job. They only found dust and grit, no kidney stones! The doctor even showed this on their computer. I believe this confirmed that my spouse’s mother’s home remedy worked! So, when I asked the doctor the reason for this strange outcome, they told us a weird story. That when a CT-scan is made and my spouse laying on their side, all the dust and grit came together and this will show as a kidney stone. A story I feel no one can believe because all these kidney stones on CT-scans made in so many hospitals, they all showed 4 large kidney stones. All the time growing in my spouse! And on top of this, why this dust and grit did not come out half a year ago. Stones do not disappear by themselves!

My spouse went home and I decided to write the doctor who performed the procedure a letter explaining our side of the story, how my spouse used the home remedy. The doctor never gave us any reaction. After I put a lot of pressure on this same doctor, they invited us to come to the hospital where they would explain more. We never went, because I feel the doctor could give their explanation by email, which they never did.

After that, I wrote a letter to the Head of Urology, explaining the use of the home remedy to dissolve the kidney stones. And also, we asked this person why there was never a CT-scan made before surgery. I feel it could save my spouse a surgery. I also asked the Head of Urology about the antibiotics my spouse had to take before surgery.

This person replied that they assumed these kidney stones were still there so a CT Scan was not necessary. The antibiotics were given as a precaution. They never gave any reaction about the use of the home remedy!

A few months later, we received a hospital bill of several thousand dollars. This in regards to the surgery. Half of this bill was covered by my private health insurance. We had to pay the gap. I feel we had to pay for something the doctor never did. I wrote a letter of complaint to the hospital but were told by the money collector that it can take up to 1 year to get a reply!

To end this extraordinary story. My spouse feels discriminated against by all the hospitals.