When I was preparing for my kidney biopsy, I couldn’t find many stories from patients about their personal experience. I want to share the details about my experience to help ease the minds of patients who are facing their first biopsy. I’ll go over everything from my first consultation to receiving the results.

First, I would like to give a little background about myself. I’m 29, married with no children, and was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 2021. My mother and grandmother both have Type 2 despite being a normal weight, so I knew I was at risk genetically. I do not take medication for T2D since my A1C has always been steady and near-normal. Besides this, I have always been very healthy.

I initially made an appointment with my primary care provider because I had been having some strange symptoms: foamy and dark urine, lower back pain, headaches, fatigue, and joint pain. Once lab results showed that my kidney function was declining, I was referred to a nephrologist and a urologist. I had lots of tests done, blood work and urinalysis, and eventually also had a renal/bladder ultrasound and a CT scan of my abdomen. None of the tests were able to determine a diagnosis for my kidney problems. For a month or so, I was under the care of two nephrologists at the same time. They both recommended a kidney biopsy in order for me to receive a diagnosis and move forward with treatment.

As someone who has never had major health issues in my life, the word “biopsy” sounded very scary and intense. I had so many thoughts and questions racing through my mind as I planned and scheduled my procedure. I read as much as I could, I must admit I even watched a few instructional biopsy videos online to have a better idea of what to expect. I called on a Monday and scheduled my biopsy for that same Friday—I was not interested in waiting and agonizing over the upcoming procedure for weeks. I don’t recommend such a quick turnaround for everyone, but it certainly worked for me.

On the days leading up to the biopsy, I packed a hospital bag and got together all my paperwork, requested time off from work, and made sure my husband requested time off as well (since he would be driving me home). I tried to take care of everything I could ahead of time so I could focus on recovering after the biopsy.

The night before the biopsy, I had my dinner and drank plenty of water since I was asked to fast after 10pm. I scrubbed myself with antiseptic body wash from head to toe, braided my hair up, and slept on fresh clean sheets. I was a little sad that I couldn’t put on deodorant, lotion, or perfume, but I packed some into my bag so I could put it on as soon as I got out of the sterile room. I had some trouble sleeping that night in nervous anticipation of the long day ahead.

My alarm went off at around 5:00 am on the day of the procedure. Since I was all packed and ready to go, all I did was change my clothes and slip on some shoes. I arrived at the hospital check-in at around 6:15, filled out a bunch of paperwork, and paid for the procedure. There were two women near me who were having trouble verifying their insurance, so submit your insurance ahead of time if you can, to avoid issues at check-in. The nurse came to collect me and I handed my bag to my husband. We were told we wouldn’t see each other again until I was discharged sometime around noon, so I gave him a big hug and followed the nurse into the back. The nurse asked me if I had followed the prep instructions, showed me my bed, and gave me a hospital gown to change in to. She drew blood for testing, then I spent about an hour and a half waiting for the test results to determine whether they could proceed with my biopsy. The tests they did had nothing to do with my kidney function, they only tested to see that my blood would coagulate properly.

When the results came back that I was good to go, a different nurse came and wheeled my bed into a room with a CT machine. I was a little surprised that I wasn’t in a sterile room, but the nurse explained that sometimes they need to use the CT machine to get a better visualization of the kidneys. I had my glasses on and my phone in my hand the entire time, it was very casual and didn’t feel like the big deal I had been imagining. The doctor came in and I was asked to turn over and lay on my stomach. The nurses prepped the draping and cleansed my skin with antiseptic solution, then the doctor told me they were going to start the actual biopsy.

It started with the nurse locating my left kidney via ultrasound. Once the site was marked, I was injected with a bit of lidocaine at the skin’s surface. After a few moments, I got a deeper injection of lidocaine, and then another. My heart was racing, but I didn’t feel any pain once the lidocaine kicked in. I was asked to be very still. The doctor made a small incision in my skin, and inserted the biopsy needle. I felt a bit of uncomfortable pressure, not quite pain, but I remember wanting very badly for it to stop. I heard a few clicks (the samples being collected inside the needle), the nurse pushed some fentanyl through my IV line, and then the pressure stopped. The doctor placed the tissue samples into a little container of solution to be sent to the lab, and the nurse let me see them. They looked like little pink strings, about 2 cm long and no wider than a pencil lead.

From the first injection of lidocaine to the moment the biopsy needle came out of my body, it was no longer than 3 or 4 minutes. I was told by the nurses afterwards that the doctor who performed the biopsy was known for being fast, so I assume it could take longer depending on who does it. They cleaned me up and wheeled my bed back to the place I was before, which doubled as the recovery area. The same nurse who collected me from the check-in desk came to ask how I was feeling. She offered me juice and snacks, which I gladly accepted since I had been fasting and thirsty all morning. By this time it was about 9:00 or 9:30.

I was instructed to lay on my back, and was given plenty of pillows to prop up under me so that there would be pressure on the biopsy site. Your body weight is used to apply pressure and help stop the bleeding. After 30 minutes or so, the nurse came back to check and see if I had excessive bleeding, and I did not. I was told I could probably leave in another hour. The entire time, I was texting my husband and a few friends and family members to let them all know that the procedure was done and I was in the recovery area. I felt a bit loopy from the medicine, but mostly just tired.

After a while, the nurse asked me to try to use the restroom, and I did without any issues. She checked the biopsy site again, and then asked me if I felt ready to head home. I said yes, so she went and got the discharge paperwork ready. She explained all the restrictions I should follow over the next few days, and then walked me back to the check-in area. My husband pulled the car around and we stopped for lunch on the way home. Getting in and out of the car wasn’t too difficult, but I did feel some pain and a little bit of a pulling sensation in my back. I could feel my back getting a little swollen and tender.

When we got home, I immediately went to lay down per the nurse’s instructions. I napped for a couple of hours, and woke up feeling much more sore. I changed my clothes and discovered that the biopsy site was covered by one single, standard sized Band-Aid. I was a little surprised, and found it kind of funny.

By nighttime, I started to experience the first symptoms of drug withdrawals. My entire body was aching, I had cold sweats, my mind was racing, and I started sobbing uncontrollably. I felt completely out of touch with my body and my emotions, it was overwhelming and physically painful. I stayed up until 2:00 am or so, tossing and turning in bed, shivering, sweating, and crying. I finally fell asleep just out of sheer exhaustion. The next morning, I still had aching muscles and felt a little shaky, but overall I was doing much better.

Exactly 24 hours after the biopsy, I took a shower. I was careful to avoid getting soap near the biopsy site, but only as a precaution. Washing my hair was a little bit uncomfortable, but the worst part was bending to wash my legs. I wish I had a loofah on a stick for the occasion. It felt nice to be fresh and clean again, and the warm water helped alleviate some of the muscle aches.

I had to move slowly and deliberately to avoid causing more pain for the next two days. I spent most of my time reading or watching TV, and honestly even though I live a very slow-paced life and tend to be at home most of the time, I did start to feel a bit restless. Not being able to drive was probably the most annoying part. I drove a short distance on the third day, but I was immediately in pain. It’s amazing how many muscles you use to do something as simple as turn the steering wheel.

I returned to work on the third day as well, but since I work remotely and could work from my laptop in bed, I don’t think it really counts. I would have taken at least a week off if I had to go to work in-person, because I would have been so uncomfortable in the office. If I had to work a physical job I probably would have wanted two weeks off. I think it’s better to request more time than you think you’ll need, and return “early” if you’re able.

For about a week, every sudden movement or any time I used my back muscles, I felt a tug at the biopsy site. I described it to my husband as the sensation of having a little string or wire going down into my kidney. It didn’t hurt, but I could feel it and was aware of it almost constantly.

Two weeks after the biopsy, I received my official diagnosis. The waiting period felt much longer than it really was, and I was distressed the entire time. I was worried about whether I’d even get a diagnosis, whether the samples that were taken were going to be enough, and on top of that I was scared of what the outcome might be. Lupus? FSGS? Cancer? There didn’t seem to be an end in sight, much less a positive one.

When the doctor called with my results, I had already peeked at my biopsy report. From the beginning of my journey, I personally felt that all my symptoms most closely matched IgA Nephropathy. I had done so much research and read a million different websites, and I was convinced I knew what was wrong based on what I was experiencing. The biopsy confirmed my suspicions. Oddly, I felt a wave of relief when I saw the result. Simply by knowing with certainty what was wrong, my stress reduced immensely.

Having a kidney biopsy was one of the scariest times of my life. I have so much respect for my fellow kidney patients who have walked the same path, and I hope I can help encourage those who will follow. It’s not easy, but having a solid diagnosis is the best thing you can hope for. Now that I’ve experienced a kidney biopsy, I would not be afraid or hesitant to repeat the process. I may do a few things differently if I ever need a second biopsy, but I learned that it’s not as difficult as I thought it would be. I wish you lots of luck as you undergo your biopsy, and from the bottom of my heart I hope that you receive the best results possible!