The Unprofessional Guide to ureteropelvic junction obstruction

This was fine. I appreciated that it explained things clearly without all the medical mumbo jumbo, but it felt a bit too cheerful for me. I got the basics about what UPJO is and the diagram in my head finally makes sense, but I wanted more hard data and less hand-holding. It's a decent starting point, but I supplemented with my doctor's actual advice anyway. Good for the first night after the diagnosis when Google was terrifying me.

I'm a 68-year-old grandma who just got told I have UPJO, and I was petrified. This guide was the first thing that made me feel like I wasn't alone. Chapter 1 especially—just explaining that my kidney's funnel and pipe aren't draining right—was so clear. I liked that it told me what questions to ask my doctor and that it said I shouldn't blame myself. It didn't tell me what to decide, which I appreciated. I felt much calmer going into my next appointment.

As a caregiver, I found this helpful but not perfect. My wife's the one with UPJO, and the caregiver chapter gave me some practical pointers on what to say and do, and what not to say (apparently 'at least it's not cancer' is not helpful—oops). It's a bit repetitive in places, and I skimmed some chapters that didn't apply to me. That said, it was way better than anything the hospital gave us, and it answered questions I didn't even know I had.

I got my diagnosis over the phone, and my doctor just said 'UPJO, we'll schedule surgery' and hung up. I was a wreck. This guide was my lifeline. It explained the entire anatomy in words I could understand—the 'funnel and drainpipe' analogy in Chapter 1 was perfect. It gave me a script for what to ask, what to expect, and most importantly, made me feel like this wasn't some rare, terrifying monster but a fixable plumbing issue. I read the whole thing in two sittings and felt prepared. Thank you.

Wish I'd had this months ago. I spent hours and hours on scary websites before my diagnosis was even confirmed, and this book would have saved me years of worry. The tone is just right—informative but kind, like a smart friend explaining it. I was worried about whether surgery was my only option, and the treatment chapter laid out the trade-offs without pushing me in any direction. It respected my intelligence and my anxiety in equal measure. Highly recommend for anyone in those scary first weeks.

Had surgery for UPJO 10 years ago, and now my grandchild just got diagnosed. I bought this to help my daughter understand what was happening. I was struck by how accurate and easy-to-read it was. It brought back all the memories of my own experience, but it's so much clearer than what I was told back then. It's honest about pain, recovery, and the fact that sometimes symptoms are weird. It's a great support resource for the whole family, not just the patient. My daughter felt so much less alone.

As someone who prides himself on not going to doctors, getting this diagnosis was a kick in the gut. This guide didn't sugarcoat it, but it didn't scold me either. It used plain terms, explained that adult UPJO is sometimes a lifelong thing that just gets discovered late, and laid out my options without fear-mongering. The 'Questions to Ask' chapter was gold—my doctor actually complimented me on my list. I'm not a book guy, but I'm glad I read this one. It made me feel in control of my own body again.

I've read so many articles and pamphlets about UPJO and this is the only one that got it right. It doesn't treat the reader like they're stupid—it just explains things properly. I really connected with the tone in Chapter 1; it was honest about the 'why me' feeling but then moved forward to 'okay, here's what we do.' It covered the boring-but-important stuff like getting a second opinion and what to expect in follow-ups. A tiny bit long in places, but I'd rather have too much information than too little. Great companion for my medical journey.