Monday, April 17, 2023

Medical Mystery Solved

I woke up this morning around 3:30 or so thinking I was having gastric pain. I blamed all the greens I'd eaten for supper. I waited for it to pass,  as these things generally do, but it didn't. It just changed to focus on my right side and it got worse and it got worse.

I got up and took some Gas-X which did nothing. Before too long I found myself walking in circles around the kitchen island, the cats looking at me with concern. This was not normal. 
I felt the same way. 

I finally realized I was doing the same things and making the same noises that I make when I'm in labor. Walking, rocking, stretching away from the pain and then it hit me- this was a kidney stone. 
Oh hell. 

I went and woke up my husband. It was around 6:00 by then. We agreed that it did indeed seem like a kidney stone and the sight of blood in my urine seemed to confirm up. So. He got up, we got dressed, and drove in the just-starting dawn to the same ER center I'd been to with my appendix. I was in serious pain by then, moaning and apologizing to Glen and I know he hated seeing me like that. When I got out of the car I saw the moon- a giant orange crescent hanging in the sky and it was beautiful. 

I love this ER center. There's never hardly anyone there and everyone is so kind. They got my triage stuff done quickly and everyone from the guy at the desk to the triage nurse was sure I was trying to pass a kidney stone. The nurse made a call to the back, "Do you y'all have a room ready? This lady is just miserable."

And they did and although it seemed to take forever for anyone to show up in the room, it was probably only a few minutes. I was still pacing and rocking, chanting, "Oh god, oh god, oh god, oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck." And so forth. I think it was as close to passing out as I've ever been in my life. 

A doctor came in and talked to us and it turns out that when I'd had my appendix problem, one of the scans they'd done showed the kidney stone so it's been there awhile. And that's what's been tormenting me for the last weeks and even months to be honest. 
A beautiful angel nurse came in and hooked me up to good drugs and suddenly, I could sit down and breathe. The relief was monumental. A guy came and wheeled me upstairs to get a scan to see where the damn
 thing was and then back to the room where I felt like a numb slab of meat which, considering, wasn't so bad. 

Back in the doctor came and yes, the stone was on the move. The procedure in this event is to send the patient home and have them connect with a urologist. Obviously, this is not what the patient wants to hear. With the appendix, it was easy- send me to surgery, get the thing out of me. Kidney stones are not so easily dealt with. 
This doctor was the kindest man. He was clear and took his time and explained things to us. He got in touch with a urologist who said he could see me this week which is good because I hear that the usual procedure is to send the patient home, give the stone two weeks to pass, and then discuss options if it hasn't. 

So. My IV was taken out, all the drugs drained though it by then, and on our way we went. We stopped at Publix for my drugs and Mr. Moon got some things we needed and then he brought me home. The pain was gone by then but I felt completely wiped out. After I ate a sandwich he made me, I went to bed and slept for a few hours. I woke up and although I am a bit sore, the pain is not really there. 
And I will go see the urologist tomorrow unless the pain gets so bad again tonight that I cannot bear it in which case, back to the ER we'll go. It's funny. I so want that stone to get out of my body but the thought of going through that sort of pain again is terrifying. 
And that truly is the word- terrifying. But at least I do have drugs. 

In hindsight, I can't believe that Dr. Zorn's NP didn't consider a kidney stone. I was showing some blood in my urine. But in her defense, I felt the pain more abdominally than in my flank so that was misleading. The idea had occurred to me more than once and why I myself didn't suggest it, I do not know. 

So I had a kidney stone, I still HAVE a kidney stone and oh boy, oh boy- the scan showed that I have another, smaller one lurking there in the kidney. I had a kidney stone in 1989 when I was pregnant with Jessie but that one was small and I did pass it rather quickly once it got on the move. 

I am drinking so much water. I would drink a gallon of apple cider vinegar if they told me it would help. I feel like I've been hit by a truck. Mr. Moon will not be able to leave to go see his sister. I feel so bad about that. 

And oh- I did not make to the gastro-appointment. 
La-di-dah. 

Love...Ms. Moon


26 comments:

  1. Well, what a time. I'm glad you at least know what's up. I wish you didn't have to go through this though. Better days soon

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  2. I'm glad you figured it out. This time next week I hope it'll be done. I hope Mr. Moon and his sister can get together after you get this done.

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  3. lordy, I hadn't even thought of kidney stone but there it is, you poor dear. Not really a typical *presentation* ......Glad you see Urologist tomorrow.......maybe lithotripsy? I'm sure you will know more after appointmebt....the most important thing is to rid you of the pain. Oh my, bless YOUR heart and Mr Moon's too...who I know is concerned
    Susan M

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    1. PS on a positive note, you may not even need that colonoscopy after all! LOL! Susan M

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  4. Oh Mary Moon. What a horrible ride you've been on. Holding good thoughts that this will go well with no complications. I know, easy for me to say, but I do sincerely hope that this resolves soon with as little pain as possible.

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  5. I have been resisting getting a colonoscopy forever. My health took a nosedive late last fall. Earlier this year I had laparoscopic surgery for a right side colectomy and resection. He thinks he got all of the stage 2 cancer. None in the lymph nodes. Genetic testing was done and chemo not recommended because it was genetic. I have to do active surveillance for 5 years though. The colonoscopy was not nearly as bad as I feared.

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  6. I’ve been quietly worrying for you from Ontario and I’m so glad that you now know what it is but at the same time I’m very sorry for the pain because I never want anyone to have to go through pain. Take care! - Jenn

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  7. So please get it done when you get this resolved.

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  8. I’m so glad it wasn’t anything more serious, although it surely sounds bad enough! A friend’s mother gave birth while in kidney stone pain- can you imagine??! Sending you best wishes and big hugs!❤️Xo, Rigmor

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  9. And all this time, a stinkin' kidney stone. I've never had one, and figure no one else should. Please do follow with the urologist, especially since another stone is hot on the heels of this stone!

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  10. Good you know what it is. Not good that it is what it is. Hopefully it will be dealt with and you will be back to your pain free self in no time.

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  11. It's always good to have an answer. Kidney stones hurt like hell. The first time I had them, I was 28 weeks pregnant with my middle daughter. I was convinced I was in labor. I passed it and then proceeded to have stones every two weeks until she was born. I'm glad you got to the ER and they got you sorted out with meds. Drink lots of water and hope things pass easily.

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  12. Oh Mary, I feel your pain. I've had them twice, and the pain was exactly like being in labor..cramps in the front and god-awful pain in the back. I threw up for a week, nothing but pain pills and water. Here's hoping you pass that bitch quickly!! xo

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  13. An answer finally. But the worst pain a human can have, i have been told. I hope you have a full recovery with tolerable pain.

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  14. Dear god...Stella had kidney stones and they damned near killed her- it went on for too long, I am so glad that y'all got in to see somebody who had two brain cells to rub together and to get help for you! Take the drugs, take all of the drugs- kidney stones are sharp and painful as hell. Dang, Mary, take it easy, try to rest up - you just might be in for ...well you know... I am sorry for you, Horrors! dammit.

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  15. I hope the urologist helps you get rid of the kidney stones. Glad you figured it out! Please take care, Mary.

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  16. What a relief to figure it out, and now you have the good pain meds. Kidney stones are the worst. I've had two and both times they had to go in and grab it to get it out. I think they were maybe too large to pass??? I will say gallstones are awful also.

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  17. OMG dear woman! How fucking awful! I've never experienced it but have heard the horror stories. Wish I had more to offer than love and healing wishes. May all be well very soon.
    Love, Angie D

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  18. I am so sorry for your distress .Had your doctors who originally noticed the stone sent the scan results to Dr. Zorn, maybe you would have known and been able to pass it smaller and sooner. I wish you a swift passing of this and complete healing.

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  19. My introduction to kidney stones was while working at a research station in the back of beyond, 60 miles from the nearest doctor. I was asked to drive one of the researchers to said doctor because of a kidney stone. Several times on the way he moaned "drive faster! I'll pay the speeding ticket!".

    At least you know what the culprit is, and as they say, 'this too shall pass' - I hope SOON! Hang in there!

    Chris from Boise

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  20. According to one of my healthbooks, (it's called "Folk Medicine") cider vinegar is good for dissolving kidney stones, so with all the pickled foods you eat, I'm surprised you got a stone in the first place. Another of my books says cranberry juice is good for flushing out kidneys. anyway, you say they noticed the stone when they took out your appendix? why didn't they suggest a treatment to dissolve it way back then? Surely there is some sort of treatment for that?

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  21. I have never had anything like that but I hear it's excruciating. reminder to start putting lemon juice in my water again. I hope it passes quickly.

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  22. Ugh. I'm sorry you're dealing with that, but at least the mystery is solved and you know what it is! My dad had a kidney stone and he said it was hell. Isn't there some procedure where they use some kind of waves (radio waves? sound waves?) to break up the stones, or am I making that up?

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  23. 37paddington:
    At least now you know what it is. My son had kidney stones as a teenager. He did pentathlon and would get dehydrated. It was torture for him till it passed. I hope yours passes quickly. Is there anything they can do to pulverize it into smaller pieces? Am I just imagining that’s an option. Feel better soon dear Mary. Pulling for you from here. Hugs.

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  24. Kidney stones are HORRID. That being said, I'm so glad you got to the bottom of the mystery. Take care.

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