Ah, The Joys Of Kidney Stones
Her eyes got as big as saucers. She was more afraid of driving me to the hospital in the dark than she was of seeing me there writhing in pain on the bedroom floor. She did the next best thing–she called my son, who no longer lived at home, and told him he had to come and take me to the hospital.
When I finally did get to the ER that night, they took me right in, before any of the other people who had probably been waiting all night. They took several X-rays (this was 20 years ago, okay? I also had health insurance back then). When they determined that it was a kidney stone, they hooked me up to an IV for saline solution and a morphine drip. Ahhhhhhhh, Morphine was my friend!!! They also kept me overnight for observation, then sent me home with a device to strain my urine. You know, so I could catch the sucker and examine it closely so I could get to know the enemy.
That first kidney stone was a big as one of those black watermelon seeds, similarly shaped, except it had jagged teeth along the edges–a real mean S.O.B. Now girls, I gave birth to my son in an Army hospital in Germany in 1971. Natural childbirth is what they believed in over there at the time. Seth weighed 10 lbs, 8.5 ounces. And that experience did not hurt as bad as passing that kidney stone. I am just saying, I would rather give birth with no drugs than have another kidney stone.
Yesterday started out just like any other day here at the North Rim. I got myself up and dressed, and drove the 12 miles out to the entrance station, arriving there at a very early hour (can’t say what time we open up). I felt fine, up until about 9 a.m., when I had that old familiar feeling. The one where I usually end up writhing in pain on the floor. I called my boss and asked him to get in touch with FabGrandpa, and have him bring me one of those Lortabs the musculo-skeletal doctor prescribed me back in July.
The boss called me back in a little bit and told me that he was sending out the medication with my co-worker, and for me to let him know if I needed to come home. So, about 10:30, the co-worker showed up. As soon as he walked in, I said “You have something for me and if you don’t give it to me RIGHT NOW, I am going to knock you down!” I took my pill, and then went out to walk the line because it was a really busy day here yesterday. The trees are turning and all the leaf peepers are coming out. I don’t blame them, it IS really beautiful here.
I stayed out there long enough for Richard to have his lunch, then called the boss and told him I was going home. Then I called FabGrandpa and told him to be ready to go to Kanab when I got there in about a half hour. That Lortab doesn’t touch a kidney stone pain, I have to tell ya. I got home before he did and changed my clothes. I put on my pajamas and laid down on the bed. When FabGrandpa came in, he said, “Why are you in your pajamas? I thought you were going to the ER.” So, I got up and changed my pants.
When we left, I was wearing my pajama shirt and jeans, and a zip front hoodie. I forgot to take my purse, my hairbrush, AND my TEETH. You know, my lower partial plate, the one that I need for chewing if I happen to eat anything. I just wasn’t thinking about anything but my pain, girls.
It is 85 miles from our home on the plateau to the ER in Kanab. About 15 miles out, I had to stop on the side of the road and throw up. I have had several kidney stones, but have never had to throw up when I had one before. That made me just worry that there was something else wrong. About 50 miles out, FabGrandpa got pulled over by an Arizona State Patrol for speeding. The officer walked up to the truck on my side. I put the window down and I am sure he could see my distress, as I was writhing in pain there in the seat of the truck.
He gave FabGrandpa a very stern lecture about how our truck was not an emergency vehicle, and how he could call for an ambulance if I was that sick, but that he was not allowed to speed under any circumstances. I told him that if I waited for an ambulance it would take more time to get to the ER, and FabGrandpa promised to slow down if he would just let us go. He did, and I am thankful for that. bastard.
We finally got to the ER. I walked in and said “I think I have a kidney stone. I have had them before, and you don’t forget what they feel like.” So, they took me right in, made me pee in a cup, took my blood pressure and temp, and hooked me up to an IV of saline solution, and gave me a shot of Tordol and another one of Zofran, just in case. They also gave me a barf bag. The RN told me “If you feel like you have to throw up again, PLEASE use this bag.” I understood her plea. I taught all my kids to throw up on the bed, not on the floor. It was easier for Queasy Momma to clean up the sheets.
It took a little longer for the Tordol to work than morphine would have taken, but it did work. It eased my pain completely, and I think I slept for a couple of hours while the IV dripped out. As soon as the IV was done, I was released and sent home with a prescription for Percocet and a strainer. Yay. I get to wait for the enemy again.
The three hour stay in the ER: $1009, after a 10% discount for paying in full. Dinner for two before heading home (with no teeth, see above): $26. Prescription for percocet: $18. Having a husband who loves me enough to drive 85 miles to the ER: Priceless!
Sunset in the desert on the drive home. Crescent moon on the left. Wow!
OMG that sounds awful. I watched my dad suffer through those and you have nothing but sympathy from me.
Ouch! Just OUCH!
Wow, what a lousy day. Sure glad you could recognize the problem. So how long does this stone take to pass? Enjoy your drug induced day. Let me know if you need anything.
Been there, done that! I feel your pain except the hospital wouldn't give me anything for pain. Luckily I had taken a Tylenol #3 before I went to the hospital so it helped.
Hope you feel better and pass that sucker!
I had one of those suckers last year. Only about the size of a mustard seed but it HURT!!!. Until it passed, on it's own I had no idea what was going on. I agree, none of my kids hurt as much as that thing did.
Hope you feel better by this evening.
Oh, how terrible! I have never experienced that pain, but I know others who have.
You taught your kids to throw up on the sheets. Good thinking. I taught my cat to throw up in the bathtub!
By the way, she developed crystals in her bladder that had her shaking in pain. The vet said it was caused by diet. She was on one of those 'dental diets' at the time. Since then she had been on a special diet, so no more problems for the last 8 years.
You are so careful about your diet, so do you have any idea what caused the stones to form again?
I hope this is over for you by now, and you are feeling better.
Happy Trails, Penny, TX
Penny: I can't think of anything I have eaten or drunk that could have caused it. I think I have had several smaller stones, like grains of sand or smaller, over the years, because I have experienced some discomfort at times, but the big ones, they are quite painful. I'll have to think about what I have eaten in the past few months that could have contributed to this. Hmmmm…..
Karen, I am so sorry you had to go thru so much pain.
I hope you are feeling better and that you never have to pass another one!
Hi Karen,
It might have been what you didn't drink:
http://www.webmd.com/kidney-stones/kidney-stones-cause
and
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/154193.php
They also have some other causes.
Oh, By the way, I have had my cat on filtered water ever since that happened, as we have a lot of calcium in our hard water. Just a Brita jug in the fridge.
I sure can tell the difference as there doesn't get a limed up ring around her water dish any more. Before, the bottom of her water dish would feel rough to the touch from our water.
I hope this helps.
Happy Trails, Penny, TX
What a bad time you had. It sounds unbearable. I hope I never get one.You had such a long way to go to hospital. What a miserable cop! Hope all is well now. Did your arm get better?
so the bill was almost as freaking painful!
In Australia you wouldn't have been charged a thing.
I wish your pollies would get their act together.
Hugs babe. I can only imagine how painful that would have been.
Oh no Karen, what a total bummer.
Get better soon. Virtual hugs.
Salie
PS: Kelley does give us something to think about. I wish they would too.
You can really write a story down well with humor. I thought I was going to fall out of my chair when you called the police man a "b______" in those little bitty letters. I hope you feel better and it (the enemy)never ever comes to your door again. That was quite an ordeal but you are such a sport. I love reading your blogs. Take care.
Ouch, ouch, ouch. I haven't had a kindey stone, but have had UTI and that is bad enough. My husband had a kidney stone last year about this time and it took FOREVER for it to pass, he finally had to have a litatopsy (spell check on that word) to break it up before he could pass it. Thankfully he hasnt had any more problems but I know you must be hurting..I hope things are better soon.
I'm so sorry!! I hope you're better soon!
My brother and sister have kidney stones, but I've never had one (knocking on wood). My brother jokingly said he felt like a man passing a kidney stone was the great equalizer with women and the childbirth thing. But my sister said that it's much worse than childbirth and she had a near 11-pounder. Ouch!!
Oh Karen,I'm so sorry you have had so much pain. I've only always heard that ks's are very very painful. I trust you are on the mend. (((Hugs))) Jo