Kidney Stones Diary - The Sequel
February 25-March 6, 2001

So here is what happened this time around. I had 3 kidney stones pass about 3 and a half years ago. It wasn't pleasant then, and I had taken precautions to make sure it didn't happen again, but apparently my liquid consumption was not enough to prevent this one. I have my non-professional theories about why I this has happened to me, since I don't fit in the demographic (middle-aged white men) that is usually stricken with this.

[NOTE: All of the below is barely edited. I wanted to preserve all the spontaneous expression here, since it reflected my physical state (in pain or loaded on pain killers) and emotions at the time. Anyone offended below will just have to forgive and forget. :)]

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Sunday, Feb 25/Monday AM Feb 26
Around 7PM, my tummy hurt. I had made spaghetti, and sometimes that disagrees with me. No big deal. Then I am online around 8PM, checking mail, and it feels like cramps. I lie down for a while. I fall asleep. I wake up for X-Files and the pain is preoccupying me. I pace around, watching the show and going in the bathroom. I start to panic about whether it is a kidney stone. I call Tim in DE after X-Files, who says to go to the ER. So I let the dogs out, give them a snack, then call Miranda (Tim's gf) and leave a message saying to feed the dogs if I don't come home by the morning.

I drive to the ER around 10:30 (unlike last time, I recognized the pain and left before I got incapacitated). I was attended to much more quickly this time. The ER was full, so they put me on a gurney in the hall of the ER. Since I was there before for the same thing, they actually believed me when I said I thought it was a stone (as opposed to indigestion, pregnancy or appendix). The nurse fouled up the first IV in my left arm, blood everywhere, but got one in my right one and put in the saline, since I was dehydrated. I proceeded to get sick and vomited all my dinner up -- they gave me a "bucket", since they expected me to at some point. It was nasty, of the projectile kind. Uncontrollable. Thank god I had gotten there when I did. About an hour into things I got some morphine. The pain was so intense that I had to have 2 more doses of morphine. It didn't make me pass out though. About 2 hours in they rolled me to radiology for a CT scan. Yes, there was a stone, it was about 4mm. All I can remember about the scan is that the morphine was making me sleepy and the guy behind the glass was telling me to breathe in and to hold it, then release. He did this several times, I thought I was dreaming after a while.

They rolled me back, and I actually had a room in the ER by then. They put me in. The doctor came in and asked if I could give a urine sample. I had just gone to the bathroom, so we had to wait until more IV had gotten into me. Once I did, they found a bit of blood in the urine, suggesting the stone was moving around. Then they gave me some more morphine. Before I nearly passed out, they asked me if there was anyone to drive me home, and of course, I said no, that I had driven myself there. I only live a mile away from the hospital, for crying out loud. Since I wasn't forthcoming with anyone to drive me home, they told me to sleep off the morphine (the drug they were scared would make me crash my car), and gave me some other painkiller in the IV that I don't remember the name of. That was around 2:30AM. I woke up at 5:30AM. I felt a little woozy, but sentient enough to drive a mile. They let me drink some water, took a urine catheter to check for UTI, then released me. I had to pay $75 co-pay, which I put on a credit card, and left around 7AM. It seemed like a long 1 mile, but thankfully the roads were empty. I came home and went to bed. I was a zombie for most of Monday. I went out later and dropped off a prescription for the Percocet, since they only gave me 3 to go from the ER. I went back out and picked that up around 5PM. Tim's gf Miranda stopped by and dropped off some Crystal Light and some strawberries (which I had been craving).

Tuesday 2/27
No passage yet.
So, today I am less woozy, but in more pain since the remnants of painkillers from the ER are gone. I called the triage nurse because I am supposed to go out of town on Saturday (to AZ). If I don't pass it by then, I may have to bag the trip. So I am drinking a lot in hopes of flushing it out ASAP. I am not fit to work today as I am very weak, tired and going to the bathroom a lot, catching the urine through a sieve to look for the stone. I spend most of this day sleeping.

Wednesday 2/28
No progress, still no stone passage. I am still on narcotics for pain, and now experiencing fever and chills. I did get in touch with my endo, and she said what I suspected and didn't want to hear -- that I cannot go on this Computer Managers Meeting trip if I don't pass it by Friday and I am infection-free (fever and chills are a sign of this possibility). Being cooped up on uncomfortable airplanes, being in the air dehydrated and medicated as heavily as I need to be in order to travel is dangerous, as I am not thinking all that clearly in this condition.

The timing of this is rotten beyond belief, though I suppose it could have been worse -- I could have had the attack on the plane. That would have been entertaining. I ran a hot bath and sat in it to warm up. This helped for a while. I got out and was still chilled, so I put a blanket in the dryer, heated it up and sat under it and fell asleep.

A surreal thing that happened: a photographer from the N&O called on his cell and came by to take my picture for some story they are doing on the Old West Durham web site that I do. I had talked to someone a while back about this. I am sure I will look like holy hell. Oh well. I had enough time to put on earrings and a headband before he came. He stayed about 5 minutes and I went to bed.

Got up for a while, fed the dogs and looked down at my foot. It was all bloody. Seems my right toe, where I had had surgery on the nail, had split open near the surgery area and just was freely bleeding. It had healed not too long ago, and had stopped oozing (normal healing process) a few days ago. Now it was not just oozing, but fresh blood. I cannot figure out why this was happening, as I hadn't injured it. The only thing I can think of is that I am so dehydrated (in spite of the increased liquids), that the skin there just split open. My hair and skin has generally been drier since this incident, and I have been doing what I can. This, however, was unexpectedly weird. I cleaned the toe out, bandaged it up and left it alone.

The reporter for the N&O calls around 9PM. We talk for about 15 minutes. I was not on the heavy side of the meds, so I think I was lucid, though as I am typing this I don't remember much about what I said. Apparently this is going to be in Monday's Connect section. Whatever.

Thursday 3/1
Still no passage of the stone. I had a very rough night last night, this from my own experimentation. I decided to see how bad my actual (undrugged) pain was and went over 6 hours without taking meds. That was a BAD mistake. The pain ratcheted up so bad around 3AM that I had thoughts of going back to the ER for morphine. I took a double dose of the percocet and prayed for relief. It took about 2 hours of pacing around/fetal position, but finally I got in bed and slept for 4 hours.

I had to get up this AM and drive to the lab for tests; my endo wants to make sure I have no infection. Fortunately I was able to get there on my own since I was still coasting on that double dose and I was almost pain free. I just returned home a little while ago and the meds are starting to wear off; I won't make the mistake of letting that dose time pass. One irritating side effect is that this drug makes me have nasal congestion. Weird.

I am surprised that I haven't passed this stone yet. I wonder if it is stuck. I have been drinking constantly (as if that were an option, I am very dehydrated). I can't even eat much since most foods make me nauseous right now. I eat enough to keep my blood sugar ok. I have chills again. I threw a blanket in the dryer, got it nice and hot and snuggled on the sofa and watched the Burton hearings on the Clinton pardons. I saw Beth Dozoretz, some Dem finance bigwig, take the Fifth, then I saw a bit of Jack Quinn, Marc Rich's attorney and former Clinton White House counsel, and then I fell asleep. Those hearings were on all day and went into the night. I woke up and it was still on. I checked and wrote some email. Still not hungry. I ate some leftover pepper steak just to put something in there.

I must be psycho. I emailed in to work that I was coming in tomorrow to see folks off before the conference.

I sat and watched Survivor. Mike on the Kucha team had to leave when he inhaled smoke, passed out and fell into the campfire, burning his hands really badly, flesh hanging off. Plus he dove into the nasty lake water...that cannot have been good, though there is no relief for burns that bad. It was nasty. I definitely think that is more painful than a kidney stone, it has to be worse than childbirth. The other team lucked out, since they were getting their asses kicked up to this point. You'd almost think it was rigged that the better team lost one of its best people at this crucial point. Called Tim and briefly discussed the episode, and my general condition.

Rebandaged the toe. It had bled some, but seemed to have stopped. I cleaned it out again.

Friday 3/2
Depressing. Still no luck. I didn't have too much trouble sleeping, once I did fall asleep (2AM). I needed 2 pills to do so, though. The problem with taking 2 is that the nasal congestion is worse; I am using a nasal spray just to keep from breathing through my mouth and drying myself out further. I can't wait for this thing to pass.

Next hassle is trying to get this prescription refilled, because it is a narcotic. Like I even want to take this stuff to get high; I cannot see what buzz you get off of this. The stuffy nose is a big drawback, lol. I call the nurse at the clinic of my PCP (Dr. Lausier) and she says that they cannot dispense narcotics over the weekend. This would mean that I would end up in the ER again if I run out and I don't pass it. So I hang up and wait for her to call back about this. Turns out that I have to go into the office to either 1) see Dr. Lausier to examine me (ok fine, like she'll just push the stone out of me) or 2) pick up a physical prescription to take to the pharmacy. This is bullshit. So I guess it is more cost effective for me to have to find a ride to personally travel up there in this condition to pick up a sheet of paper and go to the drug store. Hmm. Make it hard for the sick person.

1:30 PM: The clinic calls and I have to drive over and get the script. Get in car. Brake light is on. I have to put fluid in it. Turn car on again. Gas is low. I drive over, get the prescription, put gas in the car and drive to Eckerd and drop off the script. I am crabby, tired and in pain, but not drowsy. I get home and there is a message from Dr. Brown's (my endo) office. A cryptic message that I need to contact her nurse to give a pharmacy that she can call a prescription in to. Not why. Though I assume it has to do with the test results from the urine sample I dropped off on Thurs. I check my email and she sent me a note about it as well. I give her the pharmacy info over the phone and email and she calls it in. I email her back and asked how I could find out more about what exactly is wrong with me, based on the tests. So I wait. OK.

3:15PM -- this is e-reply from the doctor's secretary:
"Well, the doctor is out of town so the nurse looked at the results and told me to call it in and she has left for the day also. I can have her call you on Monday. Sorry!"

So I am supposed to take meds on blind faith that I need them for some unknown thing? Thank god I know how to research medications on the web!

I just canceled hotel reservations, plane tix.

4:45PM: Miranda called to check on me, which was nice of her. She was holding out hope that it would have passed and I would be preparing to go out of town. No such good news. We did decide to go out for Indian food at Sitar to celebrate the passage, whenever it happens. I didn't need any groceries. I will, however, need some water sooner or later this weekend because I am going through it so quickly.

7PM: Went to Eckerd and picked up my meds. I had to show an ID to pick up the painkillers. Geez. Like someone would party on this stuff. The other, mystery med is Cipro, an antibiotic, have to take 2x a day for 10 days, with lots of water, and stay away from caffeine and the sun. May cause dizziness. LOL. I have enough drugs in my system to make that fun a certainty. I looked it up and it is used for treating lower urinary tract infections/kidney infections that are associated with obstruction (like stones) http://www.rxmed.com/illnesses/kidney_infection,_acute.html. It also says that it can affect blood sugar levels so I will have to test more often. Sigh. More monitoring. Found another useful link: http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/urolog/pubs/utiadult/utiadult.htm.

Called Patsy and left message to tell her that I am not coming. I am really sorry I cannot get out there.

Haven't felt chills tonight. I took the Cipro and a glass of water. I drank more than I have been, which is still a lot. I think I drank a gallon. I subsequently went to the bathroom a great deal before bed. I stayed up till 1AM peeing it all out so I could sleep. I didn't take pain meds, since I had my last at 10PM.

Saturday, 3/3
6AM: Dogs got me up. They wanted out and to be fed. I got up went to the bathroom (no stone) and did this and got back in bed.

8:30AM: Pain in my side indicated that I needed to take some meds. But for the first time in days, I was hungry. I had a craving for a biscuit. I took my blood sugar (103), a needle and got dressed. Being the daredevil, I put Bailey in the Tracer and drove off to Chick-Fil-A and got a chicken biscuit. [Red didn't want to go out, he never left the crate, lol]. Came home, took meds and antibiotic. Threw blanket in dryer and came in and updated this log.

My hands, I notice, always seem to be cold, even under a hot blanket. I don't know what is up with that. When I have chills, it seems that my hands are always colder than the rest of me. This has been since Sunday, but I only made note of it now.

3PM: I was posting more inflammatory messages on this black hair care group on Yahoo, "new black hair care millennium" (http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/thenewblackhairmillennium), as honeybunxo. lololol. Trying to convince folks on the practicality and hygeine of washing type 4 hair frequently.

Email from Maureen. Seems that the mid-Atlantic is going to get blasted with a winter storm. My area looks like it will escape it. Tim is going to get buried in DE. Wonder if he is watching the weather. Right now it is raining here and Red doesn't want to go out. Sissy.

Got a call from Patsy, then one from Joan, so I updated them on things. Checked email. Around 4:30 I looked in fridge. Cooked some bacon in the oven (so no real cleanup), and a croissant and took my meds. One percocet, one antibiotic. Have to go take a needle later. I was kind of low (90) about 1/2 hr ago.

5PM: Emailed my cousin Julie, who heard through the grapevine that I am sick. I sent her this journal, since this is a better explanation than I can give at this time.

12:43AM: Still up. Need to take drugs and go to bed. I need to vacuum the house really badly. There are tumbleweeds rolling down the hall. I wish I had the energy. Posted some more inflammatory things on the hair groups and turned in.

Sunday, 3/4
6AM: Dogs got me up. I was up several times, either needing to drink or go to the bathroom. No stone. I fed them, let them out, took some meds (my side was hurting again).

8:30AM: Bailey got me up, came in with her squeak toy. I was still kind of woozy. I needed to get up anyway to take a shower. I need to wash my hair. Got in shower and felt better. I need to take my antibiotic, so I know I need to eat something.

What to eat, I'm not really hungry (BG was 130, so I was ok). I pulled out a plain matzo and put some butter on it and ate that. Took the antibiotic and my regular diabetes oral meds. About 10 minutes later I felt violently ill and went into the bathroom. Bleh. Barfed up all I had eaten, plus my meds. It was a mess. Cleaned up. Felt woozy and worn out, but ok. My stomach hurt now from being empty and sick. I went in and ate an ice cream sandwich, which had carbs and was soothing. That stayed down. Threw blanket in dryer and decided to wash clothes and my bedsheets. Put in clothes, then got under the blanket on the sofa and dozed.

Was awakened about 1/2 hour later by John Schelp (neighbor and pres. of the neighborhood assn) at the door. He had kindly offered to get me some bottled water after emailing me last night. He dropped off 4 gallons, which should hold me for a while. He wouldn't take my money. Apparently there is a UNC game today; he had a flag on his car.

Noon: sheets are in dryer now. I am really weak today for some reason. I mean I really didn't feel well when I got up. I think it is the lack of sleep and not really having an appetite/not eating. I have to find something to eat that won't make me nauseous. I think I will see if there are some nice frozen vegetables that I can eat. I need to stay away from spicy stuff. The thought of it is making me quesy.

Checked email. Dr. Brown sent me mail, saying my urine was clean, but that the nurse must have seen figures that suggested an antibiotic was called for. I asked her to see if I needed to take these since taking them this AM may have caused me to get sick. She said to continue until she confirms.

2:30 PM: I just finished eating a baked pork chop (I had 2 frozen in the freezer and took them out last night) and some vegetables. I also had a box of corn muffin mix, so I made that and had 2 little muffins. I have kept that down. I won't take the other dose of antibiotics till a couple of hours. maybe then it won't make me sick. Anyway, I'll have another pork chop for later or tomorrow, and a few muffins for snack if my tummy is empty and I need to take meds. I'll hold off on taking them for a little while longer.

Miranda called and she is picking me up some crystal light mix and some milk, so I can have cereal. Maybe that will stay down. I don't know. Bedding is dry so I make the bed. Want to get in it, but will need to wait.

3:00PM: Miranda dropped off the Crystal Light and some milk. I put the blanket in the dryer and heated it up, then got on the sofa. Fell asleep.

4:30: Phone rings. It's my aunt Sandra in NYC. Have a funny conversation (sad actually) about the state of the public school system. She is finally retiring this month. The phone cuts off. My cordless battery died. Went in my office and she rang me up again. I talked to Judi briefly and then hung up. She said that the snow is coming, but maybe not until Tuesday. Must be a slow moving system to the NE. I hope we don't get any of it.

5:15: Dogs haven't asked to be fed, but I better feed them. I feel tired and the pain is starting to return along with chills, so I better take meds soon. Have to take the antibiotics too. Hope I don't barf.

The rest of the evening was uneventful. Talked to Tim, watched Lone Gunmen (X-Files spinoff). I didn't take any painkillers after 5:15. I wanted to see how bad the pain actually was. I managed to make it to morning, slept some, was quite uncomfortable, but not searing pain.

Monday, 3/5
AM: Damn thing is still scraping around in there. I am so sick of being drugged up and home bound. I went without painkillers last night to see how intense the pain is. Seems less than before, suggesting the stone is in a different location/position. I still feel queasy after eating this AM, so I may take a pain killer today so I will be able to sleep. Emailed Sue at work to have her email Al from Global which dates the BizSys committee could see the demo of Unison6. She did this and cheered me up by making fun of my N&O interview circumstances, which pretty much deserves ribbing it was so strange.

10:30AM: Phone wakes me up. I am on sofa. It is Asa. He was calling me about the article in the N&O, which appeared this AM (http://www.newsobserver.com/monday/business/Story/401862p-401413c.html). Bleh. I was just getting some good sleep. He mentioned that he was named the head of the Republican Party for Durham County, and that he was using this as a means to get some kind of position within the Bush administration. Yes. Not making that up. He didn't say what kind of position, but I assume it would be in DC, as opposed to something local. It may take a while for lower level positions to get filled, but I guess he would have a chance of some kind. Black Republicans are still a relative rarity (J.C. Watts is the only one in the House of Representatives), so if this administration is looking for them, this is probably the best opportunity he'll ever have to get something.

Noon: Went to Food Lion. Got a few things. Nice to get outside, but it was draining. Thank god it is only 2 blocks away. Came back and took pain med and laid down on sofa.

4:30PM: woke up and there was news on about yet another teenager opening fire in a HS in CA, killing 2 and injuring 13 (at last count). He actually spent the weekend with friends and told them of his plans to do this and no one believed him. An ADULT actually heard these plans and did nothing. It was the same old story -- kid was an outcast, teased and tormented at school, so he exacts his revenge with his father's .22 revolver. Something is definitely screwed up here.

Another major story is that VP Dick Cheney is back in the hospital with chest pains. I don't think this guy is going to make it through the term. He had his 4th heart attack last November and he is already back in getting catheterized. This cannot be good news for poor Bush, who cannot function without Cheney's brain.

Been drinking and peeing a lot, though now it burns to go. Quite unpleasant. This is a new development. Perhaps the stone is nearing the exit ramp. One can only hope.

5PM: I want a bagel. Why, I don't know. At least I have a craving for some kind of food. The other day I felt like a pizza and at least I had a frozen one up there. So, I got in the car and went to Brueggers on Ninth and got a 1/2 dozen (4 sesame and 2 egg) so I would have them for breakfast this week. I shouldn't have been on the road; I was wincing while on line. What is wrong with me? Am I nuts? My side hurt and I was coasting on the percocet. Made it home ok. Toasted an egg bagel, which wasn't very good. NY egg bagels are much better; I miss the ones from the Israeli bakery on Flatlands Ave in Brooklyn. Those were big, fluffy and chewy -- magnificent. Bruegger's egg tasted kind of flat, like something was missing. This flavor is their "special of the month". I don't think this one will be making a comeback.

Got an email from Dr. Brown. The full culture of my urinanalysis shows some bacterial cells, but says that I only need to take the antibiotics for the rest of today and then quit. She says I don't need the full course. That could change if this thing doesn't get the hell out of me.

8PM: Had a craving for spinach. What is going on? I nuked some frozen spinach and had that for supper.

8:30 PM: Took and shower after coloring my hair. Maybe this will make me feel better, lol. Actually, I am racing to finish this before I start hurting more. I already feel the pain in my kidney and abdomen returning. I take one pill after the shower.

9:30 PM: Starting to doze. Phone rings. Online friend Pam L. from Tampa called, which was very kind, since I actually hadn't ever talked to her on the phone, just IMing. I hadn't been online in several days, so she was worried. I had IM'd her last Sunday (when it happened) that I didn't feel well. At that time I thought it was just cramps. Ironically we were discussing kidney stones at that time, but not in the context that this was what was happening to me then. Anyway, we chatted for a few minutes and then I threw the blanket back in the dryer.

I was thinking about this blanket-in-the-dryer thing. It would be cool to invent a 2 layer cotton blanket (most electric blankets are acrylic, which is why I don't get one) that has some lining/material in between the layers that retains heat when you tumble it in the dryer. You know, so that it will stay warm for hours. That would make a mint. Guess that will have to go on my inventing to-do list.

Tuesday, 3/6
7:30 AM -- I slept almost all the way through. I got up once, no twice during the night. This is better. I think I was up 5 or 6 times before. I am noticing that it is harder to go. I think the stone must be in a place that is blocking the flow somewhat. This would explain the pain urinating that I didn't have before. Another thing that I noticed is that when I am taking the percocet (I had gone almost 10 hours without any meds the other night) I don't feel the burning. It may have been burning the whole time and I just didn't feel it because of the meds. I could probably deal with the burning somewhat, but it definitely hurts enough to discourage wanting to go, which is counterproductive. I should be going at least 4x an hour. This is what is making it hard for me to go into work, aside from the meds. I cannot be very productive if I am half asleep or in the bathroom. I really hate missing work. It's debilitating.

8:30AM: I call the triage nurse, to see if there is anything that I can do to get this thing out of me. She says that she will call back.

11AM: I just lay down on the sofa and the phone rings. Nurse calls back from Dr. Lausier's office. I have an appointment with Dr. Preminger in clinic 1G tomorrow at 10AM. Thankfully this clinic is over near Dr. Brown, only a mile away. I think this is the urologist I saw the last time around. God I hope I don't have to go through the followup with this again. I had to pee in a gallon jug every month and turn it in at the clinic. It was such a big hassle.

If nothing else, I should be thankful that I live near most of the resources I need to get by. A mile from my endo and the hospital, about a mile and a half to the drug store. Two blocks from the grocery. I can at least fend for myself in most circumstances. The only out of the way thing is my PCP. She is way up over in North Durham, I'd say about 7 miles away. Not too bad, but when you are in pain, dizzy or tired, that drive seems far. And it involves more traffic and many lights, so that is a drive I don't want to deal with in my condition if I can help it.

My aunt Patsy, when I talked to her on the phone the other day, said she hadn't been to the endo in over a year (she is diabetic), which is not good. She also has glaucoma, so getting a ride is a necessity for her. She said she hadn't been in a long time because the only endo covered is way over on the other side of Phoenix, I think she said 30 miles. That is ridiculous in a city of that size and population. Of course, this makes it all the more important for folks like me and Patsy who have chronic, progressive diseases to research everything most people don't think about. You know, like where to move (proximity to resources and medical care) and job options (stability of the company and health insurance options are even more important than salary considerations), where and how you vacation. The stuff aside from dietary choices and timing your diabetic mediations that people don't think about that have an impact on quality of life. Factors that make life choices more complicated and restrictive than for the average person.

It pisses me off sometimes, like right now (which is why I am typing this to vent), but 100 years ago, I probably wouldn't be alive now; I have intertwined chronic conditions that were not very treatable. Medicine has come long way, and by and large I am healthy most of the time, it just seems like when I get in a bad rut of health problems, they just are really bad ones. It would be nice to just get a regular common cold. I rarely ever get sick from that, or the flu. I get foot infections or kidney stones, or mono, lol. Big time things that put me out of commission.

I am trying to think of how to make my life healthier. I got the damn treadmill which I have used a total of maybe a week and a half before all of the foot and kidney business did me in. I had been walking every day with the dogs anyway. I had been on my dietary regimen for so long that it is second nature. I don't smoke, drink or drug. I was getting in 8 glasses of fluid a day (that I could have probably upped some, to 10-12). What else can I do to help myself? It is very frustrating.

5:00 PM: Spent the afternoon in a good deal of pain. Slept hard for about 2 hours after taking 2 pills. Fed dogs. Laid down again.

5:15 PM: Eureka! I passed the stone! Or rather a stone. I don't know if there is anything left in there to pass. I will know after my drugs have worn off if anything is left in there, since the last time I had immediate relief from acute pain once the drugs wore off, just pain in my side.

It was quite large, bigger than the last ones I had passed. It is smooth and dark brown, but big. Not surprising that it would have been painful. The one from three years ago looked more like moon rock, gray and jagged. It was 1/2 the size of this monster.

This is actually great timing, since I can take it to the urologist tomorrow. Maybe this is the end of this log. I'll see after tomorrow's visit.

8:15 PM: I think it's all outta there! I feel much better. I do have some soreness in my back, near the kidney, and a little burning when urinating, but otherwise I'm fine. I guess I feel the burning because the drugs have worn off, but I can deal. Whew. Not looking forward to drinking 100 oz. of fluids per day for the urologist, but that's the breaks.

Wednesday, 3/7
10AM: Went to Dr. Preminger, the urologist. This guy is some bigwig in this field. I was doing research on the web the last time around on kidney stones and actually found some teaching articles he wrote on it. Good news -- I passed the stone and took it in to the urologist today. I am back in the office today. I'm still suffering from dehydration, soreness and sleep-deprivation from 9 days of that torture, but I feel much, much better. Should be near 100% tomorrow. Bad news -- apparently in my ER drug-induced haze that Sunday I didn't hear, that I have another stone high up in my left kidney. They don't know when it will start its journey (they cannot do anything about it anyway), but it's basically a smaller, still-ticking time bomb.

My theory is that the Glucophage XR that I was put on a month ago is the culprit. I was put on an earlier version of it 3.5 years ago and within a month or two I had my first attack. I told the dr. but I don't know if he believes me. I don't eat much dairy, so that's not a problem. The last one was calcium, I suspect this one is the same. It was 4mm in size, the other one is 2mm so far. That was the size of my last one, so its departure will not be quiet. I have a decent supply of painkillers left over, so I'll refrigerate them and hope they keep until the next time. God, like I need to think about the next time.

I was given a jug to fill with a 24-hour urine sample in 5 months, and I am to go back to see him in six months. That 24 hour urine thing is the pits. Have to stay home and just pee and collect it all in this jug. Pleasant, huh? They have to keep testing my urine to see what is forming the stones.

12PM: or thereabouts. Went to office. Nice to see everyone. MHa had brought a motherlode of macademia nut goodies (plus a t-shirt and hat) from Wanda (Univ Hawaii Press), who sent them along at the Tucson conference. We always exchange gifts. I will have to get a "care" package her way soon.

4:45: Came home. Fed dogs. Getting ready to have a decent meal that I can hopefully taste, now that the drugs are out of my system. Need to get a decent night's sleep as I am very tired.

Friday, 3/9
5:30PM: I've been fine the last couple of days. I went back to work and have had 2 full days under my belt. I have a big sports jug and a can of Crystal Light mix in my desk so I can drink all day long. This, of course means I am running to the bathroom at least 2x a hour, which is very irritating.

What fun. I got the bill from the ER visit. Apparently the woman who confirmed my insurance with me while I was on the gurney lost the paperwork, because Duke thinks I owe them $1205.05. You have to see this bill to believe it. This is why health care is out of control. Guess I'll have to call on Monday and straighten this out.

Sunday, 3/11
7:45PM: Just an addendum. Today is my mom's birthday. She passed away May 4, 1997. As always, I plant spring flowers. This year, some nice pink snapdragons are in pots in front of my house. I am still tired for some reason; feeling a general fatigue. I at least can sleep.

Oh, and by the way, since my stone is probably calcium, like the last one, these are the foods now on my hit list (from NIH Publication No. 00-2495 February 2000):

People prone to forming calcium oxalate stones may be asked by their doctor to cut back on certain foods on this list :

• Beets
• Chocolate
• Coffee
• Cola
• Nuts
• Rhubarb
• Spinach
• Strawberries
• Tea
• Wheat bran

In most cases, these foods can be eaten in limited amounts.

Now this sucks. I love tea, strawberries, nuts and spinach. I already have many foods I need to restrict because of diabetes. The menu gets smaller and smaller.

--P.

Read more on kidney stones at:
http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/kidney/pubs/stonadul/stonadul.htm

http://www.radsci.ucla.edu:8000/gu/stones/kidneystone.html

June 4 2001: Left Kidney Stone #2 attacks. Read here.

Pam | Tim | Mom | Family | Pets | Friends | 1984 B&W portraits