Sunday's Seven Snapshots: Tales from the E/R

Other things happened this week, but I can barely remember them.  A kidney stone took over my life mid-week, and I'm still recuperating.

I've had a kidney stone once before about 5 or 6 years ago.  When I started experiencing pain this week, I wasn't sure what was happening.  I even googled "appendix burst" to know what side the appendix is on.  Later that night, as I was describing the pain that was intensifying, my guy and I looked at each other and wondered "is this another kidney stone?"

I went to take a hot bath.  Pain was still increasing, and I don't know, maybe it was from the heat of the bath as well, but I began to vomit.  I had no appetite so I hadn't eaten all day, but my body still found plenty to vomit.  A decision was made to go to the E/R.  This was about 10:00pm on Thursday night.

I got in the car, ready to go, drove down the block, only to realize I didn't have my purse.  Oops.  Turn around to get it, because, you know, and i.d. and medicare card are important to have.  My guy goes into the house to retrieve the forgotten purse while I puke out the side of the car into our grass.

We get to the E/R.  I go directly to the toilet to puke some more while my guy explains to the situation to the triage nurse.  They got to work immediately.  One dose morphine.  Nothing.  Second dose of morphine.  Still, nothing.  I can't remember what the third attempt to pain relief was, but I know it didn't work.  There was blood work and an urinalysis plus a decision to transfer me to a larger hospital.  Yep, got an ambulance ride out of this "fun" night too.  Finally, a super strong dose of oxy was given and pain started to subside but nausea increased.

A CT scan determined, yes, there was a kidney stone.  E/R decided that they wanted me to transfer to urology.  So, I spent several hours waiting for a bed there.  In the meantime, I got to listen to the sounds of an E/R.  I just remembering trying to crawl up into a little ball. 

I was transferred to urology.  While being wheeled into my room, I grasped the barf bag and gave a treat to my new nurse.  She was so wonderful.  She was everything you'd want from a nurse, compassionate, knowledgeable, and efficient.  I saw doctors, nurses, had more blood work, and urine tests.  Most importantly, they were trying to get the pain and nausea under control while pumping as many fluids in me as they could.

Twenty hours later...no stone had passed...but I was home drinking lots and lots of fluids and drugged up.  Sweet baby Ricky knew his mama was not feeling her best.

Another day passed and so did that kidney stone!  Thank goodness.  I gotta admit it.  I looked at that thing and was dumbfounded by such a little stone causing so much havoc.  I'm still achy, nauseous, and woozy, but that will pass too. 

I've been resting this weekend with my guy, my kitties, and my little penguin, Penelope.

I wasn't even going to post a "Sunday's Seven Snapshots" today, but I felt alright enough to post this tonight, so I'd say that I am well on my way to feeling much, much better.

A friend of mine is a sportswriter, and he shared this story of his with me. 

Have you ever experienced kidney stones?  Aren't they the worst??