Stoned Again

Home from a long day at work, after five days absence - the weekend, Columbus Day, the procedure and one day recovery. Tough going back. I'm beat.

But I'm not cleaning poop and cereal and stuff out of the refrigerator. I guess that is something.

The lithotripsy went well. My 'show up' time was 11 AM. X and I got a few errands done beforehand and after an impromtu tour of the hospital, managed to show up in good time. Only to find that I had to pop down and get a quick x-ray. Which meant another impromtu tour, and this time some kindly person all in scrubs and cap pointed us to the stairs. Which was fine, not that we mind stairs. It just took us not to the reception area, but smack in the middle of the nuclear medicine area. We found the reception area, I checked in and we waited to be called. Mind you, the other times I've been there I've not been in any rush but have been impressed because I've gotten called back pretty quickly. Efficient. Not this time. Not kidding, the xray itself took maybe 7 minutes. X and I waited for 30 minutes. We were a little late getting back up to the surgical suite. X, with all her confidence said, "follow me, I know how to get back". Ha. She didn't. We couldn't figure out which elevators to take. But a kindly woman helped us. I think the hospital coaches all the staff to be alert for confused expressions on peoples' faces, and encourages them to see that as an opportunity for customer service or something. It happens to me all the time at that hospital, which I like, by the way. Somebody will just pipe up and say, "can I help you with something?" I like that. I do get a little self concious that my confusion is so readily apparent, though.

Back at the surgical suite, I am now about 20 minutes past my appointed arrival time. I didn't have to wait long. I was called back and told to undress and get comfy on the gurney/bed thing. Two very nice nurses introduced themselves. One asked me a ton of questions, the other took my pulse, blood pressure, temperature, put the IV in and put something in the IV for nausea. Then they said my friend could come in if I wanted her to, and sit with me. My friend? That's my daughter, you guys. My little baby girl. Jeez. Then the doctor came and looked over the paper work or something, and the anesthesiologist came in. They left and then three people came to wheel me into the operating room. They were funny, saying I was getting the royal treatment, then they started giving themselves titles and were having a good time and I piped up and said I was the emperor because I had no clothes. They liked that I joined in their game.

We arrived in the room, and I was to slide over onto the table that had something like a big diaphragm in the middle, where my butt was supposed to go. Someone introduced himself, and told me to scootch down, down a little more, okay that's good. And no kidding, that's the last thing I remember until I heard my name being called.

I woke up back in the place I started, and the nurse asked me if I'd like something to eat, or just wake up a little first. I didn't want to eat. A bit later she asked me if I was ready to eat, and have a little something to drink and offered toast or muffin and I asked for tea and toast. X came back to be with me. I finished my toast and I was ready to go. They explained the discharge instructions to me, and went over them again with X. And I know why they did that. I don't remember that very well, nor do I remember the ride home very well. I know we stopped for Chinese food. I was jonesing for some Won Ton soup. Being NPO from midnight until my butt was cozied up in that diaphragm thing was pretty hard. (Since that was when time stopped for me, I'm not counting anaything after that). I think they don't expect their patients to be very cognizant after the procedure.

Well, anyway. That particular stone, which was bigger than any stone I've ever worn on my finger, (1cm) is now sand in the strainer. History, baby. I was in fear that it would try to leave the nest before the procedure. THAT would have been painful. I know. That's happened a couple times before with stones that big. One required a complete surgery and two week hospital stay, and the other required three days in the hospital, and a long tough recovery at home. I wasn't open to doing that again.

So this year I've had 4 stones and three lithotripsies. A record even for me. I usually manage a couple years between stone incidents. This year I passed a stone from the left kidney, a first, simultaneously passing one from my right kidney, another first. This year I've had the extracorporeal lithotripsy, again a first. I've always had the more invasive lithos, where they go up and laser the stone while it's stuck in the ureter. I'll take the extracorporeal one ANY TIME, but we never seem to catch the stones until they head out. Still have many smaller stones in each kidney, but the monster is done for. Yay team.

All in all, I feel pretty darn good. No bruises or anything. I'm more sore from laying on the opposite side, as I was instructed to do after. That is the side with the bursitis.

Anyway, just thought I'd share. Thanks for all the good wishes! They must have helped big time.

Love and Peace to you all