My trip to the E.R.

Space Wolf · Post by **Space Wolf** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 7:33 -0700

This morning, at 5 AM, I woke up to excruciating pain in my right side, mixed with the feeling of nauseu. I woke my wife to tell her, and after calling my dad (he took some nursing classes years back) told him what was up, he said it sounded like my appendix and I should go to the hospital.

My wife and I got dressed, I peeked in on my daughter as she slept, and left my baby with my in-laws. On the drive to the hospital, as I felt the pain, I kept thinking two things. 1) Would I see my daughter again, and 2) this was how Houdini died (from the poisoning from his ruptured appendix, not the punch to the stomach).

The E.R. was empty and I was admitted right away. They took my blood pressure, asked me questions, and I was told to put on those back less gowns that everyone hates. So, I waited. It turns out it wasn't my appendix, but I had kidney stones. They took some blood, gave me something for the pain, and I had a catscan done.

Through out all this I laid on the bed, held my wifes hand, and tried to rest. I prayed a lot, and when my wind was calm I began to let it wander and I kept thinking about the Usagi stories I had read the night before. At this point, knowing it was kidney stones, I felt much calmer and knew I would be OK.

I was only in the hospital for 3 hours, which isn't bad at all. I feel better already. It was an interesting way to start a Friday off, I must admit, but next time I'd rather wake to an alarm clock!

They say kidney stones is the closest thing a man can experience that is like child birth. I don't know how true exaclty that is, my pain was bad, but I would imagine child birth is a lot worse. Still, to all you women out there, I can sort of sympathize now.

Post by **Maka** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 8:21 -0700

I'm glad you are okay.

I had a kidney problem last year that required surgery. It was the most physically painful thing I ever felt. I'm glad you are feeling better.

And how nice that your father could help out so you wife could be with you.

Peace,

maka

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 8:39 -0700

My dad gets kidney stones, and do they hurt.

The last time, doctors used a sonic thing to break up the stone, so they would pass easier. That left him with a big bruise on his side, though.

I'm glad you're doing okay.

go · Post by go » Fri Jun 01, 2007 8:43 -0700

Dear Readers,
My kidney stones were caused by me not drinking enough water.
Unfiltered apple juice and Sierra Nevada Pale Ale made them pass.
Now I drink a lot of water and have not had the problem again.
Best wishes to all!
go

Post by **Mayhem** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 8:43 -0700

Glad to hear you're okay

That last paragraph... unusually coincidental, I was just discussing pain experience levels at work today with the woman opposite, who mentioned kidney stones and child birth... hope I wasn't jinxing you!

Space Wolf · Post by **Space Wolf** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 10:58 -0700

Hi everyone, and thanks for the kind get well wishes. I'm doing much better, drinking lots of water (which is something I should be doing more of to begin with, but I have a weakness for coke a cola, especially vanilla cokes, but that habit will need to be seriously curbed now), watching TV (HBO is starting to play all 6 Star Wars movies at 3 o'clock EST, so my night is set) and reading comics (just finished Usagi book 2, man I LOVED the Zylla story).

It's funny you mention the sonics for helping break up the stones, Stan, because that popped into my mind while at the hospital. Luckily though I didn't need it. They said anything over than 6 (is it milileters? I forget the actual word) will need surgery, mine was at 4. At the moment, I have a few pains in my side and am a bit sore, but nothing like this morning and nothing some advil won't help. I got a prescription for percocet, but unless I am in dire pain I won't be filling it.

Thank you to all who read this and wrote me this morning.

Post by **Steve Hubbell** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 11:19 -0700

Glad to hear you survived, it is a situation which is best left unexperienced.

I still have very vivid memories of a trip to the emergency room back in '94 from what was revealed to be a kidney stone. By the time I got there, all I could do was curl up in as tight of a fetal position as possible because the pain was so acute (imagine being kicked repeatedly in the kidneys, stomach, and groin by multiple people and magnify the pain a couple times...). The only time in my life I have ever been given morphine.

The bad thing with kidney stones is that usually you just have to suffer and pass the stone, but the fact that the symptoms could also be due to an appendix problem, you pretty much need to see a doctor just to be safe.

Thomas Froehling · Fri Jun 01, 2007 12:16 -0700

Well, I wouldn't wish my worst enemy to experience kidney stones; it's an unbearable pain, driving people up and down the wall.

And, yes, you should go to see a doctor as soon as possible (prefferably with somebody else to drive the car, because you'll very likely be unable to do so).

The good thing with small kidney stones (millimeters sounds correct, Spacewolf) is that the pain will be gone as soon as the damn thing makes that "klong" sound in your toilet;

The bad thing is, that that may take days; so don't torment yourself by delaying a doctor's or E.R.'s visit - that is what these people are for (ehm, medical treatment, not torment, mind you

)

And beware: these nasty little beasts have a tendency to turn up repeatedly; your doctor may want to find out why you've developed kidney stones. Drinking 2 to 3 litres (non-alcoholic, not too sweet) a day is a good idea anyway;

Hoping you'll get well soon and that this was your last glimpse into the world of E.R. from the patient's side....

sschroeder · Post by **sschroeder** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 13:40 -0700

As soon as I started reading your story, I guessed what it was, because the same thing happened to me last summer.

The pain comes most when the stone is moving, so it will probably come back one or more times until it passes into your bladder. There can be some serious pain from the swelling of the kidney as the stone blocks the flow of urine, but that isn't as bad as the moving stone. There are more organs on the right side, so that side hurts more (and causes the concern about the appendix, which would actually be lower if you had that). The worst is just before the stone reaches the bladder because the tube from the kideny takes an upward turn, and the stone can get stuck there for a while. Did they show you where it was on the scan?

If you are lucky, from there it will not irritate you too much until it passes.

I later had another stone pass on the other side, and it was less excrutiating, but still bad. But that one didn't pass from my bladder as easily, so that was no fun either.

Anyway, I just went for a drink of water. You reminded me I never want to go through that again.

I recommend (and that's what the nurses told me too) you fill any prescriptions they give you because the pain (and nausea) can come any time. Plus that way you'll have the pills if you ever pass another one in the future.

Good luck.

Space Wolf · Post by **Space Wolf** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 14:21 -0700

More kind words from more kind people. This forum has to be one of the friendliest places on the whole internet. Thanks again for all the concern and words.

I'm glad to be doing better and hoping to never have to go through this again.

MikeM · Post by **MikeM** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 5:40 -0700

Hope you are feeling better Space Wolf, now that a couple of days have passed (and hopefully your kidney stone)

MikeM

Space Wolf · Post by **Space Wolf** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 19:12 -0700

Hi MikeM, thanks for the well wishes. Going to see the doc for a follow up visit this Wed. I've been getting slight pains like what I got before, just no where near that intensity. I fear I might have some more to go through before all is said and done, but, I won't know for sure until Wed I guess.

Thanks for the thought!

sschroeder · Post by **sschroeder** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 14:27 -0700

Apparently, they usually want to analyze a person's first kidney stone, but it doesn't sound like they asked you to try and capture it.

Space Wolf · Post by **Space Wolf** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 16:56 -0700

Actually, they did tell me that, and I was able to capture some of it, only, it broke up and is pretty small. Not what I expected really. I go see my doctor tomorrow, which is a good thing, cause I think I have more stones in me. Getting those types of pain, just no where near that intensity level of what I felt. Also just haven't been feeling well in general, feeling a bit spacey lately (not Kevin though, hehe, bad attempt at humor there), so I will speak to him about it.

Maybe it's withdrawl from not drinking soda anymore and my body is adjusting to not having so much sugar in it?

sschroeder · Post by **sschroeder** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 17:40 -0700

Space Wolf wrote:Maybe it's withdrawl from not drinking soda anymore and my body is adjusting to not having so much sugar in it?

Hmm... you might be missing the caffeine too. Maybe a little Green Tea as you wean yourself off it. Better ask the doctor whether that is OK though, since you are going anyway.