Friday, April 04, 2008

Well At Least I'm Not Having A Baby

At least, that is, according to the ultrasounds.

I finally couldn't stand the pain any more and went to the ER this morning. I had been up since midnight and the pain was intense for 9 hours and the hydrocodone wasn't even taking the edge off. Walking didn't give any relief, as I was out at 2 a.m. in the freezing cold trying to walk it off and then again in the rain at 8.

So here's the good news and the bad news:
• It is confirmed I'm passing a kidney stone although it didn't show up in either the KUB (kidney, ureter, bladder) x-ray or the ultrasound. Sometimes I psyche myself into thinking maybe it's something much more dangerous like cancer. The only part of the ureter that isn't visible in the ultrasound is the bottom portion hiding behind the bladder so that's where it must be. Good news since it is near the end of the painful part of the journey. The bad news is I still don't know how much longer and how much pain I have yet to endure.
• I have a new prescription for the more powerful Percocet painkiller.
• Of course, after I got situated in the ER, the pain went away.
• This is all occurring on the left. In the collection portion of the left kidney are two stones (8mm and 4mm) waiting to unleash. On the right, there is a 4mm in the kidney and still a ways from leaving its womb. Except for the size of the 8mm, I find this to be good news. I expected to be loaded, and with 4 soon to be 3, that is a good thing. These stones were made years ago so I'm confident the changes I've made in my diet are working.
• They found high levels of bacteria in my urine sample so I'm on Cipro for that.
• The spasming is what really caused me most of the pain and concern. These cramps are so intense that they make you vomit because the stomach muscle is right next door and gets caught up in all the fun. I have a prescription for Flomax for that. Flomax is a prostate drug but they've found it works for this symptom.
• A handsome, well built man roamed the ER under my watchful eye. He had the job of changing the beds when folks left. He was blatantly flirting with the girls and wouldn't make eye contact with me. Definitely gay. Definitely wanted me. :)

And the best part, as noted in the post headline, I'm not having a baby!
*

9 comments:

more cowbell said...

Are you sure? That first paragraph sounds an awful lot like labor, and there was that bit about the pregnant man in the media and all.

michael sean morris said...

Forgive me for sounding like a bitch (most days it's practically inevitable) but if you had a baby wouldn't that be highly lucrative? Seeing as you have (I assume) no uterus; also, wouldn't it be an immaculate conception?

;)

Gavin said...

Yeah, watch the fundies beat a path to my door...with torches in hand!

A life is only a miracle if it is conceived and raised in a home with the married parental units being one man and one woman. Anything else is an abomination!

Jodi said...

Well luckily you aren't having a baby. But as of late in the media, you wouldn't be the first man to take on this feat.

I am SO sorry you are suffering so badly. That 8mm one is probably what is making it so bad. I checked with my hubby and his was 7mm. I couldn't remember if it was 6 or 7. But he passed it and suffered the whole way through. I hope that this passes quickly for you. It is in a good place where it is almost there.

My sister had a kidney stent put in last month due to her ureter being blocked (since birth the doctor presumed) and she was having spasms, horrible ones that they prescribed pills for. She is taking it out in 2 weeks. He wanted to keep it in a month. When you said the spasms, that was the first thing I though of.

I really hope that the stones pass for you soon. My sister has been on the Percocets because of the pain of the stent, throbbing & spasms..they make her very lethargic. I hope you get relief from them & it doesn't happen to you. Good luck!! Keep us posted.

Doralong said...

Congratulations and OUCH!!! Hope it passes very soon!

the cajun said...

Oh, you poor guy. I've had three of those lovely little rocks so I've come to know the symptoms in advance. Thankfully, I haven't had one in a few years now.
Still, you're fortunate to have been given painkillers. I was not so lucky. Just fun filled days of writhing and screaming. When the urine began to show blood I knew the end was near. From that time on, I had to pee through a coffee filter. That was fun!
I was told to knock off the caffeine and drink more water. I did, and I do.

Take care and good luck with the passing.

Anonymous said...

So sorry that this is happening to you Gavin. On the bright side (if there is one), the timing of this means that you shouldn't have any health issues in May, complicating your trip to NYC.

Breenlantern said...

"He was blatantly flirting with the girls and wouldn't make eye contact with me. Definitely gay. Definitely wanted me. :)"

You find time to be funny even in your time of agony. So sorry for the suffering. Sending positive healing thoughts, buddy!

Anonymous said...

Owwww, I hope the damned stone passes very soon. You've suffered enough!

I hope the new drugs take you to Happyland, and that you don't have any more trips to the ER. Or, if you do, that you meet a woofy hunk who fancies YOU...

--Alex