It's been an exciting couple of weeks, but not for the reasons I would have hoped. Still, what doesn't kill us makes us stronger, no?
A preface:
A year-and-a-half ago, when we were driving to Indiana to visit my MIL and FIL, I had an incident of pain so bad that I actually shed some tears and asked Husband to call an ambulance, which I had never done before (or since). We were literally in the middle of nowhere, and, if you recall the story, I ended up opting out of the two-hour ambulance ride to a hospital back the way we'd come in favor of just being miserable in the car with my family for the two hours it would take to get to our next destination, only to happily have the pain dissipate about ten minutes later as quickly and mysteriously as it began, never to recur again.
Until December 13 of this year (da da DAAAH!).
This time, I started suspecting a kidney stone based on the pain that wrapped around my left torso just under my rib cage. After a couple hours of serious discomfort, the pain dissipated again. I got influenza the next day, which added insult to injury; and to go along with the fever, aches, and chills, I also had the persistent sensation of urgently needing to pee but not being able to. I cannot describe to you how annoying that is.
I got over the flu--except for this pesky cough that is hanging on for dear life--and then had yet another kidney stone attack on Tuesday of this week. This one was really bad. It felt like I was in the beginning stage of active labor. The pressure was unbelievable, and if I had actually been pregnant, I would have birthed a child every time I had to cough, which was frequently.
By this point, I realized that I could use pain killers to manage the pain, which is what I did for the hours and hours that this attack lasted, and which made it barely tolerable, because I was NOT going to the hospital if I didn't have to. I imagined the hours-long, deeply uncomfortable wait in the ER, the prodding and pushing and "Does this hurt?," the tests that would probably not reveal anything of significance, and, finally, the instructions to go back home and take pain medications and then make an appointment with my doctor for a follow-up. Followed by the hefty bill. No, thank you.
At some point in the night I had finally dozed off in exhaustion, and when I woke up at 5am, I realized my kidney was no longer killing me. You know how the cessation of severe pain is such an intensely blissful relief that you feel so very grateful for everything you've ever been blessed with? If you know, you know.
I had attempted to make a doctor appointment after the first kidney stone last week, but the receptionist was stupid and sent me to the voicemail box of a doctor's coordinator not in my insurance network and that couldn't help me. I had the flu pretty bad by that point, so I kept putting off calling back because I didn't feel well. This week, though, I tried again. The stupid receptionist tried to fob me off and tell me that there were no available appointments until January, but I mentioned kidneys and stones, and she magically found an appointment for me. I just went to that appointment last night, and the doctor wants me to have a CT scan of my entire abdomen. He's a little concerned. I, however, am not currently having any kidney stone symptoms, which is lovely.
Meanwhile, there is good news:
I got my new set of hormone pellets, and the higher dose of testosterone seems to be doing something. I am sleeping better and have more energy.
While I was sick, I decided to use the time to also overcome my diet cola addiction. I went cold turkey rather than taper it down. The withdrawal headaches were impressive, but I'm now a week free of all soda/pop/Coke. I am drinking a lot more water, and I'm chugging down warm lemon water to try and eliminate future kidney stones. I am well aware that drinking soda might have contributed to my having kidney stones. I am grateful I was able to use the unpleasantness of last week to kick the habit. I now associate soda with pain and suffering, and the temptation to drink it is gone.
My kids, sons-in-law, parents, and siblings are coming over for Christmas. I'm setting up a baked potato bar with chili, and everyone has instructions to bring a snack to share. It will be casual and fun.
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