Kidney Stones

2 weeks ago I started having back pain. I attributed it to a UTI that was entering my kidneys. Having experienced it before I packed the kids up and went to Urgent Care. The doctor did a few tests and agreed. So he sent me on my way with some antibiotics. 

Fast forward to this past Sunday. Around 7pm my back started hurting again. I figured that my infection was back. I went to bed and was in some pain. By morning the pain was worse. So I once again packed up the kids and headed to Urgent Care. By the time we got to Urgent Care I could barely breathe I was in so much pain. As the minutes ticked by my back was becoming more and more sore. When the receptionist told me the wait was 45 minutes I burst into tears because I needed help, and soon. 

Finally the 45 minutes ticked on and they called me back. At this point Andy had taken off work and met me at Urgent Care. The doctor took some blood, touched my back and once again agreed it was a really bad kidney infection. They gave me a shot of antibiotics and sent me home with directions to take my new three prescriptions. The Dr said if the pain continued to get worse, I got a fever, or started to vomit prohibiting me to take my medicine to not mess around and go to the ER immediately. I went straight home and fed Jane. Andy went and got the prescriptions. By the time Andy got home I couldn't even move I was in so much pain.

Never in my life have I ever been in so much pain. My entire back was throbbing and it was moving up to my neck and down my right leg. I couldn't even walk. Andy gave me medicine and water and within seconds I was throwing everything from the night before, including the medicine. 

After he gave me a blessing I headed to the ER. I collapsed into a wheelchair and they sent me on the fast track to see a Doctor. They immediately put an IV in and gave me morphine and zofran. Within a few minutes I could at least lay down and not wince in pain. I could still feel the back pain, it was just a little numb. 

Within 45 minutes the pain was back. At this point the doctor knew it was more than just an infection. They gave me more morphine and took me for a catscan. The cat scan confirmed that I had a 5 mm kidney stone. Andy arrived with Jane once my brother came over to tend Lucas. I fed her against doctors orders because she hadn't eat in about 8 hours and was refusing a bottle. 

The on call urologist wanted to see me so they discharged me from the ER and we headed next door. They took an X Ray and confirmed where the stone was. He suggested that they go in surgically to remove the stone since it was so large and passing it could take another week. Not to mention he believed the stone started 2 weeks prior with my first infection and if it took another 2 weeks to pass I had possible chance of kidney failure. So they set me on the schedule for 9:30 am the following morning.

That night I didn't really sleep as I was in so much pain, despite the 2 percocets I was on. 

Then next day we headed to the hospital. My darling, wonderful Aunt Traci came to our house and watched the kids. She is honestly my second mom. She also stayed with me the entire day once we got home until Andy got off work. Aunt of the year? Not to mention the delicious cookies she got from kneaders and of course Pizza for Lucas. What would we do without her??

I had to mark my right leg because they were operating on my right side. Then the dr had to sign off on it.

 The hospital has this awesome hospital gown called Bear Paiws. It is double lined and they hook a tube to it. Then they give you a remote and you can choose cold air or warm air and it regulates your body temperature. It was so nice to be toasty warm. I want one for Christmas.

The OR room we were scheduled for was having a complication so my surgery was postponed a few hours. In that time my pain medicine had worn off and I was once again, wincing. So the anesthesiologist came to my rescue. He asked what I had been taking for pain and when he said percocet he said wow, and you are still in pain. So he gave me the best medicine EVER through my IV. It was a hardcore narcotic as the nurse said. Seriously, for the first time in 48 hours I was pain free. Later in the OR room he asked how long I had been taking percocet because the narcotic was working a little too much. When I told him just since the ER the day before he felt bad because he probably shouldn't have given me such a high dose. He thought I had been on it for at least a week. I told him not to worry, I didn't mind :)

Here is the stone that was the cause of so much pain.

 IV battle wound.

 Jane finally took a bottle after we bought a few different nipples. I can't feed her until Thursday morning so I pump and then feed her formula. The moment I was out of surgery my back pain was completely gone. The first thing I asked Andy was if Kara had had her baby. And she had!! Because seriously that was what was most important :)

I would never wish a kidney stone on anyone... it is the most horrible pain, worse than child labor. In fact I would rather have one of my abscesses than a kidney stone and THAT is saying something because those are painful. I am on the mend, slowly. I still have stint where the stone was and will have to have it removed next week. So there you have it,  for anyone that is reading this who has had a kidney stone... I feel your pain. And I am so sorry.