Been a wee bit under the weather

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

One or two of you may remember I posted a few weeks back about having a kidney stone. Well, to update: The pain went away in a couple days and nothing of significance happened, so I forgot about it. Until 2 weeks ago when the pain came back and this time didn't leave.

I went to the hospital and they did a cat scan, confirming the imminent birth of a bouncing 5mm stone. Wonderful, but that's only the beginning of my tale of woe.

Some may be aware that due to certain medications I take, my immune system is shot to hell, and I'm subject to the occasional abscess. Well, guess what formed on my lower back, dead center of the kidney pain? Yep- a fine broth of a 5" baby abscess. I will hold him and I will pet him and I will call him George.

Not enough suffering for you yet, the doctor laughed. You have a SECONDARY infection in the form of a staph infection. If you've ever had one, you know how absolutely nasty they get, and how quickly they spread. If you've ever had the shingles, the pain is exactly like that.

Well, enough is enough. They put me on two different antibiotics, some other (so far) useless kidney pills, and a few days worth of hydrocodone. Woo hoo!

I've been asleep for a over week, and the back pain is still there. However, either it's backing off or I'm just not letting myself feel more than an ache any more. The staph medication promptly stripped all the bacteria from my digestive tract, and I haven't eaten more than a few small bites at a time for days. I've lost 14 lb. Perhaps I can finally stuff myself back into my old Levis? George the Abscess is finally fading. I've been awake since 6:30am today. The stone is still in there- I can feel it. It's in my groin.

As my hero, Zippy The Pinhead used to say, are we having fun yet?

--I left a few small details out for brevity. I just need to say this- I feel that this time I came a bit too close to the edge of things for my comfort. I hope it's a while before I revisit that particular cliff.

[pscot]

1. It sucks when shit piles up like that

I went through one those a few years back. It can be hard to see the humor. All you can do is gut it out. Good luck.

[Callmecrazy]

2. I feel your pain, PNS

I suffered through a bout of kidney stones in my mid thirties. Nine episodes of writhing pain traveling slowly from mid back to my groin. They say the pain is a bad as childbirth. As a man, I'll take their word for it. They eventually faded away and I haven't had any stones for about 12 years now. Every time I get a twinge of back pain though, I brace for the worst.
Hope you feel better soon.

[surrealAmerican]

3. Get well soon, #6.

You deserve some good health after such an ordeal.

[LiberalEsto]

4. You are amazing to be dealing with all this

and still finding humor in the mess. I hope you get well ASAP.

My husband had a very small kidney stone last year. I read somewhere that mixing a little apple cider vinegar - about a teaspoonful - in a glass of water might help pass the stone. He drank one glass of this, then another about 8 hours later, and darned if it didn't make his stone pain go away!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. My dear Prisoner_Number_Six!

This should not be happening to you! NONE of it.

I hope the stone passes, soon and easily. Yikes.

You have a gift for comedy.......in the face of all this crap!



I'm having fun with my left shoulder too......there are two threads about that!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018621829


http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018622064

[rurallib]

6. So you say your losing some weight? Great to hear!

[rurallib]

7. listen, you idiot, you bettrer tell him you are joking!

he's in pain - taint funny.

Wish him a sincere get better!

[rurallib]

8. Whoops- sorry PNS - Only kidding

best wishes for a recovery from the miseries!

[rurallib]

9. That's better - and don't make me save your sorry butt again

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

10. Actually, it WAS funny!

I'd LOVE to get back under 200...

[progressoid]

11. Here ya go...