When I was in recovery I was dreaming I was posting on DU.

[pnwmom]

And everyone was being nice.

And, as the nurses worked on me, the first thing that came out of my mouth was some crack about Donald Trump and Chris Christie.

It was kidney stones, by the way. Everybody, please drink your water!

[Marie Marie]

1. Was I there and was I being nice?

Kidney Stones? Ouch! Hope they zapped them all out of you.

[pnwmom]

3. You might have been! The details were vague.

They claim to have gotten everything. Fingers crossed.

[NJCher]

2. funny stuff

I want to know the crack about Trump and Christie.

Oh and kitty humans, make sure your kitties drink lots of water, too. My vet told me that because cats don't drink water as much as dogs, their kidney function is the first to go as they age.

So plenty of water all around for kitties.


Cher

[pnwmom]

5. That's good advice. We have dogs, but we always make sure they have water, too.

Unfortunately, you can lead a dog to water . . .

[Joe Shlabotnik]

4. I drink a gallon a day (of beer)

But I also drink well over a gallon day of water because I labor my ass off outside in the elements. So far so good.

[pnwmom]

7. Yeah, if you work outside in the summer you really have to be careful.

Or if you live in a dry area. I'm always amazed by how hard it is to get enough water when I visit the southwest.

[Joe Shlabotnik]

10. In extreme weather (winter in Canada too),

Often I work for 15-20 minutes, stop for 5 and guzzle water, or Gatorade. I've been doing it for years, so I know my body's cues, and how to pace myself in all seasons.

Also I learned a long time ago that the boss can't give you shit for stopping to drink water on the job (versus sipping a coffee). The bottle of water, and a towel for wiping sweat is a free pass to have a smoke break.

[TexasBushwhacker]

20. Yup, made the mistake of moving in August

in Texas. It was hot and the humidity was high. I started having chest pains. I thought I was having a heart attack. I drove myself to the emergency room. It turned out my potassium was 10% of normal. I was in the hospital with an IV for 2 days!

[pnwmom]

21. Wow. My mom ran into similar trouble in Texas with her potassium.

If you're not used to the heat you can really underestimate how much water you need.

Glad you were okay!

[TexasBushwhacker]

22. I was lucky

Never, ever ignore chest pains. EVER!

[pnwmom]

23. Excellent advice. Was that an actual heart attack then or

did the potassium deficiency itself cause the pain?

[pinboy3niner]

9. When the nurses worked on me and I came to, the first word out of my mouth was "Beer!"

Luckily, they already had that IV started. Otherwise I might have DIED!

[Joe Shlabotnik]

11. The beer IV !?

was there tag team sponge baths too?

[pinboy3niner]

12. Wouldn't you like to know?

My lips are sealed. My nurses put caps on my pubic statements.

[pnwmom]

16. What kind of statements?

I'm not sure I want to visualize this.

[pinboy3niner]

17. Caps! They put caps on me!

You know very well I can't talk because of the caps! They put caps on me!


Spending a long time in hospital, I learned a little about nursing caps and how each nursing school had its own distinctive cap. These were civilian nurses working in an Army hospital, and one of my favorite caps on one of my favorite nurses (Sherrie) was this narrow, frilly thing with lace and a black ribbon. From a nursing school in Louisiana, but I couldn't find an image of it, dammit! But it was one of the loveliest nursing caps I've ever seen. And I still love ya, Sherrie!

[pinboy3niner]

6. Everyone here IS nice

Well...most of us, anyway. Sweet dreams!

[pnwmom]

8. Thanks, pinboy3niner!

And I agree, with rare exceptions, people around here are smart and nice.

[pinboy3niner]

13. I can always count on my friends in real life and my friends at DU

We are family.

[UTUSN]

14. Dear gorgeous person, GLAD you're healed /s/ a long time Fan n/t

[pnwmom]

15. Aw, thank you UTUSN!

I can't tell you how relieved I am to have this over with -- first a "real" surgery for the biggest stones, and then the shockwave treatment for what was left.

Two general anesthesias -- no fun.

Hope you're having a nice summer.

[Phentex]

18. That's funny!

I've never had them but I know from friends that kidney stones are just the worst!

Welcome back and drink up!

[pnwmom]

19. Thanks, Phentex! They are not fun and I'm glad it's over with.