August 30, 2013

Trippin'

No, not that kind of tripping!  Yesterday I had lithotripsy for a kidney stone.  A new experience for me, but not an awful one.

A few months ago, I experienced symptoms that I thought were from a UTI.  Went to the doctor, got an antibiotic and they went away.  And then they came back.

Because the second and third time they came back, the only symptom was pain.  So I headed to my Ob/Gyn who sent me for a pelvic ultrasound.  No problems there.  So it was off to the urologist.

She sent me for a CAT scan.  Now if you know me, you know that I am very claustrophobic.  The last time I had a CAT scan, I was on the verge of a panic attack.  This time, I was a bit more composed and got through with minimal problems.

And then the phone call came.  The day of my follow up visit with the urologist, I got a phone call to have an X-ray on the way to the visit.  And at the office, I got the good news - a kidney stone lodged between the kidney and bladder.  And the first course of treatment is lithotripsy.

So, off I went yesterday, armed with knowledge from the internet about what would happen.  And it wasn't bad.  I was under anesthesia for the procedure and afterward, was up and walking about.  The pain was minimal, and mostly from passing the stone fragments.

Today I am taking it easy, moving mostly from the couch to the bathroom.  Straining my urine and collecting the stone fragments.  I'm thinking that they might look nice in a locket???