I took Dr. Sheepdog’s advice on the life affirmation, and shortly thereafter began exhibiting signs of too much of a good thing. So I quickly called the office of Hot Doc to see if he could analyze my urine and write me a script that would lessen my urge to pee every three to five minutes.
I knew that I was traveling on a rocky road when counsel with Hot Doc didn’t provide me even a sliver of pain relief. His killer smile and collaboration on a prank yielded no respite (He told me to tell Sheepdog no sex for four weeks. I chose to tell Sheepdog I was pregnant. Sheepdog found neither to be funny).
Controlled substances gave me little lull in my torture, so I reverted to witchcraft, sorcery, and tricks of old. I practiced meditation, controlled breathing and visions of my happy place to manage the diabolical torture my body was going through. Oh, and I had signed up to deliver dinner to not one but two friends that day, so I had that to distract me. By the end of the day I was convinced that I was dying. I tried to pee one more time.
Sweet relief of Jesus. Afterwards, I dialed Sister C’s phone number and waited. When I finally heard an adult female voice at the other end of the line I screamed, “I just peed out a rock!”
“Um… this is Mary, the babysitter. Sister C and House Captain went to a Braves game, so you can try them on their cell phones. But it sounds like you just passed a kidney stone.”
If April showers bring May flowers, what do Mayflowers bring?
Later, I reached Sister C and she (being the kidney stone expert in our family) confirmed. But apparently I’m supposed to save the little bastard for lab tests and whatnot (I didn’t). And I now need to make adjustments to my diet and whatnot (less calcium, lower sodium, fewer animal proteins… basically get rid of all the fun stuff).
Hot Doc sent me a message via secure client portal this morning. My urine culture returned negative for evidence of urinary tract infection. Duh.
So I responded with this:
I’m not too surprised, because later that day I peed out a rock… my very first kidney stone! I just figured I was dying because it hurt like a mother all day. After it passed, I felt so much better but it took my body a day or two to completely recover. I did finish the course of antibiotics you gave me. I guess I’ll just know for next time (fingers crossed there will be no next time) when I have acute lower back pain or throbs in my flank and groin and waves of debilitating agony that make me throw up, that another stone is rolling its way down the chute. At least I remembered my Lamaze breathing. That really helped! Plus, I’m kind of a badass. That helps too. I will follow up with my urologist. Giddyup (that’s a stirrup joke because you are my gynecologist),Stacy Swiger
Sheepdog says I’m going to get fired as his client. I’m still on pain meds. That’s my story and I am sticking to it.
Wish me luck for tomorrow…
This is How I Do It... 