On Aug 29, I had pain in my lower right back, which indicated another kidney stone episode. What sent me to the ER was that I also felt I might have appendicitis. Blood tests, x-rays, CT scans, and hours later, I was discharged with the question "have you ever had kidney stones before?" Uh, yeah. Are you telling me that's what this was? Bingo. There were two 7mm stones in the right ureter, which caused the pain I felt in my back and was also radiating to my lower right abdomen - which I worried was my appendix.
I was referred to a urologist - Dr Miyamoto - who ran another series of tests, including another CT. He explained that if the CT showed no, or not enough, movement of the stones from the CT on Aug 29, then surgery would be the only option. Because they were blocking the right ureter, they were big, and they were preventing that kidney from draining to the bladder. This is really bad news because it means that toxins normally flushed from the body through urine were not only not flushing, they were backing up into that kidney. Needless to say, infection would be the least of my worries, and I was told to go immediately to the ER if I developed a fever.
I did the CT on Oct 15, and was told by the CT tech to call in a week for my results. Dr Miyamoto called the very next day. "So, it looks like we're doing surgery," he said. My options were Oct 31 or Nov 2. Since Oct 31 was sooner, and at a hospital Hubs and I are already familiar with, I chose that date.
Pre-op was on Oct 23, where Jason and I met with the doctor's PA, who walked us through the procedure and what we could expect that day. I prepared my office for my absence, since I was being put off work until Nov 12. I worked most of Oct 30, attended a fire drill, handed over all my accounts, said good bye to everyone, thanked them for well-wishes and prayers, and caught an early train home. I bought some groceries so I wouldn't have to worry about getting anything after surgery, snuggled in for my nightly routine of reading with Hubs, and went to bed at my usual time.
Wednesday morning, Oct 31, we woke up an hour later than normal - 5:30 instead of 4:20 - I completed my normal morning routine and did my hair, because hey, I'm a woman and I'm entitled to do my hair for surgery. Jason ate breakfast, carefully out of sight and smell of me, since I wasn't allowed to eat or drink anything, and we took off for the hospital.
Thirty minutes later, I checked in, was separated from Jason and taken to pre-op, while he was told he'd be brought back to see me once I was ready for surgery, so he could take my things. I was given a gown, booties and a hat - so much for doing my hair. A nurse came to take my vitals and start an IV. My veins are kinda squirrely and didn't play well with her needle in the back of my left hand - there's a large bruise there now. She apologized profusely and said she'd get someone else to start the IV. She asked about my last meal, my last medications, my general health, and if I have an advance directive - instructions for doctors in case I'm not able to speak for myself. This is something Jason and I need to do; we've talked and know each other's wishes, but having these things in writing is always best.
An anesthesiologist came over after a bit, to ask about my last meal, my last medications, my general health, and if I have an advance directive. He explained anesthesia for the surgery - general anesthesia, so I'd be completely out - listened to my heart and lungs, and asked me to tilt my head all the way back so he could look down my throat. Having a large mouth, I'm sure he saw all the way to my empty tummy. He started the IV for me, on my right forearm, with a minimum of fuss and pain; it took right away and everyone was happy. The nurse taped my wedding ring to my finger so I could wear it during surgery - even though I'd be asleep, I felt better knowing it would be there.
Dr Miyamoto came by, sporting his fantastic surgical cap, and explained the surgery to me. There would be no incision, actually - not laparoscopy - but a procedure using a scope: cystoscopy, ureteroscopy, laser lithotripsy, and stent placement. Basically, he would use a scope to examine the bladder and right ureter, then a laser to break up and remove the two stones, the tiniest basket ever to collect the larger pieces of the stones, and place a tube to keep the ureter open to drain urine from the kidney to the bladder. He put his initials - pictured above - on my right abdomen, to keep track of which side of my insides all of this work was being done.
Jason was shown in around this time and we sat holding hands, joking a little, and talking about the need to write our advance directives. I was only slightly nervous, more anxious to just get this whole thing over with than actually nervous about how it was done. Several unflattering images of me on the surgery table flashed through my head - I'll leave those to your imaginations.
An OR nurse came in with a different anesthesiologist, the one actually assisting during my procedure. They asked me quickly about my last meal, last medications, and general health. The anesthesiologist told me he'd be putting a breathing tube in my throat and would remove it after surgery, once I was awake and strong enough to breathe on my own. He gave me a shot of "happy" in the IV, which quickly made me dizzy and fuzzy around the edges. Jason took my glasses and kissed me; the OR team rolled me out and down the hall, I called over the top of the bed to J "I love you" and then things started getting sketchy. I remember rolling into OR, seeing the huge overhead lamps, scooting onto the surgery table - which was narrow, hard and cold. I remember the anesthesiologist putting an oxygen mask on me, positioning my arms, and telling me to take deep breaths. I could feel my calves being squeezed by the wraps they'd put on to keep up circulation and prevent blood clots. I heard again "just keep taking deep breaths". And then I was waking up.
I was coughing a lot and felt very nauseated. The same nurse from pre-op - Grace - was with me, put a little kidney bean basin on my chest and took the oxygen mask off, saying it was drying my throat and making me cough. Jason came in from his post-surgery consultation with Dr Miyamoto and gave me my glasses - being able to see clearly helped me recover faster. He went to get my meds while the IV was removed and a post-op appointment made for removing the stent. J came back, helped me dress, and we left.
I slept most of the rest of that day, tried to eat, but the anesthesia and the antibiotic made me sick; Thursday was more of the same. It felt like I was peeing glass - sorry that's graphic, but it's true - and I felt like I had to go every hour. I also had increasing pain in my neck, throat and upper back; I worried for a moment and thought "meningitis". But no, it was muscle pain from the position I was in for 1.5 hours on the surgery table. On Friday I finally started feeling more normal, and was allowed to shower, which greatly helped me feel human again. The glass feeling went away and was replaced with a horrible aching pain in my right lower back when I used the bathroom. After a call to the doctor's office, and being told that is a normal symptom of having the stent in, I obtained some AZO - usually used to numb the pain of UTI. That, with the pain med, is helping, but taking the stent out is the only thing that will really stop the pain. That happens next Wednesday.
Today, Hubs and I went to dinner to celebrate our 4th anniversary, since on our actual anniversary I was one-day post-op. It was a lovely dinner; we talked about how we met, remembering little details about what drew us to each other, and why we're glad we made this big decision four years ago. I love him so much. He has been very attentive and caring during all this; I couldn't have asked for better.
I know some of that is way too much information. But you don't expect any less from me now, do you? I didn't think so.
Namaste
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1 comment:
No Jess, I don't expect anything less from you than complete disclosure, but it is always superbly written.
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