"Your talk talks and your walk talks but your walk talks more than your talk talks."
Saturday, January 17, 2015
Friday, January 9, 2015
K-L-M: KIDNEY STONES, LARYNGITIS, AND MUSCLES
I became acquainted with kidney stones several years back when one very large one came to visit my body. Having friends who had visits from such before, I knew it would not be a welcomed visitor and I was right. Unlucky for me, it was so large it had to be attacked by lithotripsy before moving out and passing on. Pun intended.
Since that time of that first visit, I've had several more with one of the most recent a couple of years ago visiting for 38 days before passing on. Two or three weeks before Christmas this year, my daddy had a very bad attack from these guys....an attack that landed him in the hospital for several days and has made for him a longer recovery time. Guess I got my gene from him, huh? If you want to know how bad kidney stones can act when they visit, just ask my daddy. He will be happy to share his misery and memories of that painful time.
With all that said, I have felt for the past couple of weeks that I might another one visiting. I won't go into detailed information but will say that something happened that gave me cause to visit my doctor on this past Monday to rule OUT an infection and, in my mind, rule IN a possible kidney stone. On the day of my visit to my doctor's associate (my doctor had a day off), everything was clear and I could tell the doctor was very skeptical of my kidney stone idea. She ordered some tests and I assured her that if I showed visible signs of problems again, I would take the tests, but, if not, I would not take the tests. I would let her know if things changed.
The very next morning, I awoke with a VERY sore throat. As the day went on, I became nauseous, had chills, had fever, had worsening throat, and was very sick. So on this last Wednesday, just two days past my first doctor's visit of the week, I went in to see my own doctor. I had lost three pounds since the prior visit two days earlier. I, thankfully, tested negative for flu. I would have asked for a flu shot refund if I had the flu so luckily I didn't. The nurse neglected to test for strep but when the doctor came in, looked at my throat, nose, and ears and made ugly painful faces, she said it didn't matter that the test was not done....the remedy would be the same for all my ailments. I was diagnosed with a nasty sinus infection. I received a very painful large injection of penicillin and oral antibiotic along with guafenisin and nose spray.
Since yesterday, the gunk is moving around so I think that means I am improving. The problem is that I'm coughing and blowing and now have laryngitis. The Husband would tell you this is NOT a problem. In fact, he suggested I only talk when necessary. Yes, he was being concerned for me, not looking out for his comfort as I might have thought prior. I have NEVER in my remembrance had a non-voice nor sinus infection such as this. So I don't talk. I obviously just type as i am doing now. Even though I still don't feel at all my perky self, I'll endure the gunk and the quiet with hopes of being way better than before when healed.
I also heard yesterday from some labs from my new rheumatologist and they were good results. The results don't necessarily change the fact that I have arthritis and a wrist that has very little motion. This is concerning to the doctor but the medicines he prescribed have helped the pain level. Maybe not the motion, but the pain level. One out of two ain't bad...or so some say. I will learn to compensate with the aid of a brace or use of the other hand when need be. Life will move on.
Fantastic news for me is that yesterday also was the day I passed that visiting kidney stone that I was the only one who was sure was there. I put it in a plastic bag so I could look at it. Granted, it's not very large compared to some I have had but it's a kidney stone all the same. (According to my now kidney-stone-knowledgeable-daddy, they don't have to be large to hurt.) I felt very empowered in my medical thoughts after passing that. And as the other times I have passed them, I was vastly excited!
With all those things going on with me and staying quiet as I am, my mind began to think. Don't you think that when all is great and happy and rainbows and sunshine exist, we learn very little? It's kind of like that thing I've talked about before---if we never had rain, we would take the sunshine for granted. Honestly though, I was thinking that if we never experienced suffering--physical, mental, emotional--would we ever REALLY learn any important life lessons? And when suffering causes seem way out of our control, don't we depend on others and more importantly, God, more? Sure, I know that to pass a kidney stone quicker and easier, I must drink mega liquids. If I don't, I know the suffering will be longer. And then sometimes even when I drink more, it is still longer or needs more medical expert intervention. When life hands me things that I can't control, I must let go and let God. It's that simple. And really, it's a very easy thing to say but not always easy to do. I will work on that. It's easier now than it used to be, I can say for sure. And letting go and letting God makes the walk a whole lot easier every day.
I expect many of you my blog readers may tire of the same old story but I need to learn it myself. So I'll close for now with a whisper to "have a good day. Let go and let God."
Since that time of that first visit, I've had several more with one of the most recent a couple of years ago visiting for 38 days before passing on. Two or three weeks before Christmas this year, my daddy had a very bad attack from these guys....an attack that landed him in the hospital for several days and has made for him a longer recovery time. Guess I got my gene from him, huh? If you want to know how bad kidney stones can act when they visit, just ask my daddy. He will be happy to share his misery and memories of that painful time.
With all that said, I have felt for the past couple of weeks that I might another one visiting. I won't go into detailed information but will say that something happened that gave me cause to visit my doctor on this past Monday to rule OUT an infection and, in my mind, rule IN a possible kidney stone. On the day of my visit to my doctor's associate (my doctor had a day off), everything was clear and I could tell the doctor was very skeptical of my kidney stone idea. She ordered some tests and I assured her that if I showed visible signs of problems again, I would take the tests, but, if not, I would not take the tests. I would let her know if things changed.
The very next morning, I awoke with a VERY sore throat. As the day went on, I became nauseous, had chills, had fever, had worsening throat, and was very sick. So on this last Wednesday, just two days past my first doctor's visit of the week, I went in to see my own doctor. I had lost three pounds since the prior visit two days earlier. I, thankfully, tested negative for flu. I would have asked for a flu shot refund if I had the flu so luckily I didn't. The nurse neglected to test for strep but when the doctor came in, looked at my throat, nose, and ears and made ugly painful faces, she said it didn't matter that the test was not done....the remedy would be the same for all my ailments. I was diagnosed with a nasty sinus infection. I received a very painful large injection of penicillin and oral antibiotic along with guafenisin and nose spray.
Since yesterday, the gunk is moving around so I think that means I am improving. The problem is that I'm coughing and blowing and now have laryngitis. The Husband would tell you this is NOT a problem. In fact, he suggested I only talk when necessary. Yes, he was being concerned for me, not looking out for his comfort as I might have thought prior. I have NEVER in my remembrance had a non-voice nor sinus infection such as this. So I don't talk. I obviously just type as i am doing now. Even though I still don't feel at all my perky self, I'll endure the gunk and the quiet with hopes of being way better than before when healed.
I also heard yesterday from some labs from my new rheumatologist and they were good results. The results don't necessarily change the fact that I have arthritis and a wrist that has very little motion. This is concerning to the doctor but the medicines he prescribed have helped the pain level. Maybe not the motion, but the pain level. One out of two ain't bad...or so some say. I will learn to compensate with the aid of a brace or use of the other hand when need be. Life will move on.
Fantastic news for me is that yesterday also was the day I passed that visiting kidney stone that I was the only one who was sure was there. I put it in a plastic bag so I could look at it. Granted, it's not very large compared to some I have had but it's a kidney stone all the same. (According to my now kidney-stone-knowledgeable-daddy, they don't have to be large to hurt.) I felt very empowered in my medical thoughts after passing that. And as the other times I have passed them, I was vastly excited!
With all those things going on with me and staying quiet as I am, my mind began to think. Don't you think that when all is great and happy and rainbows and sunshine exist, we learn very little? It's kind of like that thing I've talked about before---if we never had rain, we would take the sunshine for granted. Honestly though, I was thinking that if we never experienced suffering--physical, mental, emotional--would we ever REALLY learn any important life lessons? And when suffering causes seem way out of our control, don't we depend on others and more importantly, God, more? Sure, I know that to pass a kidney stone quicker and easier, I must drink mega liquids. If I don't, I know the suffering will be longer. And then sometimes even when I drink more, it is still longer or needs more medical expert intervention. When life hands me things that I can't control, I must let go and let God. It's that simple. And really, it's a very easy thing to say but not always easy to do. I will work on that. It's easier now than it used to be, I can say for sure. And letting go and letting God makes the walk a whole lot easier every day.
I expect many of you my blog readers may tire of the same old story but I need to learn it myself. So I'll close for now with a whisper to "have a good day. Let go and let God."
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