Over the summer, at a follow-up with my nephrologist (read: kidney doc) I mentioned that I had a tiny bit of pain in my back. I chalked it up to being in the car to and from Philly three weekends in a row. "Perhaps," said the doctor, "But let's get an ultrasound just to be sure."
First, one ultrasound. Then another, a week later, to confirm a "hydro" or whatever they said. Something like a back-up of fluid into my right kidney. Then, a catscan! I know this dance....and I suspect it's not going to lead to good things.
I was right.
Catscan confirmed that I had one kidney stone in the tube between the kidney and the bladder on the right side. It was lodged in there tight and appeared to be one centimeter in size. Say it with me: "Holy Crap!!" It was determined that I would need to repeat the surgery that I had two years ago. Boooooo.....hissssssss. Surgery was booked for September, with a follow-up surgery scheduled for October. Apparently, the surgeon (who is wonderful and I can'y say enough good things about) is very busy taking care of stones in the Central Mass Area. Surgery got moved around a bit, and finally on October 19th, I went in.
There were two stones. They got 'em. No second surgery needed! Now, I did not take off enough time last time to recover, so I took a week this time. It ended up not being enough, I came home sick on my second day of work and took another weekend to recover. Anesthesia is hard, man. So is having a stent in your kidney that's constantly rubbing and you have to keep it for two weeks. At my follow-up to have it removed I was just like "Get it out, I don't care how."
So. Today is the first day that I have any energy. I've been tired at the end of the day but that's to be expected. I have to keep reminding myself not to wear myself out, not that that's easy!
People also tell me that I look a lot better than before I went in. Apparently I was really pale and tired-looking. I didn't really believe that, till I saw photographic evidence.
Week before surgery, at Rhinebeck. (See the shawl? lol)
Three days after surgery, at Trunk or Treat. Not my most flattering pic, with my lovely hair, no makeup and Sean's SWAT helmet that he ditched. But I see a badass who pulled it together to go out with her family. And I've already got some color back in my cheeks. Or perhaps that's the painkillers. (kidding)
So I have to do some follow-up in six weeks. Hopefully they'll be able to adjust my RTA (renal-tubular acidosis) medications and we can put this lovely chapter behind me.
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