UPDATE:
As promised, here's the latest. The urologist said the rock is larger than 10mm. He estimated it 11x13. It's a monster. On Monday I'll undergo Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy. In other words, they're going to blast it to pieces. However, the doctor also said that the stone was large enough that it would probably take two procedures a week apart to fully break it down. In the interim I'll also have a stint in my ureter. No fun, but better than a stone in the kidney.
To say I'm hurting would be an understatement. But, I look forward to how I'll feel a month from now when this confounded thing is out of my body.
We now return you to the previously written blog entry ...
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A little background:
It was July, or possibly a bit earlier, when I first became aware of the pain in my mid-back. I'd been struggling with low back trouble and then the pain seemed to migrate upwards. I mentioned it to my LMT and she said it was not uncommon. It was probably residual pain from the lower injury. Similarly, when I first saw the ortho, I told him that my back problems seemed to be in two distinct areas. There was the dull, stiff, throbbing low back problem and the more "hot," stinging mid-back pain. In fact, I told him, sometimes the upper pain dwarfed the lower. He said it was probably because I was standing differently in order to compensate for my lower spinal deficiencies. Made sense. The physical therapist said something similar.
So last Tuesday I finally had the injection procedure at the pain clinic. While it was successful in locating the area of my spine that was most responsive to the therapy, I was still having bouts of pain in my upper right quadrant. In fact, the pain localized. And it got worse. The muscle cramps and waves of contractions became quite unbearable. And then I realized what I was dealing with.
Twenty years ago I had kidney stones. Three, to be exact, over the course of two years. But I haven't had any since then (at least, not that I've been aware of). They're painful, painful, painful. I think it's the memory of how extreme the pain was that kept me from realizing what I was dealing with presently. Anyway, I went to the doctor yesterday and told him that I had a kidney stone. A quick urinalysis confirmed that I had blood in the urine and a CT scan was scheduled for early this morning.
The doctor called me just a short while ago to confirm that I have a ten millimeter stone lodged in my right kidney. It's too big to pass, said he. I have an appointment at 1:00 this afternoon with the urologist who helped me 20 years ago. From there, it's anybody's guess.
BUT, here's the good news (I'm a "glass half full" sort of guy):
Two weeks ago I reached the edge of my endurance. I heard myself say, "If this is what life is going to be like, I don't know what I'll do. I can't live like this." The pain was just too unbearable. Now I know why it hurt so bad. My doctor was sort of amazed that I'd been walking around all this time, managing my life with this stone. Now that I know what it is, there's an end in sight. There's light at the end of the tunnel. I won't have to live the rest of my life with this particular pain. And that, my friends, is very good news.
I suspect that the doctor will want to bust the stone up (probably via sound waves) and get it to pass. We'll see. And I'll finally give in to the medicine. Every doctor I've seen has thrown pain meds at me, but I've steadfastly refused take, except under the most dire circumstances. I may give in now, knowing that the pain is legitimate and that modern chemistry may make the next few days bearable.
GCA is in good hands. Tom is going to teach for me tonight and Tim is standing by for Sunday morning, should need be. Knowing me, as long as they can bind me up and prop me in front of the podium, I'll preach. But, if I'm still healing, the men of GCA are ready to care for the flock. I'm grateful for the knowledge that I can recover without that worry.
Thanks again to each and every person who has been praying for my well-being. Your prayers are being heard and answered. Even at my worst, I've found comfort in His grace and in the knowledge that this is all serving His ultimate purpose. I'm grateful for the notes of love and encouragement. And I'm eternally grateful for those folk who have continued lifting my arms when I was too weak to do it myself.
Updates will be forthcoming. Megan will be my contact person for the next few days. An end to this saga is right around the corner. And still, through it all, God is good.
Grace, peace, and all good things,
Pastor Jim
