On my 36th birthday, I spent the day in the ER with my first kidney
stone. After that, I had a series of stones and landed me in a
urologist's office. After MANY tests and months, I was diagnosed with
Medullary Sponge Kidney. It's a birth defect (my brother is now
vindicated). My kidneys have filled with cysts over my life and now
hold onto all the elements that create kidney stones. Aside - isn't
cyst a disgusting word? I used a Thesaurus.com to look for an
alternative, but there really isn't one. - End aside.
Instead
of passing the stones, my kidneys like to hold onto them. They are
embedded in the spongy stuff. My body has created a warm, cozy den for
them. But the nature of the defect isn't to keep them indefinitely.
They travel on occasion. To the sunny shores of my ureter. Another
aside - this is the grossest post I've ever written. - End aside.
That's
where the pain lives. I don't want to get into a big discussion about
what causes the most pain, but this is MY personal breaking point. I've
had four kids and I'd have four more without medication before having
another kidney stone. When I have to go to the ER because my pain
medication isn't cutting it, they ask me about my pain. They ask me to
rate it from 1 - 10. I always say 10, but I'm telling you it's a 20.
It's the worst pain I've EVER had doubled.
This last week,
I was having a lovely lunch with my friend, Paul, at Pho 95 (great
place) when one of these travelers dropped into the chute. We drove to
the ER. I was there 20 minutes before I made my head and torso a home
in the 55 gallon trash can there in the room. Aside - Pho 95 not such a
great place at this time. - End aside. I've never had pain so intense
it made me throw up. It was horrifying. They doped me up. I mean
REALLY doped me up. They sent me home. I threw up for several more
hours and wished for death. Then the pain went away and I thought I was
out of the woods.
Until my follow up appointment a
week later, when my urologist told me that the stone was still there,
that it was 6mm, and there was a smaller one sitting on top of it. A
kidney stone rock garden of my very own. How very zen of my body.
He gave me the choice of 'waiting it out' or having a procedure called a lithotripsy. Like there was a choice.
Since
that trip to the doctor, I've been on the phone with Chad, my parents,
work, Paul, and my ex-husband making arrangements for the procedure.
I've said Medullary Sponge Kidney several times.
Today,
Cade and I were watching TV in his room and Spongebob came on. We
watched about 10 minutes before he turned to me and said, "Mommy, you
have a Spongebob Kidney."
Thank God - THANK GOD - for
my kids who keep me laughing when I'm nervous. Who say things that give
me mental images of two eternally optimistic, yet chronically troubled
kidneys living inside me. Who love on me when I'm sick or in pain. Who
are amazing.
