Last week, as I waited to pass a kidney stone, I had plenty of time to contemplate the things that really matter in life. If you’ve ever had the misfortune to pass a kidney stone, then you’ll know that it’s no walk in the park. The pain that accompanies a kidney stone is described by sufferers as the most excruciating pain you can imagine. If you’ve ever been in childbirth (I have) by my take it’s a definite close second. One major difference – at least with childbirth, there’s a lovely reward at the end.
I was diagnosed with kidney stones after pain necessitated a visit to our local hospital emergency room. Sent home with anti-inflammatories and heavy duty pain killers, I was advised to drink plenty of water and wait for the stone to pass. Kidney stones less than 9mm in size (mine was confirmed at 4mm by a CAT scan) are usually able to pass on their own. And, as long as there aren’t any complications – infection, bleeding, etc, most stones will pass on their own anywhere from 1 day up to 1 month.
At home, between relatively lucid moments, I experienced episodes of pain that lasted several hours, slightly numbed by my potent medications (thank you modern medicine!). Days spent laying on the couch with my hot water bottle and a strong dose of ‘feeling sorry for myself’, ended at the 5 day mark when my stone finally passed.
During my downtime,I could think of nothing else but being well again. Spring fashions and my favorite foods (yes, even chocolate and red wine) held no appeal. An overflowing laundry hamper, a messy house and unmade beds passed unnoticed. Truly a lesson learned – very little matters when ones’ health is at stake. Here’s to yours.
