I had one once, back in August of 1978, and I wouldn't wish it on someone I don't like. This was before lithotripsy, and you don't need to know how it was removed.
Well, LabRat, I've never heard of that, er, manual. My procedure was done by a urologist, under general anesthesia, with the aid of x-rays, chopsticks, a forklift, and sundry other tools, none of which measure in any dimension smaller then my right ureter. I was unconcious during the procedure, so all I remember of it is the instant relief it provided and the 24-hour eternity that preceded it. It's been thirty years now, and I still keep hard-core pain relief handy, just in case.
Your sentiments are spot-on, and are appreciated. I hope you never get any.
I've been paying very close attention to this.
I have detected a large increase of psychosis I believe is caused by Global Warming (Tm)
The psychotics are fast approaching cult status.
Led by the 'apostle' Algore who is not known for his own sanity.
After all, he believes there is "no controlling authority."
Looking closely at their dogma, we find that their beliefs can never be shaken because there are no facts to rebut or test.
They are making statements of faith.
Caution should be observed any time one of these maniacs are confronted, because if you question their faith, they are likely to turn violent.
Good Grief! I'm so screwed!!! I've had six kidney stones since 1985. The last one lasted for two years while doctors and radiologists claimed they couldn't see anything wrong on my CT scans. And yes, I asked about lithotripsy and was told by my doctor that I was not a candidate...think of a kidney stone grenade. Surgical removal was the only way to get it out as it was the size of the end of my thumb.
And once you've had one you are always at a higher risk of having another. And now...thanks to all you SUV drivers...I'm doomed!!! Seriously though, it never fails to amaze me when these fools manage to blame another malady on this glowbull warning nonsense. Next thing you know they will have linked limp weenie syndrome to climate change and the manufacturer of Viagra will be one of the chief polluters causing the whole thing. The whole thing is just getting silly.
Mine was 4 mm, and the ureter ID is 0.4 mm. It took 30 x-rays to find it, partly because I couldn't hold still enough to keep them from being a bit fuzzy. Yours was perhaps 20 mm and it couldn't be seen on x-rays in two years of trying? Ouch.
I don't know that I am at any special risk for kidney stones. We figured that mine was dislodged into the ureter when I slipped in a bathtub at a hotel, fell backward, landed squarely on my right kidney on the side of the tub, and hit my head on the wall. I saw stars. The next morning, I was in the hospital, where I spent the next five days.
LabRat:
Given that it was a third-world medical manual, I was imagining a hammer and a barbed stick. The hammer was anesthesia; apply as needed.
My father in law passed one once - my wife said it looked like one of those WWII Japanese underwater mines. It had little nubs sticking out all around it.
Ouch.
DJ - My last stone never dislodged and headed into my ureter. That would have required emergency surgery as it would have caused a completed blockage for that kidney. Think about 1"x1/2"x1/4". I took 2 or 3 percocets every day for 2 years just to be able to go to work. Very miserable. The other 5 I had over the years have passed in a day or three. This one was one of the worst my urologist had ever actually seen. I was so proud!!!
And I am glad to say that my surgery to have it removed did, in no way, resemble the procedure that LabRat described. They actually went through my back and drilled a hole in my kidney and chipped the stone out through that hole. I was left with a tube sticking out of my back and a bag strapped to my leg for 10 days while everything drained out. I pray every day that that never happens again.....
Woof. Mine was stuck in the right ureter, about 2 cm from the bladder. The blockage was complete. The right kidney was shutting down, and uremic poisoning would started if it wasn't removed.
James:
It's easy to describe. Imagine a nerve deep in your back, a big one, just inboard a kidney. Imagine a really sadistic scumbag with rhythm has a really good grip on a pair of needle-nosed pliers, and he's squeezing and relaxing that nerve, in sync with your heartbeat, and he sqeezes hard enough to bend the pliers. Imagine that it makes your heartbeat speed up, which makes him happy, so he squeezes even harder. Imagine that it goes on and on and on ...
I would add that sometimes when trying to pass a stone you also get the added pain of feeling like you have just been kicked in the jewels to go along with the back pain. Only time in my life that my vision has grayed out due to pain. Drinking lots of water does help to pass the smaller stones.
I would not wish a stone on any human, not even liberals. :)
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Tentative mapping of comments to original article, corrections solicited.
And as we all know about Climate Change:
It's all Bush's fault©
Bring it on, I'm immune from kidney stones anyway (the downside: I have to drink gallons of water).
I had one once, back in August of 1978, and I wouldn't wish it on someone I don't like. This was before lithotripsy, and you don't need to know how it was removed.
Global Warming Makes Doctors Rich! Universal Healthcare NOW!
DJ: If it's the same procedure outlined in my copy of the third-world medical manual "Where There Are No Doctors", I'm wincing on your behalf.
Well, when the science is weak, you can strong-arm anything into your argument. GEIGO and all that.
Hell, if Congressweasel "Mahkee" can blame globall warmink for Blackhawk Down, rationality has forever left the building.
Well, LabRat, I've never heard of that, er, manual. My procedure was done by a urologist, under general anesthesia, with the aid of x-rays, chopsticks, a forklift, and sundry other tools, none of which measure in any dimension smaller then my right ureter. I was unconcious during the procedure, so all I remember of it is the instant relief it provided and the 24-hour eternity that preceded it. It's been thirty years now, and I still keep hard-core pain relief handy, just in case.
Your sentiments are spot-on, and are appreciated. I hope you never get any.
Two-Headed Calf an Omen of Impending Global Warming. Film at Eleven.
I've been paying very close attention to this.
I have detected a large increase of psychosis I believe is caused by Global Warming (Tm)
The psychotics are fast approaching cult status.
Led by the 'apostle' Algore who is not known for his own sanity.
After all, he believes there is "no controlling authority."
Looking closely at their dogma, we find that their beliefs can never be shaken because there are no facts to rebut or test.
They are making statements of faith.
Caution should be observed any time one of these maniacs are confronted, because if you question their faith, they are likely to turn violent.
I echo Fabio. There's a really simple way to deal with this problem for citizens of developed nations: DRINK ENOUGH WATER!!
(Actually, the health benefits of lots of water are many and varied. For example, it does wonders for sore joints.)
How retarded are these people that spending billions of dollars on crap seems like an easier solution?
Good Grief! I'm so screwed!!! I've had six kidney stones since 1985. The last one lasted for two years while doctors and radiologists claimed they couldn't see anything wrong on my CT scans. And yes, I asked about lithotripsy and was told by my doctor that I was not a candidate...think of a kidney stone grenade. Surgical removal was the only way to get it out as it was the size of the end of my thumb.
And once you've had one you are always at a higher risk of having another. And now...thanks to all you SUV drivers...I'm doomed!!! Seriously though, it never fails to amaze me when these fools manage to blame another malady on this glowbull warning nonsense. Next thing you know they will have linked limp weenie syndrome to climate change and the manufacturer of Viagra will be one of the chief polluters causing the whole thing. The whole thing is just getting silly.
The size of the end of a thumb?
D:
No other smiley portrays what I think of that than the good ole' D:
I've got a quite large thumb.
DJ: That sounds more advanced. The procedure I had in mind starts with an incision in the perianal region and goes upward from there...
I've had a gallstone, but thankfully never kidney stones.
Quiet Man:
Mine was 4 mm, and the ureter ID is 0.4 mm. It took 30 x-rays to find it, partly because I couldn't hold still enough to keep them from being a bit fuzzy. Yours was perhaps 20 mm and it couldn't be seen on x-rays in two years of trying? Ouch.
I don't know that I am at any special risk for kidney stones. We figured that mine was dislodged into the ureter when I slipped in a bathtub at a hotel, fell backward, landed squarely on my right kidney on the side of the tub, and hit my head on the wall. I saw stars. The next morning, I was in the hospital, where I spent the next five days.
LabRat:
Given that it was a third-world medical manual, I was imagining a hammer and a barbed stick. The hammer was anesthesia; apply as needed.
This entire comment thread makes me hurt.
I have had one (1) tiny kidney stone. The entire episode lasted approximately three hours.
I have never hurt so bad in my entire life.
I cannot IMAGINE what a larger kidney stone would feel like.
My father in law passed one once - my wife said it looked like one of those WWII Japanese underwater mines. It had little nubs sticking out all around it.
Ouch.
You mean like this?
That makes me wince just looking at it.
DJ - My last stone never dislodged and headed into my ureter. That would have required emergency surgery as it would have caused a completed blockage for that kidney. Think about 1"x1/2"x1/4". I took 2 or 3 percocets every day for 2 years just to be able to go to work. Very miserable. The other 5 I had over the years have passed in a day or three. This one was one of the worst my urologist had ever actually seen. I was so proud!!!
And I am glad to say that my surgery to have it removed did, in no way, resemble the procedure that LabRat described. They actually went through my back and drilled a hole in my kidney and chipped the stone out through that hole. I was left with a tube sticking out of my back and a bag strapped to my leg for 10 days while everything drained out. I pray every day that that never happens again.....
1.) Correlation is not causation. You'd think someone who works at a medical school would know that.
2.) I hope to god I never get a kidney stone. I knew they were painful, but the descriptions here go beyond pain.
Quiet Man:
Woof. Mine was stuck in the right ureter, about 2 cm from the bladder. The blockage was complete. The right kidney was shutting down, and uremic poisoning would started if it wasn't removed.
James:
It's easy to describe. Imagine a nerve deep in your back, a big one, just inboard a kidney. Imagine a really sadistic scumbag with rhythm has a really good grip on a pair of needle-nosed pliers, and he's squeezing and relaxing that nerve, in sync with your heartbeat, and he sqeezes hard enough to bend the pliers. Imagine that it makes your heartbeat speed up, which makes him happy, so he squeezes even harder. Imagine that it goes on and on and on ...
That's about it.
!!Quadruple-Wince!! I'm staying hydrated.
Dj pretty much nailed it.
I would add that sometimes when trying to pass a stone you also get the added pain of feeling like you have just been kicked in the jewels to go along with the back pain. Only time in my life that my vision has grayed out due to pain. Drinking lots of water does help to pass the smaller stones.
I would not wish a stone on any human, not even liberals. :)
Note: All avatars and any images or other media embedded in comments were hosted on the JS-Kit website and have been lost; references to haloscan comments have been partially automatically remapped, but accuracy is not guaranteed and corrections are solicited.
If you notice any problems with this page or wish to have your home page link updated, please contact John Hardin <jhardin@impsec.org>