Ugh

Some of you know that I had been feeling sick off and on since the beginning of December.  I wasn't exactly sure what was going on.  I went to see my doctor a couple times and took different medications to ease the pain and nausea.  We thought that it could have been a possible yeast infection, multiple UTI's, or multiple kidney stones.  We weren't sure what was going on exactly, but my doctor (well, my old doctor, as Tyler calls her... I'm switching doctors now) was pretty sure it was a UTI, so she gave me a prescription last week.

Last Saturday (my 4th "episode"), I started feeling really sick again.  This was the worst case yet.  I was sick in bed from 8am until 8:30pm.... with fevers, back pains, nausea, vomiting... the works.  I eventually started feeling better so I thought the antibiotic was finally working.

Then Thursday rolled around and the back pain and such came back.  I called my doctor's office made an appointment for a couple hours later.  Unfortunately, I totally forgot Tyler had taken my car to work so I had to walk the 7 blocks in pain, while pushing Danica in our double stroller in the ice and snow.... not fun.  (I really should have called a friend for a ride).  My doctor gave me a prescription for a stronger antibiotic.  I then told her that I thought it was something more than a UTI because it had been going on for over a month and asked if there was a better way to just figure out what was wrong.  She sent me to the hospital (luckily not a long walk) to get a CT scan.

I got the CT scan and Tyler met me at the hospital, leaving work early, and we headed home together.  After many phone calls and waiting around we finally found out that I was experiencing all this pain and sickness because I had a kindey stone! Again! (I had 2 while I was pregnant).

This stone was 3.8 millimeters and was obstructed.  Basically it was really close to the bladder opening, but couldn't make it through.  Because of this being a problem for over a month, my kidney was backed up with a lot of fluid and was having a hard time working and so I ended up with some gallstones too. Blah.

Tyler took Friday off work and after many more phone calls we got an appointment with a urologist at a clinic close to the hospital.  For the hour we were in the waiting room, I noticed I was the only patient probably under 70 years old.  I'm a broken-down 25 year old!  But, on the bright side, I was also the only patient that didn't need assistance to walk around.  After talking with the urologist, he was luckily able to schedule a surgery to get the kidney stone removed that day. 
So off to surgery I went.

The procedure went very well.  They did a urital basket extraction.  As I understand, they basically stuck a tube up, caught the kidney stone with a little basket device, and pulled it out.  We're going to have tests done to see what caused the kidney stone and see if I need to change my diet.  Tyler and Danica hung out in the waiting room... Dani missed her nap, but she was a perfect angel.

I feel very good now recovering.  I'm supposed to take it easy... which isn't too hard to do because I've been very tired and it's the weekend so Tyler's been around.  I have to urinate like every 15 minutes (too much information...???) probably because of all the fluid buildup and also because I've been downing liquids like no other.  I was also told I need to get up and walk around so I don't get phenomena. Tyler's been a HUGE help.  He always is.

I'm so glad we finally figured out what was wrong with me!  I already feel a whole lot better and am not in much pain at all.
(Can you believe this was the quick and shortened version?)


On another note, if you've been following my other blog I finally updated that too.  I put a link in the top right of my blog... or you can click HERE

Or...?

So yesterday morning I was having major back/left side pains that killed like no other. I was a little worried, but decided that maybe if I took a nap the pain would go away. About 5 minutes later I yell down to Tyler (well I tried to yell, it took all my effort to yell) that I was in too much pain and we need to go to my doctor. He calls the doctors office and they set up an appointment for 2 o'clock. 2 o'clock! That was an hour away. I was writhing with so much pain we just decided to leave hoping they could get us in a little early.
We walk into the office and I had to make a beeline for the restroom making it just in time to toss the cookies (the first of many). After a lot of stuff you probably don't want to hear about, a few tests, and sending me to another clinic, we come to find out I have kidney stones. Kidney stones?! Kidney stones...or? I was surprised. I'm only 23. But I was pretty relieved too that it wasn't something worse. The pain hurt sooo bad.
I do have to count my blessings, though. I had the day off work, so I was already home during all of this. Tyler had the day off work too because he unexpectedly got dropped with some PTO days that needed to be used up before the end of the year. I'm so glad he was here to help take care of me, give me a blessing with his brother, get my medicine, and just be with me through it all. Lots of other many blessings occurred yesterday because of that, and I'm really thankful!
I am doing better today, fyi. I'm still pretty weak and just taking it easy.
This is a funny scene from friends that I was reminded of: