I can relate. I haven't ridden my ATV since before May 31 when I had cancer surgery. Doc told me I'd be healthy (sort of) in about 30 days after surgery. Well, after going back into the hospital 3 times for complications, I think I'm finally seeing the (head)light of the wheeler. Could always be worse.

I agree, morphine is a good friend to have around at times. But its a Batch to get off of. When I was in the hospital to recover from surgery, I was on a morphine pump. Learned that morphine makes me hallucinate. That was a trip, just not a wheeler trip. Pulled out my NG tube during one of my episodes on the juice. Luckily at the time my cousin was my nurse, so he didn't freak out that I did it. Had a roommate that was injured in a ATV accident. Seems he and a few buddies were hog hunting at night and he crashed. At midnight when they put him in the room he was still drunk. Dude climbed out of bed naked and tried to go to the nurses station. He left shortly to go elsewhere for more one on one care.

I had a stone that passed, that was some kinda pain. You'll be ok, just takes a little time. Makes you appreciate riding all the more.

Good luck and if you feel pain, don't be macho, get relief.

Steve

 

Been there done that! The kidney stone had me puke'n cause it hurt so bad....I really couldn't take the pain at all and they left me there for about 30-40 minutes b4 I got up and started hunting the Doctor down....I think I was gonna punch him in the face if he didn't do somthing...LOL...he gave me a shot of Toridol and it passed in minutes....THANK-YOU JESUS! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

I REALLY WISH YOU THE BEST......

 

Hey guys,

Well, I had the surgery yesterday! Yippie! Not really.

They had to laser the stone....which I'm happy to say is finally out of my body. Although, the shape/texture of the stone made it become completely embedded in the wall of my ureter....could have a stricture form due to scar tissue. This may result in limited function/flow from the right kidney. Good thing I the human body has some redundancy with two kidneys. They placed another stent up my right ureter, will have to come out next week....oh joy, another trip up my urethra!

Right now I'm sore, obviously...but the worst part is urinating...feels like I'm p*ssing razor blades.

Although, this seems trivial in comparison to Gruzzy's situation. I think you win in the illness department, sorry to hear about your cancer and the complications. My deepest sympathy, I wish you the best of luck for a speedy recovery from here on out.

Life is funny, sometimes it picks certain people to be representatives for just how bad it could be....makes us all appreciate how good we have it regardless of the minor illnesses we endure for the short term. Gruzzy, you qualify for this. My cousin also qualified for this.....he developed a severe allergic reaction to amoxicillin of all things.

They called his illness TENS...Toxic Epidermal Necrolisis Syndrome. Run a search online for it...it's horrible.
His body inside and out turned into a 3rd degree burn.....nearly died the first night because his whole body shut down. He spent his final 9 years or so trying to fix everything that had failed.....30 or so surgeries. Was in line for a dual lung transplant when he passed. Kinda puts things into perspective.

-sean

 

It's funny, people consider me in a bad situation with cancer. Everytime I go for chemo or a doc visit, I see people a whole lot sicker than me. And I think "I'm not really that sick compared to these people". I don't really consider myself sick, except for certain times, like being in the hospital, but that is fortunatley short term. Cancer is just another speed bump in life, and I'm hitting it with the jackhammer to remove it, maybe C4 would work better, hmmmmm.

As a nursing student I helped take care of a lady who had been in the hospital about a year and had not walked during that time. Made me think of the quality of life issue. The more active you are, I think the harder an illness is to take (mentally) since you cannot do what you want to do, like ride.

After having had a kidney stone, I've got a good idea about how much you hurt. I thought I was going to die. Then came the morphine and phenergan and off I drifted into lala land. Any illness that keeps you from doing what you want to do SUCKS. I'm not special, I'm just another utility quad rider looking to go riding soon.

It's all about attitude, you can accept and have a good attitude and try to make life better for all those around you. Or you can choose to be miserable and bring down those around you who want to help you. I choose to be happy and help those around me. And hopefully build some good karma too.

Steve

 

I've passed a bunch of stones over the years, and I have had the "go in and get it procedure" you described done twice! When they pulled the stent out, I passed 6 stones in about 2 hours. Recovery was about 3 weeks.

Be sure you get the stone analyzed, and there may be some things you can do to prevent it in the future (like not eating certain foods). Do drink lots of water.

As for recovery time, I injured my shoulder in a dirt bike crash around New Years, and I am still having pain from that, 8 months later. Couldn't ride anything at all for the first 4 months!

Gruzzy, I am an immunologist/biochemist, and I do cancer research. Good luck buddy!

 

Reconranger, 6 stones in 2 hours, I don't even want to imagine what that felt like.

My 1st degree was in biology, did immunology research testing the effect of pesticides/herbicides on the Bobwhite Quail immune system. Then I became a Medical Technologist. Goal was to get a doctorate in immunology, but I got sidetracked along the way. Immunology and biochem, those are to great fields to combine. I know you worked hard to get where you are now. What type of cancer research do you do?

 

Hey,
Not only do we have ATVing in common....I have a bachelor's in Bio as well. Although, mine is geared as a pre-veterinary degree. When my daughter grows up and is out of the house, I'll be applying to Vet school....I'd rather see my kid while she's here. Then I'll devote the necessary time to school. Have been a Veterinary Technician for nine years though and have gained a ton of experience....wish they had a Physician's Assistant equivalent in the Veterinary industry because I'd most definitely go for it. No biggie though, my boss lets me actively contribute to the diagnostic process...sometimes I'm right, sometimes not....it's a great learning experience. I can ask all the questions I want without being a pain.

Gruzzy, you're definitely correct about the attitude you approach an illness with. Yeah, I agree it can be difficult if you're laid up, especially if you're normally an active person. Certain people are slugs and being ill doesn't really affect their normal routine....accept maybe they have to experience some extra discomfort while watching "The Price is Right"....who knows.

As for me, I'm always on the go....and initially I was majorly bumming. Now I'm more upbeat because the end is in sight. Yesterday, I actually rode my quad for a few minutes. I was obviously standing up, and driving really slow....but driving nonetheless. Take that right kidney! Next hurdle to overcome is on the horizon....looking forward to some "fun" with the wife. Just waiting patiently until things don't hurt "downstairs" any more.

Another funny story: I'm also a musician....play the bass. When I still had the stone, I sat right up against my bass speakers and tried to rattle/vibrate the little stone loose while playing. My own little form of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. It didn't work though....darn it! Was therapeutic to play though.

-sean

 

Sean,

Amazing how many people have bio degrees. Where do you plan to go to vet school. What's the cost of vet school now? I'm kinda suprised that vet's don't have the equavilent of a PA. Checked into PA school and the cost was about $50,000. A advance practice nurse or nurse practioner can do the same things and the education is less expensive, so I hope to go that route once I'm back in school. And AR is more friendly to APN/NPs I've been told by some nurses.

It would have been funny if your musical experiment worked. You could have had kidney stone removal concerts. Get entertained and healed all at one time.

Steve

 

Hey Steve,
California is the only state I know of that is pushing to allow Vet Techs the ability to act as PA's.....doing small routine surgeries, etc. Not sure if any other states have jumped on the bandwagon. Like anything medical, it'll take some time before a universal change is in effect.

Coming to a town near you: The Kidney Stone Concert....that's right folks, two hours of bass-heavy music. Every seat has a specially designed subwoofer mounted directly underneath....what better way to shake your little buddy loose? Make sure you get there early, the first 50 people through the door will get a free urine strainer. Stop in at our bar and treat yourself to a bottled water or cranberry juice cocktail. Doors open at 7pm.

-sean

 

Hey everyone,

Well, I had my final visit with the urologist on Monday.....they scoped me and pulled the stent, WHILE I WAS AWAKE!
Oh my god, that was the weirdest sensation ever. I almost vomited on the drive home afterwards....stress reaction or something. I also actually felt like crawling in a hole and crying....another stress reaction I'm guessing.

It's been two days, just a few spasms and some occasional pain....but I'm done, no more stone or stent! I may try and ride this weekend....we'll see though. Don't want to overdo it.

Thanks to all for their kind words and for sharing their experiences.

-sean