"Kidney Stones are not fun" or "This Isn't How I Planned my 2010 to Start Off"

I decided to take a couple days off from work right after the New Year to spend some time with the boys and some friends. I took off Monday, January 4th and Tuesday the 5th. The 4th was great fun...me and the boys hit IHOP. We played with Christmas toys. We spent a lot of good time together.

Tuesday the 5th I had made plans to meet a friend at 9AM to do some shopping, eat lunch and possibly see a movie or just hang out until later in the afternoon. I got everybody back off to work/school/daycare and I started to get ready.

My stomach wasn't feeling 100% but I was determined not to let that ruin my Fun Day so I took some medicine then tried to lay down for a bit. Within 15 minutes I was hurting from my belly button all the way around my back. I called my mother and told her I wasn't feeling so great and that I thought I might head into the doctor when they opened up.

I hung up with her and about 10 minutes later at 8AM I decided I needed to go to the ER.

I drove myself and half way there I decided that was a horribly bad idea.

I stumbled into the ER and they took me back and by 8:30 I had broken out in a cold sweat, was vomiting and rocking back and forth on the hospital bed, doing labor breathing. I truly think labor hurt less than this.

The doctor came back and told me he thought based on my symptoms that I had either a ruptured ovarian cyst or kidney stones. His money was on the kidney stones. He had an IV started with pain meds and I have never wanted a needle shoved into my arm more.

By 9AM my Dad was there and my husband on his way and I was in medicated bliss when they took me back for a CAT scan and xrays.

I did indeed have a kidney stone. A large 7 mm football shaped stone that for the next week refused to pass and I ended up having surgery to remove it last Monday.

Got my stent out on Wednesday (I NEVER want a stent in my body ever again) and I'm back at work today feeling a little worn out and beat up but overall in good shape.

If you have ever had a kidney stone you are wincing in pain while reading this. If you have never had one then I assure you that you don't want to experience it.