Well John A. Gotti Jr.and I have something in common - we've both had kidney stones. I daresay the pain was something unique to him, albeit the pain of jail may be just a bit more sensitive....or maybe not. Because I must confess, the pain I experienced was, indeed, worse than childbirth - which I've done 2 times with zero, I repeat zero pain palliation. That's right, no epidural, no pain pills, absolutely nothing except some local injections just prior to an episiotomy. I'd compare the pain to the worst bowel movement I can ever imagine, but tolerable. I did have short labors, 6 and 7 hours respectively.
Now the kidney stone was a whole other matter. I was incredibly nauseous, throwing up numerous times, feeling urgency to urinate - nothing would come out - and there was excrutiating pain all over my abdomen - could not even pin point it if I tried. By the time I made it to the hospital (driven by a very distressed husband doctor) I had my arm out in the air, and this drug virgin was yelling, "Give me something, anything!!" A scan revealed the little stone right at the end of my ureter, ready we all hoped, to pass into my bladder. It did about 4 hours later.
The cause of my kidney stone was probably dehydration. I had traveled by air several times in the last month and I don't think I was hydrating sufficiently. Needless to say I do now. It's nice to know that scientists have found evidence of kidney stones in a 7,000 year old mummy. I wonder what they used for pain relief back then?? Kidney stone prevention involves drinking enough water daily, steer clear of calcium in pill form (if your doctor concurs), and if your urine is highly acidic you may be told to limit meat, fish and poultry - but that's OK, plant based proteins are good for you. Remember that if your urine is even a bit yellow, you're not drinking enough water or liquids.
0 comments:
Post a Comment