** Disclaimer - This blog is not for us to get sympathy or pity. Please know that we are always looking for positive feedback and suggestions along the way. However, the journey is confusing and we cannot promise that we can follow all of the suggestions given to us. This is more of a place where Steve and I can put our thoughts down so we can process what we are going through individually and as a couple.
This is the first post and it will probably come out like verbal vomit because I have been holding so much inside. I have not wanted to burden many people with my medical problems so I have not shared a lot.
The past..
I got my first kidney stone in 1991. I honestly didn't know what it was but it hurt badly. From 1991 until 1997, I suffered so many kidney stones that we stopped counting. There were times that I even had multiple stones in one month. I had stents put in, I had stents removed, I had pain meds.. it was horrible. I even went to Northwest Community Hospital to have a lithotripsy. That was supposed to be a same day procedure but I woke up during the surgery and went into shock and ended up being there for an extra day.
Finally in early 1997 after seeing many urologists who couldn't figure out why I was getting so many kidney stones, a primary care doctor sent me to an ear nose and throat doctor. This to me was ridiculous, what could that doctor possibly tell me about kidney stones. The doctor was young and this made me nervous but he was also calm and educated. He sent me for a scan, at that time I had no clue what kind of scan.. at this time I can tell you it was called a Sestamibi parathyroid scan.
It was at that time that I was diagnosed with hyperparathyroidism and surgery was on the table. It would be my first major surgery and he was going to be cutting open my throat. Surgery was scheduled for April 23rd 1997. That was one day before Danni's second birthday. I refused, I point blank refused. He assured me that it would be same day surgery and I would be out in plenty of time to celebrate with her and that I needed to have this surgery as soon as possible. After discussing this with Danni's dad, it was agreed that I would have this surgery, it would be the same day and I would be out to celebrate with her on her day.
(Facts about hyperparathyroidism https://www.parathyroid.com/age.htm)
That day arrived and I had my surgery. I came out of surgery and it had taken much longer than what they estimated. No one really wanted to tell me what had happened until the doctor arrived. He explained that my incision needed to be larger than originally stated because they had found a tumor the size of a golf ball. The had to cut my throat so it looked like someone slit my throat and had successfully remove the parathyroid and the tumor. However, I had to stay in the hospital for two additional days because they were worried about my calcium levels and potassium levels. I had to give hourly blood draws so they could monitor to make sure I didn't have seizures. Oh hell no! I promised I would be at Danni's birthday. The hospital (Holy Cross) said she couldn't come to the floor I was on and I decided I was going AWOL. Finally the doctor stepped in and it was agreed that I could go to the lobby to see her. It was the saddest birthday I ever spent with her.
Let's jump ahead a few years to 2004 (few minor kidney stones from 1997 until 2004 with some stents..nothing too crazy...the scar on my throat is only visible if you are looking for it). I get horrible kidney pain in the left side, it has always been the left side. I get rushed to Elmhurst Hospital and I am in a room because once again they think I need a stent. The doctor on call comes in and pretty much tells me that my kidney is losing it's functioning and since I have Medicaid there is nothing he can really do anyway. I get pissed.. 13 years of dealing with bullshit, so I go home.
We move to Michigan and in 2007 I am playing football in the yard with the kids, I slip on the wet grass and feel something happen in my lower back. Within hours, I am in severe pain, fever, sweating and I feel like I am dying. I get rushed to the ER at Bronson Hospital. I find out that my kidney is functioning and functioning well, there is an issue though.. some moron left a stent in and it has calcified. So now, I am talking to a surgeon about removing a stent that looks like its covered in rock candy that goes inside my kidney. There were three possible outcomes, 1) surgery goes awesome and I walk away fine, 2) surgery is kind of rough, they hurt the kidney pulling out the stent and the reconstruct the kidney, 3) major damage to the kidney and it has to be removed. I am 38 years old and the possibilities just don't sound fun. Michaelene is once again by my side.. although she did have a scare, surgery went so fast, she thought they lost me on the table! Can't get rid of me that soon!! I walked away with a perfectly healthy kidney. I am feeling immortal! No more stones, healthy kidneys, life is amazing..
This is the first post and it will probably come out like verbal vomit because I have been holding so much inside. I have not wanted to burden many people with my medical problems so I have not shared a lot.
The past..
I got my first kidney stone in 1991. I honestly didn't know what it was but it hurt badly. From 1991 until 1997, I suffered so many kidney stones that we stopped counting. There were times that I even had multiple stones in one month. I had stents put in, I had stents removed, I had pain meds.. it was horrible. I even went to Northwest Community Hospital to have a lithotripsy. That was supposed to be a same day procedure but I woke up during the surgery and went into shock and ended up being there for an extra day.
Finally in early 1997 after seeing many urologists who couldn't figure out why I was getting so many kidney stones, a primary care doctor sent me to an ear nose and throat doctor. This to me was ridiculous, what could that doctor possibly tell me about kidney stones. The doctor was young and this made me nervous but he was also calm and educated. He sent me for a scan, at that time I had no clue what kind of scan.. at this time I can tell you it was called a Sestamibi parathyroid scan.
It was at that time that I was diagnosed with hyperparathyroidism and surgery was on the table. It would be my first major surgery and he was going to be cutting open my throat. Surgery was scheduled for April 23rd 1997. That was one day before Danni's second birthday. I refused, I point blank refused. He assured me that it would be same day surgery and I would be out in plenty of time to celebrate with her and that I needed to have this surgery as soon as possible. After discussing this with Danni's dad, it was agreed that I would have this surgery, it would be the same day and I would be out to celebrate with her on her day.
(Facts about hyperparathyroidism https://www.parathyroid.com/age.htm)
That day arrived and I had my surgery. I came out of surgery and it had taken much longer than what they estimated. No one really wanted to tell me what had happened until the doctor arrived. He explained that my incision needed to be larger than originally stated because they had found a tumor the size of a golf ball. The had to cut my throat so it looked like someone slit my throat and had successfully remove the parathyroid and the tumor. However, I had to stay in the hospital for two additional days because they were worried about my calcium levels and potassium levels. I had to give hourly blood draws so they could monitor to make sure I didn't have seizures. Oh hell no! I promised I would be at Danni's birthday. The hospital (Holy Cross) said she couldn't come to the floor I was on and I decided I was going AWOL. Finally the doctor stepped in and it was agreed that I could go to the lobby to see her. It was the saddest birthday I ever spent with her.
Let's jump ahead a few years to 2004 (few minor kidney stones from 1997 until 2004 with some stents..nothing too crazy...the scar on my throat is only visible if you are looking for it). I get horrible kidney pain in the left side, it has always been the left side. I get rushed to Elmhurst Hospital and I am in a room because once again they think I need a stent. The doctor on call comes in and pretty much tells me that my kidney is losing it's functioning and since I have Medicaid there is nothing he can really do anyway. I get pissed.. 13 years of dealing with bullshit, so I go home.
We move to Michigan and in 2007 I am playing football in the yard with the kids, I slip on the wet grass and feel something happen in my lower back. Within hours, I am in severe pain, fever, sweating and I feel like I am dying. I get rushed to the ER at Bronson Hospital. I find out that my kidney is functioning and functioning well, there is an issue though.. some moron left a stent in and it has calcified. So now, I am talking to a surgeon about removing a stent that looks like its covered in rock candy that goes inside my kidney. There were three possible outcomes, 1) surgery goes awesome and I walk away fine, 2) surgery is kind of rough, they hurt the kidney pulling out the stent and the reconstruct the kidney, 3) major damage to the kidney and it has to be removed. I am 38 years old and the possibilities just don't sound fun. Michaelene is once again by my side.. although she did have a scare, surgery went so fast, she thought they lost me on the table! Can't get rid of me that soon!! I walked away with a perfectly healthy kidney. I am feeling immortal! No more stones, healthy kidneys, life is amazing..
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