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LafayetteLady -> UPDATE RE: Light at the end of the tunnel (7/4/2012 3:33:28 PM)
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So I had the first procedure on Monday, which resulted in just one kidney stone being removed. Apparently, when the first stent was put in, it pushed the other two stones in my ureter back into my kidney, which is kind of a good thing.
Running the IV line was more than the usual hassle. I explained about the anxiety attacks that can be caused if they try to go anywhere but my hand, yet the nurse AND the lab tech both made a mess of things, and I finally had to have the anethesiologist start the line.
It didn't help that I finished all the pain meds and muscle relaxers the day before and the pain I was in by the time I got to the hospital was horrible. I think I asked them several times to just hit me in the head with a hammer and knock me out, lol.
Anyway, the original stent was replaced and was the primary cause of the pain. It was completely corroded and deteriorating, as though my body was attacking it. Now there is a shiny new one in place.
The doctor has told me that now I have to make a decision, which is causing me a bit of a problem. If I want, he will remove the stent tomorrow, but then I have the not so slim risk of the large stones still in my kidney deciding they want to "make a break for it" and try to enter my ureter. Or the stent stays in place, which will prevent that from happening. Either way, we now move on to shock wave treatment for the rest. The doctor said that it will take at least two weeks to get the first shock treatment scheduled (and I will likely need more than one).
Since the surgery on Monday, I haven't had to endure any bad spasms in my urethra, but the pain in my kidney from the stent has been really pretty severe. Moving around has been really difficult, and I've had to resort to sleeping on the couch because the idea of having to walk down the stairs from my bedroom is just too much. Actually, I'm not really able to do much of anything. Even the concept of making myself something to eat is something I know will cause pain.
My first thought was that as long as the doctor keeps me in pain meds and muscle relaxers, I could possibly bear the stent. The doctor isn't too keen on the meds, even though I am almost zero risk for addiction (I have been on long term pain management in the past and never had any issues with addiction).
The thing is though, that this stent is going to corrode and deteriorate just like the first one if left in for a month (or longer), which will result in excruciating pain (almost worse than kidney stone attacks really). I had thought of leaving it in for now, and when it starts to be a huge problem, having it removed, even with the risk of the other stones traveling.
However, with the pain this stent is already causing (and I am considering some of the pain may be due to the surgery itself), I don't know that I can leave it there without losing my mind.
The doctor has left the decision entirely up to me because he knows how bad the stents cause me pain. Certainly, I'm going to discuss it with him tomorrow and go over all the options, but in the meantime, I thought perhaps y'all could give me some thoughts/opinions on the matter.
Stent stays in, I can't do much of anything. Stent comes out, stones may travel. Stent stays in, my body will essentially attack it and make me miserable. I'm really at a loss here trying to weigh the pros and cons, so any thoughts would be really appreciated.
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