Can I share?

The last few weeks have been a bit uncomfortable for me.
To explain, I need to go back a few months... like 12 of them.

About a year ago I had the "little URI that could" - or better yet, wouldn't go away. After some testing we found out I have two stones hiding up in my kidneys - one on each side (hey, at least I'm symmetrical).
Anywho, the diagnosis for that moment was easy, they're there. They may stay there, they may decide to leave at some point, but for now... they're just there.

Since then I've had a some nagging "flank pain" as they call it, but have not been concerned because I knew what it was.
Over the last two - three weeks it got a little more intense, but I've been so busy, that honestly, I haven't thought much of it.

Then about three days ago, other symptoms have come on: bloating, pain as if one of the stones have moved, upset stomach, and a few others I won't go into because it's just gross.
Believe it or not the worst symptom of all... fatigue.
Anytime I get up to do something I just want to go back and lay/sit down. I'm exhausted. I've had stones before, but usually when this part hits I'm on copious amounts of morphine in the hospital and couldn't care less how tired I am.

I went looking for pictures of a kidney stone to show you and I found the one below. On the site they call it a "kidney stone crystal" - sounds so much nicer, doesn't it?




Wanna know why it hurts so much?
Here's a picture of a kidney stone "crystal" under an electron microscope...





Pretty, huh? If it were a flower and not a raging crystal scraping the tissue within you as it tries to birth itself from a teeny tiny tube in your body!

The good news is that I went to the doc yesterday and he said there's no infection... so now,it's just a waiting game - whoopie!

Wanna know the really good news?
This is just the right side, some day I'll get to do this again with the left.


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