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Cindy's diary
:o( Sorry to hear about your frustration and geez how do the doctors not rule kidney stones for a pain like that. How have you been able to go through that for so long? My wife woke up on morning and her pain hit her like a flood. I swear I thought she was gonna die and I drove like a maniac to get her to the hospital to find out that that's exactly what she had. I really hope they get you treated for it soon. Nobody should have to keep going through that pain...you must be a really tough lady...wow. Bess you and I hope you get all better soon.
Thanks Steven. I'm just happy that somebody is finally listening to me. I first went to the hospital with kidney stones 1n 1998. It's getting old to say the least.
I don't know if this helps but the doctors told my wife she needed to try and cut out with drinking so many drinks with syrups and such in them, and if she did she was told to add some lemon juice to things as the citrus acids will help dissolve the stones. More doctors need to give patients remedies to stop these things from coming back cause I would think once would be enough huh.
Yes, once is definitely enough. You've probably heard women compare kidney stones to childbirth. That is no joke.
Oh yeah I believe it and I am pretty sure I am too wimpy to handle them...maybe I should get a few shots of morphine in the house just in case
I've heard they can be really painful:( But once you have them they are recurring problem. I can't believe its taken your doctor so long to send you to the right hospital department!! But you might get this sorted out now:) I hope they fix this for you fast now Cindy its to much pain to have to cope with:(
I'm really excited Angie. I just simply want to be able to hold a job down. Plain and simple. Don't even care if it's part-time at McDonalds.
I think it's horrible in this day and age that you haven't been treated for this yet and have had to go through this much pain.
4/17/14
So today I went to the doctor for blood tests and waited forever. Didn't even have to see a doctor today and was there almost two hours. Tomorrow I get to see the kidney doctor and I'm really excited about it. Really happy with the doctor and absolutely confident that he will find a way to make the pain go away. He is already mentioning surgery and that I will need to go off my blood thinners before, but I really don't care. Just want it fixed. Haven't felt that good today so I came home and slept for about three hours. Not much reading done today except my hardback that I took to the doctors office. Got over 110 pages read in that one. Plan to read for a little bit and go to bed at a decent hour (for me that's about midnight). Gonna ride the bus to my appointment tomorrow because I can't afford gas and parking downtown. I can read instead of drive. Hope everyone had a decent day!
So today I went to the doctor for blood tests and waited forever. Didn't even have to see a doctor today and was there almost two hours. Tomorrow I get to see the kidney doctor and I'm really excited about it. Really happy with the doctor and absolutely confident that he will find a way to make the pain go away. He is already mentioning surgery and that I will need to go off my blood thinners before, but I really don't care. Just want it fixed. Haven't felt that good today so I came home and slept for about three hours. Not much reading done today except my hardback that I took to the doctors office. Got over 110 pages read in that one. Plan to read for a little bit and go to bed at a decent hour (for me that's about midnight). Gonna ride the bus to my appointment tomorrow because I can't afford gas and parking downtown. I can read instead of drive. Hope everyone had a decent day!
I think what is really kind of special in this case is how, with all the pain, and there has to be quite a bit, you have been able to read so much. Is the title you are reading actually, in some way, helping diminish the pain? I've noticed this happens for me some times but it depends on what I am reading too. I totally hope you get better. I feel so bad for all your going through and hope the doctors are giving you something to alleviate the pain?
4/18/14
Today I went to the urologist for some testing on my kidneys. He had me scheduled for a CAT scan and a x-ray. My insurance wouldn't cover the CAT scan, so he just did the x-ray. Came back that I have stones in BOTH kidneys. But, guess what? Once again, the insurance company refuses to cover my pain meds. I'm in pain and frankly a bitch right now. So glad I started this thread cause it does help some just to blow off steam.
Today I went to the urologist for some testing on my kidneys. He had me scheduled for a CAT scan and a x-ray. My insurance wouldn't cover the CAT scan, so he just did the x-ray. Came back that I have stones in BOTH kidneys. But, guess what? Once again, the insurance company refuses to cover my pain meds. I'm in pain and frankly a bitch right now. So glad I started this thread cause it does help some just to blow off steam.
Unbelievable. Be sure they check your parathyroid, Cindy. An out-of-whack parathyroid is known to cause reoccurring stones.
You said you had an irregular heartbeat too, IIRC. Check this out:http://blog.parathyroid.com/high-bloo...
Holy cow! That is interesting as hell. The "risks" that I've already been diagnosed with include stroke, A Fib, high blood pressure, and kidney stones. The "symptoms" I've experienced are chronic fatigue/tiredness, muscle aches/pains, poor sex drive, kidney stones, and A fib. I'm going to mention this to the doctor. Really appreciate this Chuck!
How can your insurance not cover pain meds? Isn't that like basic doctoring, stopping peoples pain? That sounds so daft Cindy, so you've got double kidney stones and you've just got to basically grin and bare it:( But it sounds like there could be a reason for it all, that fits every symptom. But is there a cure or a something that can then be done to make you feel better? Sorry for all the questions Cindy, I just want you to feel better:)
Your guess is as good as mine as to why they won't cover it. I am gonna mention that stuff Chuck was showing me to the doctor and see what he says.
Cindy, what you probably need to do is find out what pain medicines your insurance will cover so you can have your doctor write one of those. A lot of insurance companies will only pay for generics unless the doctor call them and authorizes name brand. Surely you can at least get some hydrocodone pills (generic Vicodin, Lortab, Norco etc).
Actually Norco is what they denied.
What did they actually OK for you Cindy? And reading what you've wrote isn't it extremely dangerous for you to come of your blood thinners, its like in either case its risky.But on a brighter note have you got anything planed for Easter? Mine is quiet, not much going on round here. My brother told me over Facebook he's got engaged again! I think everyone he meets someone its engagement and marriage:) it never lasts more than a few months though, then he's hunting for his next Mr right,lol
I will need to come off the blood thinners before I can have surgery Angie. It is extremely dangerous to operate on anybody who is on blood thinners because the risk of bleeding to death during surgery is extremely high. The insurance company covered the doctors visit and the x-ray, that's all.
I am going to my daughter's today and just take a break from everything. I will get to see the grandkids and she is cooking out. It is beautiful weather here (70's). Not too hot and not cold.
I am going to my daughter's today and just take a break from everything. I will get to see the grandkids and she is cooking out. It is beautiful weather here (70's). Not too hot and not cold.
I hope you had a good time with your daughter and grandkids Cindy.
Holly wrote: "I hope you had a good time with your daughter and grandkids Cindy."I second that, Holly. Hope you had a great time with your family Cindy!
I hope you got spoilt by your grandkids and daughter. Did the weather stay good as well? It did here, I was sat outside most of the afternoon then watched some of the TV show Grimm with my younger son with take out Chinese for dinner, tasty without lots of cleanup:)
Cindy wrote: "Actually Norco is what they denied."Cindy, Norco is a BRAND NAME. Most likely they'll only pay for the generic.
They wouldn't cover the generic either Chuck. BUT, my daughter broke down and bought it for me after the room started spinning and I nearly passed out. Go back to the urologist in the morning. Will let you guys know what they say. Chuck what is the difference between Hydroco/Apap 5-325 mg and Hydroco/Apap 7-325 mg? Just curious.
I hope you get good news from the doctor tomorrow but even more that your insurance will OK the treatment. Fingers crossed for you:-)
Thanks Angie! I'm just happy to have something for the pain. I damn near passed out today when in the bathroom from the pain.
Cindy wrote: "They wouldn't cover the generic either Chuck. BUT, my daughter broke down and bought it for me after the room started spinning and I nearly passed out. Go back to the urologist in the morning. Will..."Dang, can't believe they wouldn't cover that! But for the question you're asking me: The first number is the amount of hydrocodone in them and the second number is the amount of Tylenol. So the difference is the 7.5s have 2.5 more more milligrams of the hydrocodone in them per tablet. That makes the 7s a little bit stronger.
Thanks Chuck. For my back they gave me the 5 but for these kidney stones they gave me the 7's. I know absolutely nothing about narcotics.
4/24/14
UPDATE - Insurance company finally decided to cover the CAT scan and I had it done Monday. The doctor found EIGHT kidney stones. My right ureter was completely blocked by a stone which complicated things. The original plan was to just put in a stent until I was off my blood thinners for a week because the laser surgery can cause some bleeding. Since my right kidney was basically shut down he was forced to break that one up with laser. My breathing went down to 8 times a minutes and they thought I might need assistance breathing (machine). However, I managed to come out of it myself and came home last night. I have another surgery scheduled for May 1 to do laser on all of the stones. He is also going to take a biopsy. My daughter felt sorry for me Monday because the insurance still won't cover pain meds, even after talking to the doctor, so she paid for them. I am going to my daughter's house for a while. She has really been helping take care of me and is cooking dinner. The pain meds make me sleepy and I forget things. That's OK because the pain was excruciating to say the least.
UPDATE - Insurance company finally decided to cover the CAT scan and I had it done Monday. The doctor found EIGHT kidney stones. My right ureter was completely blocked by a stone which complicated things. The original plan was to just put in a stent until I was off my blood thinners for a week because the laser surgery can cause some bleeding. Since my right kidney was basically shut down he was forced to break that one up with laser. My breathing went down to 8 times a minutes and they thought I might need assistance breathing (machine). However, I managed to come out of it myself and came home last night. I have another surgery scheduled for May 1 to do laser on all of the stones. He is also going to take a biopsy. My daughter felt sorry for me Monday because the insurance still won't cover pain meds, even after talking to the doctor, so she paid for them. I am going to my daughter's house for a while. She has really been helping take care of me and is cooking dinner. The pain meds make me sleepy and I forget things. That's OK because the pain was excruciating to say the least.
Chuck wrote: "You said you had an irregular heartbeat too, IIRC. Check this out:
http://blog.parathyroid.com/high-bloo..."
Chuck, I asked the doctor about the high calcium level in the blood. He said he would check, but the stones need to be gone first or it could provide a false reading. Thanks again for posting this!
http://blog.parathyroid.com/high-bloo..."
Chuck, I asked the doctor about the high calcium level in the blood. He said he would check, but the stones need to be gone first or it could provide a false reading. Thanks again for posting this!
Hope things start going better for you soon, Cindy. This just sounds awful. I can't believe your insurance company's insane policies regarding pain medicine. I'm telling ya, Cindy, audiobooks are where it's at. You can get reading done when you don't even feel well or like reading. Kick back take your pain meds and let someone with a nice voice tell ya a story until you drift off. Can't beat it! ;)
Your insurance is mad Cindy , I still can't believe they won't cover pain meds! Don't know how you've managed to keep going with all those stones in your kidneys. It sounds like the right thing for you to be staying with your daughter for now, is her house far from where you live?
I'm not staying with her, but she lives right around the corner. I've been going over there every day. She has been helping me with laundry and cooking for Jeff and myself. PLUS paying for my pain meds. Thank God for that!
My family only live round the corner as well, I moved closer to them last year which was really good. But I couldn't believe the state your kidney's are in, I bet the DR couldn't either. I'm just pleased that you're getting some pain relief. Its very good of your daughter to help you out this way:-)
Cindy are you all ready for going back in hospital in a few days? Is it a in and out in one day or will you be staying in, I hate it when they make me stay:( Although we can rent WiFi from the hospital now so it can be not as bad. Between the choice of the TV or WiFi I'd pick my internet access any day:D
Thank God that I get internet free at my hospital. Don't know Angie, it's supposed to be outpatient surgery, BUT.....
Yeah, that's one good thing about American hospitals: free WiFi.
5/1/14
I'm going in for another surgery today and for some reason I'm kinda anxious about this one. Jeff is going with me so the support will be really nice. Will let you guys know tomorrow how it turns out. And I'm definitely taking my books to read on the bus and while I wait at the hospital :D.
I'm going in for another surgery today and for some reason I'm kinda anxious about this one. Jeff is going with me so the support will be really nice. Will let you guys know tomorrow how it turns out. And I'm definitely taking my books to read on the bus and while I wait at the hospital :D.
Good luck Cindy. I hope that everything goes well.
I've been thinking of you all day today Cindy and hoping your operation goes OK. Hopefully by now it should of happened so all my fingers are crossed and my prayers are with you:-) I hope that after this one you will start to feel better:) Good luck Cindy:-)
Just got home tonight around 7:30. Had to be admitted overnight because I had some chest pain in recovery. A little tired and hungry so I'm getting something to eat first and then I might read for a while. Not sure yet. I'm not gonna push myself tonight or tomorrow. Just glad to be home.
I've not been on for two days Cindy so I'm hoping your recovery is going OK:-) Has your pain lessened since the op? I really hope it has, I'll check in again shortly:)
I'm actually feeling better today than I have in quite a while. Plan to catch up on a bit of reading tonight.
Cindy wrote: "I'm actually feeling better today than I have in quite a while. Plan to catch up on a bit of reading tonight."Glad to hear it, Cindy.
It is good to hear you're feeling a bit better Cindy:-) But now you're waiting for some results, that can be nerve racking in itself, I'm keeping you in my prayers Cindy:)
I am so happy today! Have been dealing with a great deal of pain for a really long time now. I keep telling my family doctor it's kidney stones and she just looks at me and says "well there's no blood in your urine". I FINALLY talked her into sending me to a urologist. And guess what? He believes me. I am going for some specialized testing Friday (that was quick) and he said that I will most likely need surgery. I am definitely OK with that if it helps the pain. OMG, I have been trying to make this happen for so long. I thought for a while it was my back since I just broke it in January. I will be happy the rest of the day now. I just simply wanted somebody to listen to me and believe that I know my own body. It seems like all the docs now just think you are out to get pain medicine. Believe me when I say it - I don't like taking any more medicine then absolutely necessary. Now I am reading for a while.