January 30, 2021:

From the “Way Too Much Information” Dept.: Generally, I like to share mainly rainbows and unicorns on social media, but sometime life throws an unexpected curve ball, and you’ve got to deal with it. Fortunately, in the end, this one was pretty minimal, but worth noting.

After dinner on Wednesday night, my left side started to hurt out of the blue. Over the next couple of hours, it kept getting worse and worse to the point where I couldn’t get comfortable just sitting down to watch TV. So, I decided to go to urgent care.

The doctor there heard my story and took a urinalysis, and her conclusion was…KIDNEY STONES. I was floored…of all the causes floating around in my head (since I’ve never had stones before) that was not one of them! An x-ray confirmed her suspicions (see arrow) – it was only 3mm in diameter, but it sure caused a lot of pain (don’t worry, I’m not going to compare it to childbirth)!

I went home with some medicine to make it pass easier, but when it did overnight, I felt great – as if nothing had ever happened!

It could have been much worse. I’m glad I wasn’t stubborn and tried to tough it out. As I get older, incidents like this are going to become more frequent, not less, so I need to practice what I preach to my students: asking for help is a strength, not a weakness.

March 1, 2021:

FROM THE “WAY TOO MUCH INFORMATION” DEPT. – PART TWO:

Well, back on Jan. 30, I posted my unexpected kidney stone story. Many of you supportively reached out, and I greatly appreciated that. Therefore, I guess I should fill you in on the next chapter.

About a week after the original incident where I was able to pass the initial stone, another painful episode arose. I went back to the doctor where a CT scan was taken to discover that my first stone had a bigger brother. So, it was off to a urologist for confirmation and a new game plan.

Fast forward to this morning–I went to North Kansas City Hospital and had a Shock Wave Lithotripsy procedure where I laid on a table and non-surgical external pressure waves were targeted at the stone for about 45 minutes causing it break up into smaller pieces that will make it easier to pass as the week goes on.

It was actually pretty simple and painless. Only a few hours after the procedure, I feel fine…but I will abide by the doctor’s wishes and lay low the rest of the day to begin my 3-4 quart per day water drinking regimen that will assist my kidneys in flushing out the stone remnants (which will be kept and later studied for potential causes and future prevention). Then, tomorrow, I’ll be back in school!

Hopefully, as Paul Harvey would say, that ends up being “the rest of the story!” (now I’ve just initiated a “Paul Harvey” Google search for many of you ). Thanks again for all the positive thoughts!

March 29, 2021:

FROM THE “WAY TOO MUCH INFORMATION DEPT.” – PART THREE

I’m glad all my teacher friends are going to fun places over Spring Break! I’ll live vicariously through you, as you’re looking at where I’ll be at least for the next couple of days during my Spring Break after my ureteroscopy procedure Monday to hopefully remove my kidney stones once and for all. I’ll spare you the gory details…just Google “ureteroscopy” if you’re at all interested in what I endured today.

So, I’ve got all my screens set up to watch the women’s and men’s NCAA basketball tournaments (I’m most interested in the Baylor/Connecticut women’s matchup!!) and some Athletes Unlimited volleyball and have some Raising Cane’s chicken fingers at the ready while I recover.

I feel better, although there is some pain while I waddle around the house. So, I only waddle when absolutely necessary. The next two photos are the obligatory “before in the pre-surgery room” and the “after in the recovery room” hospital pictures as mandated by Facebook law.

Thanks for all your support over the last couple of months of this saga. Hopefully, this ends the trilogy and there won’t be a part four.