Vanderbilt ER

Sunday morning around 2 am I woke up with a writhing pain in my lower back. I got up and by 5:30 I couldn't stand it any longer. It had snowed and the streets were covered with snow and ice. My wife and I walked down the two hills that led to our cars we had parked at a church knowing we would never get out of our neighborhood if we kept our cars at the house.

We headed to Vanderbilt Hospital and the interstate was still icy. Traveling around 25 to 30 mph...it took a little time to get there but we made it. Becky pulled up to the front door of the ER and I got out and headed to the front desk. After a few questions, signing a few forms, and waiting for less than five minutes, I was brought back to an office where they took my stats. Becky had parked and walked in as they led me into the room. They then took me to another room where I was to stay for the next six hours. Two doctors and some nurses came in and proceeded to ask me questions and then start an IV on me. Morphine and some other drugs were given to me and it took another 20 to 30 minutes for the pain to sort of subside.

An hour or two later I was taken to get a CT scan. (I think that's what it was?!) They saw the culprit, a 5mm kidney stone was working its way to my bladder! After these doctors consulting urology, they decided I could go home and was to wait for that little stone to pass naturally.

Needless to say, I wish it had passed while I was there! I asked them if they could sound blast it to speed up the process but they said it was not really necessary. So here I am about 24 hours later, feeling pretty good, just a twinge of pain in my kidney, waiting for this thing to pass. I guess I'm gonna have to man up, go to work, and hope that when the time comes the pain will be quick as it passes through.

Gotta change some things...I don't want to ever go through this again! One thing I forgot...they said I had a larger stone waiting at the top of the other kidney! They didn't think it would be moving anytime soon. So now I am going to have to find some natural ways to try and dissolve that stone. They say there are things you can do to do that...hope they are right.

Vanderbilt did a great job and I have to admit that was a pleasant surprise. The two doctors were young ladies that seemed to care and were willing to give me time and attention. I hope I don't have to see them again but if I do go back...I hope they are around to help me!