Name That Stone!

Two things for today's post.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009 was a terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad day. I woke up, and everything was fine. I was brushing my teeth, bent over to spit, and BAM! Like a harpoon in my back, I felt the stone lodge in my ureter. I got through my two classes in the morning, but after that, it was evident that the pain was only getting worse. I made the decision to take a pain pill. But then something happened that has never happened after taking a percocet: I vomited. I waited another two hours and took another pill, believing that a two hour lay-over would suffice considering I didn't keep the first pill down. Then a funny thing happened that really wasn't funny at all: I vomited again. I realized something must be wrong.

It was time for the E.R. Fortunately, a floor mate of mine offered to walk over there with me. He offered to wait inside with me as well, but I told him that would not be necessary. Slowly but surely I went through the hospital's protocol and got the necessary pain management. My mother was nice enough (and had a schedule empty enough) to make the two and a half hour drive to be there with me. The ultrasound showed that my kidney was indeed swollen, and then the doctors told me a lot of what I already know: huge stone, follow-up with a urologist, get it removed sooner rather than later.

When I was first taken back, a doctor came to evaluate what was going on. It was evident I knew what I was talking about, and he asked if I had ever had a stent in either of my ureter. O doctor. I told him the story of my DIY stent of early April. And his reaction wasn't exactly what I was expecting. Sure he couldn't believe that something so traumatic was asked of a 19-year-old kid (kid, ha), but he was most surprised that there was even such a thing as a DIY stent. He had never even heard of such a thing. Hmm ... Sounds like a DIY stent is a highly experimental, under-the-table, "keep it hush-hush" procedure that should only be found in the "Malpractice: DO NOT PERFORM" file.

I didn't have any pain yesterday or today, so with any luck, the stone settled back in for a tasty nap until it will be unexpectedly awakened, removed, and destroyed in June. This monster is over two centimeters in diameter. Once again, for those of you who may be mathematically or metrically challenged, that is nearly an inch in diameter, which is real big. I think its size qualifies it as epic enough to require a name.

Here are a few right off the top of my head: Rocky, Indiana Stone, Al Ca-stone, Tony Stone-prano, Sammy Stone-sa, Rock McGwire, The Incredible Rock, Magic Rockson. That's all I got right now. Any ideas would be appreciated though. It needs a name, so that I can refer to it in the third person quickly and easily

And now on to topic number two. Take a look at the map on the side toolbar that shows where the Intestineless Wonder blog has been read. Do it right now. As you can see, it has now been read in 9 different countries and on 3 different continents. It is very close to qualifying as a global blog. I'd like to thank all of you for reading and for spreading it around. Keep it up! I'd like to see red dots in a few more places. So I am commissioning anyone with friends in foreign countries to tell said friends to log on to the Intestineless Wonder, if only to globalize it. If you have any friends who are celebrities and would plug it using their available medium, that would be appreciated, too. Ha.

There's only one way all short-gutters will be aware of this blog: VOLUME! Yes, yelling it is necessary. That way more people hear it and become intrigued and, therefore, more likely to find out who yelled "volume" and for what reason. That reason, of course, being to get people aware of the Intestineless Wonder.

We're also getting close to 1,000 views. That's big time. Thanks to all who encouraged me to start writing a blog and those who encouraged me to continue writing through difficult times. It definitely helped me through some tough times, and I like to think it may have helped some other people. With any luck, it will help someone in the future as well.

Once again, please, tell your friends. Get that readership into the quadruple digits, and let's make the Intestineless Wonder globally-known. Some public recognition would be fantastic, not only for the blog itself and all that that accomplishment would represent, but for those suffering through short-gut out there, helpless, not knowing what else to do or where else to turn. Maybe it helps the families of SGers too by giving a little insight into what goes through someone's mind while they are dealing with short-gut. While doctors charge outrageous fees, can be a little hit-and-miss, and often have bigger fish to fry, the doors to the Intestineless Wonder are always open. Well, as long as you have internet access.

Until next time, keep reading and go Tribe! -IW