'ARRRGH!'

Me and Wayne De'Cajun practicing our "ARRRGHS" on the Kalmar Nyckel (one of the requirements before we set sail)

That was me and Wayne De'Cajun the past ten days.  Oh man, little did we know that shortly after we took out little jaunt on the Kalmar Nyckel on that beautiful, sunny August 20th.  Just a week later both of us were admitted to Beebe Hospital.  Wayne was dangerously anemic and I was going down with a .6mm kidney stone.  Yep, this is the way both of probably looked upon entering the emergency room of Beebe Hospital.  "ARRRRGH!"

Wayne and Pat waiting to board the Kalmar Nyckel

Today I'm happy to say we're both in the recovery mode (thank God!)  Wayne has all new blood flowing through his supple limbs (you're welcome Wayne).  My .6mm kidney stone was blasted to smithereens last Wednesday by laser during a very invasive emergency operation (think about it, I won't explain the details).  

Me, Mary Hudson (one half of the first married same sex couple in Delaware) and Wayne

We're both slowly regaining our strength.  Wayne's already been back to work.  I return this Thursday night, then Friday then Saturday night.  That regimen should put be right back in the saddle from which I fell two weeks ago.  It will be good to get back to work, I miss it (did I just say what I think I just said)?

Wayne and Pat headed towards the Kalmar Nyckel

I have many nice pictures that I took during our trip around the Delaware Bay braying "ARRRGH!" at fellow crew members and passerby's. I'm just sorting through them now.  I didn't have a chance during my horrific kidney stone episode.  Somehow that drama took all of my attention (tell me about it).  

Wayne getting ready to board the Kalmar Nyckel

We all had a wonderful time on the Kalmar but I did get a bit seasick.  Funny thing that, I never get seasick.  I suspect my nauseousness was a precursor to me passing my kidney stone.  Remember, I passed one shortly thereafter but had to go back to the hospital emergency room twice because the other kidney stone was stuck.  I don't blame anyone for finding this confusing, I'm not absolutely straight on the timeline myself.  Oh well, next Friday my remaining kidney stone babies will be history, also smashed to smithereens. 

Wayne with his wench on the Kalmar.  I always suspected Wayne was STRAIGHT!  And here he had us fooled all these years just because he wanted to work in Rehoboth. Wayne, straight people can work in Rehoboth too.  Just saying.

So the next two days Wayne and I have OFF!  I don't have any doctors' appointments scheduled.  Thursday morning I do have to get my blood work at the VA Outpatient clinic in Georgetown prior to my "bath" next week.  Other than that, I'm clear sailing until next Friday.  Hallelujah! 


Here's a taste of the ride folks.  Enjoy!

Worst Day Yet

Beebe Hospital Lewes DE Emergency Room entrance - Thank God, last minute change of plans

Yesterday was my worst day for this damn kidney stone.  I thought I was doing so well because when I got up in the morning I had no pain.  I didn't take any painkillers all day.  Late in the afternoon I called my friend Larry on FaceTime. I haven't talked to him in over a week.  Usually we talk every day.  Oh, he's sick and bed ridden too.  He has a cold or flu.  I feel so bad for him. I went through that same thing last year.....after I had my flu shot.

So, while I was talking to him, I must have gotten too animated with my arms and disturbed my kidney stone which has been on the move which seems like forever, and I felt THE PAIN.  I told Larry "I'm feeling the pain again."  

I got off the computer, took my painkiller medicine and laid down on my bed.  However, this time was different.  The pain only increased, and increased and INCREASED.  The pain killers weren't working!  

I twisted this way and that way in my bed but nothing would alleviate the ever increasing pain. Finally after an hour an a half of just unbelievable waves of pain I struggled out of bed to our sun room where Bill was sitting.  I told him "Bill, you're going to have to take me to the emergency room.  I think something else is going on."  

Oh I so DID NOT WANT to go to the emergency room again, the third time in as many weeks.  But I could no longer endure the ever increasing pain which was taking place on my lower right back side.  Right where my kidney is.  I know what is causing it, that damn kidney stone which is stuck.

Bill said he would be ready in a few minutes.  I got my prescription list, my iPhone charger and I was ready, even though I was bent over in excruciating pain.  

Even getting in the car is almost impossible but I couldn't wait for an ambulance, they would take too long.

Thank God it wasn't high fucking noon with all the weekend holiday travelers clogging up Route One.  We had a fairly easy time going down Savannah Road.  Just as we were within a block of Beebe Hospital, my pain began to end.  Just like that.  Not immediately but the dull, stabbing, killing pain that made me want to die subsided little by little.  I began to feel human again.  

I said to Bill "Just pull in the parking lot.  The pain seems to be going away."  He did.  After a few minutes I got out and started to walk around.  That's when I took the picture at the top of this blog.  After another ten minutes the pain was back to just the soreness that I've had since my kidney stone began its Journey last Saturday.  I can handle that pain.

Bill took me home.  I took more pain medication and went to bed to lay flat on my back which seems to be the best position for me to relieve as much of the pain as I can.

I stayed in that position the rest of the night. I had my iPhone with me (thank God) so I can keep in touch with the outside world and check my e-mails and comments on my blog.  I'm trying to keep everyone informed.  I don't want to go blank screen during one of the most important health crises of my life.  Folks, this is the worst I've ever experienced, the worst bar none.

I'm taking a chance right now by sitting up typing this blog.  I know that pain can return in minutes.

However what I am doing now is taking my pain killer medicine every four hours whether I have pain or not.  I just cannot go through again what I went through yesterday afternoon.  I just cannot.

One more day folks. I see my doctor tomorrow at 12:30.  One more day.

Visit to My Urologist

Urology Associates of Delaware - their steady "customer" - me

Just got back from my urologist.  I still have my kidney stone.  

He said that my kidney stone is "right on the border" for laser removal because of its size which is .6 millimeters.  He said if it was .8 millimeters or higher he would send me down to Beebe Hospital immediately for laser removal surgery.  He said if the size of my kidney stone was .2 millimeters we would just wait until it passed of its own accord.  But because I am "right on the border" of the size, he wants to give it another five days.  Then if it hasn't moved, he will perform laser surgery to blast the kidney stone.  In the meantime he has scheduled an EKG just in case I have to have surgery.  My cardiologist's office will contact me.

Me filling out the forms at my urologist's office

My doctor also told me that if I experience any extreme pain again to call him immediately which I will.  God, I hope I don't have to go through that again.  I was experiencing that again this morning until I took my pain killer pills.  They took about a half an hour to kick in but they were effective.  I spent most of today lying in bed, only getting up for a light lunch.  

Bill and I are going out for dinner at the Bay Leaf Restaurant about an hour from now.  A few months ago we began going out on Monday nights to the Bay Leaf which is right up the road in Milton.  It's not a crowded restaurant nor is it noisy.  Of course now I will have to look for a vegetarian entree now that my new BF from Canada (Pat) has introduced me to a healthier way of life.  

Carrot curry soup at Nectar in Lewes, DE

I called work and told them of my situation that I might have a kidney stone attack while at work.  My boss told me that my co-worker has offered to take my shift tomorrow night.  That is a relief.  I would hate to have a kidney stone attack while on the phone making a reservation or running upstairs  to deliver fresh towels to a room that was shortchanged by housekeeping.  

Me waiting for my doctor in my "room"

I'm feeling a bit guilty for writing so much about my health situation but this is what is going on in my life now.  Poor Bill, it is wearing on him as well as someone else, whose name I won't mention (he knows who he is).  I promise, I'll be back to the Old Ron soon enough.  I do so appreciate everyone's concern.  It means a lot to me.  

Poor Bill, one of the people I'm putting through the wringer with my current health problems