OUCH!

OUCH!  That hurt!

About a hour ago I returned from my 8:15 am visit to my dermatologist.  Last January 24th, he had taken a biopsy of a discolored patch of skin from my right knee.  From that time until today, that wound has never properly healed.  There were times when my pants would rub against the scab and a pain would shoot through my leg like a thorn in the wound.

Last week I made an appointment to see him to take a look at this slow healing wound.  The day before I cancelled it, thinking it had gotten better it hadn't.

On Tuesday this week I made another appointment for this morning.  I arrived bright and early at his office with my wound, still inflamed.  His assistant took a look at it and began poking at the wound.  OUCH!  WOW!  Know how it feels when the dentist drills for a cavity and hits a nerve?  That's the way it felt when she was poking around that inflamed wound.  Hey, I think I can tolerate pain as good or better than most but this morning I was a major pussy.  I  yelled out loud "OH GOD!"  Yes I did.  I really did.  

Two other assistants came into the room.  More poking around and more screaming (yes, SCREAMING) by me.  One of the assistants thought that part of the "dissolvable" stitch was still in the wound.  SOMETHING was in there.  Know how it feels when you have a thorn in your toe or finger?  SOMETHING WAS THERE and it hurt like HELL when they poked.  

The doctor came in.  He took a look with his instrument.  Wouldn't you know he tried to pull something out.  This time I almost kicked him (involuntarily) and yelled "OH GOD!" again.  What is it with me with the "Oh God" exclamation?  I'm not even religious?  Well, anyway, I asked him "Don't you have a pain killer?"  Be careful what you wish (ask) for.  He motions to one of the assistants.  She brings in a MAJOR needle and hands it to him. He said "This is going to pick a little bit."  Uh huh.  I thought the poking around hurt, well ladies and gentlemen, I experienced a new kind of pain.  OUCH!  WOW!  

Folks, this year (and last year) I've been through whole new levels of pain.  From the biopsy and volume check for my prostate cancer to that LONG Labor Day Weekend when my urologist decided to let my stuck kidney stone in me for four days hoping it would pass on it's own.  Yes folks, that was pain but today was a whole new level.  I'm telling you, the medical establishment really should get in touch with those war criminals former vice president Cheney and Defense Secretary Rumsfeld

"The known unknowns, we don't know anything"

and immediately let them know that we have doctors down here in Lower Slower that could put any of your professional torturers to shame.  

War criminal and former vice president Dick Cheney - still on the loose

My good doctor did some digging around on the now numbed area of my knee and removed the offending stitch that had infected my knee these past three months.  

I left his office with a copy of my medical report to meet Bill (who drove me) down in the lobby.  My knee wasn't hurting now because it was numbed up but I knew it would be hurting as soon as the pain killer wore off and as it is now sore.  But I don't have the shooting pain that was happening before when my pain let would rub the wrong way.  

Bill stopped at Loew's on the way home but I couldn't even get out of the car.  Not only because it is windy and cold this April morning (will this winter ever end?) but because I was feeling woozy (don't go there).  

As soon as I got home I took this picture of my sore knee and an aspirin and hit my bed for about an hour of gathering myself together (and feeling sorry for myself - I do love me a Pity Party).  

After about an hour of slumber I just got up and now I'm ready to take on the rest of the day and get myself prepared for a weekend of work at the hotel.  I'm filling in for a co-worker who is taking off a few days.  

And the beat goes on.  

Medical Update: Kidney Stone Bath

Yeah, I'm Laurence and Tony is going to give me my "bath" - sure - I wish

This morning my urologist scheduled my kidney stone "bath" for September 20th.  See here for how this "bath" works.

My doctor tells me that I still have two large (.6 millimeter) kidney stones lodged above my right kidney.  He has to keep the stent in my ureter because to take it out would be (in his words) "like running a red light."  I would be taking a great chance that one or both of those kidney stones would drop and I would return to the hell I had for eight days last week.  

He explained to my why he wanted to wait to see if could pass the .6 millimeter (above average of .5 millimeter) stone on my own.  Remember the week previously I successfully passed a .4 millimeter kidney stone.  He said "everyone is different.  Most people are able to pass a .6 millimeter kidney stone on their own but my ureter canal is smaller and you were unable to pass it." 

Thus I have to wait a week after taking myself off of my baby aspirin regimen (which thins the blood).  I gave him my EKG report from my cardiologist (which I had taken last Friday), which gives him approval for the surgery.  I will be under anesthetic for the surgery which will take place in Milford, Delaware.  Our local hospital doesn't have the equipment to perform this kind of surgery.  Thank God it is non invasive as far as cutting me or inserting yet another instrument in my private parts (had enough of that this year).  But they do have to knock me out, which is just fine with me.  He also said the week's time will enable the swelling to go down in my right kidney which went through a lot of trauma the past ten days (tell me about it).  

What I imagine the facility in Milford, DE looks like where I will get my kidney stone bath - Medicare pays for this?

I am slowly regaining my strength.  I was even able to make a full meal (ratatouille) last night but I was drained when it was all over.  

When I was weighed in this morning the doctor's assistant told me "You've lost eleven pounds since your August visit."  I've been wondering how I was going to lose that developing roll around my middle but I wouldn't advise going on the "passing the kidney stone diet."  Folks, I cannot emphasize enough what I went through the last ten days.  I don't consider myself a whiner or complainer (despite what Bill says) but I was whimpering pretty bad there for a few days.  I really thought I was on my way out and if I wasn't, I wanted to go.  

Enough of my feeling sorry for myself.  A Pity Party is good every now and then but this one has been a bit too long.  I am anxious to get back to normal activity or at least what passes for normal around Casa Tipton-Kelly.  I want it so bad folks.  I hope by the time my family reunion comes around on October 6th I will be up to full steam.  I'm making calls now, making arrangements with the caterer and perhaps even music this year!  I definitely want a big celebration.  You just never know when you might not ever have the opportunity again.  Live for now folks.  That's the best advice I can give, given my experiences of the past few weeks.  Live for now.  Tomorrow will take care of itself.  Of course a little nest egg helps too.  Don't go crazy but you know what I mean.  

Have a great day!!!!

"Free at last!"