Kidney Stoned, But Recovering

What started with a wicked pain in my side the last week in June morphed into a summer’s worth of pain, infection, complication, hospitalization, ICU, procedures, sick days, frustration, rage, humility and a new knowledge of myself I didn’t imagine when my king hell kidney stone first announced its presence.

I’ve been one of those guys who just doesn’t get really sick. I’ll have the occasional flu or upper respiratory infection, sprain or cavity. The sort of minor ache or ailment that requires the minimal amount of medical care—take two aspirin and call me in the morning.

But after the first treatment didn’t work and the second came with complications, and I found myself catheterized, on a steel table in the emergency room with a 103.5 fever and the doctor on duty saying “you’re staying in the hospital,” I realized that with middle age had arrived middle aged discontents, illness and medical procedures a big part of them.

My family was traumatized, my workplace amazingly understanding, some friends engaged and concerned while others unaware of my travails (I didn’t post the gnarly details to Facebook—you’re welcome). I'm blessed to have a good health insurance plan.

But inside my head things reached a point where I wondered what the next complication might be, whether a fever that turned into a night in the hospital and spread into a six-day stay would morph into something more menacing.

Then it did. Back in the hospital for an outpatient procedure days later I unexpectedly aspirated under general anesthesia, only to awaken 16 hours later, hands tied down to the bed rails and tubes down my throat to my lungs and stomach. It was the sort of living horror movie I only imagined in those disengaged moments when the lawyer explains the medical power of attorney and living will documents before you sign. 

All in all, my doctor said I was lucky to come out of it with two days in the ICU and a bad sore throat and congested lungs; I could’ve had a tracheotomy and been on a ventilator. Laying there with multiple tubes in and out of my body it was hard to feel lucky.

But the anesthesiologist had been quick on the draw, my doctor was able to extract the malevolent renal calculus, and though greatly weakened, I was on my way back to my workaday week, the simple joys of my family, and the entitled curmudgeonliness Patch lets me display here from time to time.

So it came to be this week I had a final procedure and was cleared by my doctor with the happy news that he didn’t want to see me for six months. I’m regaining strength, and I’m happy for the little things. My child’s hug, a wife who can freak out a little less, a walk outside in the evening air, four in the morning passing without someone waking me up to draw blood—these are a few of my favorite things, to paraphrase Hammerstein.

That which does not kill us makes us stronger. Nietzsche wrote that, and I’m trying to make it fit my current situation, although I’m still weak enough that I can’t quite yet play practice goalie for my daughter’s pre-practice soccer workouts. My fears about growing old and invasive medical procedures have been realized. 

It won’t make the next round, should it come, any easier. But I certainly will have a higher threshold for pain, embarrassment, frustration and rage. And I think I’ll try to not sweat the minor aggravations as much.  

As I lay in the hospital in the evening gloaming one night, machines going ping and beep around me and nurse-angels drifting by my bed to hang another bag of antibiotics or shoot another syringe of sweet narcotic into my lines to kill the pain, I wondered if things would ever return to normal for me and if I would appreciate them more if they did.

They are, and I’m trying.

Hope for inquest after Westminster debate

THE brother of a woman who died following a routine operation at a private hospital

is hopeful a police investigation will be launched after the case was debated in

Parliament.

Carmel Bloom, who was 54 and lived in Snakes Lane East in Woodford Green, died after

an operation to remove a kidney stone at the BUPA (now Spire) Roding Hospital in

2002.

Her brother, Bernard, of High Road, Chigwell, has spent the past nine years and more

than 1 million trying to establish how she died.

Lee Scott, MP for Carmel's constituency, Ilford North, debated the circumstances

surrounding her death with health minister Anne Milton MP in Westminster Hall in the

Houses of Parliament on Tuesday.

Mr Bloom, 59, said: "It went so well in so far as Lee Scott articulated the pain and

the suffering our family has had to endure while we've been unable to get closure

over this.

"Lee went through each stage over the last nine years. I know the case inside out but

just hearing it read out like that was horrifying.

"The hope is that this will put pressure on the police to launch an investigation

into Carmel's death."

In February 2010, two doctors involved in Ms Bloom's care – consultant John Hines

and anaesthetist Dr Paul Timmis – were allowed to continue practising despite

admitting several failings to the General Medical Council (GMC).

Last month Mr Bloom met assistant attorney-general Kevin McGinty to request a fifth

inquest into his sister's death, raising the prospect of having her body exhumed, and

is waiting to hear back within the next few weeks.

Mr Scott said: "I want the family to get closure and justice and I'm just trying to

help them in any small way that I can.

"We got a positive response from the minister. She has agreed to meet me again and to

look into matters for me."

Fruits for weight loss

Kiwi:  Tiny but mighty, and a good source of potassium, magnesium, vitamin E and fiber. Its vitamin C content is twice that of an orange.

Apple. Although an apple has a low vitamin C content, it has antioxidants and flavonoids which enhances the activity of vitamin C, thereby helping to lower the risk of colon cancer, heart attack and stroke.

Strawberry. Also known as protective fruit because strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits and protect the body from cancer-causing, blood vessel-clogging free radicals.

Oranges. Two to four oranges may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent and dissolve kidney stones, and reduce the risk of colon cancer.

Watermelon. Coolest thirst quencher this summer. Composed of 92 percent water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione, which helps boost our immune system. Watermelons are also a good source of lycopene, the cancer-fighting oxidant. Also found in watermelon is Vitamin C and potassium.

Guava and Papaya. They are the clear winners for their high vitamin C content. Guava is also rich in fiber, which helps prevent constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene, good for your eyes.

Researchers also said that drinking cold water after a meal could lead to cancer. Though it is refreshing to have a cold drink after a meal, however, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff of the food which slows digestion.

Once this reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.

Reduce risk of kidney stones through lifestyle change

HOUSTON – Kidney stones can be very painful but according to a Baylor College of Medicine

expert, some lifestyle changes can help prevent them.

Men in their 30s or 40s who are overweight and eat a high protein diet are most at risk for

kidney stones. In addition, a family history of kidney stones increases the risk and so does

drinking less than two liters of water per day, said Dr. Alexander Pastuszak, a resident

physician in urology.

Prevention strategies include drinking more water, losing weight and decreasing protein and

salt intake.

Symptoms of kidney stones include blood in the urine and urinary tract infections, as well as

vague, intermittent back or flank pain on the side of the kidney that contains the stones.

Most of the time, kidney stones only trigger symptoms when they make their way into the

ureters, which results in significant pain in the back and flank, and can cause backup of

urine into the affected kidney if the stones obstruct your ureter.

Most kidney stones will pass on their own, particularly if they’re smaller than 5 mm;

however, larger stones may require surgery to remove them. In addition, if you have had

kidney stones more than once, a urine analysis should be conducted to help guide further

treatment and prevention.