For 18 days I have carried a 7.5mm kidney stone in my right ureter. Because of the holidays and the fact that our area only gets the lithotripsy machine once a month, I've had a rough few weeks. Even my CP doc yesterday was shocked they could let this go on so long.

So I got the litho set for Weds, though I have to go to a neighboring town to catch up with the litho machine. And today, I started getting worse. What are the odds?

I asked my PA about what I should do for the extra pain, a question she's never dealt with before with me. She asked the doctor and he suggested changing me from morphine to oxycodone, but like an angel, the surgery coordinator called as we were discussing it. Since she said I am IN Wednesday, I told them I don't need to worry about switching. Honestly, after 17 years of proper pain management on morphine, I did not WANT to change so I could take a higher dose.

But as I was checking out I bumped into him and he said, "You might need to take an extra pill after this surgery- that's okay." I've never done that so I KNOW I'd just worry. I'm hoping the Torradol works after the surgery like last time.

I get a KUB in the am, and am praying all is well. They have not checked this stuck stone since the 20th of December. I've felt like I have a 2nd stone in my left side, but figured if so, they'll see it. I hope it's just some odd pain thing- like when you feel pain on the opposite side. That happened to me with the RSD years ago.

I AM worried about going in to a NEW doctor and a NEW anesthesiologist in a NEW hospital, but I know I can't wait another week to have it done. So tomorrow, please pray that the KUB is okay and they can get it with the lithotripsy. The other options scare me to death.

I'm sure I sound like a baby, but this stone has taken up my life 24/7 for weeks. I can barely eat, I never know how I'm going to feel, and it pretty much ruined our Xmas plans. I'm terrified to the point of insomnia about the IV and the surgery, but more worried about what happens if they can NOT get this stone with litho. It's too high for them to go in and get it the other way, and the 3rd possibility is way too invasive.

In March I had 2 huge stones in my right kidney blasted with litho, and it took me 3 weeks before I felt right again. To add insult to injury, after no snow for an entire month, we're finally getting it. Lovely if it were Christmas, but all the cold does is flare my RSD. I'm quite scared about someone bumping my foot during the surgery b/c that is ALL it would take.

I know this is good news (as long as the x-ray tomorrow doesn't show complications) and I also know I am SO over this. No one should have to live this long with such a large stone stuck in their ureter. It's colicky tonight but I just have to get through to Weds mid-day.

Please say a prayer for me if you have a spare- both for the stone being blasted to smithereens and no further problems with my RSD. My poor 5 year old son has been dealing with sick mommy for too long. Hopefully this surgery won't take as long to recuperate from!