Chronic Pain Support Group
Physicians and professionalsdefine pain as chronic if it lasts longer than three to six months and is persistent. It's distinct from acute pain that is a direct result of injury or trauma. This support group is dedicated to those suffering from chronic pain. Discuss treatments that have worked for you, find advice for your specific experience, and find support. You're not...
Today I had my Ultrasound to check on the right kidney and the 7.5mm stone that is blocking its ureter. I was not allowed to eat/drink for 6 hours before, and had to cancel Friday's appt b/c I ate a few spoons of ice cream. But this time I knew the rules. So it begins:
The 1st tech is a student tech and she starts in, pushing too hard. The real tech came in and they went to work, much lighter this time, as the real tech told the student that she was pushing too hard. Umm, yeah, I agree! At one point they pushed right on the ureter where the stone was and I jumped up and cried out. It's the closest I can imagine to a man being kicked in the groin.
The tech said, "Well, you definitely know where your stone is!" Umm, yeah, after over 5 weeks, I certainly do. Then they started talking about my LEFT kidney, which is the one that I consider the good girl of the 2. They're highlighting stuff and staring, and one says, "Now that's going to be a problem. We're supposed to get a complete look so be sure you make a note of the problem in the left kidney so they don't miss it." They chatted back and forth, watching what they said, but I CAN read faces and the look on one lady's face when the other pointed to the screen was shocking. This was AFTER they;'d already mentioned hydronephrosis (sp?) and I do know what that means. They took over 75 minutes instead of the allotted 40 and made a LOT of notes.
Now, is it just ME or wasn't there a rule saying the techs couldn't give you info? They DID know I could hear. But when I asked what they were talking about, they just looked at each other and said my doctor would explain it as soon as she got the Ultrasound.
MY doctor is skiing in the Upper Peninsula, so she's not going to see a thing until she gets back. I told them that and they said, she'll get a copy of this and be sure you call her office to see if she's checked in. Someone from their office was supposed to look it over (radiologist?) and give his/her opinion, 1st.
The ultrasound was supposed to give them info about my 7.5mm stone that somehow survived lithotripsy 3 weeks ago and is causing my kidney some trouble. THAT stone is on the right. Do I not have enough to worry about w/o wondering WTH is going on in my LEFT kidney? And all the chatter & pointing- they've got me losing what's left of my mind.
Back when I was pregnant, the techs couldn't tell you a thing unless your OB said so. I never know HOW to read these people.
I would HOPE that if they saw something truly bad- cancer, a too-large stone about to pass, etc., they'd get another doctor to LMK. At this point I am just about hitting my breaking point. And the 1st Ultrasound, the one scheduled last Friday that I had to cancel b/c I ate a few bites of ice cream? Well apparently that wouldn't have affected this too much and they still would've done it. So I wasted 4 days.
UGH! Between the RSD leaving my foot on fire and the recurrence of pink eye in my right eye, I think I've had enough. Let's please get rid of this stone! I've been going through all this since December 20th. I don't know what to think anymore but the chatting or as they say, "learning" scared me.
The 1st tech is a student tech and she starts in, pushing too hard. The real tech came in and they went to work, much lighter this time, as the real tech told the student that she was pushing too hard. Umm, yeah, I agree! At one point they pushed right on the ureter where the stone was and I jumped up and cried out. It's the closest I can imagine to a man being kicked in the groin.
The tech said, "Well, you definitely know where your stone is!" Umm, yeah, after over 5 weeks, I certainly do. Then they started talking about my LEFT kidney, which is the one that I consider the good girl of the 2. They're highlighting stuff and staring, and one says, "Now that's going to be a problem. We're supposed to get a complete look so be sure you make a note of the problem in the left kidney so they don't miss it." They chatted back and forth, watching what they said, but I CAN read faces and the look on one lady's face when the other pointed to the screen was shocking. This was AFTER they;'d already mentioned hydronephrosis (sp?) and I do know what that means. They took over 75 minutes instead of the allotted 40 and made a LOT of notes.
Now, is it just ME or wasn't there a rule saying the techs couldn't give you info? They DID know I could hear. But when I asked what they were talking about, they just looked at each other and said my doctor would explain it as soon as she got the Ultrasound.
MY doctor is skiing in the Upper Peninsula, so she's not going to see a thing until she gets back. I told them that and they said, she'll get a copy of this and be sure you call her office to see if she's checked in. Someone from their office was supposed to look it over (radiologist?) and give his/her opinion, 1st.
The ultrasound was supposed to give them info about my 7.5mm stone that somehow survived lithotripsy 3 weeks ago and is causing my kidney some trouble. THAT stone is on the right. Do I not have enough to worry about w/o wondering WTH is going on in my LEFT kidney? And all the chatter & pointing- they've got me losing what's left of my mind.
Back when I was pregnant, the techs couldn't tell you a thing unless your OB said so. I never know HOW to read these people.
I would HOPE that if they saw something truly bad- cancer, a too-large stone about to pass, etc., they'd get another doctor to LMK. At this point I am just about hitting my breaking point. And the 1st Ultrasound, the one scheduled last Friday that I had to cancel b/c I ate a few bites of ice cream? Well apparently that wouldn't have affected this too much and they still would've done it. So I wasted 4 days.
UGH! Between the RSD leaving my foot on fire and the recurrence of pink eye in my right eye, I think I've had enough. Let's please get rid of this stone! I've been going through all this since December 20th. I don't know what to think anymore but the chatting or as they say, "learning" scared me.
If they'd explained it to me, I wouldn't have been so frightened. And my doc didn't want to talk about it on the phone, saying she and the kidney doc would explain it, so again, I'm thinking the worst.
As for my kidney, I know the doc was worried b/c it was still swollen after the litho, but now she says it is less swollen. I don't know how long it takes to damage the kidney, but my ureter was completely blocked for a month. The original stone was on December 20th! Well, that is when I 1st knew of it. I don't know if it is damaged or not but am hoping it is okay. It has so many stones in it that looking at my CT last time scared me to death.
I'll just wait and see what they find out this week. If we dig out from this mess of snow, my CT is Wednesday. I had one in December, too. And several last year, on top of all the X-rays. But I prefer the CT scans b/c they can never see a damn thing on the X-rays, and couldn't see the stone on the Ultrasound. I had a 5.3 stone once that was being followed by another stone, and they didn't see it on the KUB OR the ultrasound. Yet at the same time, I worry. My mom was diagnosed in her 50's with Leukemia and I'm in my 40's. With all the flying I do, I get the scare about radiation. Hopefully they can deal with it with a minimum.
We'll see what Wednesday brings! :)
I can really understand your point of view. I would even tell the techs I don't want to hear anything about what May or may not be there if ya don't mind. Hope all goes well.