A New Twist on My Recent "Odyssey"
 

Most of you already know these two things:

1. I had surgery four weeks ago to remove a cancerous tumor from my kidney. We caught it early, the cancer was low-grade, not very advanced, it was fully encapsulated (in, of all things, fat :D), and had not spread. The prospects are excellent (98% survavility rate). No biggie...

2. I am leaving for a Caribbean cruise this Sunday. (The CEO and I love to travel.)

What you may NOT know is that we found the kidney cancer because I had to go into the ER with kidney stones (would not wish that upon my worst enemy, by the way). They did a CT scan, and found this "mass" that later turned out to be a tumor. The CT scan also revealed that I had "several" stones -- again, no biggie - I've had them all my life. So, we did the surgery thing, from which I am almost fully recovered now. We made an appointment for the 15th of July to start dealing with the stones still in my kidney.

BUT... Bill Cosby likes to say that God has a sense of humor, and he's displaying that with me right now...

Sometime on Tuesday, I started feeling this "twinge" on my right side. The twinge became serious pain. I did not make a big deal out of it. But, here I was yesterday still in pain. My wife is (literally) screaming at me telling me to go to the doctor. She's also mad at me because I have refused to follow the "do not lift anything over 10 pounds" rule, and she's convinced that I now have a hernia.

Anyway, yesterday, I finally broke down and called the urologist. He told me to come see him this morning, which I did. After yet ANOTHER CT scan, it was determined that I now had a kidney stone in my eureter!! :mad:

He gave me the following options:

1. Come into the hospital, have the stone removed, and go on the cruise with a stent up in my urethra. They stick a probe up your member and retrieve the stone. They then put a stent in there to facilitate any other stones from passing.) I did this already two months ago... trust me, not much fun... at all! BUT it WOULD remove the stone... there would be some discomfort from the stent, but I'd be assured no kidney stone pain.

2. Go on the cruise with a fresh prescription of Percoset and hope and pray that the stone does not move. If it does, then swallow some pills, "feel no pain," and hope everything holds off until I get back.

So, what do you guys think I chose?

Well, number TWO, OF COURSE!!!

Have Percoset -- will travel!! :bustingup

Anyway, wish me luck! I hope I do not have to be air-lifted out of the boat and into a third-world country hospital with a urologist whose degree is from University of Phoenix Online! :rofl:

Just thought I'd share... It was an interesting day.

Juan

Juan, I hope you get well and have a comfortable cruise. If you are heading to Mexico, remember not to drink the water to chase down those Percoset. :D

Wow Juan, that is really something. It is great that you have a light-hearted attitude about this. You have already been through a lot! Whichever you decide (take 2!) I'll say a prayer that your cruise is pain free. Hope you and the CEO have a wonderful time.
Feel well buddy,
Kevin

drown that sucker in the sea while u r on the cruise is what I would suggest.

Have a great time, Juan!! I'm leaving for the Caribbean, too, on the 9th.

Thanks, guys! The funny thing is that the doc tells me to drink lots of water and/OR beer!! I said, "Hey, I don't have a problem with that!" lol

No cokes, but I can drink all the beer I want!

We'll see... hopefully, all will work out. Have fun, CJ!

Anyone have liquor requests?? :)

Juan

Hahaha that's cool... Did he give you a reason why beer is good to drink?

Beer helps "clean out" your kidney... helps flush things out. Cokes are just... sugar!

So... beer it is! :thumbup:

Juan

Jeez, Juan, the kidneys are treatin you like a red-headed stpechild lately!

Have a blast on that cruise! Havana Club in a rocks glass should cure any pain.

JV

JK,

Damn, that's like 'tween a rock & a hard spot, no pun intended. Well, I think I would load up the shaving bag full of Percs and go, also. (I have Very fond memories of Percs when I tried to cut off my fingertip; those sumbitches WORK!)

As for that weight situ:
'She's also mad at me because I have refused to follow the "do not lift anything over 10 pounds" rule, and she's convinced that I now have a hernia.'

Simply lay off playing with MrHappy by yourself and kindly ask yourCEO for a lil'assistance in pulling that big boy out!
:D

Seriously, hope ya'll are fine. Chill, enjoy, think poz and have a great vacay. BR, David