(from University of Tennessee Erlanger Urology)
Recently, I saw where my friend Jackie Tarrance made a trip to ER to have a bug removed. I’m glad to report the bug extraction was successful.
Recently (this morning), I, too, went to the emergency room to have a bug removed. I don’t know which species of insect found itself trapped inside Jackie’s ear, but the one causing me trouble was of the “Kidney Stone” kind.
All joking aside, my ER trip was the most painful experience of my life. And it’s not over—the stubborn bug is still there. “Stubborn” is a very, very mild term compared to some of the choice words I threw at that “bug” today.
(photo by Stephanie Autry)
I’ve always heard that child birth and passing kidney stones were the two worse pains one could ever go through. I obviously can’t speak for child birth, but I now can attest to the misery of kidney stones.
And my kidney stone is supposedly a small one, three millimeters. The ER nurse said someone came in to ER a few days before with a nine-millimeter stone stuck. Goodness gracious! Mercy me!
Right now I’m seriously thanking God for the scientist who invented Dilaudid. I know opioid medicines have a bad rap, but this one was the only thing that relieved my pain today.
Picture this! Me, literally writhing on the ER floor. And I was most definitely NOT being quiet about it. I was quite vocal, to be honest.
When the nurse injected that pain med into my IV, the relief was almost immediate, and I thanked God over and over.
(from Google Images)
So what are Kidney Stones? According to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, a kidney stone is—
Inevitably, someone will say I should keep this personal information to myself. I can respect that view, but I don’t prescribe to it. I’ll use my experience to educate.
See, I really, really hope you don’t ever have to go through the hell I went through today. And, truth is you don’t have to. Please read the following:
You can use these internet sources and many others to find the same information and much more. Be sure to verify the credibility of websites, though.
Of course, being educated about a subject doesn’t mean you will follow through and put that knowledge to use.
I’m a perfect example of this because I’ve known for years I should be drinking more water daily. I certainly wish I had now, don’t I?
And I’m not through paying for my obstinacy. If this Kidney Stone hasn’t pass by Monday, I have to contact more doctors to make sure I don’t have complications that could make things worse and more serious by a mile.
In addition to expressing my appreciation for God and the inventor of Dilaudid, and the nurses and doctors at Ohio County Hospital, I need to thank my wife Stephanie and our son Tanner for taking care of me today.
Steph and I have been taking care of each other for over 34 years, but this was a first for Tanner to have to take care of his old man.
I know how hard it is to see your parents and grandparents suffer. It breaks your heart. And it can be frightening.
I was 20 when my Papaw Tom Autry lost a leg to Diabetes. I sat with him all night in the hospital, and it was excruciating to watch him deal with the awful pain and loss.
Sooner or later all of us have to go through the experience Tanner had today. I just wish it didn’t have to be this day, August 16, 2025.
Sooner or later all of us DO NOT have to go through the Kidney Stone experience. Take care of yourselves and God bless.
