My Newest Worst Enemy...KIDNEY STONES!!!

Oh yes, folks...finally figured out why I was having all that blood in my urine (hematuria). My specialist had made me an appointment for a urologist for this Wednesday to figure out why I was having hematuria with no other symptoms. Well, Friday night around 8 or 9p, I felt that something just "wasn't right"...I had a dull aching sensation in my left lower abdomen that wouldn't go away; felt like I needed to urinate every 2 minutes; and my urine was blood red again...so, I knew what this meant! I called the OBGYN on call and gave him my symptoms, to which he was like: "well, unfortunately there's really nothing we can do for pregnant women who are passing kidney stones, just drink aLOT of water and go to the hospital immediately if you experience any fever or chills (infection)." I knew there was no narcotic that I could take while being pregnant (BY PERSONAL CHOICE)...so, I geared up for what would be the worst pain I have EVER been through and worst night I have ever experienced in my life...WITH NO MEDICATION.

Now keep in mind, when patients arrive to the ER, writhing in agony with a kidney stone, they are immediately hooked up to an IV and given STRONG narcotics around the clock to control their pain...except PREGNANT women. They might get a weaker narc that doesn't really help all that much with the pain (and to which I would never feel comfortable taking any type of narc while pregnant...especially with my pregnancy being so high risk with quadruplets!). Ironically, they say that kidney stones hurt worse than giving birth! and pregnant women are at a much higher risk of developing stones!!! GO FIGURE, right?! NOT FAIR?!

So from 9-10p, I am still having this moderate dull ache in my lower left stomach which eventually turns into INTENSE STABBING pains in my left lower back (kidney area). There is NO position you can get into, NO amount of rubbing or massage, NOTHING (except pain meds) that can make you feel comfortable. The intense torture lasted from about 10:00p to 7:00am...just imagine if you will:

Suz, pregnant with quadruplets, yelling, screaming, bawling, barely breathing, shrieking to "make it stop...make it stop...please God...make it go away"...intense cramping and tears....nonstop tears...NOTHING made me feel better...NOTHING.

This is kinda funny: meanwhile, Joe is getting sick with allergies/cold/sinuses and took 3 shots of NyQuil before this started happening...so he was kinda out of it the whole time (lucky for him!). After several hours of this, I finally kicked Joe out of bed and made him go upstairs around 4am. There was nothing he could do to make me feel better and there was no need for him to have to hear me moaning in agony.

I was SOOOO completely exhausted: physically, mentally, spiritually...I was stumbling to the restroom every 5 minutes for hours. I would cry so hard that I would finally "mildly" pass-out out of pure exhaustion for a couple of minutes, then wake up to the extreme cramping in my side. Several times throughout the night, I remember "passing" stones...at least 3 times that I know of. (no, I did not strain my urine to figure out the stone composition..I could have cared less at the time). I kept a hand on my tummy at all times to make sure I wasn't contracting and that the babies weren't in any distress. Throughout my time on the porcelain throne, I kept checking to make sure that I wasn't having any vaginal bleeding or abnormalities going on down there...

Oh yes, and another fun side note...while straining during these longest hours of my life, I got a nose bleed! haha! Anything else? Goodness gracious! So there I sit in excruciating pain, with toilet paper hanging out of my nostril!

Finally, at 7:00am Saturday morning, the stabbing in my back had reverted back into a mild dull ache and I was able to void without any urinary blockage for the first time in hours. Oh, it felt SOOOO good to be able to void without difficulty! I was overwhelmed with the most calming, peaceful feeling of this nightmare finally being over...at least for the time being. Needless to say, I spent the entire Saturday in bed, recuperating and completely exhausted like you wouldn't believe. Feeling great today! But nervous because I know that kidney stones hardly ever attack just once...I am paranoid everytime I use the restroom now--hoping not to see any shade of pink! (TMI? sorry..)

Whew...long post...sorry...just want to journal it so I can always remember. Also, I just wanted to thank all of you for your support and kind advice you have given me. I understand that my last couple of posts have included various medical concerns, but fret not my fellow bloggers- in knowing that my awesome team of health care professionals are right on top of it and that I am doing well! Please know that I am a healthcare professional and I am also "anal" about every aspect of my life--a little too much...meaning, I research everything!...even the most insignificant decision I make.

For example, when Joe and I were thinking about getting a dog, I did about 3-4 months of hardcore research regarding what breed would be the best fit for us, for an apartment, etc. When we had decided on a Beagle, I bought about 5 different Beagle books and spoke with breeders and vets about everything having to do with this breed.

SO, know that throughout this entire pregnancy, from the first day we found out we were expecting quads, I have done nothing but research, research, research. And thank God for my medical background, because I understand everything that I am reading and learning about. Multiple pregnancies, especially quads, are different than any other type of pregnancy out there. The rules are different, the health implications and concerns are different..my care is going to be completely different. Every health care professional/specialist who is involved in my care, is operating consistently with what I have researched (through books, other parents of quads/multiples, other specialists, other anesthesiologists that I know, other nurses that I know)...I am 100% confident in the care I am receiving...from this diet, to my weekly appointments, to all the prenatals/vitamins/medications that I am taking. I am 100% confident in my team of specialists who handle nothing but high-risk, multiple-birth pregnancies and have been doing so for longer than I have been alive. So please rest assured that I am researching every little aspect of my care that I am receiving and it all matches up! In the healthcare field, each person is viewed holistically, as an individual with different concerns and thus have individualized plans of care...my care is exactly what I need...for ME. Keep those prayers coming! Sorry for the novel!! ;)