Since the glorious concert performance, I have been dogged with a vicious cold that has changed in character each day. Cold and flu medication helped calm the symptoms, but I needed something new each day. I was very happy when last night I thought I would go to bed while not losing sleep because of the symptoms.
Two friends from Boston have been in town doing a Holy Land tour of Jordan and the West Bank. Yes, Jordan is certainly part of the Holy Land. We enjoyed a nice dinner at an Al-Rainbow Street restaurant, where I nibbled on Squab. (Yes, that means pigeon.) It was very tasty, especially with the Fareehkah cracked wheat bed on which it sat.
We strolled past coffee houses, art galleries, craft shops, and ice cream stands. At one place, I ordered a single scoop of double dark chocolate, which was very creamy. As soon as I tasted it, I realized I would regret it. I felt a sharp pain in my right side and thought that I might be having a kidney stone attack. Thankfully, the pain passed within three minutes.
I have a strange history with kidney stones, having passed seven already. After the first one, the doctor mentioned I had a handful of others, but they were very unlikely ever to move from where they sat. I was thankful for that because it is incredible pain. However, on three different Ash Wednesday's, I have passed a stone.
I realized I am beyond Ash Wednesday so I don't have to fret, but today we celebrate Palm Sunday because we follow the Orthodox liturgical calendar. Holy Week always comes alive for me and the Western Church's Holy Week was eventful this year. I don't want to repeat that dynamic.
I arrived home at 11:30 p.m. and knew I needed to go to bed early because I had an early morning mass to celebrate. As soon I put myself under the covers, I developed a raw pulsing pain on my left front side. I've not had a stone attack there before but the symptoms were the same. I agonized for four hours. I know that I don't have to go to the hospital because they only last two to three hours and then the pain suddenly stops. There isn't much doctors can do except to give morphine and I don't want to take drugs. I writhed about, jumped up and down, paced the hallway, and did everything I could to provide some pain relief, but the blasted thing lasted for hour hours. What a way to enter Holy Week.
I was looking for needed sleep and I did not get it. Soon, I'm off to bed. I hope it is a much better night.
John, I hope today was much better for you. I know the pain of kidney stones is intolerable. Prayers for a very meaningful Holy Week in the midst of much busyness.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lynda. I am sore but feeling much better. I am heading in the right direction and I am swimming in water and juices. Ah, I'm glad Holy Week is finally here.
DeleteA friend of mine who cycled a lot had chronic kidney stones. He was prescribed this : Polycitra- K+ crystals, which he said has helped a lot, particularly in the summer months of heat stress. Here's a link. http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drug-81238-Polycitra-K+Crystals+Oral.aspx?drugid=81238&drugname=Polycitra-K+Crystals+Oral
ReplyDeleteIf you are not up to seeing the doctor at least keep drinking loads of fluids and cranberry juice - as much as you can handle! This is excruciating and debilitating pain to be in. Sending you much love and praying that prolonged pain relief will be yours soon. Blessings for Holy Week too !!
Thanks, Phil. I can probably get those crystals here. It dawned on me that the cough syrup or cold/flu medication may have brought on this attack because I had some side effects from it. I have been drinking lots but I will probably have to hunt down some cranberry juice. Ironically, we had turkey this week and I ate lots of cranberry sauce before the attack. Thanks for your good wishes for Holy Week. I suspect you'll be having Pentecost soon. We'll have to catch up on Skype soon.
DeleteI just thought it might be worth a try. Hope that you are feeling better. We are going away on Friday but I'll be back by Pentecost Sunday so Skype after then would be good. I'm thinking of changing my internet provider because the connection has been intermittently cutting out over several weeks and we have superfast broadband in my area now, so it might solve the problem if I switch.
ReplyDeleteBlessings
Well, the attack is over but the journey for the stone is beginning. I've had problems with Skype that I can't figure out. I'm not sure if it is with one or two people or a generalized situation.
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