Hi, Ardith...

Relax the bowel?? I also have some doubt about this idea

While I have IBS, diverticulitis, and hemorrhoids (with moderate to severe rectal bleeding...they did blood work to make sure I wasn't becoming anemic), recent colonoscopies have shown no polyps...although they did find some benign ones several years ago. Now that I'm over 50, I have both a colonoscopy and an EGD (upper GI) done 13 months apart (or Medicare won't pay for them...go figure).

I've got to go in for an IVP in late September, to find out WHY I've been producing kidney stones like mad. My first stone was discovered in April, 2010,
and removed 2 months later. My second stone was discovered in early July, 2012...but not 10 days after they removed it, they found a second one!!

However, before the IVP, I have to prep as if I was having a colonoscopy, so there's nothing in the bowel to block the tracking of the dye they'll inject into me, to view the urinary tract from the kidneys, through the ureters, to the bladder, to the urethra, and out the penis. If there is a blockage of some sort, or more stones, I'm going back under the knife, as it were.

The irritating thing (besides the burning, and a bad case of prostatitis), is
that it was originally scheduled for August 31. I should've realized it'd likely be cancelled, as it's the Friday before Labor Day Weekend. Sure enough, it got postponed until the end of September!!

I had been drinking flavored water daily, but the urologist advised me to switch to Gatorade, because it'll replenish the electrolytes. I've heard of people with "kidney cancer", but I doubt I'm to that point...and hope I never get there. But, drinking 3 liters of liquid a day to keep flushed out keeps me on close contact with the bathroom!!

On a lighter note, I recently had to switch FIDONet hubs, so it's good to be back in here.

Daryl

---
# OLX 1.53 # Either this man's dead, or my watch is stopped. -Groucho
# GT 20.00 # Take my wife ... please! -Henny Youngman



--- GTMail 1.26
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS -- wx1der.dyndns.org (1:19/33.0)

Hi, Mark...

Has any of your doctors ever linked your IBS to the kidney stones? My

>thinking is that if there is more liquid being released in the bowe, it cuts
>down on the liquid in the kidneys and could increase the changes for stones.

No, but that's something I'll have to ask the urologist later this month when
I go in for the IVP.

I had a kidney stone back when I was 30 years old and it was no picnic. It

>still the most pain I have ever felt in my life - enough to cause non-stop
>vomiting until I was injected with morphine.

Three of the main symptoms of kidney stones are blood in the urine, extreme pain, and vomiting. Once I start, I can't stop...and have to go to the ER.

My urologist said that they really don't know exactly what causes kidney

>stones, the best way to prevent them is drinking lots of water on a regular
>basis. Ever since, I make sure I drink a certain amount of water each day a
>bring water bottles with me everywhere.

I can't handle regular water...it's too bland, and it upsets my digestive tract. With the IBS and extra water, I get severe diarrhea, which leads to dehydration...then severe rectal bleeding from the hemorrhoids, which leads to anemia. However, I can handle either the flavored water (for clear liquids), but the urologist recommended Gatorade. I can drink 3 liters of that a day...my
favorite is the grape flavor...it reminds me of the "punch" I used to drink in school over 45 years ago (yeah, I'm dating myself now <G>).

I really think mine was caused in part from getting dehydrated multiple time

>while playing softball that summer before getting the stone. It is also
>hereditary - as my father has had them, too.

It is hereditary...my late father, my brother, my uncle, and my cousin (that I know of) all have had them. It is the closest thing a man can get to the pain
of childbirth.

I know a young lady, who with both of her pregnancies, she also had kidney stones...as if the pain of labor wasn't enough!!

Daryl
---
# OLX 1.53 # Honk if you love peace and quiet.
# GT 20.00 # Status quo. Latin for the mess we're in. -Jeve Moorman



--- GTMail 1.26
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS -- wx1der.dyndns.org (1:19/33.0)

Has any of your doctors ever linked your IBS to the kidney stones? My

>thinking is that if there is more liquid being released in the bowe,
it cuts
>down on the liquid in the kidneys and could increase the changes for stones.

No, but that's something I'll have to ask the urologist later this
month
when I go in for the IVP.

I'd be interested to know what they end up saying. The lack of water in the system can certainly raise the chances of a stone for many people. Getting the
IBS under control might be the key.

Have you tried various probiotics? Avoiding trouble foods, etc?

Three of the main symptoms of kidney stones are blood in the urine, extreme pain, and vomiting. Once I start, I can't stop...and have to go
to
the ER.

Yes, even though it was 13 years ago, I remember those symptoms very well. I had to take two ER trips while I was dealing with the stone I had back then.

I can't handle regular water...it's too bland, and it upsets my
digestive
tract. With the IBS and extra water, I get severe diarrhea, which leads
to
dehydration...then severe rectal bleeding from the hemorrhoids, which
leads
to anemia. However, I can handle either the flavored water (for clear liquids), but the urologist recommended Gatorade. I can drink 3 liters of that a day...my favorite is the grape flavor...it reminds me of the
"punch"
I used to drink in school over 45 years ago (yeah, I'm dating myself now <G>).

Finding what you can handle is key, and I would think with time would help your
overall health. I did lots of studying of IBS years ago after my kidney stone and it took me several years to eventually get rid of that problem.

In my case, it was related to taking too many Cipro while dealing with a UTI from the kidney stone.

It is hereditary...my late father, my brother, my uncle, and my cousin (that I know of) all have had them. It is the closest thing a man can get to
the pain of childbirth.

Yes, I agree. My Dad had two of them - and apparently passed that probem to me. The main thing I have changed is drinking more water, every day. It has been working.

I know a young lady, who with both of her pregnancies, she also had kidney
stones...as if the pain of labor wasn't enough!!

That is really horrible.. I can't imagine..

- Mark

--- WWIVToss v.1.50
* Origin: http://www.weather-station.org * Bel Air, MD -USA (1:261/1304.0)

Hi & welcome back, Daryl! Awhile ago you wrote in a message to Ardith Hinton:

While I have IBS, diverticulitis, and hemorrhoids
(with moderate to severe rectal bleeding...they
did blood work to make sure I wasn't becoming anemic),
recent colonoscopies have shown no polyps...

Good! I understand colonoscopies are a drag... a female friend had one recently & told me she was hors de combat for three days. The alternative could be worse, however, if further developments took place unchecked.... :-Q

Now that I'm over 50, I have both a colonoscopy and
an EGD (upper GI) done 13 months apart (or Medicare
won't pay for them...go figure).

I reckon the bean counters got into the act there & you are allowed no more than one such test per year. I've noticed also that once a person has crossed some invisible boundary line they're deemed to be at a higher risk for various things. The downside is that the patient may wonder sometimes whether the doctor is being a bit overconscientious. The upside is that if you really do need a certain type of testing you may find it easier to get... [wry grin].

I've got to go in for an IVP in late September, to
find out WHY I've been producing kidney stones like
mad. My first stone was discovered in April, 2010,
and removed 2 months later. My second stone was
discovered in early July, 2012...but not 10 days
after they removed it, they found a second one!!

I may have asked you before if the first stone was ever analyzed... in Dallas's case, a change of diet seemed to help ward off the next occurrence for ten or twenty years. But I realize it's not always quite that simple, and I'm curious as to what your IVP may or may not have indicated. I had the same test years ago. Conclusion: my kidneys are weird, as my GP & I already knew. As long as I'm reasonably cautious about what I eat it's not a big deal. :-))

before the IVP, I have to prep as if I was having a
colonoscopy

That's the bit where you spend all day on the toilet? Apparently I got off lightly in that regard, but I wore the needle mark for eighteen years. Then there was the bit where I was instructed to hold my breath, after which I was left alone for twenty minutes. I was a teenager at the time. Fortunately for the technician & for me I was smart enough to realize there was no need to hold my breath for the entire time. I go to other labs nowadays... [chuckle].

If there is a blockage of some sort, or more stones,
I'm going back under the knife, as it were.

Although I'm late in answering, I hope your IVP went well. :-)

The irritating thing (besides the burning, and a bad
case of prostatitis), is that it was originally
scheduled for August 31.

That must be very frustrating. But... read on.

I should've realized it'd likely be cancelled, as it's
the Friday before Labor Day Weekend. Sure enough, it
got postponed until the end of September!!

Reminds me of the time when Nora was admitted to hospital on Friday (allegedly for forty-eight hours). I figured she wouldn't be discharged until Monday... as she was, despite the prognostications of certain "gloom-and-doom" artists in the parents' lounge. If your doctors had serious reason to believe you had cancer of the bowel, things would be happening so fast your head would be spinning. When hospitals postpone testing they're not too worried.... ;-)




--- timEd/386 1.10.y2k+
* Origin: Wits' End, Vancouver CANADA (1:153/716)

Hi & welcome back, Daryl! Awhile ago you wrote in a message to Ardith Hinton:

Hi, Ardith...glad to be back.

Good! I understand colonoscopies are a drag... a female friend had one recently & told me she was hors de combat for three
days. The alternative could be worse, however, if further developments took place unchecked.... :-Q

A lady in Sherwood, Arkansas (northeast of Little Rock) was diagnosed with colon cancer at 24...she died 6 weeks later. Another female was too
embarrassed to tell the doctor she had blood in her fecal stool. Nine months later, violent abdominal pains sent her to the ER...only to find it was
stage 4 colon cancer. :( While colon cancer is the second greatest killer behind heart disease and breast cancer, if caught early, it's easily
treatable, with a 90% chance of survival. Unfortunately, colon cancer, and
many other forms of cancer, in their early stages, have no symptoms at all.

I saw a T-shirt once that noted "I'm here to save your butt, not kiss it"!! To medical people, nudity means nothing to them. So, when they tell me to get naked, I used to reply "how fast??". Unfortunately, the arthritis has gotten
so bad in my arms and legs now, I have to literally have them undress and
dress me again. I can take care of that at home, but the height of the exam tables in the hospitals and doctors offices is difficult to work with...and
I'm afraid I'll fall if I'm not careful. In fact, I'm using a cane more and more often, and may end up with doing likewise with a walker (if not a wheelchair) as well.

I've heard cute stories about people who "have a cow" when the staff tells them to "get naked", or "put the gown on". Many will put the gown on OVER
their clothing. How are they going to examine you if you are dressed?? :)

I reckon the bean counters got into the act there & you are allowed no more than one such test per year. I've noticed also that
once a person has crossed some invisible boundary line they're deemed
to be at a higher risk for various things. The downside is that the patient may wonder sometimes whether the doctor is being a bit overconscientious. The upside is that if you really do need a certain type of testing you may find it easier to get... [wry grin].

I still had to prep like for a colonoscopy when I had an IVP done to check the entire urinary tract (kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra) for any
new stones or abnormalities. Apparently, the intestines are in front of the urinary tract, and any fecal obstruction would have blocked seeing the progress of the dye injection. However, it's better to be safe than sorry.

I may have asked you before if the first stone was ever analyzed... in Dallas's case, a change of diet seemed to help ward off the next occurrence for ten or twenty years. But I realize it's not always quite that simple, and I'm curious as to what your IVP may or
may not have indicated. I had the same test years ago. Conclusion:
my kidneys are weird, as my GP & I already knew. As long as I'm reasonably cautious about what I eat it's not a big deal. :-))

All my stones have been caused by oxylates...such as those with chocolate, caffeine, etc. I haven't had a candy bar in almost 3 years (I've heard some
say "they would kill if they couldn't have chocolate"), although I admit I do eat a chocolate chip cookie or two on occasion. I never acquired a taste for coffee, and rarely drink tea anymore. The IVP showed no new stones, and the urinary bladder emptied successfully. But, I may have to have a "green light" procedure with the prostate...where they go in, and remove the center part
of it, to make it easier for urine to exit the bladder.

If the prostate gets too large, it'll literally stop the flow of urine from the bladder, resulting in AUR (Acute Urinary Retention), which is obviously a medical emergency. I nearly had that in second grade about 45 years ago. I thought I'd get into trouble by asking permission from the teacher to go to the bathroom, and my bladder had gotten so full of urine, I was starting to have abdominal pain.

I used to think the pain from the catheter insertion was more so for the males because of it going through the penis. The truth is that the urethra
has to take a longer path from the penis, through the prostate, and into
the bladder. For females, the urethra is bascially a "straight shot" into
the bladder. I had to have the catheter after the first kidney stone surgery, as I couldn't urinate. They put me on Flomax, and after the second stone surgery, I was never so happy to be able to urinate in all my life!! I understand that many older people have to have catheters, but for the life
of me, I can't understand how they can work with them. I screamed so when
they put that one in, they probably heard me in Washington, DC!!

That's the bit where you spend all day on the toilet?

Yep, but unlike past years where I had to take this "Go-Lightly" tepid
salt water solution of a gallon...nasty as all get out...I now take a
bottle of clear citrate of magnesia (my late wife termed it as "Sprite
with a kick"), and 3 Ducolax tablets at 4pm the day before the procedure.
The diet is clear liquids on that day, but I've found that doing the
clear liquids for 2 days beforehand makes it easier to cleanse the colon.
Then, I take 1 more Ducolax tablet at 11pm, then take a Fleet Enema at
6am the day of the procedure...and that cleans me out. Unfortunately,
the hemorrhoids result in severe rectal bleeding...but I understand that surgery to remove them causes loss of a lot more blood!! :(

Apparently I got off lightly in that regard, but I wore the needle mark for eighteen years. Then there was the bit where I was instructed to
hold my breath, after which I was left alone for twenty minutes. I was
a teenager at the time. Fortunately for the technician & for me I was smart enough to realize there was no need to hold my breath for the entire time. I go to other labs nowadays... [chuckle].

When they first diagnosed me with digestive tract issues, I was having violent abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea (doing it out of both ends)
in the ER. The ultrasound showed something suspicious around the appendix,
and they thought they'd have to do an appendectomy, but that proved to not
be necessary. Also, when the doctor said that "I had to watch what I ate",
I quipped "I do...from the plate to the mouth"...he snapped "You know what
I mean!!". <G>

The upper GI was interesting...they gave me a thick beverage, a
combination of a strawberry shake, and citrate of magnesia...telling me
not to pause to even belch. I swigged it down like a drunkard, and they
quipped "This man knows how to drink". Shoot, it was the first thing they
would let me have!! I warned them to have a step stool next to the table
in case I needed to "bid a hasty retreat" to the toilet...sure enough, in
just 15 minutes, it hit. After that was done, the nurses said I was lucky;
when I asked why, they replied "some have to stay down here 5 hours to get their colon purged"...I just cringed. But, it was better than the lower
GI!!

The kicker though, was that they had me on NPO (non-para-oral (nothing
by mouth)), as they thought they'd have to do an appendectomy. The nurse
walks in, and had the gall to ask for a "stool sample". I snapped "Where
do you think I'm going to get it?? From the bedpan in the next room??
You haven't fed me in 3 days"...to which she sighed and admitted "Well,
you can't manufacture it, if you ain't got it". So, they gave me some
Jello "to do the job"...sheesh!! If they had just looked at my chart...
it really makes me wonder about the medical people at times!!

Although I'm late in answering, I hope your IVP went well.
:-)

It did...no new stones, but I may still be looking at prostate surgery.
It is apparently NOT cancer, but I'm having trouble starting voiding, as
well as continuing, and "dribbling" afterwards. Part of that is just part
of growing older in males, but it's obviously a nuisance. They have also
put me on a diuretic, due to holding fluid in my legs (adema). But, the
blood sugar levels are still within normal limits...so, while I'm not
diabetic, I have the potential to become type 2. I also have a lower
abdominal hernia, but the doctor said "as long as I remain under 300
pounds" (I'm at 265), that I should be OK. I have no idea how I got the hernia...but it may have been from lifting heavy objects over the years.
I didn't think they were heavy, but I guess my body felt otherwise.

Reminds me of the time when Nora was admitted to hospital on Friday (allegedly for forty-eight hours). I figured she wouldn't be discharged until Monday... as she was, despite the prognostications of certain "gloom-and-doom" artists in the parents' lounge. If your
doctors had serious reason to believe you had cancer of the bowel,
things would be happening so fast your head would be spinning. When hospitals postpone testing they're not too worried.... ;-)

I guess not...although if there is a disaster (such as Hurricane Sandy
on the eastern Seaboard), many hospitals have postponed "elective surgery". However, I'm not sure what they'll do in "critical cases". I saw reports
this morning where large numbers of people refused to heed the evacuation warnings, and rescues had to be performed. But, just like with the medical issues, it's always better to be safet than sorry.

Daryl

... Special K factory destroyed by a Cereal Killer.
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49

--- Virtual Advanced Ver 2 for DOS
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS (1:19/33)

Hi again, Daryl! This is a continuation of my previous message to you:

I had been drinking flavored water daily, but the
urologist advised me to switch to Gatorade, because
it'll replenish the electrolytes.

Ah. I was wondering why he'd recommended this brand in particular, when other brands of sports drinks have similar ingredients. Then I noticed a sign at a local gas station advertising G2, an "electrolyte" version. I guess it was available elsewhere before making its formal debut here, as usual. ;-)

I've heard of people with "kidney cancer", but I doubt
I'm to that point...and hope I never get there.

I doubt it too. Once again, if your doctors thought you might have cancer you wouldn't be waiting another 30 days after the first appointment was rescheduled. I'm sure kidney stones and/or prostatitis are very uncomfortable for whoever is wearing them & you'd prefer to have some answers sooner. But I think your doctors know *you* know enough to go to the ER if you have blood in your urine or can't produce anything after drinking 3 liters of Gatorade. :-)

But, drinking 3 liters of liquid a day to keep flushed
out keeps me on close contact with the bathroom!!

Yes, I imagine so... and I imagine you have to pay for the Gatorade yourself because it doesn't qualify as a prescription item. Same goes for the Pedialyte etc. Nora wouldn't have needed if she wasn't in treatment... (sigh).

On a lighter note, I recently had to switch FIDONet hubs,
so it's good to be back in here.

I thought I'd noticed you had a different node number or something. At any rate, it's good to have you back with us again.... :-)




--- timEd/386 1.10.y2k+
* Origin: Wits' End, Vancouver CANADA (1:153/716)

Hi, Ardith...

Ah. I was wondering why he'd recommended this brand in particular, when other brands of sports drinks have similar
ingredients. Then I noticed a sign at a local gas station advertising G2, an "electrolyte" version. I guess it was available elsewhere
before making its formal debut here, as usual. ;-)

I had been looking for "Gatorade" weeks ago (it had been so long since
I had shopped for it), but was rather surprised when I saw the "G2" brand.
My favorite flavor is the "grape". :)

I doubt it too. Once again, if your doctors thought you
might have cancer you wouldn't be waiting another 30 days after the
first appointment was rescheduled. I'm sure kidney stones and/or prostatitis are very uncomfortable for whoever is wearing them & you'd prefer to have some answers sooner. But I think your doctors know
*you* know enough to go to the ER if you have blood in your urine or can't produce anything after drinking 3 liters of Gatorade. :-)

My late wife was diabetic, and she drank water like a fish. In fact, at
one doctors appointment, after she left a urine sample, the nurses told
her "you have really good looking urine" (clear). With the diuretic I'm
taking, due to holding a bit of fluid in my legs, and the drinking of
almost a gallon of Gatorade a day, mine is the same way. I'm to go see my urologist on November 8, and I'll find out if I need prostate surgery. At
least it isn't cancer. But, this having to run to the restroom every few minutes is annoying...especially in winter, when cold temperatures tend to
make the urinary bladder shrink...especially in males.

On a funnier note, when she had gone in for a colonoscopy, and I went
in to help her, the medical staff addressed me as "Mr. Harvey" (her
maiden name)...to which I replied "not quite". When she called her parents
to tell them of that, she quipped "I'll bet you didn't know you had a son
that looked like him"!! :)

Yes, I imagine so... and I imagine you have to pay for the Gatorade yourself because it doesn't qualify as a prescription item.
Same goes for the Pedialyte etc. Nora wouldn't have needed if she
wasn't in treatment... (sigh).

Yeah, I get the Gatorade when I go grocery shopping. When I eat out, I
try to get either Sprite, Sierra Mist, or 7-Up (clear liquid). But, I'm
trying to get away from the caffeine, more than the carbonated beverages. However, I'm also trying to avoid dehydration, as that can tend to cause
stones as well.

I thought I'd noticed you had a different node number or something. At any rate, it's good to have you back with us again....
:-)

Yeah, I'm connecting with Janis Kracht for FIDOnet, plus I am part of
other nets as well.

Daryl

... Why do they sterilize the needle for lethal injections?
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49

--- Virtual Advanced Ver 2 for DOS
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS (1:19/33)

Hi, Ardith...

I know other folks in the 50+ crowd who have had part of the prostate removed. If that's what your urologist recommends I'm sure at least one of the guys here would be willing to discuss the pros & cons with you. :-)

I'd be glad to know that information. When I asked about a prostate biopsy, he said "you don't need one". So, that's one positive, I guess. I go back in for the KUB (kidney/ureter/bladder) X-ray, and PSA (prostate specific antigen) test in September. I'll be 53 this year, and I joke that "I'm too old to cut the mustard, but I can still stir the mayonnaise. So, please pass the BLT, onion ring, and Doctor Pepper, and no one gets hurt". <G>

Ah. Conserving heat, I suppose... as do the blood vessels &
at least one part of the anatomy which is unique to males! I hadn't heard the situation explained that way until now. I was under the impression it was more common in females because I've had the same problem since I was pregnant with Nora. :-))

In females, that's because the fetus is pressing on the urinary bladder,
if I remember my biology right.

Another cute one is that a fellow ham radio operator was holding his ten month old son in his left arm, while he was running a communications net.
His son must've understood the expression "it's better to be pissed off
than pissed on"...as he decided to show his displeasure with Daddy by
urinating on his arm. <G> Daddy had to have Momma take the little one. :)

Uh-huh. One can't be sure nowadays that Dick & Jane & their 2.3 kids all have the same surname. I made a similar mistake years ago when I addressed the mother of one of my students as "Mrs. X". She responded huffily that *she* was "Miss Y". I'm guessing she ditched
"Mr. X's" surname when she ditched him, and wasn't concerned about what others might think of her marital status at the time the child was conceived. Some years before this incident, an older friend of ours called herself "Mrs. Z" & wore a wedding ring in dealing with her son's school although to this day she has never married. How times have changed! If Janice preferred to keep her maiden name I don't blame
her. As a teacher I had to redo almost every form I'd filled in since junior high school, together with an explanation for the change on each one, when I married Dallas. If I'd known beforehand about the
paperwork, I might have kept my maiden name... [wry grin].

She actually took my surname as hers when we married. When she called her parents afterwards, and told them what had happend, she quipped "I'll bet
you didn't know you had a son that looked like him!!" <G> And, that's true about the confusion of whose kids belong to whom!!

I take it you live in the US, where many carbonated beverages seem to have caffeine added. In this country Sprite, 7-Up, Mountain
Dew, etc. do *not* include caffeine. And Fresca, brought to us by the same company which supplies Coca-Cola, contains neither sugar nor caffeine... it does contain aspartame. I can't help thinking at times that it must be one of Canada's best-kept secrets, however, judging by the reaction I get when I take it to the cash desk.... :-)

Yep, I'm in Arkansas, although I'm a native Floridian. The only "caffeine"
I get now, is if I take a couple of Walgreen's Migraine Headache tablets a
day. I haven't eaten a candy bar in almost 3 years...you don't know how hard
it is to walk by a candy aisle, with all the confections calling my name for
me to take them home with me. <G>

Daryl

... So easy, a child could do it. Child sold separately.
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49

--- Virtual Advanced Ver 2 for DOS
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS (1:19/33)

Hi & welcome back, Daryl! Awhile ago you wrote in a message to Ardith Hinto

Hi, Ardith...long time, no type.

While I have IBS, diverticulitis, and hemorrhoids
(with moderate to severe rectal bleeding...they
did blood work to make sure I wasn't becoming anemic),
recent colonoscopies have shown no polyps...

Good! I understand colonoscopies are a drag... a female friend had
one recently & told me she was hors de combat for three days. The alternati AH>could be worse, however, if further developments took place unchecked.... :

I'm to see my gastrointerologist on Monday...as it has been over 3
years since I had both an upper GI (EGD) and lower GI (Colonoscopy),
done...so, I'm due. My goal is to get them done at the same time, so I
only have one anesthesia bill.

I reckon the bean counters got into the act there & you are allowed
no more than one such test per year. I've noticed also that once a person h AH>crossed some invisible boundary line they're deemed to be at a higher risk f AH>various things. The downside is that the patient may wonder sometimes wheth AH>the doctor is being a bit overconscientious. The upside is that if you real AH>do need a certain type of testing you may find it easier to get... [wry grin

Comedian Jeff Foxworthy (You Might Be A Redneck), said in a skit,
telling of his experience with a colonoscopy that "when you get 50, you
get all these "gag gifts" (i.e. the hemorrhoid ointment, etc.) -- and he
said while they're laughing, he thought to himself "you just saved me a
trip to the store". <G>

Certain races of people also seem to be at higher risk, for whatever
reason.

I may have asked you before if the first stone was ever analyzed...
in Dallas's case, a change of diet seemed to help ward off the next occurren AH>for ten or twenty years. But I realize it's not always quite that simple, a AH>I'm curious as to what your IVP may or may not have indicated. I had the sa AH>test years ago. Conclusion: my kidneys are weird, as my GP & I already kne AH>As long as I'm reasonably cautious about what I eat it's not a big deal. :-

They said it was mainly oxylates. But, I'm drinking flavored
water...at times, 2 liters a day...to keep flushed out, and to stay
hydrated. I only drink caffeine (Coca-Cola) or eat chocolate on rare
occasions now.

That's the bit where you spend all day on the toilet? Apparently I
got off lightly in that regard, but I wore the needle mark for eighteen year AH>Then there was the bit where I was instructed to hold my breath, after which AH>was left alone for twenty minutes. I was a teenager at the time. Fortunate AH>for the technician & for me I was smart enough to realize there was no need AH>hold my breath for the entire time. I go to other labs nowadays... [chuckle

In the CT Scan they did last fall (I forget what for now), they
discovered I'm in the early stages of degenerative disk disease in my
spinal column. I haven't noticed much of an issue yet, but they surely
won't take away my disability now...because when they ask "has your
health gotten better??", I can honestly reply "No...much worse".

Although I'm late in answering, I hope your IVP went well. :-)

It did...they do a KUB now. I have the female nurse practitioner check
me out now. My urologist doesn't do surgeries anymore, due to his
age...and I can get an appointment faster with the female nurse
practitioner. While nudity means nothing to them, that last prostate
check (digital rectal exam) was not fun...I wasn't sure if she was
looking for oil or gold. <G>

That must be very frustrating. But... read on.

I originally was going to see my gastrointerologist in late
January...even though I called to set it up before Christmas. Yet, he
was so busy, so that was a wait for 6 weeks. Well, as it turned out, my
car was in the shop, and they were doing apartment inspections...so, I
had to cancel and reschedule it, with another 6 week wait. I'm set to go
see him Monday.

Reminds me of the time when Nora was admitted to hospital on Friday AH>(allegedly for forty-eight hours). I figured she wouldn't be discharged unt AH>Monday... as she was, despite the prognostications of certain "gloom-and-doo AH>artists in the parents' lounge. If your doctors had serious reason to belie AH>you had cancer of the bowel, things would be happening so fast your head wou AH>be spinning. When hospitals postpone testing they're not too worried.... ;

Especially when the meter is running. Of course, the last 2 outpatient procedures I had, ended up having complications, requiring overnight
hospital stays. The first one was to remove the kidney stones, including
a rather large one in the urinary bladder, that could not be passed.
But, some of the fragments lodged into the "staples" from the Urolift
prostate surgery...so, a month later, part of the prostate was removed.

The worst thing has having to wear the urinary catheter, and the
bladder spasms. One day, I was in the local Emergency Room, in tears
from being in so much pain. Two good looking nurses came in, and said
"You're not going to like us". I said "I'll kiss you if you make this
pain go away". She replied "We have the medicine for the bladder spasms
and pain, but it's a suppository". They basically gave a whole new
meaning to the term "shove it"!! :P

Thankfully, I haven't had any further attacks in about a year...I see
the female nurse practitioner in April, and get a KUB (kidneys, ureter,
bladder scan) done.

Daryl

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Hi again, Daryl! This is a continuation of my previous message to you:

Hi, Ardith...

Ah. I was wondering why he'd recommended this brand in particular,
when other brands of sports drinks have similar ingredients. Then I noticed AH>sign at a local gas station advertising G2, an "electrolyte" version. I gue AH>it was available elsewhere before making its formal debut here, as usual. ;

I originally drinking Gatorade, because of the electrolytes, but was
told not to drink that.

I doubt it too. Once again, if your doctors thought you might have AH>cancer you wouldn't be waiting another 30 days after the first appointment w AH>rescheduled. I'm sure kidney stones and/or prostatitis are very uncomfortab AH>for whoever is wearing them & you'd prefer to have some answers sooner. But AH>think your doctors know *you* know enough to go to the ER if you have blood AH>your urine or can't produce anything after drinking 3 liters of Gatorade. :

Well, with the partial removal of the prostate, I can urinate better.
But, also with getting older, and the weakening of the sphincters
(urinary and anal), both urgency and incontinence can really ruin your
day. I always make sure I have a good supply of Depends on hand.

Yes, I imagine so... and I imagine you have to pay for the Gatorade AH>yourself because it doesn't qualify as a prescription item. Same goes for t AH>Pedialyte etc. Nora wouldn't have needed if she wasn't in treatment... (sigh

Yep...but I can get a liter bottle of flavored water at Kroger for
under a dollar.

I thought I'd noticed you had a different node number or something.
At any rate, it's good to have you back with us again.... :-)

Well, I'm a Regional Independent (1:19/33). I was originally node 33
in FIDONet 3821 (Little Rock)...but I'm the only FIDONet BBS left in
Arkansas. I'm running Synchronet (SBBS), switching from Virtual
Advanced (VADV32), due to tossing issues...plus, SBBS has a feature to
install non-fossil doors like a regular door, and you can allow these on
your BBS, and they work under telnet. No other BBS package that I know
of has this feature.

Daryl

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Hi, Daryl! Awhile ago you wrote in a message to Ardith Hinton:

Hi, Ardith...

I know other folks in the 50+ crowd who have had part of the prostate AH>removed. If that's what your urologist recommends I'm sure at least one of AH>guys here would be willing to discuss the pros & cons with you. :-)

As per an earlier reply, I ended up have the Urolift Prostate Surgery "undone", and part of the prostate removed. But, it has resulted in
impotence, erectile dysfunction, and at times, retrograde ejaculation.

At the time, I thought the Urolift surgery was fantastic. They insert
a device up through the penis and urethra...and then it opens like what
you'd put on window blinds to hold them open. It basically holds the
lobes of the prostate apart (men suffer from an enlarged prostate or BPH
as they get older), so the flow of urine out of the bladder isn't
blocked.

But, as noted, one of the kidney stone fragments lodged onto one of
the "staples" from that, so that surgery had to be "undone".

Ah. Conserving heat, I suppose... as do the blood vessels & at least
one part of the anatomy which is unique to males! I hadn't heard the situat AH>explained that way until now. I was under the impression it was more common AH>females because I've had the same problem since I was pregnant with Nora. :

With women, the urethra is a straight shot right down and out from the bladder. With males, it has to loop around the prostate, then through
and out the penis. But, with women being pregnant, the developing fetus
pushes down on the bladder, and that's one reason why women have to
urinate more. Sometimes pregnancy can also cause pelvic prolapse, if I
remember right.

beforehand about the paperwork, I might have kept my maiden name... [wry gri

Geneaology and family trees was never my forte'. It reminds me of the
names some parents give their kids (especially royalty)...similar to
what dog owners give their dogs. Anyway, at this one church baptism
service, when the parents brought their newborn son to be baptized, the preacher asked the parents for the child's name. When they replied with
this big long name, the preacher turned to his assistant, and said "A
little more water, please". <G>

than the carbonated beverages.

I take it you live in the US, where many carbonated beverages seem to AH>have caffeine added. In this country Sprite, 7-Up, Mountain Dew, etc. do *n AH>include caffeine. And Fresca, brought to us by the same company which suppl AH>Coca-Cola, contains neither sugar nor caffeine... it does contain aspartame. AH>can't help thinking at times that it must be one of Canada's best-kept secre AH>however, judging by the reaction I get when I take it to the cash desk....

I do...I'm in Little Rock, Arkansas. I will drink a Coke to settle my
stomach if I'm out, or Ginger Ale if available. Otherwise, I now just
drink flavored water. My favorite flavors are strawberry, peach, and
white grape.

... Why do they sterilize the needle for lethal injections?

convenient... but how folks get from there to the idea that one mustn't requ AH>electrons to work on Saturday or Sunday is AFAIC a matter of preferred learn AH>style. Our friend thought so too, and eventually found another synagogue.

What a strang world we live in. <G>

Daryl

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