Steve B.

I had a procedure to remove a kidney stone. (Sepsis and Kidney Stones) Doctor said in and out same day operation. Well apparently my anatomy wasn’t very easy for her to navigate to find the stone and blast it out with her little laser tool. She then placed a tube in the ureter to prevent pain and damage when the stone passed. After the surgery I was still in pain that I never knew existed, so I was rolled down the hall to get a CAT scan.

She got the results and brought her laptop to see what was going on. She opens my file up so we can both see what was going on. It was then she discovered the tube was on top of the stone and I had two more stones still in the kidney. She then quickly closed the laptop and left. I was on so much pain medication that I didn’t care. The next day a nurse come in and tells me I’m having a 2nd surgery the next day to remove the tube and blast the stones.

The second doctor comes into my room after surgery to inform me that the tube was removed and the biggest stone was blasted into smaller pieces. While the 2 other stones couldn’t be found due to the hardest anatomy he’s ever encountered. I tell him I’m not feeling all that great and he assured me that I’m good to go home.

My friend takes me to her place and I crash out. I remember her asking how I was feeling. She took my temperature and then I briefly remember getting an IV, then nothing. I woke up 2 days later and seeing someone at a computer and I asked who he was and why I was in so much pain. He said “you are really sick and you are lucky that you came in when you did or you’d be dead.” Then he left. 5 minutes later my friend shows up and tells me that I have sepsis.

6 days later, 30 doses of IV antibiotics, pain medication every 4 hours for the pain, and peeing out 5 chunks of kidney stones I was sent home. Today is the one year anniversary my introduction to sepsis and it’s been one abusive relationship that I can’t escape. One thing that helps me in this struggle of postnesses (is that even a word) is humor. Making light of this whole situation, writing and telling jokes about it because laughter seems to help. If I were to just grunt, groan, bitch, and moan I would’ve a miserable mess.