I have spent the last few days undergoing, and then subsequently recovery from, a procedure known as ESWL - Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy.

Effectively, they found an 8 mm wide kidney stone inside me, and while it wasn't obstructing anything, it was only a matter of time before it did. And that would be a problem.

ESWL is using focused sound waves to shatter the stone inside your kidney, then have you pass the fragments more easily. It doesn't work for everyone, and it's not exactly applicable in every case, but we tried it here.

The good news is that I think the stone shattered quite a bit. I've been pissing gravel/sand for a few days now, which is good. The dubious news is that I don't know if that's everything, and there's still a chance that something didn't get broken up - And now it's on the move, ready to make me miserable with agony at a moment's notice.

The much worse news is that I did NOT respond well to the anesthetic used in the procedure. I was wheeled into recovery sometime around 12:30 PM on the day of the procedure. They were ready to get me up and get me out, when I would just /not stop vomiting/. It continued like that, despite everything they tried to give me, for the next /five hours/. Eventually the doctor, so flummoxed by my condition, told the nurse to send me to the emergency room. Both I and the nurse had no idea what that would accomplish.

On an outside chance, I brought up something they had given me about a decade ago when I was responding similarly to a previous surgery. They secured a single dose of that, which slowly helped - But the doctor refused to prescribe in because he was unfamiliar with what it was.

It was enough to get me home, where I had another fit of vomiting, then passed out in my own bed. The next day was uneasy and sore and painful, but I eventually managed to eat solid food and get a good night's rest.

Today I'm feeling much better with regard to the linger effects of the anesthesia - But I'm still sore and tender on my side and back. Which could be because the doctor basically beat me up with shock waves for 45 minutes, or could be because I'm passing stone fragments still (which would explain the blood in my excretions). It feels weird to sit. Hopefully, this too passes.

Anyhow, it has been an unpleasant experience, but I am recovering as best I'm able.

I apologize if I have been slow or unresponsive as of late.

I hope you are all well. <3