captainsblog | And the countdown begins (Reply)

Back in April, I thought I'd pulled an oblique muscle after an especially twisty-turny ab workout. It didn't go away, and it was different from prior workout pain even when I'd had that. It'd just fire up out of nowhere for a second or two and then recede. Once I got back from the conference, I resolved to check it out, and....

it's still being checked out. My own doctor ruled out blood in the pee, but was inconclusive about what it was. Kidney stone is the leading contender in the speculation clubhouse, but it took the better part of two weeks to get the radiology appointment needed to be sure. That's now scheduled for 1:00 tomorrow.

Meanwhile, at 8 this morning I said sayonara to solid food and, in a bit over three hours, I begin the dreaded "prep." for the procedure known as an IVP. I just did similar "prep" a year ago for the colonoscopy, and it wasn't as bad as some predicted it would be, but this regimen, if anything, is even more thorough than that was. Then it's fasting completely after 8 tomorrow morning, with showtime taking about an hour in the middle of the day. I've never done the dye before, so I have no idea whether I'll have any appetite after that.

On the bright side, as of this time yesterday, the pain, which had ranged from a little better to (as recently as Monday night) a lot worse, had receded to the point where I briefly considered calling the whole thing off. Given how hard it was to get the damn appointment, and given that I sat yesterday for two-plus hours on a hard wooden bench plus close to four more either side of it behind the wheel, it's back- still, though, better than it's been in days.

I've heard different remedies talked about once I know if that's what it is. These have ranged from ultrasound to meds, and the dietary advice has been all over the map. Suck on lemons, some say. Stay away from citrus, say others. You pays your money and you takes your choice of poison.

Suppose I should listen to what a doctor has to say, huh.

So if I'm unusually quiet for the rest of the week, now you know why.