Fiercely Independent Pam

Tag: stent

  • Setting a Goal and Striving to Meet It, and More!

    I am headed out this afternoon to the urologist to figure out next steps for my kidney stone. I am hoping the whole process of “blasting” the stone is fairly easy and able to be done soon. After all, the kidney stone is simply getting in the way of my PT and OT goals.

    In other news… I met my goal this morning with PT. I was able to stand while sitting in my armchair at a normal height. That means I didn’t use the lift function at all. It wasn’t the prettiest, but I did it! I also took a few strolls around my apartment with the walker and got a new weight measurement. All in all, I count that as a huge win.

    OT is coming by very soon and I am hoping we can start working on the goal of using the toilet. It would be a huge improvement if I was able to use the toilet instead of the bedpan. Having stood at a normal height, I think I am almost ready for the toilet.

    I am not a big fan of having PT and OT back to back since my body gets tired quickly, but I also don’t want to turn away services so I went with the back to back today. After all, I have goals to meet.

    Tomorrow during PT we are going to try the Zeen. I think the hardest part will be transferring into the Zeen and out of the Zeen. I think I am going to have to do a lot of thinking to come up with a plan to make it work. If I can get into the Zeen, it will go a long way to strengthening my legs. I would love to try to make it into the hallway. This is all lofty goals, but I have to put it out there to try to make it happen.

    The ultimate goal is to be able to use the Zeen and transfer with it when I go to MUSC on March 17th. I have an important eye appointment and need to figure out the Zeen, getting in and out of a car, and transferring from the Zeen to other chairs. It’s a big list of tasks, but I am determined and like to be fierce about deadlines like this.

  • Next Steps For a Giant Kidney Stone: A Lesson in Bravery!

    Well, I did one of the bravest medical things I have done- I pulled the rest of the stent for my kidney stone out. I was so frightened that something was going to happen but I feel so much better. I was able to make an appointment with urology for tomorrow to consult about next steps.

    I unfortunately had to switch doctors to make it work, but I was able to get an appointment tomorrow to figure out next steps for the kidney stone which means I am able to take the bus and my power wheelchair, which is crucial right now.

    I will hopefully find out tomorrow how they are going to treat the kidney stone, I’ve been told they are going to set something up to “blast” the stone apart.

    I joke on a regular basis that “They are going to make a nurse out of me yet!” Pulling out the stent is a great example of this. I hope my appointment goes well tomorrow and we can move forward from this stupid kidney stone.

  • Who’s Afraid of a Kidney Stone or It’s Stent?

    Somedays I think I am living in a comedy. How else can all these things happen but to make someone happy. In January, when I went to the hospital, it was found that I had a fairly large kidney stone. They placed a stent and honestly, I didn’t care too much about it except that I was going to have to have follow up care to “blast” the stone at some point.

    Follow up care is delayed because of appointment scheduling and my ability to walk. This whole time since the beginning of January, I haven’t needed to even think about the stone or the treatment.

    Fast forward to earlier this week, I was having symptoms that I thought were coming from a UTI. Now it all makes sense and the burning is coming from the stent that is mostly fallen out. I noticed something that was out of place last night and then it has increasingly come out.

    The urologist on call is going to call me back once she checks my chart, but told me I can remove the rest of the stent myself, as that might help the pain and irritation. I have to admit, I am a little scared to remove the stent, but I will try. I gotta believe it will help with the symptoms.

    How is it that I can’t just function “normally?” Why must something always be an issue. I am finally getting strong enough to stand on my own and I even snuck in a pivot from the wheelchair to my arm chair unassisted, but that isn’t enough, I have to have issues with the kidney stone and stent. Its exhausting.