In Which I Take to Hills
Mar. 19th, 2018 11:06 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shannon_aToday I hiked up a short trail above Clark Kerr to Panoramic Hill and walked back down.
Yes, I had my lithotripsy on Friday, but that bit of exercise isn't as foolish as it sounds.
I was told I could resume regular activity 24-36 hours after Friday's procedure, and even if the kidney stone is still there, it's not like the pain of kidney stones is dangerous, it's just painful.
I'd been avoiding activity in recent weeks for a number of reasons:
1.) I didn't want to end up in pain in the middle of nowhere, like I did when I hiked up into Tilden a month ago, so I haven't been hiking.
2.) I didn't want to end up in pain in the middle of Oakland, where I'd be vulnerable and unable to bike, so I haven't been biking to Endgame.
3.) I didn't want to get the kidney stone moving again just before going to Santa Barbara, so I was particularly leery before and during that time.
4.) I also cared less about exercising after the x-ray report came back with a 7mm stone. You see, exercise is pretty good if a kidney is small enough that it's likely to pass on its own. Yes, it can get the stone moving which causes pain, but it's pain with a purpose, because the kidney stone is showing itself the exit.
But now with a kidney stone that's hopefully been shattered or powdered, and with no upcoming trip, most of these reasons are no longe relevant. And we had sun, beautiful sun, after work, thanks to DST.
To be honest this was a bit of a test too: am I still hurting if I exercise?
Though, to be honest, it's not a very good test.
No hurting might mean that the kidney stone has been reduced sufficiently that it's no longer causing me pain as it moves. Or it could mean that it's just stuck again, as it was for three weeks leading up to the procedure.
And hurting could mean that the kidney stone is still at its full size and it's causing me pain as it fails to move, or it could mean the reduced kidney stone is moving and causing me pain, but it's now actually for a good cause.
How do I actually figure out which of these paths I'm treading on? An x-ray. I talked to my urologist today and she put in the order for it and said I should get it 3-4 weeks after the lithotripsy.
So, I'll be doing it the day of three weeks, to maximize the time before this year's vacation getaway, in case there are still problems.
I'd really like to not be standing under the Kidney Stone of Damocles when we're off on an island 2400 miles away.
So anyway.
I biked up to Clark Kerr. That turned out to be quite a bit of work, which means my bike climbing muscles aren't as good as they used to be.
I hiked up the trail and around Panoramic Hill and saw lots of gorgeous vistas with dark orange skies.
Then I walked back to my bike and took it out to do some shopping. Kitty food was desperately needed. And, oddly enough, lemon curd.
I had some twinges of pain and discomfort here and there, but it was hard to ascertain if it was more than just a stitch in my side from walking. Nothing that required any pain killers, let alone my kidney-stone opiates.
So the kidney stone is destructed or stuck, for what that's worth.
Yes, I had my lithotripsy on Friday, but that bit of exercise isn't as foolish as it sounds.
I was told I could resume regular activity 24-36 hours after Friday's procedure, and even if the kidney stone is still there, it's not like the pain of kidney stones is dangerous, it's just painful.
I'd been avoiding activity in recent weeks for a number of reasons:
1.) I didn't want to end up in pain in the middle of nowhere, like I did when I hiked up into Tilden a month ago, so I haven't been hiking.
2.) I didn't want to end up in pain in the middle of Oakland, where I'd be vulnerable and unable to bike, so I haven't been biking to Endgame.
3.) I didn't want to get the kidney stone moving again just before going to Santa Barbara, so I was particularly leery before and during that time.
4.) I also cared less about exercising after the x-ray report came back with a 7mm stone. You see, exercise is pretty good if a kidney is small enough that it's likely to pass on its own. Yes, it can get the stone moving which causes pain, but it's pain with a purpose, because the kidney stone is showing itself the exit.
But now with a kidney stone that's hopefully been shattered or powdered, and with no upcoming trip, most of these reasons are no longe relevant. And we had sun, beautiful sun, after work, thanks to DST.
To be honest this was a bit of a test too: am I still hurting if I exercise?
Though, to be honest, it's not a very good test.
No hurting might mean that the kidney stone has been reduced sufficiently that it's no longer causing me pain as it moves. Or it could mean that it's just stuck again, as it was for three weeks leading up to the procedure.
And hurting could mean that the kidney stone is still at its full size and it's causing me pain as it fails to move, or it could mean the reduced kidney stone is moving and causing me pain, but it's now actually for a good cause.
How do I actually figure out which of these paths I'm treading on? An x-ray. I talked to my urologist today and she put in the order for it and said I should get it 3-4 weeks after the lithotripsy.
So, I'll be doing it the day of three weeks, to maximize the time before this year's vacation getaway, in case there are still problems.
I'd really like to not be standing under the Kidney Stone of Damocles when we're off on an island 2400 miles away.
So anyway.
I biked up to Clark Kerr. That turned out to be quite a bit of work, which means my bike climbing muscles aren't as good as they used to be.
I hiked up the trail and around Panoramic Hill and saw lots of gorgeous vistas with dark orange skies.
Then I walked back to my bike and took it out to do some shopping. Kitty food was desperately needed. And, oddly enough, lemon curd.
I had some twinges of pain and discomfort here and there, but it was hard to ascertain if it was more than just a stitch in my side from walking. Nothing that required any pain killers, let alone my kidney-stone opiates.
So the kidney stone is destructed or stuck, for what that's worth.
no subject
Date: 2018-03-20 01:15 pm (UTC)