Brought to my knees by millimeters

Hello All,

My sincere apologies for my impromptu vacation from Phyl Phacts! I haven’t missed a week, much less two, since I started writing in October of 2019. I really have a good excuse – I was brought to my knees by 3 millimeters and 5 millimeters kidney stones – for what I hope was my first and very last time! Bob said I don’t get sick often, I just like to go big when I do!

What an experience. I visited two emergency departments, in two different health systems, in five days – one with an overnight stay – and the urologist office. Had two CT scans, lots of urinalysis tests, gave more than a few tubes of blood, got plenty of IV fluids. Was extremely happy with IV Dilaudid and Toradol (for the woman who Bob says will hardly touch a Tylenol!) – they were wonder drugs and kept me from squirming (and squirming was an understatement)! The little 3-mm stone left first – and we think reasonably quickly. That pesky big 5-mm stone (which I have since learned is the size of the eraser at the end of a pencil) decided to hang around for the next 10 days – and finally left when the urologist called me to say surgery was scheduled. Think it scared the pesky one (and me) – so she evacuated the premises (yes – we named my kidney stones!).  So I have been a titch busy!

My care was excellent in both hospitals and the urologist office. One of my daughters left work to pick me up and take me to the ED (she may have broken a few speed limits). I was greeted by the nurse manager in the waiting area who took me right back to a bed. The nurses who cared for me were all compassionate, professional and really concerned about getting my pain and nausea under control. And though they knew I was a nurse, they made sure they explained every med, every test, every detail of the plan of care. My doctor was quite a character – I really liked him. I needed a laugh by then. He walked in and said “Well, Phyllis, you don’t have a kidney stone. You won the lottery and have two!” Yep – that’s me – go big or go home!

My second ED visit was exactly the same way – nurses and doctor were excellent. (And by now I was quite skilled at letting them know I was sure this was the same kidney stone excitement.) Add in an exceptional team for the CT scan who were the epitome of customer service!  And the CT was so quick that I think we will soon have fast handheld devices like that used by Bones on the old Star Trek television series.

Aren’t our bodies remarkable? The thousands of things that go right each and every day to make us function. From our beating hearts to the breath in our lungs – to how the body flushes out the toxins or things not needed – how our brain sends signals throughout. We are each living miracles! And it is also impressive when the body signals when things are not right – warning signals to get help. Though I must admit it would be okay with me if it were a titch less painful- LOL! (I remember thinking when I was little that we needed a thermometer in our bellies like the Butterball turkeys that would just pop up when we had a fever!)

All of this reminded me of what it is that makes a true difference in healthcare – the people who care for you. Each member of the healthcare teams I interacted with brought their skills and knowledge, and were excellent at what they did. I might forget how the nurses got the IV in with one stick. I might forget that the ED triage staff worked quickly to get me to a bed. I certainly don’t understand how a CT scan works, and so appreciate the teams that do!

What I will never forget is the care and compassion with which I was treated. The quick holding of hands to show support and empathy. The care they took with each explanation. Answering each question, and I am sure some of mine were interesting under the influence of pain medications! The repeat visits to check on me. Finding me a toothbrush and toothpaste (not a small thing!). Making sure I was warm enough as I traveled to and from the CT scans. And the sense that I was always safe and secure.

I also have to thank Bob for being such a great “nurse”! He will tell you that is not his strength – but he was the bomb! (Though he does not handle vomiting too well! And, frankly, neither do I!) He made sure I had bottled water – practically all over the house! And he enticed me to eat with every special meal he could think of. He managed my meds (once a pharmacist, always a pharmacist). And he kept me safe and secure.

I certainly hope no one ever has to experience kidney stones. (I did make Bob laugh during ED visit #2 when I said if this was close to childbirth – which kidney stones are almost always compared to – I was glad I had never given birth!) But if you do experience these pesky things, I hope the people who take care of you truly bring their care and compassion to the table! I hope you are blessed with teams who were are as awesome as the ones I encountered.

Maya Angelou had it quite right when she said “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Many thanks to the people who made me feel like I was their only patient – who made me feel cared for and comforted – who held me safe.

Phyl