Here's the full story starting last week. (I apologize for TMI and the long post)
Last week Thursday I had my usual check up at the OB. That morning I had noticed possible blood in my urine, but didn't think too much about it. When I got to the Dr's office I did the usual pee in the cup thing and there was definite blood. I told the medical assistant that was helping me and she said oh you're probably just dehydrated and it's darker. I wasn't sold on that and told her I'm pretty sure it's blood. (I'm a nurse, I know what blood in the urine looks like)! Sure enough she tested it and it was. I told my Dr. about it and he didn't seem too concerned and just thought maybe a little bacteria was irritating my bladder. He gave me a prescription for Macro-Bid and sent me on my way. I've had bladder infections before, and I wasn't having the usual symptoms. But what do I know right?!
I finished my course of antibiotics yesterday (Thurs.) morning and figured whatever I had was better now. Besides last Thursday, I didn't have any more blood in my urine.
I worked Wednesday night. Sleep all day Thursday, to go back to work Thursday night. I slept downstairs on the couch Thursday because of the heat and how hot it gets upstairs. So when I woke up with excruciating pain in my back, I thought it was from the couch. I took Tylenol and used the back massager with heat to try and help. Nothing phased it. The pain was so bad! I had pain only in my right lower back, right groin area and down my right leg was radiating pain. Ugh! I just associated it all with pregnancy and sleeping on the couch. Well I went to the bathroom (sorry TMI) and there was blood and now clots in my urine! Thankfully I knew it was in my urine and not anywhere else.
I immediately went to Google and tried to figure out what the heck was going on! I knew it probably wasn't an infection because I just finished antibiotics and didn't have urgency or fever etc. I then stumbled upon kidney stones in my search. Ugh! Now what?!
Well I sat there in pain and crying because of it. Nick comes home and finds me a mess. lol. He is so amazing and was so sweet. He reassured me everything was okay. I got myself together the best I could and headed into work, painfully. I have been training a new hire and didn't want to disappoint and not be able to work. I'm stubborn. I got to work and didn't last a couple minutes before I had to tell my charge nurse what was happening. She was really awesome and sent me straight to ER where they were expecting me and got me in quick. I guess its one perk of working at a hospital. I must say everyone was little panicked because they heard "ICU nurse.....5 months pregnant.....bleeding..." We don't have L&D at our hospital. Well I reassured them it's blood in urine not anywhere else!
I got set up in the room. Refused the gown at first...thought I'd be in and out quick. Got 2 male nurses. ha. Lovely. They were great though. The Dr. came and talked to me and he was thinking maybe a kidney infection. I brought up..."what about kidney stones??" and he said "well maybe but I don't think so, but we'll do a renal ultrasound and see." Being pregnant, there's not much they can do, no CT and no x-ray. Then he also said, I'd need a Foley catheter to irrigate all the blood out of my bladder. BOOOOO! Big time boooo!!! Thankfully Nick came down to be with me when I knew I wouldn't be in and out of there.
I finally put the gown on, got an IV, had blood drawn and got the lovely foley. Thankfully done by one of the female nurses. That was sooooo uncomfortable and made the pain worst! Got the renal ultrasound and got to see the baby!!! Oh that made me forget about my pain!!! That was the best part to see him happy and moving. Knowing he was alright, I knew I'd be okay and any pain was worth it.
Well Dr. said it was in fact kidney stones. MULTIPLE kidney stones. Aww it reminds of the Friends episode....love it!
They are small enough that they will pass on their own, but there are a lot of them. He said basically there is an avalanche of stones. There are some high up in my kidney and others in my bladder. They just need to all come down. Ouch!!!!! An avalanche of kidney stones. Sounds like torture! Then there's the fact that there isn't much you can do for them. They well come out when they are ready. Just flush with fluids and pain control. He said I could be admitted for pain control and I definitely didn't want to stay overnight. I'd rather be home. So I got a prescription for Tylenol #3, bladder irrigated and urologist referral.
My co-workers were so great! They came and said hi. My shift was covered and I had nothing to worry about. All in all we were there for 4 hours. Not too bad. I was happy to be home and so thankful to have an awesome husband alongside.
So now I wait...Wait for these little tortures of stone to come out! I have read that women may have dormant kidney stones that become a problem while pregnant. Great. I'm just glad I don't need any invasive intervention. Well I'll keep you updated! Hoping to be pain free soon!!! I'm sorry for this long drawn out story. Here's a pic....Nick wanted to take it and said I better blog about it.
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