It’s been a while since I’ve posted—this summer was a whirlwind. Chaotic, busy, and a bit of a blur. I won’t get into all the details, but let’s just say it included ER visits, hospital stays, surgeries, and more doctor appointments than I can count.
The good news is, everyone’s doing well now. And yes, one of those ER visits was mine. I had a 3mm kidney stone—and while I’ve never given birth, I’m fairly certain passing that thing was as close as I’ve ever come. Brutal.
It was 3 a.m. on a Friday when I woke up with what I thought was just cramping. I grabbed my heating pad and tried to ride it out, but the pain kept getting worse. By 4 a.m., I had a sinking feeling—I was dealing with a kidney stone. I consulted with ChatGPT. As if waking up to that wasn’t bad enough, I happened to be home alone that night. I ended up driving myself to the ER, which thankfully was only about a mile away. The roads were empty—just two other cars out—and while there was a dull, persistent ache in my side, I felt okay enough to make the drive.
Of course, I got thoroughly scolded afterward for not calling anyone—including by my boss. I’ve promised everyone that if it ever happens again and I am home alone, I’ll call one of three coworkers, my boss, or a neighbor—someone other than just driving myself to the ER at 4 a.m.
I always thought that once you felt a kidney stone, it meant it was already on its way out—and that you just had to grit your teeth and get through a short burst of pain. I was completely wrong. According to the urologist, a kidney stone can hang around for up to four to six weeks. He asked if I wanted to wait and see if it would pass on its own or go ahead with a procedure to break it up. At that point, I was beyond tired of anything medical and chose to try passing it naturally.
I ended up feeling kidney pain about three more times—one episode was even worse than the ER visit. Thankfully, I had medication that helped a lot. Then, almost magically, the pain stopped. A follow-up scan confirmed the stone was gone. Apparently, some people feel a fluttering sensation when the stone finally passes. I felt nothing—much to my disappointment. I was robbed of the satisfaction of feeling it pass.
Since The Great Kidney Stone of 2025, I’ve been drinking water like it’s my full-time job. Seriously—more water than you’d believe. On the bright side, my skin has never looked better. I was told that once you get a kidney stone, you’re more prone to getting them again—and I’m doing everything I can to make sure that never happens.
