Our Reasons Why?

[Hooter]

My plan like many others here was to get to Inzane. Had my plans all made until 3 weeks ago. My house sets on and I mow about 2.5 acres. Takes me about 2+ hours to mow with my Kabota. 3 weeks ago today I mowed it in one setting. When I got done I needed a bathroom break.
   Since my back yard is apple and pear trees its easy to hide from traffic in the front yard. I stepped behind a tree and nothing. Couldn't go and needed to and finally managed some. Went inside and called my urologist. "Get up here" was what I heard (Holland Mi.) Did, gave them what they wanted and the test came back with blood in my urine. My urologist told me if this didn't clear up it would be necessary to do a "cystoscopi". For 3 weeks I tried to pee and it was tough. The urologist told me this could be nothing or even cancer. Yup that word!
   Fast forward to yesterday and the cystoscopi. If you ever have one of these I have no way to describe it other than trying to put a garden hose down a thimble. This thing has a camera, a light and a 10 string band in it all vying for a small space. He started the journey toward my bladder and stopped. "Well there is the problem" he said. Logged in my urethra was a 4mm kidney stone. I was watching this on the TV.  Then he says "I should send you across the street to surgery but I'm not going to, we will do this here in the office". WHAT! Mind you there was no anestetic used during this procedure and he was fetchin a kidney stone stuck in ol' Luke without any other than some type of gel used. Well that's exactly what he did and imagine draggin a sand burr out of that area and you have it. PHEW, 3 weeks of not hardly being able to urinate was over, and so was INZANE for me, again.
   Now there is my excuse for not going and I would have much preferred being there. Can't ride for another 3 days and its already been 3 weeks, sheesh. What's your story?

[baldo]

OUCH...I'm crossing my legs as I read your story.....

Not to minimize your plight in any way, but is it too painful to swing a leg over the seat or are you being a good patient and following doctors' orders?

[RainMaker]

That story is so painful it posted 4 times! 

My reason why - all relates to last year's trip.  My family needed me and I was 1000 miles away (on the way to Spearfish) and dog tired from riding.  I could not get to Hot Springs before my father-in-law passed.  My wife has asked me not to make long rides, more than a day out, for a while.  That's my reason why.

[Patrick]

Kidney stones are no fun at all !  [ I know]. Can't imagine having a 4mm chunk dragged thru that little hole. Geeez. Makes me cringe.

[Danny McMillin]

I got a lotta stories, but nuttin' to compare to yurs!! Sit it out, and you will be ready for next years' Inzane!!

Rest assured, we will find an apple, or pear tree, and in your honor, will be thinking of you, in your infamous scenario. Might even sent you a picture!!

Cool yo heels, and take it easy!

[Jess from VA]

Hooter, I am very sorry to hear this. 

But compared to some of your earlier stories about taking weeks and weeks and repeated efforts to get rid of your stones, at least this one was found and removed all at one time (however painful and nasty the procedure). 

If you're not taking 500mg of magnesium daily, I think you should consider it.  I have not had a 2d one for 10+ years.  For a long time, I was religious on taking it daily, now I am on and off, lazy (and probably stupid).

 

[Hooter]

Baldo...ya I'm doin what the doc said. Usually not real good at this but this is the first time I had one lodged where this one was. So, I'm being a good boy.

   Jess...magnesium..how many milligram? I will try anything. This is #3.

   I have no idea how this got posted 3 times? Tried to delete the extra but it won't let me. Sorry everybody!

[John Schmidt]

My dr. put me on allopurinol, 100 mg twice a day. Been stone free for nearly 10 yrs. now, the last one put me in the hospital for a week. While in there a stent was installed, left in for almost three months during which time I could do nothing. If I never have another stone it will be too soon. I definitely feel for you, mine was 5mm and it all happened on Thanksgiving day.

[Jess from VA]

Magnesium is just an OTC vitamin (mineral).  

I have no experience and no comment on prescription drugs.

Magnesium has also been shown to inhibit crystal formation thus reducing the risk for forming kidney stones.6,7 When 24-hour kidney stone risk profiles are performed, magnesium levels are a key indicator as to the potential stability of the urinary environment. While magnesium is available in food, dietary recommendations often conflict because foods that are good sources of magnesium often are high in less desirable constituents, such as oxalate.

Thus, the most direct way of increasing urinary magnesium levels is by supplement. Magnesium oxide is frequently recommended at doses of approximately 400 mg per day.
http://www.renalandurologynews.com/commentary/kidney-stone-prevention-fact-versus-fiction/article/217239/

I've seen them in 250, 500, and 1000s milligrams (at any store carrying vitamins/minerals).  I take 500s or break 1000s in half (more or less).

I also drink a lot of bottled water; my city water is very clean, but I prefer ice cold Aquafina, and buy cases of it all the time.  3-4 bottles a day, minimum.

Magnesium has many other benefits, and no particular side effects or problems.  500s never bother my stomach, though I always take it after/during meals.  Conversely, I stopped taking any multivitamins, because they all have calcium.  (this may be overkill)

http://www.mgwater.com/rod16.shtml

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/09/29/six-ways-to-keep-kidney-stones-at-bay-from-the-harvard-health-letter.aspx

The mean stone episode rate decreased from 0.8 to 0.08 stones/year on treatment and 85% of the patients remained free of recurrence during follow-up, whereas 59% of the patients in the control group continued their stone formation. Side effects were few. Magnesium treatment in renal calcium stone disease is effective with few side effects. No clinical signs of magnesium excess were observed.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6764473

I didn't discover this myself.  My poor mother had many bad, big stones all her life.  40-50 years ago before ultrasounds, they cut her in half on the OR table to pull one out that would never pass.  Since she began taking magnesium 20 years ago, she's never had another.  I was sold on her advice alone, but there is a lot of reading to be done if you chose to do so.

Benefits:  https://authoritynutrition.com/10-proven-magnesium-benefits/

 
  



 

[Crackerborn]

Last year I made it as far as western MN (approximately 7 hours from home) when the call that my father was going into a hospice came in. A sharp left turn was called for and less than 36 hrs later I was in La Crosse, FL with the siblings. One of two unplanned sojourns to the Sunshine State last year. This year, even though I registered early, I knew there was a good chance I would not be making the trip. I am awaiting the birth of my first grandchild, due any day now. If not here this week, the new family member will be surgically delivered next week (so says the MD).

I much prefer this years reason over last year and hope no kidney stones are in my future.

[Hooter]

Congrats Crackerborn...grand kids are great. You can pump em up and send em home with mom and dad. I call it the get even age.

Thanks for the infor Jess!

[The emperor has no clothes]

My reason is pretty mundane and lame. I get 3 weeks vacation a year and I burned a week already taking the grandkids to SeaWorld and Disneyland. My wife has wanted to go to NYC for years, so we are doing that in October along with Oss's Catskills Ride. I do hope to make it next year though. 

[Steve K (IA)]

Hooter, I think when the bill comes, you might be glad your Dr. took care of it right then and there instead of sending you across the street.  Across the street they may have sedated you, but the hose and the 10 piece band was already in place and ready to perform...............    

I had these twice.  First time they went after it.  The second time they gave me Flowmax.  Why didn't they give me that before?  Oh I know, if they go after it they charge $7,000.00.  Moved to a different city and you get a prescription.   ???

[art]

This gives me the hebbie gebbies Hooter. been there done that. I knew I was in trouble when my Dr. told me to put my feet in the stirrups. Don't even want to think what you went through.

[fudgie]

My reason aint like the others. I plan my Sturgis trip every yr. Taking 3 weeks off this yr again with 17 of it for the trip. Deadwood for 2 days then a few at Yellowstone and some at Glacier.

[Hooter]

I missed Inzane so its Sturgis for me. It was one or the other and I chose Inzane. Well that leaves Sturgis now. The only thing that would ruin that would be if my band goes on the road again. We are playing around S.W. Michigan but that could change to? I have rehearsal Wednesday I will put in for that time off.

[fudgie]

I missed Inzane so its Sturgis for me. It was one or the other and I chose Inzane. Well that leaves Sturgis now. The only thing that would ruin that would be if my band goes on the road again. We are playing around S.W. Michigan but that could change to? I have rehearsal Wednesday I will put in for that time off.

Maybe see you out there.