Julia, thank you for the shoutout and another great post. I hope all the kidney stone pain is over by now. Yes, we can be grateful for the non-pain. Work on my house that was supposed to start yesterday is delayed yet again, but the guy who caused the delay is in agony from an abscessed tooth. I am grateful that my teeth feel just fine. As for the medical people who sent you home in pain, grrr.
Oh my goodness, Julia. So sorry to hear about your kidney stone! What a dreadful experience. I’m so glad you’re feeling better. Your writing is absolutely riveting. I am in Eugene - welcome! My heart goes out to you. ❤️🩹
I'm so sorry you went through this. I had an extremely painful and sudden thunderclap migraine, the kind of thing that makes you think brain tumor or something. It was just astonishing how lackadaisical the ER was. I was writhing and vomiting in the waiting room for a few hours before being seen.
Lee, I’ve lived with migraines since 1974. I use Emgality since I got up to twenty a month which is considered a true disability. That stuff works to stop them in their tracks beforehand. Not for everyone, clearly, but I can so relate. I know that kind of pain.
"We can be bitter, or we can learn to be better. That’s a choice. One is indeed toxic. The other gives us a path forward." That's what gratitude offers us: a path forward and eventually freedom from whatever is dogging us (sorry, puppers, didn't mean it that way). I hate that you had to go through this, but I hear you about being grateful for the non-things. The other day I thought: I'm kinda bored. My next thought? What a luxury. Thank God.
Ouch ouch ouch! I'm so very sorry you endured that kind of extreme pain last week, with the added challenging of facing it alone and having to worry about your dog, no less. I totally understand how it feels to have overcome this horrific pain and to feel grateful about it afterwards. My experience with the betrayal trauma is similar. After the tsunami that swept up everything in my world, I feel so grateful for the peace and calm after the cleaning up process. That peace is glorious. I wish you well in your recovery and glorious peace!
Ugh Julia, I'm so sorry you went through that last week. And alone, to boot! I've only had one kidney stone and I can tell you the pain was equal to being in labor. Only did that once, too.
You're blessed you have Mika by your side and even more blessed she likes strangers. Dezi would probably chase paramedics out of the house.
Mika's the one who had a bad night last night. She woke up at midnight and had to go out, clearly ill, then came inside and threw up on three rugs and the bed. I can relate. I was happy to take care of her. Oh, the life we live....and of course my guess is today she'll try to eat the same things that made her sick in the first place!
Oh Julia. What a rotten event. I too live alone. I have a cat. I moved to this condo after divorcing a terrible man. It took years to establish relationships with neighbors in my small condo network, but I’m so glad I have.
I too have a physical condition that has landed me suddenly in the hospital. What a wretched experience it is. And my heart aches for you. I now have two friends in this area who have keys to my home. My third, and closest friend, passed last year, and with her a great deal of my life line to help.
I’m an independent one, and have enjoyed excellent health for the majority of my life.. with the exception of the last 4 years.
Whatever you can do to connect to a few people, I’d encourage you to do it. It’s not easy, I know.
It seems like there could be a few women in your recent rafting adventure (wow btw) who might be good candidates as pals. (?.?)
I send many hugs of understanding, and a “woo-hoo” of awesome high five salutes for you still going on the rafting trip after the dastardly evil stone.
Ughh! My wife had a kidney stone similar to this in May. We were visiting my mom and ended up in an ER an hour and a half away from home. She was there for 2 days and had a stent placed. They discharged her after hours and when we finally got home, every pharmacy in town was closed. Then, they wouldn't transfer care to anyone in our home town, so we had to drive all that way back for the follow up procedure! This healthcare system is absurd!
I have had several bouts of kidney stones that resembled the one you just described. I have not had one for quite a while. I am now feeling VERY grateful for that. I am also sure that I am now going to have a much better day because I am now so happily feeling my non-pain. Thank you!!!
Reading this gave me pause to look for gratitude, not for the pain of losing two dogs within two months as I transition into retirement, that pain is nearly unbearable for now, but for the space to express that pain in private and for the tabula rasa of my life. The thing that causes the pain doesn't always inspire gratitude, but the results may.
Two close friends had to cancel their visits to me from Colorado because they had to put their aged dogs down. I knew and loved them both, and grieved with them. I know that pain, and we are still working through all of it.
An important reminder in times of duress. Also an important reminder to have a backup plan for my pup as i am also alone with no one to take care of her should an urgent situation arise. Thanks for the post!
Thank you for this, Julia. I struggle with being a gratitude grinch sometimes...it bugs me when these kinds of things become a "movement". Every time I see one of those "YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL" stickers, I always think "Maybe I am not, and that is perfectly fine as well". Your recognition of knowledge that you gained from a shit situation is the sweet spot between "Woe is me" and "Just thank your lucky stars that you exist in any form #gratitude™ ".
Well said, Eileen. What I do know is that finding way to see the value of the pain in the moment is still well outside my reach. But I'm working on it.
Just watched Thich Nat Hanh's video again last week on being in the present moment, pain or joy....Sure do miss him. Fortunately, he left a treasure of resources behind when he left. Here it is for you and others:
Julia, thank you for the shoutout and another great post. I hope all the kidney stone pain is over by now. Yes, we can be grateful for the non-pain. Work on my house that was supposed to start yesterday is delayed yet again, but the guy who caused the delay is in agony from an abscessed tooth. I am grateful that my teeth feel just fine. As for the medical people who sent you home in pain, grrr.
Agreed. Don't get me started. At least I am close to town and help if necessary. It can be so scary.
Oh my goodness, Julia. So sorry to hear about your kidney stone! What a dreadful experience. I’m so glad you’re feeling better. Your writing is absolutely riveting. I am in Eugene - welcome! My heart goes out to you. ❤️🩹
I'm so sorry you went through this. I had an extremely painful and sudden thunderclap migraine, the kind of thing that makes you think brain tumor or something. It was just astonishing how lackadaisical the ER was. I was writhing and vomiting in the waiting room for a few hours before being seen.
Lee, I’ve lived with migraines since 1974. I use Emgality since I got up to twenty a month which is considered a true disability. That stuff works to stop them in their tracks beforehand. Not for everyone, clearly, but I can so relate. I know that kind of pain.
"We can be bitter, or we can learn to be better. That’s a choice. One is indeed toxic. The other gives us a path forward." That's what gratitude offers us: a path forward and eventually freedom from whatever is dogging us (sorry, puppers, didn't mean it that way). I hate that you had to go through this, but I hear you about being grateful for the non-things. The other day I thought: I'm kinda bored. My next thought? What a luxury. Thank God.
Ouch ouch ouch! I'm so very sorry you endured that kind of extreme pain last week, with the added challenging of facing it alone and having to worry about your dog, no less. I totally understand how it feels to have overcome this horrific pain and to feel grateful about it afterwards. My experience with the betrayal trauma is similar. After the tsunami that swept up everything in my world, I feel so grateful for the peace and calm after the cleaning up process. That peace is glorious. I wish you well in your recovery and glorious peace!
Living in the kimchee, Louisa!
Fermentation in progress! I'm here catching your bubbles when they come up!
Thank you that cracked me up!
🤣😆😂
Ugh Julia, I'm so sorry you went through that last week. And alone, to boot! I've only had one kidney stone and I can tell you the pain was equal to being in labor. Only did that once, too.
You're blessed you have Mika by your side and even more blessed she likes strangers. Dezi would probably chase paramedics out of the house.
I hope you're feeling better!
Mika's the one who had a bad night last night. She woke up at midnight and had to go out, clearly ill, then came inside and threw up on three rugs and the bed. I can relate. I was happy to take care of her. Oh, the life we live....and of course my guess is today she'll try to eat the same things that made her sick in the first place!
Yeah they never seem to be able to make the connection.
Dezi had the runs all over our new house on the first night. I think the heat coupled with the stress of moving was too much for her.
We forget they have emotional stress too. And even then we expect them to calm US down when they need us to be calm for them.
Oh Julia. What a rotten event. I too live alone. I have a cat. I moved to this condo after divorcing a terrible man. It took years to establish relationships with neighbors in my small condo network, but I’m so glad I have.
I too have a physical condition that has landed me suddenly in the hospital. What a wretched experience it is. And my heart aches for you. I now have two friends in this area who have keys to my home. My third, and closest friend, passed last year, and with her a great deal of my life line to help.
I’m an independent one, and have enjoyed excellent health for the majority of my life.. with the exception of the last 4 years.
Whatever you can do to connect to a few people, I’d encourage you to do it. It’s not easy, I know.
It seems like there could be a few women in your recent rafting adventure (wow btw) who might be good candidates as pals. (?.?)
I send many hugs of understanding, and a “woo-hoo” of awesome high five salutes for you still going on the rafting trip after the dastardly evil stone.
Ughh! My wife had a kidney stone similar to this in May. We were visiting my mom and ended up in an ER an hour and a half away from home. She was there for 2 days and had a stent placed. They discharged her after hours and when we finally got home, every pharmacy in town was closed. Then, they wouldn't transfer care to anyone in our home town, so we had to drive all that way back for the follow up procedure! This healthcare system is absurd!
I have had several bouts of kidney stones that resembled the one you just described. I have not had one for quite a while. I am now feeling VERY grateful for that. I am also sure that I am now going to have a much better day because I am now so happily feeling my non-pain. Thank you!!!
what a reminder, right? No fun!
Reading this gave me pause to look for gratitude, not for the pain of losing two dogs within two months as I transition into retirement, that pain is nearly unbearable for now, but for the space to express that pain in private and for the tabula rasa of my life. The thing that causes the pain doesn't always inspire gratitude, but the results may.
Two close friends had to cancel their visits to me from Colorado because they had to put their aged dogs down. I knew and loved them both, and grieved with them. I know that pain, and we are still working through all of it.
An important reminder in times of duress. Also an important reminder to have a backup plan for my pup as i am also alone with no one to take care of her should an urgent situation arise. Thanks for the post!
I've got work to do, Jennifer. And I need a phalanx of resources to do it. Better get busy!
Thank you for this, Julia. I struggle with being a gratitude grinch sometimes...it bugs me when these kinds of things become a "movement". Every time I see one of those "YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL" stickers, I always think "Maybe I am not, and that is perfectly fine as well". Your recognition of knowledge that you gained from a shit situation is the sweet spot between "Woe is me" and "Just thank your lucky stars that you exist in any form #gratitude™ ".
Well said, Eileen. What I do know is that finding way to see the value of the pain in the moment is still well outside my reach. But I'm working on it.
Just watched Thich Nat Hanh's video again last week on being in the present moment, pain or joy....Sure do miss him. Fortunately, he left a treasure of resources behind when he left. Here it is for you and others:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiaxqGsyld8
Thank you Gary!