[BrianR]

I once had a 7mm kidney stone in my left hydroureter (the tube from the kidney to the bladder). It didn't pass on it's own. I tried to piss it out for FOUR HOURS first, before seeking professional help. The Doctor diagnosed a kidney stone (no shit Sherlock) and sent me to the ER.

The ER wanted to do another diagnosis. Tried to get me to provide a urine sample (yeah, right). Diddled around for two more hours until they finally got the message that I couldn't pass any more urine. Then they tried to TAKE the sample with a catheter. No soap, I had eliminated all but two measly drops. Then they tried a sonogram and saw the stone. Sonic waves didn't break it up either.

They sent me to a urologist. BTW, no pain meds YET!!!

HE diagnosed a kidney stone (nice that everyone agrees on MY initial diagnosis, now how about DOING SOMETHING!!!!!)

The urologist gave me a shot of Demerol (not enough, IMO) and went in after it with a flexible something or other. Folks, lemme tell ya, if you ever have a urologist tell you he's going to give you a "little something", he means it. If said urologist then tells you that this might hurt "a little", prepare to gouge your eyes out, to take your mind off the pain in your hydraulics.

He managed to break it up and let me pass it out myself.

I'm convinced that there was a conspiracy that day to make me suffer as much as (in)humanly possible.

Brian