Someone somewhere out there is saying "Jesse, when will you talk about Japan?" and I assure you soon, but in due time. Actually, probably no one, but oh well.

Anyway, Japan post is still pushed off by recent happenings. Re: My Surgery.

Last Wednesday I had an appointment to see the urologist if my kidney stone hadn't yet passed. It had not. After some discussing my options he decided it would be best to put a stint in my ureter to allow my kidney to drain and prevent damage, as well as determine if we would be able to break it up with sound. They wanted to do the surgery that day but they couldn't get an operating room, so it was moved to the following day.

The next day, Thursday, they do the actual surgery. Allow me to describe the basic concept to you, They insert a scope and a probe into my urethra, locate my left ureter, and navigate the probe with stint to the stone. I'm not certain the exact positioning of the stint as related to the stone, but I do know that they believe the stone to be good and lodged, and the area well inflamed. Breaking it up with sound was not an option due to these facts as well as the location.

Instead they put me on a cocktail of drugs (pictured) in an attempt to dissolve the stone (these are on top of my pain killers), and this coming Wednesday I'm going in for a scan to determine whether its helping or if they're going to need to cut me open to laser it.

As painful as the surgery was (urinating the first few times was one of the most painful experiences of my life) the constant excruciating pain I had since returning from Japan has entirely lifted. I think I got more done at work today than I did in the last two weeks combined.

There is at least one surgery left, where they will remove the stint, possibly two if they remove the stone at a separate time. I'm not sure what they'll do.

I need to do something, being trapped at home / work in pain the last two+ weeks after getting back from Japan has been probably the worst cabin fever of my life.