I had a familiar pain last Tuesday night when I was at dinner with my daughter. I cut the dinner short, dropped her off at her mom's, and went to the ER. Sure enough, I had another kidney stone, this one being my fourth in the past 12 years. This one was the biggest I've had, clocking in at ~7.5mm. I saw the urologist the next day, and there was virtually no chance of me passing it, so they scheduled lithotripsy. Unfortunately, they couldn't do it until this past Tuesday, leaving me in pain and unable to go to work for a week. Long story short, my experience with lithotripsy is that it was a piece of cake compared to uteroscopy, which I had done for stone #3 (although I do have friends who had trouble with lithotripsy).

Some of the week off was spent in severe pain or in a complete pain killer daze, but there was portions when I felt okay enough to read, watch TV, or listen to music, and enjoy them.

Here are some of the highlights:

Cassette


Public Image Limited - This Is What You Want . . . This Is What You Get

It had been years since I've listened to this album, and I can see why. I am an unapologetic fan of the follow up to this, the "generic" record, but TIWYWTIWYG just seems to be an album where Lydon and crew were going through the motions, without much passion. "This Is Not a Love Song" is decent, but even that is not a top notch song to me. It's a very straight forward record without anything that stands out as great.

Vinyl


The Lords of the New Church - The Lords of the New Church

I think these guys, and this album, often get lost in the shuffle because they didn't seem to fit neatly into any one genre. They had elements of goth, some post-punk, and a touch of punk. To me, this album was their finest hour, and it's a great one. I saw them a couple years after this came out, and I wish their records were more like their life performance; that is, I wish the records, including this one, had a bit more of an edge to them, as they feel a bit too polished at times. Anyway, I still think this is a fine album, and recommend it.

TV (via DVD)


Lucky Louie

I remember this series getting panned when it was on, although now I see it has an 8.1 user rating on IMDB. I guess that coincides with my own experience of this show. The first time I watched the series (which was on these same DVDs shortly after it had already been cancelled), I thought it was okay, but not all that great. I watched the first 10 episodes (of the 12 that aired) again over the past week or so and enjoyed it much more this time. Maybe it's just a grower. Or maybe I can relate to it better now. I know one reason I really like it is due to the various conversations and situations they deal with, and that I can relate to many of them. All in all, I think the 8.1 rating is about right, whereas before I watched it I would have told you it was worthy of a 6 or so based on my memory of the first time I watched it. Granted, it's not a laugh-every-second type show, but I now like it quite a bit.

Glad to hear you're on the mend. Hope the pain goes soon.

Damn, man. That sucks. Sorry to hear it.

I blame Obamacare.

Hope you're feeling better.

Gotta say I love that first Lords of the New Church record and agree they get overlooked these days. Great group, maybe a bit polished on record but outstanding live back then. Russian Roulette and Open Your Eyes are great songs off that debut.

Also agree that's a weak point in the PIL discography, although I do really like The Order of Death and I can listen to the whole thing without cringing. But yeah, they did much better elsewhere, although I do think the next album was about the last thing they did I cared about.

Anyway, get well. Pretty sure Whiskey is good for this.

i wanted to like Lords of the New Church, but I've been spotifying them the last hour and i can't really get into it. I hear a little Christian Death, maybe some Bad Seeds. they reference new york dolls.

i think i just don't like the way stiv bators talked.

but if that PiL album is the one with The Order of Death, that album rules

And, just as I say PIL's done nothing I care about for years...they release a new heavily reggae inflected tune and I'm curious about a supposed new album. First track is here:

http://thequietus.com/articles/07981-pi ... -new-album

Thanks for the well wishes.

And re PiL, word is they are soon to release their first album in 20 years.

I'd like to watch Lucky Louie again some time...I remember liking it but also being something of an apologist for it's shortcomings.

all i remember about that show is that it was hard to watch and not all that funny. painful, yes.

4 in 12 years? Wtf did you do to piss off your stones? Maybe you should change your screen name.

Just avoid "attack" and "aneurysm" and, I dunno, when in doubt, stick with Teletubby names.

I'm thinking maybe "Clean Bill" might be good (even though my name isn't Bill).

holy shit, man - i've only had one (back in '98), but that's still BY FAR the most pain i've ever been in and live in massive fear of it ever happening again

i cannot imagine FOUR!!!

I'm almost positive I've mentioned this before, but the only time I've ever seen my old man cry was from a kidney stone.

yeah i've had 2 and have to agree on it being one of the most painful things i've ever experienced.

this sounds like the worst thing ever. sorry to hear it

looks like shark teeth

hope this never happens to me

wait, what?? this is what they look like?

fuck. feel better, and i never want this. ever.

is there any sure fire way to avoid this shit altogether?

I don't know a "sure fire" way, but you should watch your calcium intake, and definitely drink lots of water.

oh man, i'm good then!

I really believe that diet does play a part, but also that some people are much more prone to developing stones--for whatever reason--than others. My calcium intake is low, my water intake is the highest it's ever been (although admittedly is not to the level suggested), and I take supplements to adjust my urine chemistry in an effort to stave off stones; yet this is by far the biggest stone I've had.

Having said that, I am going to increase my water intake and decrease the amount of grapefruit juice, cranberry juice, and cola I drink (which all contain oxalates), which hasn't been much to start with.

As far as the pain, when it's at its most severe, the pain is undescribable, and nothing seems to help short of a serious pain killer (the ER gave me a mix of toradol and morphine). Luckily, this most severe pain only hit me a couple more times during the week and went away after short periods of time.

man, when you say pain, are you like buckled over? where is the pain?

DRINK WATER DUDE!!!!!!!! It's all i drink aside from liquor and wine. Never soda and only juice with weekend breakfasts.