Week 3 — Kidney Stones, Setbacks & Still Standing
This week knocked me flat.
Friday was supposed to be simple — a CT scan to clear me to return to work. Ten minutes later, my phone rang:
“We found an 8 mm obstructive stone. You need to go to the ER.”
I still tried to squeeze in a little normal — ate lunch, took Madeline to her friend’s Halloween party — then packed my overnight bag and went in.
By Saturday morning, I was in surgery having a stent placed to relieve pressure and drain my kidney. Discharged that night, home by bedtime … only to be right back in the ER on Sunday with heavy bleeding.
Apparently, the CO₂ used during surgery created pressure that reopened my vaginal cuff — the stitches shifted, which explains the bleeding. To top it off, I now have both a kidney and bladder infection.
The ER GYN team cauterized the bleeding, and I’ve been ordered to strict bed rest to give my body every chance to seal and settle.
And yet — here’s the part that surprises me — I’m not angry.
I’m tired, yes. Sore, definitely. But mostly grateful.
My body is asking for stillness, and this time I’m listening.
“My body is rebuilding trust with me, one day of rest at a time.”
💭 What I’m Learning
- Healing isn’t linear — it’s loops, setbacks, and restarts.
- Bed rest doesn’t mean weakness — it’s strategy.
- I can love myself even when my body feels uncooperative.
🧺 What’s Helping Right Now
- Warm compresses for my back and hips
- Hydrating with small, steady sips
- Antibiotics, probiotics, and patience
- Saying “no” to everything that drains me
- Soft blankets, gentle playlists, zero-guilt naps
“Not linear. Still progress. Gratitude stays undefeated.”
