At least it hurt less than trying to pass the stone.

I always hear women say that after you give birth you have no more shame. I almost think the same can be said for kidney stones.

This morning I had the ureter stent removed. I was in an absolute panic about having this done because I knew it was going to hurt. I even asked the nurse if people scream having it removed. She chuckled and said yes, but its usually the men. I figured it couldn't hurt any worse than the stone, right? RIGHT!?!?!

The nurse took me to the exam room and instructed me to take off everything below the waist and get up on the table. First I had to see what was on the counter that had been so thoughtfully covered up with a towel. All I can say is OMFG.

*click*

I asked if that was for me, and as I feared, it was.

About this time I got a severe case of the panic giggles. My nurse, Mandy was great. She reassured me and patiently answered all my questions.

She had me lay back and put my feet in the stirrups so she could "prep the area". Huh? what needs to be prepped? It involved some topical lidocaine to ease insertion. Uh huh. Apparently it takes a good 10 minutes for the lidocaine to work because that's how long I got the lay there.

The doctor finally comes in and by this point I've worked myself up into near hysteria. He actually told me not to look at the equipment. Too late! He then said that favorite phrase of doctors, "you're going to feel a little pressure..." In my experience this pretty much covers everything from "a little pressure" to "holy shit, i'm white knuckling the sheet!"

The nurse, bless her heart, stood there the whole time and made small talk with me. It took less than 2 minutes to have the stent removed and aside from a little stinging (like peeing with a bladder infection) when it was coming out, it was no big deal at all.

I sure as hell don't want to do it again, though.