Bringing in the New Year with a BANG!!!

Yep you read that right! Mom is bringing in the New Year with yet another Lithotripsy!!!!  Mom can't remember if this is the 13th litho she has had because she has had so many. Mom also laughs when they say it is "shockwaves" that smash the stones. Technically it is, but it is really a machine that BEATS THE LIVING HELL OUT OF YOU 2500 TIMES. SERIOUSLY. Mom will ALWAYS HAVE KIDNEY STONES due to the metabolic make-up of her kidneys. They will NEVER be gone.  The reason Mom has to have so many is because she has MSK (Medullary Sponge Kidneys).

"Medullary sponge kidney (also known as Cacchi–Ricci disease) is a congenital disorder of the kidneys characterized by cystic dilatation of the collecting tubules in one or both kidneys. Individuals with medullary sponge kidney are at increased risk for kidney stones and urinary tract infection (UTI)."

"Patients with MSK typically pass twice as many stones per year as do other stone formers without MSK. While described as a "benign" disorder with a low morbidity rate, as many as 10% of patients with MSK have an increased risk of morbidity associated with frequent stones and UTIs. While some patients report increased chronic kidney pain, the source of the pain, when a UTI or blockage is not present, is unclear at this time. Renal colic (flank and back pain) is present in 55% of patients. Women with MSK experience more stones, UTIs, and complications than men. MSK was previously believed not to be hereditary but there is more evidence coming forth that may indicate otherwise."

So, when someone tells me they have had one or two stones  and never have had another, please excuse me while I laugh (maniacally) ............

It's that time again! Please Stand By............

It's Lithotripsy time again!!!

FOUND HERE

No worries all! It's just my usual "maintenance". It's kind of like a car, if I keep up on lithos, (aka oil changes), then the pain as shown in the first photo isn't as bad!!! I think this is Litho 4 so far this year? (Heck but who's counting!!!???)

My stones are caused by a congenital condition called Medullary Sponge Kidneys.........I have stones all day every day that will NEVER go away!

Picture Me This Photohunt Week 10 "Pointed" and Panic Day

Once again we are happy to be participating in a fun blogging event that was created by our friends over at A Tonk's Tail. It is a weekly photohunt. There is no pressure to participate, just jump in whenever you are able as we are doing this week! You can post on any social media channel that you wish, there is ZERO pressure (which is something WE LOVE!!)

This week the theme is:

Try not to be too jealous when you see the photo below. I passed this stone this past Saturday night (the pain started Friday evening at around 6pm)...........since today is also "Panic Day"............when one knows they are passing a stone they go into "Panic Mode!!" This photo is the PERFECT choice for the word "Pointed."

History of Panic Day
When it comes to holidays, you may think if the ones that are to celebrate fun moments. Panic Day is the day to recognize how stressful life has become and see what can be done to minimize the effects. Stress is dangerous to your health. Stress can bring on illnesses such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity.

Some people respond to stress by having feelings of panic which can be very debilitating. Panic can make a person feel that their fear cannot be overcome. While this may not seem rational, the panic takes over and makes it difficult for the once stricken to be able to make rational choices. If you feel that your fears and stress are overwhelming you, Panic Day is the day to make a step forward and reach out to a mental health professional.

That photo above  is the actual stone that I passed. Fun times, right? Had another litho on the left kidney yesterday.......joy oh joy!!!

If you participate in this photohunt be sure to tag #PMTphotohunt and @tonkstail

A Stone Smashing Good Time and the Winner of The Extraordinary Life of Buffy the Cat by Sandy Robins and Paul Smulson

Before we get to the winner of our give-away, Mom and I wanted to say that we probably won't be around all day Wednesday (and we are not sure about Thursday yet) because Mom is having another Lithotripsy today, (we think this is approx. Litho Number 10 or so?)  to smash a 7mm stone. She will be in the hospital most of the day but will be home later. So, if we are not able to visit today and part of tomorrow that is why!  We have included a graphic to give you a better understanding of Mom's congenital condition. Her stones will NEVER be gone because it is actually her kidney's JOB to MAKE STONES. She just has to try and keep them at a manageable level so that she can either pass them on her own, or with the help of a lithotripsy.

We will do our best to visit you as soon as we can!

NOW FOR SOMETHING
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT!
THE REAL REASON YOU 
VISITED US TODAY!

Thanks to all who entered our give-away for:

HUGE CONCATULATIONS

 TO THE LUCKY WINNER

LISTED BELOW!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Off to get "Stoned!"

OFF TO HAVE LITHOTRIPSY NUMBER 8, 9 or 10?

CAN'T REMEMBER

BUT WHO'S COUNTING!?

For those that Google "Lithotripsy". They mention "shock waves" which makes it sound like nothing. The "shock waves" are transmitted by being under anesthesia and your kidney is lined up with a machine that PULVERIZES your kidney, which translates to YOUR SIDE...

 2500 times

 (No, I am NOT kidding). Sometimes you are fine after, sometimes you are  bruised, sometimes not. Other times they hurt like.......

Each one I have had has been completely different than previous lithos. The nice part? You get a FABULOUS "nap."

CATCH YOU ON THE REBOUND!!!

"Easy Sunday?" Not for my Mom

This is what Mom was doing on Sunday.......

It's name is "Pebbles"

Mom really ROCKS

doesn't she?

No worries, I laid on the couch

with Mom and took good care of her.

I had to be sure she would be

well enough to feed me

Love, Cody

BlogPaws: "Leaving on a jet plane"...OR NOT...."Celebrate me home perhaps?"

Hi every furry and 2-legger. It's Cody. See that photo above? That was Mom yesterday. I'll tell you why she looked like that in a moment, but for now let me tell you how the story unfolded.

I knew something was up for weeks. Mom was hi-jacking my our blog with photos of Toki Poki cards:

Visit Toki Poki here

and business cards. 

There was a mad rush to make Flat Pets of Dakota and I:

Visit Pancake Pets right here

A giant suitcase was packed with enough clothes for everyone at BlogPaws to wear for a week (and then some). There was room left to fill up with "swag" for Dakota and I. Alas...that was not to be.

Mom was excited and ecstatic to be leaving yesterday for BlogPaws 2012. The conference that enables pet brands and bloggers to meet each other and be united for all sorts of fun events and promotions. Mom had "Newbie" tables reserved for breakfast for Friday morning, she was rarin' to go. I, on the other paw was distraught. Mom would be winging her way to Utah and I would be stuck with Dad, better known as the DOG LOVER.

Watching Mom getting ready to leave, I knew I had to act and FAST! I had to work my magic with the "powers that be" and find a way to keep Mom home! If not, I would be listening to Mom singing THIS:

As many of you know,  Mom has a chronic kidney condition called Medullary Sponge Kidneys. It is painful and causes Mom to have 100s of stones all the time! Mom had 2 lithotripsies in the past 5 weeks to smash some of the stones and another had already been scheduled for July 11.

 That was it!! I would work "magic" and find a way to keep Mom home by channeling through her kidneys!

The process of working my magic started yesterday morning. Mom was sick and crying with shaking chills and pain. Much to my dismay, at that time she was not to be deterred. She said her tearful goodbyes to Dakota and I, and I watched as Dad dragged Mom's zillion pound suitcase out the door.

Within two hours, what did my emerald eyes see? Mom (still crying) walking BACK through the door!! What in the name of cats happened? I shrieked! This was too good to be true! The human kibble dispenser was home!!

Mom told me that she became sick in the car with pain and chills and was terrified that the 4-hour dehydrating plane ride that would be heading to 99 degree temps in Utah would do her in. Mom was afraid that she would become even more sick on the plane, or worse yet, AT the conference. She tearfully asked Dad to turn the car around and go back.  Mom said it was the hardest decision she ever had to make, but she was too sick to go.

While Mom was and is devasted to be  missing the conference, she soooo wanted to see her blogging buddies and all of the brands that would be at the conference, I, on the other paw was ecstatic, albeit feeling a tad guilty that I had worked my feline magic spell casting. All I could think of was this:

Don't worry....Mom will be attending ALL of the BlogPaws livestream events, she has been tweeting, and she will be actively sharing as many conference posts, tweets and comments as she can.

Me? I will be happily munching on my kibble and happy to have my Mom right by my side. I'm not ALL bad. I have been guarding and protecting her ever since she returned. Just remember BlogPaws peeps and sponsors....she may LOVE all of you, and be MISSING YOU LIKE CRAZY...but now she's MINE....ALL MINE!!!!

I haven't left Mom's side!
This is where I am while
she is helping me type

Love, Cody

It's Always Something...

I wanted to take a moment to tell you that today's post is NOT about cats. For the first time since I began Cat Chat I am NOT writing about cats.

I am writing to tell you that if I haven't been visiting your blog(s) as often as I used to it is not intentional. There are times that life gets in the way of our good intentions.

I don't have a post planned for today. Scratch that, oh wow a reference to cats. I did have a post I needed to feature today that has been moved to Monday due to a couple of major issues.

 First, I have been experiencing significant computer malfunctioning episodes this week. Everything from a keyboard typing with a mind of it's own, runaway cursors, words being deleted or inserted without my having put them there, blue screens. Not pretty. After 5, (YES 5) frustrating hours with HP today the situation seems to finally have been resolved. My computer is fixed and a new laptop is being delivered in the next couple of days. If you blog, take my advice, be sure you have a back up computer! And...if you have a problem with HP and need tech support, listen my friends, ask for a supervisor right off the bat, if you are lucky, you will get Steve.

Second, I have a condition called Medullary Sponge Kidneys. You may read about it by clicking here. What this briefly translates to is I have 100s of kidney stones, all the time. I can go for long periods of time with no (or little) aggravation, and then...the bottom falls out.

Wanna know what "getting stoned" REALLY means? I'm your gal!

This past week I was feeling extremely ill. Went to the Urologist, I have a number of large stones that must be removed. In the next few weeks my Urologist will be scheduling at least two lithotripsies. A lithotripsy involves going under anesthesia and literally having your kidneys pummeled 6500 times each (yes you read that correctly), to break up the stones.

Amount of gumballs in machine
resemble my kidneys on a daily basis
photo from www.bing.com

Then, you get to spend the next few weeks after that feeling like an old fashioned gum-ball machine.

I will never be stone-free. That is the nature of this condition. The secret is to keep them at a manageable size/level.

I will do my best to visit everyone as often as I possibly can, but if I am not around with the frequency that I would like, please do not take offense.

The more I think about it, this post sort of is about cats. Cats use cat litter, cat litter resembles the number of stones that permanently take up residence in my kidneys.
As you can see, my thinking is rather off the wall right now....

Like kidney stones, "this too, shall pass" Yes, pun intended.