no surgery; apparently going to be stuck with this pain forever!

Just got home from ER.  The ER doc contacted my surgeon witrh no problem and he ordered a CT scan with oral contrast (previous ones were without or with IV contrast) which, of course, showed nothing (even when they were looking for internal hernia)... and after being uinformed that all the CT scan showed was stones in both kidneys, that there was a small amount of blood in my urine, and that all the bloodwork (CBC, pancreatic enzymes) the ER doc ordered was reasonably normal, my surgeon sent down their surgical intern/resident/whatever to tell me that they would admit me overnight to continue to give me morphine for the pain and to recheck my bloodwork in the morning... but that was all they were going to do since the CT gave them "nothing to follow" surgically!

I don't know what happened to "the plan"... and he never came down to see me (his office is attached to the hospital!) so I could ask him... but I feel very betrayed... am still in pain (the ER doc -- who didn't understand the point of them admitting me if they weren't going to do anything, either -- offered to write me a script for 2 days worth of Percocet if I wanted to just go home (the resident/intern only offered to give me 15 of the 5/325 vicodin, which is LESS than the 7mg ones that I took last night just to hold off going to the ER until this morning!), so I opted to leave and am now waiting for that to kick in)... and am apparently going to be stuck with this random, intense pain for the rest of my life since nothing shows up on the ^%@#$& CT scans... and apparently no one cares. 

I am SO disappointed in this surgeon... Either he lied to me or perhaps he reconsidered and changed his mind (but then should have had the professional and personal consideration to at leastexplain that to me in person).  Eitrehr way, I thought he had more integrity than that... and am hurt that I was stupid enough to believe that he actually cared that I was having this pain and wanted to help. 

I have already been really struggling with depression and periodic "dark" thoughts lately... and was at least feeling hopeful that this surgeon would help me resolve ONE of the issues contributing to the depression... but now it seems like I am going to have to do what my RNY surgeon said a year ago... find some way to "just live with it".        What do I do when my PCP eventually decides that I have been taking the vicodin too long and refuses to prescribe it any more?  My job is already somewhat in jeopardy because I have missed so much time at work because of the pain (my sick leave is gone, as is most of my vacation)... and as a single woman, I don't have anyone else to help keep a roof over my head and buy dog food if I lose my job.  (The jobless rate in my area is one of the worst in the state.)  I am just SO tired of hurting and never knowing when it will pop up or how severe it will be.

Where's the giant meteor when you need one...?

Lora

I'm sorry to read that your struggling. I always enjoy reading your posts as they are usually chaulked full of wisdom. It is NOT okay to just live with the pain. Medicine is far too advanced to allow that to happen to anyone. Find another doctor and continue to look for one until your issue is resolved! Kidney stones are horrible! Why have they not placed a stint in to allow them to egress? Hang in there and never give up.

UGH how frustrating!
What about exploratory surgery due to idiopathic pain?  Surgery is the only way to positively diagnose adhesions

That was SUPPOSED to be the plan... to do the explaoratory surgery WHILE the pain was happening to maximize the chances of him finding the problem!  But, for some reason, he didn;t follow through with the plan.

Lora

I'm so sorry Lora. I know you were so hopeful to have this taken care of. I would also suggest that you get another opinion. I would also schedule an appt with your surgeon and let him know how you feel since he did not follow through with "the plan" and did not even come to see you and talk to you face to face. Good luck and feel better.

I'm sorry you're going thru this Lora.  I'm afraid I don't have any good advice since I have not been in your shoes, but I hope that you can try to stay optimistic during this time.  I haven't been a member on here very long, but I've always enjoyed reading your posts and the encouraging comments that you leave on other's.  Keep your head up!  I'll be praying for you!

Hey Lora,  I am so sorry it didn't go as you expected.  What's up with the kidney stones?  Is it possible that your pain is originating there?  Blood in your urine isn't something you should ignore either.  I remember you posting that your pain was in your side....isn't it possible that's related to kidney stones?  

I hope you have good luck with the pain management, percocet should help!  What can you take to help disolve the kidney stones???

Once you come to grips with the pain you will be able to work toward finding a solution.  You are your own best advocate, don't give up hope.

Sara in Maui

The pain isn't inb my side, it is just off to the right of the center of my belly midway between my ribcage and my waist, and is deep.  I have had a stone in one kidney for a coupe of years now, and the pain I had when they found that was VERY different than this pain.  Much sharper and definitely in the back.

I have been trying to get help with this pain for almost a year and a half... and have, for various reasons, now NOT received any help from three different surgeons.

Lora

So, they didn't give you an antibiotic? If there's blood in the urine and some stones, sometimes an antibiotic will help. It did for me. Not that day, but about 4 days in. I guess us Daytoners are stuck with some crap! I wish there was something more they could do for you! I'll be praying!

Oh, good grief!  I was hoping you were in surgery today!

I'd be upset with your surgeon, too.  He absolutely should have informed you if he was changing the plan.

I think maybe seeing a different doc for another opinion would be in order at this point.

I bet you are depressed.  I was just reading something the other day about chronic pain and depression.  Of course being in pain all the time is depression but there was something about both pain and depression sharing the same neural pathways in the brain, making people with chronic pain even more likely to have depression too.