13 Comments
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Lou Segal's avatar

A kidney stone is probably the closet thing to purgatory on earth. Maybe only second to seeing obese models in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition.

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Dec 7Edited
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Lou Segal's avatar

Sports Illustrated is degenerate. lol

Leave me out of your church.

Scott Wenz's avatar

Nice. The winter of discontent.

Don't know where you are but in some places east of here the cost of gas is $2.25 a gallon.

Thanks for this and have a great Christmas.

(now where is that darn sleigh)

Tom Fitzgerald's avatar

While I may not have the Guiness record, I did manage to pass 22 kidney stones (two bilaterally) and became a close friend of my urologist over a 30 year run. Not fun. But some interesting stories regarding pain control in other countries, particularly France.

Monica Bond's avatar

Ouch on the kidney stones and double ouch on the medical bills! As far as the Canadian government suicide program, thumbs down on that for sure!

Montecito93108's avatar

$500B from taxpayers is a definite yes answer to your question “Is that a whiff of (Theranos) malarky in the air?”. Trump and sons are aligned with — and he is forgiving of — the richest elite oligarchs and countries (Saudi Arabia, Qatar, etc). Money begets more to the .01% in the stratosphere. Populists, MAGA, the young seeking affordability and those seeking survival beyond housing project ghettos are increasingly frustrated that commoner concerns are not prioritized beyond kidney stones as author points out. Que sera sera.

Peggy Wilson's avatar

A little DIY: My husband got kidney stones for 4-5 years. I convinced him to drink lemon warm water first thing in the morning before coffee---flushing your kidneys. Squeeze 1/2 organic lemon with warm water daily---SIMPLE!!! He has NOT had an episode since! Try it!!!

Al X. Griz's avatar

Think I will try that. Thank you . Hope your husband is done with them!

Russ Patrick's avatar

You’re a terrific writer! I loved this, and agreed with everything said.

Al X. Griz's avatar

You’re too kind. Thank you.

Michael Callahan's avatar

I liked it! A very refreshing column. I'd like to see more.

Al X. Griz's avatar

Big thanks. Hopefully more coming.

Paul Aijian MD's avatar

So much to comment on. Just hope you don’t find yourself in Canada with a kidney stone, and have to tell them you still want to spend a few more years on the planet. That country, once thought of as the home of Mounties and maple syrup, is becoming a full on godless, Marxist home for the suppression of free speech, promotion of euthanasia, and countless other really awful ideas. We need to look north and south, and do our best to retain the rights and values ( and Christian faith) that made this country a magnet for the entire world.