Experiencing the Worst Diseases: From Kidney Stones to Intussusception

When recounting my experiences with the worst diseases and injuries, kidney stones and intussusception stand out. Both conditions caused unimaginable pain, but each for different reasons.

Kidney Stones: A Desperate Pain

Suddenly, the conversation turned to the topic that most people dread: kidney stones. It wasn't the fear of death, but the terror of the timing. One moment, you're in manageable pain, and the next, you're trapped in a wave of agony. The pain from kidney stones can be so intense that it ranks at the top of the pain scale.

“Kidney stones make you fear when death’s going to show up and could he or she bump up their schedule a bit.”

The period between suspecting a back strain and receiving proper medication is when the terror begins. The pain comes in waves, and each reprieve makes you fear the next spike. It's the only illness or injury where I couldn't stop writhing for extended periods. One study found that people often requiremultiple dialysis treatments and medical interventions to pass the stone safely.

Drugs like analgesics provide temporary relief, but they are not a cure. A ureteral relaxant, such as magnesium sulfate, helps the ureter relax to allow the stone to pass. However, the relief is often short-lived. The real agony comes from the unpredictability of the pain waves.

Intussusception: A Life-Threatening Condition

When the conversation shifted to intussusception, I could hardly believe the pain I experienced. The condition is even more severe than kidney stones, and it led to a life-threatening situation that required immediate medical intervention. Intussusception occurs when a part of the intestine slides into an adjacent part, much like sections of a telescope. This can lead to severe abdominal pain and potentially a blockage in the bowel, cutting off the blood supply to the intestines.

“Intussusception often cuts off the blood supply to the intestines, causing the tissue to die.”

This pain is often described as worse than childbirth, a sentiment that is supported by the experience of women who have had both conditions. In my case, doctors gave me as much morphine as possible without risking respiratory failure. I screamed in agony, and I requested the use of propofol, the most widely used anesthesia for such procedures.

During the first surgery, I was kept under anesthesia with propofol, and anesthesiologists maintained my state for three days amid multiple procedures. This was not a laparoscopic surgery but a complex open surgical site. Intestinal restoration after intussusception can be challenging, with significant recovery time required.

I lost about 18 inches of my jejunum and spent six months primarily in bed, recovering from the surgery and its complications. The pain, fear, and recovery process were incredibly taxing, but I am grateful to be alive. Intussusception is a condition that should be taken seriously due to its life-threatening nature.

Our bodies have a remarkable capacity to endure, but sometimes, like me with kidney stones and intussusception, the pain is just too much to bear at any moment.