St. Marina protect me - 17 March 2025

I started passing a kidney stone in late February.  I know this because I felt severe abdominal pain that drove me to the ER (Emergency Room) on 28 Feb 2025.  A diagnostic CAT scan revealed the clear mark of a 7mm kidney stone that was partially descended (in the ureter and moving toward the bladder).  I got a bunch of numbers quoted at me as the visit progressed and the diagnosis became more clear, but I was basically looking at a 30% chance that the stone would pass unaided within the next two weeks.  So I went home to see what would come to pass (no apologies).  Another bout of significant abdominal pain took me back to the ER yesterday morning, 16 March.  This means that there has been progress but no expulsion of the stone.  I was able to visit a urologist this morning, 17 March, and she was pretty direct about the chances of passing a 7mm stone - 30% chance within the next two weeks (make note of that).

Now, kidney stones come with a lot of fireworks, mostly neural fireworks that we humans interpret as severe pain, often described as repeated, stabbing pain, with the added likelihood of tisssue damage as the stone moved thru the organic tube of the ureter.

The docs were all inclined to wait two weeks to see if the stone would pass unaided.  As the subject of the discussion, I looked at the numbers differently.  I saw a 70% chance of medical intervention over the next two weeks.   Also, that "within two weeks" was starting to sound like a familiar refrain; I had already gone two weeks without resolution.  I was disinclined to wait another two weeks to find out.  I decided to remove the uncertainty and push that to 100% chance of medical intervention sooner.  Medical intervention has other risks, but it removes two weeks of uncertainty; two more weeks during which I would be basically housebound and required to avoid all major physical activities. And it is likely (7:3 odds) that I will undergo a medical procedure anyway.

There are two primary medical interventions for large kidney stones, one ultrasonic (aka shockwave) and the other laser-based.  The urology doc said that the laser lithotripsy was more controllable and the fiber optics would allow a determination of removal with certainty.  It also seems the break-up of the stone is more controllable (meaning smaller pieces to remove; if the doc sees a big piece, just zap it again).  

And who can say "no" to frikkin lasers?

Because Saint virgin and martyr Marina (Margarita) of Antioch in Pisidia (255-270) is recognized as the patron saint of kidney sufferers and the protectress of nephrology, I will say that I presently live under the Sword of St. Marina.  Or, because of the way it feels, maybe I should say the Hammer of St. Marina. 

Smart watch died, part 5 - 6 March 2025

Credit to Google, the replacement Google Pixel smart watch has arrived.  We now repeat the set-up procedure with the new watch. I will be more observant with the charging process to avoid a repeat of the original problem.  The set-up procedure is taking several minutes; I assume there is a download and update in progress.  There is no indication of what is going on, just "connecting to your watch".  Oh! and something failed, so we are resetting and restarting.  Oh! and again something failed in the set-up process.  Looks like the third time is the charm as I got to the signing-in stage.

This replacement process started on or about 23 February 2025 and completed 6 March. I say on-or-about because I went on vacation in January and I was planning to take the watch.  I went to put on the Google Pixel watch and it was exploded.  I chose not to take the exploded watch on vacation.

As to the photo, we had a dead tree taken down; it had been assaulted during the Seattle Heat Dome a couple years ago.  I hoped it would survive, but not so.  After felling, it became clear that there were internal problems in the tree with bugs and rot, so it is now cut up for firewood.  I did a deep crosshatch in the stump to accelerate the decay process.  Some advise the liberal application of epsom salts but I have not done that.  I am hoping that water, weather, and bugs will complete the process through the added access that I have provided.  I am not sure what the tree was; evergreen, certainly, and coniferous, and the general shape of the trunk suggests a Noble Fir.  It is now a face-cord of firewood.

Smart watch died, Part 4 - 5 March 2025

After going thru the required communications with Google Customer Service, I was finally able to package up the busted smart watch and ship it back to Google.  I was annoyed that I had to supply the shipping material and take it up to FedEx, but the FedEx process was smooth once I got there.  If I had a routine 9-5 job, it would have been a real pain to get to the FedEx office quickly.  FedEx conveyed the shipment quickly to Google and it has been a silent period.  No news from Google.  I received word today that they had inspected the returned item and were shipping a replacement.  Today's notice included a tracking number, but it seems that only the label has been printed. That is, UPS does not yet have the shipment but will pick up the shipment soon (tomorrow?) and they will deliver it eventually.  Note that this is a common technique - Google "prints a label" to make it sound like they are making fast progress, but the tracking number is not meaningful until UPS actually gets the shipment.

I am glad that Google has finally verified that the failure is a valid failure and is covered by the warranty for replacement, but I am still surprised at how s...l...o...w the customer-service process has been for a $200+ item.