[pain.thoughts]

[wispfox]

So... in contemplating the fact that I've been informed that the dilation of the cervix necessary for Mirena insertion being similarly painful (although _much_ quicker) than giving birth. And the fact that people have compared kidney stone pain to the pain of childbirth...

I'm not really convinced they are possible to compare (at least, Mirena insertion and kidney stones). Very different kinds of pain, although certainly both immensely painful. I found the kidney stone pain - probably due to having a _MUCH_ more gradual pain increase - more tolerable. Sudden, sharp, intense pain is... difficult to stay still for.

The comment 'ok, you need to stay still for this last part' was... interesting (I'd not managed to stay still for the first sudden intense pain bit. Nor, for that matter, quiet). I _did_, I think, stay still (and be quiet, although that wasn't necessary) when I was told I needed to. But. Ow. And no, I didn't really need more reasons to never, ever, ever, ever give birth. (or have kids)


I find it interesting that, as I'm contemplating this all, and noting that I find gradual pain easier to cope with, I'm reminded of the fact that I _also_ find gradual/constant intense pain far, far, _far_ more exhausting. And very glad that most of my various 'my body hates me and is falling apart' things are _not_ intense, although sometimes can be constant (but low grade). Yeah.

I dislike that my legs feel the need to take on cramp pain. They always have, though. Might be why I don't like sitting when crampy.

Comments

[docorion.livejournal.com]

Your experience with kidney stone pain is somewhat unusual; most (not all, I've certainly taken care of people who reported the same pattern you do) people with kidney stones have sudden, sharp, REALLY BAD pain. The onset is instant-people can often tell you the exact time.

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

Huh!

Well, for me, it felt initially like I might have been cramping (the first time was while I was having my period, so it was reasonable) or possibly a very angry muscle, then like perhaps I was constipated. Then, _then_, there was intense, scary, terrifying pain. To the point of me calling 911, because I wasn't entirely sure I wasn't dying. But it wasn't all at once. I had warning, if I'd only known what it meant.

Later, it chilled out to the intensely painful - but not stabbing pain - cramping level pain again, and kept going between the two until it was out. Both of them did this. The second one I had, I didn't bother going to the hospital (once I verified that it was a kidney stone again, and not something else), and got to be extra miserable because I also had a stomach bug and couldn't take pain killers. Or much of anything else, really, because it wouldn't stay down.

I hate kidney stones.

The thing about the Mirena insertion is that there was _no_ warning. I mean, I knew she was going to be doing something, since she was poking aroud in there, but...

[ian-gunn.livejournal.com]

I'll testify to that. A sudden sharp pain was my first indication of a kidney stone. I believe it is due to the build up of hydrostatic pressure in the kidney due to the blockage, yes? It certainly felt like my kidney was going to pop like a balloon. After the initial sharp pain there was a long drawn out episode of pain interspersed with a few more sharp pain peaks.

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

Neat! I have fucked up kidney stone stuff! No wonder I was feeling skeptical about people's comparisons. :)

[ian-gunn.livejournal.com]

*laugh* Now that is something to be glad to be fucked up about.

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

Yes. :) Still painful, of course, but not so sudden!

[ian-gunn.livejournal.com]

All I can say is it is a good thing that pain is not truly etched into memory. I *remember* how distressed I was and *thinking* about how painful it was but the actual *pain* in my memory is merely a shadow. That is a good thing.

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

I remember the 'being in the floor in fetal position in too much pain to move' experience, but no, not the pain itself.

[regyt.livejournal.com]

I want a Mirena, but sadly it won't do the trick for me, I think. It'd satisfy my birth control needs and my not wanting to menstruate my needs, but not my hormonal needing of estrogen needs.

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's unfortunate. Can you get the hormonal needs handled separately, perhaps?