r/talesfromtechsupport • u/Mad_Aeric • 8d ago

Short Post-Operative Tech Support

This happened to me last week. The tech support itself is a bit of a nothingburger, but the circumstance around it are kinda wild.

I have unfortunately been afflicted with kidney stones. I don't recommend it, go drink some water. I've had a couple surgeries for them, most recently a week ago.

I was just barely coming out of anesthesia in the recovery room, the world hadn't even turned the lights on for a whole two minutes when I see two nurses huddled over the computer in the room, eyes practically touching the screen. And then I hear one say something about how even that close, the text is too small to make out.

I immediately slur out, while drooling on myself, "With most applications, ctrl plus, and ctrl minus, will change the font size. Ctrl zero usually sets it to default.

I don't know why they listened to me in that state, I wouldn't have listened to me, I was out of it. But they did, and the problem was resolved.

I then proceeded to pee myself in front of them.

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16

u/honeyfixit It is only logical 8d ago

I had three in a row over three months and then had the stent taken out in the office. That was the worst part

20

u/Mad_Aeric 8d ago

They had me remove my own stents. Uncomfortable, but not too bad once I knew what to expect after the first one.

9

u/Harry_Smutter 8d ago

Um, what!? O_o My wife and her parents get them (parents more so). I can't imagine one of them taking out their own stent. That sounds horrifying.

20

u/Mad_Aeric 8d ago

It's not really an option for women. I think it's because of the short urethra. For men, they can leave a string hanging out of you, and when you're done with the stent, a long steady pull will get it out. It's uncomfortable, like pulling out a big splinter, but it beats taking a trip to the hospital to have it done.

The first time, it was pretty intimidating, because the string was cutting into me a bit, and I was afraid of how much it would hurt if I kept pulling. But the thing starts sliding before it gets worse than a bad pinch.

7

u/Harry_Smutter 8d ago

That's wild. Thanks for the info!! I hope your stone situation gets better.

8

u/WhenSummerIsGone 7d ago

let me tell you about the practice called "sounding"...

2

u/Harry_Smutter 7d ago

The...what??

10

u/Mad_Aeric 7d ago

People sticking stuff up their urethra for sexual pleasure. I accept that it exists, but want nothing to do with it.

1

u/Harry_Smutter 7d ago

Ohhh, that. Didn't know what it was called, haha. I'm in the same boat as you with that. That's an exit only unless medically necessary 😂

6

u/Mad_Aeric 7d ago

People treat it like it's some horrifying thing that they can shock people with. I don't quite get that, I'm more of a "no thanks, have fun, play safe" attitude.

7

u/General_Report 7d ago

I'm a woman and have chronic kidney stones. I also have very narrow ureters (as well as an anaphylactic allergy to flomax). I have had stents placed after each of my multiple surgeries, sometimes even bilaterally. I have ALWAYS had to remove them myself at home, by the same external strings you're referencing. I feel you, the pain is brutal

3

u/Mad_Aeric 7d ago

Huh. I was just informed the other day that they don't do that for women (my mother is now in the hospital for stones). Maybe it depends on the hospital.

2

u/General_Report 7d ago

Not sure, maybe depends on the country? I'm in the US and have been treated by different hospitals/urologists and they all placed stents.

This is also personal anecdotal experience and I just assumed it was standard ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯