A man wiser than me once said: everybody serves as an example. Some people serve as an example of what to do, and other as an example of what not to do
Anyway. Today I estimate that my latest experience is about number 147 on the list of "avoid it when possible" :
Kids, do not do anything that may result in your producing kidney stones. This is my second go-round. First was in 2003: I was blocked up with 22 stones at the same time, yes 22. Endured that for 15 hours and came quite close to needing dialysis. Had emergency life-saving surgery. Today, I had another surgery, same type as before. Only three stones, but one was
11 millimeters. That's .43" for the SAE folks out there. For my type of stones, they use a hole you already have, for access. Use your imagination about that, but don't think about it
too much.
Once they break it up and yank it out, you get these things called "flecks" that need to pass. And inside you, you have these other things called 'stents' that shore up your beat-up insides. A veritable galaxy of discomfort abounds; excruciating pain orbits those things several times a day, much like a masochistic planet that picks an path too close to a star. And the pain killers they provide "work" in the sense that if you could stand the pain anyway, they take the edge off, and they made money for the pharmacy while letting the hospital assume the least amount of risk when prescribing me medicine. So looking at the big picture thay are a big success, I suppose. They also make me ramble (could you tell?)
Boys, girls, gather round and take it from me, you do not want to volunteer for this type of thing, if by some chance someday medical science allows you the chance. Politely say "No thank you. I'd rather have a nice bowl of ice cream and one hundred dollars, please"
Perhaps later I'll explain experience #207: "Don't pick a fight with any guy nicknamed 'Concrete' by the police."