Heat Exhaustion and Kidney Stones

Playing at the park with Kacey.

Gracie enjoying the shade at the park.

I find it funny how life can sometimes play tricks on you at just the wrong time. I was on a roll with my packing. I had a list of all I needed accomplish daily in order to get the house packed by Saturday night (which was my goal) and I was feeling comfortable, a little overwhelmed, but confident. Yesterday morning I had agreed to a play date with a family from karate. I wasn't thrilled about going, but I knew how important it was to them and I have a hard time saying no so despite the fact that I had a lot of packing scheduled for the day and it was still so hot outside, (103 without the humidity factored in) I agreed to meet them at the park at 10:30. We hung out in the shade for a few hours and then went to the spray park to cool the kids down. At the park I started getting cramps in my side, but thought very little of it. At the spray park I got really nauseous and when I stood up I saw spots and got really dissy. I decided to go home and get out of the heat thinking I was suffering from heat exhaustion.

The kids stayed near this one slide the entire time because it was the only shaded area.

Playing with the rocks, trying not to get too hot.

I got home around 1:00 and managed to get the kids in bed for naps (in only diapers and underwear because I couldn't get them dressed) and then laid down. Having suffered from heat exhaustion twice before I knew what to expect and when I didn't start to feel better I started to worry. I called Kenny who told me to call someone to come check on me. I actually did, which is not like me because I hate to bother people. My friend, Kristy Camp, came over and gave me Gatorade, ice, and other stuff to help me with my heat exhaustion. I started feeling a little better, but my side was still hurting. Then around 3:00 I got really sick again and finally threw up at 3:30. That's when I knew something else was wrong because my body temperature was back to normal and it had been a few hours since I got inside. I called my friend back who arranged one of the young women from church to come watch the kids and after about an hour and a half of horrible pain I decided to go to the hospital.

I of course, got to sit in the emergency waiting room forever. I arrived at about 5:30 and wasn't taken to a room until around 9:00 and then I waited in the room for another half an hour until they came to see me. They drugged me up, which I was very happy about, did a CT scan and discovered I have kidney stones. It's not something I would recommend. They're not fun at all. A little like labor, at times I thought it was worse than labor. The stones are small enough that I can pass them on my own so they game me a prescription for drugs and at 12:30 sent me home.


During this time I had a husband 2500 miles away in Idaho and 4 children at home to take care of. Kenny was feeling very helpless and concerned. He made many called to friends and church members to have people sit with me and make sure the kids were taken care of. It was not the best timing and I know Kenny didn't like knowing he couldn't be here. Our ward was just amazing. I left my kids with one of the young women and another one took me to the hospital. Kidney stone pain goes in waves depending on where the stone is in your body and by the time I was able to make a phone call many friends had already gotten together and farmed the kids out to 3 different houses for the night. They cleaned my kitchen and family room. At one time I had 4 adults from 3 different families sitting in the waiting room with me. There was also another ward member who came at about 8:45 and said he was prepared to stay the entire night, until I was released. They're sure making it had for us to leave. I am so grateful for all the wonderful friends and neighbors we have out here. It was so wonderful to know that my kids were all taken care of and that there are so many people who care. I know it was wonderful for Kenny as well who is so far away and he was able to feel a little more at ease knowing we were all taken care of.

I guess the moral of the story is always expect the unexpected. I'm a little behind on my packing, ok a lot behind, having lost 2 days. I have a meal coming tonight and I've been told that there are already women from the ward prepared to come pack my house up tomorrow when I'm, hopefully, feeling better. I was told that they would not take no for an answer. Again I'm so amazed and so grateful for everyone's generosity. My advice, don't get kidney stones! If you do take the drugs they give you, it makes them bearable. Hopefully by tonight the stone will pass and I'll be back to my normal self again. Until then my world is spinning due to the drugs, but I'm in very little pain.