I was given an appointment to remove a quarter inch kidney stone at the VA for April 10. I wondered about the time between the operation and the recovery for Mitchell and didn’t care so much about the Assault.

     I rode up Roan on Friday, April 7, in my 39 X 23. I was saving some gears and parts for spring riding. I didn’t mind trying to make my legs stronger with the taller gears. I really like these gears in the low-lands. I wanted a hard ride before the operation. I’d do another on Sunday with Rike and Gang.

     Saturday night I changed my gearing so that my lowest gears would be 34 X 27. We rode about 60 miles. Rike’s friends rode me into the ground, which is what I wanted. I didn’t know when I’d ride again so a good workout is good.

     I was given a lot of information about the operation, recovery, living wills, etc.

     I noticed that some descriptions were neglected so I’m adding them here:

While you have a stent Part 2

After the kidney stone removal and the stent is in place, you may feel some discomfort. Certain movements may trigger pain or the need to urinate or blow your brains completely out of your head.

The doctor or nurse may give you pain medication which does nothing more than block your bowels for as long as you use it.
This is one way that the war on prescription drug abuse is fought.

You may be given other medications to prevent infection or bladder spasms.
Some of the medications will turn your urine orange red so that when it sprays onto the toilet, walls, and floor you’ll be given a very colorful light show.
With the combination of the electric psychedelic, fire breathing penis and the feeling of having your kidney in a vise you can be sure that you are now really “living on the edge”.
While you’re trying to control a fire hose with a beanie hat on the end of it, you might try hitting some of those high notes that only large opera singers can reach.

Caution: Stay away from glass objects.

Until the pain begins to ebb, you’ll need to hold on to a handicap rail or be outdoors.
After quite some time the pain will begin to subside.

Caution: Do not try to resume normal activities until your eyeballs return to their normal size and they recede back into their usual position in the sockets.

Caution: Do not have fire arms within reach while urinating.
After you have used the painkillers for a couple days you will no longer feel the need to do number 2 again.
Should you decide to have bowel movements in the future, you will have to eat yogurt and laxatives for at least 2 meals a day.
When you finally go, you can then play a game I call
“let’s get the toilet to flush again”.