A brief message from Big Pinkie

Hello all.  Big Pinkie here.  I am very sorry for the lack of posts of late.  As most of you know by now, I have been dealing with kidney stones.  I would like to thank all of you for the kind words of support and sympathy.  Also, I would like to thank Neylo for giving me this post to express my thanks and update everyone.  He is very anxious to return to normal posting.*

These were very large kidney stones.  The one in my left kidney was 18 millimeters.  If you have never experienced the joy of giving birth to a rock before, this number may not mean much to you.  So, I have included a photo to give you some idea of the size I have been dealing with...

This is pretty much what the stones look and feel like.  Seriously.

I had successful lithotripsy on the one in the left kidney.  That means they have busted it into little pieces about the size of salt grains.  Unfortunately, there are LOTS of little pieces.  I have a stint running from the kidney to the bladder.  Don't like the stint.  But it helps to pass the bits.  I may be back to normal next week if I flush enough of them out.  Then we can see about doing something for the other kidney.

So, once again, thank you all for your words and thoughts of support.  Thanks to Neyland for letting me have a little time in his space.  And thanks to the doctor for busting up the rock in one go!  Neyland will be back tomorrow with more of what you folks like.

Big Pinkie
(aka Bryan)

* Some might say he is more militant than anxious.  He threatens physical violence of biblical proportions if he isn't back on the internet soon.