Well, in case you have't guessed... I am a victim of the condition commonly called Kidney Stones, but otherwise known as Nephrolithiasis or Urolithiasis . After urinating a bright red stream of blood, I decided to visit The Doc to find out what was going on. My Favorite Doctor scheduled an X-ray that involved drinking some sort of noxious cocktail of chemicals. I recall being told that there is some risk associated with the beverage, but it is necessary so the x-ray can properly see into the urinary tract.

Sure enough, several stones were visible in the "pipe". One of them was particularly pesky causing me to feel like I had to urinate constantly. I was advised to drink plenty of liquids and strain my pee with a paint strainer, in the hopes I could catch a stone to determine which variety of stone it is.

Other than some brief discomfort in the groin every once in a blue moon, I had no inkling that I was a kidney stone breeder. After about a week of constantly feeling the need to urinate and a few hour long episodes of intense groin pain, I finally managed to pee one of those critters out. Wouldn't you know it... I didn't use the paint strainer that time. I could plainly see the stone in the toilet. I decided that the only way I was going to find out the type of stones I had was by going diving. Luckily I was working in a Nursing Home and there was a plentiful supply of latex gloves. After fishing the offending kidney stone from the toilet and examining it, I found it hard to believe I actually passed it. It was irregularly shaped, about the size of a BB.

I still have an occasional bout of intense groin pain, usually in the middle of the night. Luckily I haven't had an attack out in public, as I am usually incapacitated, writhing in pain, moaning, curled up in a ball. The pain is awful, but thankfully it does not usually last much more then an hour. I suppose that if it happens more frequently or gets worse I will do something about them. At this point I am trying to live with them and have cut down on dairy products to hopefully slow down their formation.
I have found a few links that I found useful in my quest to learn more about Kidney Stones. Us Stoner's are definitely not alone.

An introduction to kidney stones, Kidney stones are among the most painful disorders to afflict humans.

Kidney Stones in Adults, Scientists have found evidence of kidney stones in a 7,000-year-old Egyptian mummy.

Photos of Actual Kidney Stones, See for yourself what these beasts look like.

Leaving No Stone Unturned. Jacqueline W. Wilson calls herself a stonemason.

Urology Notes. What Every Man & Woman Should Know About Kidney Stones

Nephrolithiasis, How it happens and what to do about it

Shedding light on kidney stones: What causes kidney stones, who gets them, what kinds of treatments are available, and how kidney stones can be prevented.