Yesterday I had a couple of x-rays done in preperation for my visit to the urologist's office today. I also shot a stone fragment at the back of the urinal at work. It made a lovely *Plink!* sound and I was able to save it. Why save it? Because it was the biggest fragment yet and the doctor wants those to help figure out what causes them in me. That way we can adjust my diet to help prevent them, I hope.

So, how were the x-rays? Disappointing in my opinion. I would estimate 3/4 of the giant stone is still in my right kidney. Only instead of being one big mass it has shattered into many little pieces that simply haven't worked their way out yet. The doctor wasn't worried about that but I was really hoping the kidney would be clear. Ah well. Then things got worse. Forgive me for not knowing all of the correct terms. The prostrate puts pressure on the tube that allows urine to flow out from the bladder. The pressure from the prostrate is enough to narrow that tube enough that I now have a back up of shattered stones that can't get out. To fix this the doctor has me on some muscle relaxers (Flomax) that will, hopefully, open that path enough to let them out.

I did get some good news from the doctor. My birthday is Sunday and I plan on going out to dinner with my wife Saturday night to celebrate. At dinner I am quite sure I will have a beer and I was worried about alcohol and pills being a bad mix. I asked the doctor if I should be worried about any interactions and he told me that wasn't a problem with those pills. Then he said something intersting. He pointed out that in today's society doctors really shouldn't say anything positive about alcohol but went on to say that beer is a great diuretic for people that can drink without becoming drunks. Do you realize what this means? My doctor has told me to drink beer! YES! I still have some of the pumpkin ale left and I picked up a six pack of Sam Adam's Cherry Wheat at the store while grocery shopping with my wife after the appointment.