I feel him take the tape off my leg, and some pulling and tugging. “Alright, Nicole, I’m going to take the catheter out now. As soon as it’s out, I’m going to insert the numbing gel. This might be a little uncomfortable, take a deep breath.” I breathe in and embrace Travis’s hand. I feel the catheter being pulled out of me. I can’t help but moan and cry a little. It didn’t hurt as bad as going in, but it still hurt. “Oww. Oww.” I just squeezed his hand harder. It only took a few seconds before it was finally out. As soon as I feel the end leave me, I feel something else being pushed in. I groaned from the shock and the pressure I felt. It wasn’t at all comfortable. “I’m going to inject the gel. It’ll burn and sting a little.” I feel this weird sensation, but it’s not that bad. Then, all of a sudden it hit. I let out a moan, and not the good kind. “Hmmm, Oh my God, you weren’t kidding. Ohh, that stuff hurts. Ow.” I feel Dr. Graham take the syringe out, but it still hurts. Travis is stroking my forehead, trying to comfort me, while I lay there whimpering and sniffling. “It’ll only last for a minute or two, babe. I know it hurts now, but as soon as it kicks in, you won’t be able to feel anything.” “I think it’s already starting to ease up.” “Good.” About five minutes later, Dr. Graham is ready to start the procedure. “You should be nice and numb now, Nicole. Do you feel any burning or anything?” I take a second just to be sure, “No, I don’t feel anything at all.” “Alright, I’m going to insert the scope. Let me know if anything hurts at all, ok? You will feel some pressure, and it’ll feel like you have to go pee.” I take a deep breath, close my eyes, and wait for it. I feel this huge amount of pressure, and I wait for the pain. I hear Dr. Graham from between my legs. “Try to relax, don’t tense up. Are you feeling any pain?” “No, Just a lot of pressure.” “He’s almost to your bladder,” Travis says and then kisses my forehead. “How do you know?” “I’m watching it on the monitor. If you opened your eyes you could see too.” “I don’t want to wa… oh! That kind of hurt, and now I feel like I really need to pee.” “Sorry, that was the scope going into your bladder. Is it better now?” “Yeah, it still feels weird, and I still feel like I need to pee.” “Well, unfortunately that sensation will get worse as I start filling your bladder with saline. Just try to relax. This might feel a little cool.” I start to feel pressure in my tummy as my bladder fills. Soon the pressure turns into something close to pain as my bladder is filled to the max. I feel like I did before the catheter. “I really feel like I need to pee. I don’t like it, it’s uncomfortable!” “I know it is, babe, just bear with Dr. Graham a little bit longer.” “I can’t believe how infected her bladder is,” This coming from Dr. Graham talking to Travis. “I know, I had no idea it was that bad. You can treat it though, right?” “Yeah, we’ll get her all fixed up. Nicole, I’m fixing to take the scope out, are you sure you don’t want to see inside your bladder?” “I’m sure! I just want this thing out of me, and the saline too!” “Ok, ok. Nicole, when I take it out, I’m going to insert another catheter into you. It’ll drain the saline from you.” My eyes pop open, but I make sure I don’t look at the screen. “No! Please, not another one, please! Travis, please don’t let him!” “Shhh, it’s alright babe. He knows best, and whatever he says goes. You know the rules.” “I promise, Nicole, it won’t hurt. You’re still numb from the scope, so it’ll feel about the same. You’ll feel a little discomfort when the catheter enters the bladder but that’s it. So, what do you say, Nicole? Is it ok if I put in another catheter? It’s your body, so it’s your call.” “You promise it won’t hurt?” “I promise it won’t actually hurt when I insert it, you might feel some discomfort, but that’s it. Do you trust me?” “Yes, I trust you. Go ahead and do it.” I feel the scope being pulled from my body, it doesn’t hurt but it’s a really weird sensation. “Ok, Nicole, I’m inserting the catheter, so you’re going to feel some pressure.” “Travis?” “I’m right here darling.” He squeezes my hand and puts his other hand on my shoulder. I feel a lot of pressure and a very mild stinging burning sensation. “I feel a lot of pressure, but there’s a dull pain too.” “Ok, that’s from where the numbing gel is wearing off. I’m at the bladder now. Take a deep breath.” As I do, I feel the tube pop into my bladder. I let out a little “Oh.” “Are you alright, Nicole? That wasn’t so bad was it?” “No, actually it wasn’t.” “Alright, I’m going to let your bladder drain. Travis, can I talk to you out in the hall?” “Why can’t you talk to him here?” “I need to discuss with him possible treatment plans.” “Since I’m the patient, shouldn’t you be discussing them with me?” “Don’t worry, I will be discussing them with you. I just want to make sure that we’re on the same page since one of my treatment plans involves him. After we discuss if this is even an option, we’ll come back in and discuss it with you, ok?” “I guess so. Travis, please don’t be gone long.” “I won’t, babe.” I watch them walk out the door. I just lay there trying to get the feeling of the catheter out of my head. Several minutes later, they walk in. Travis sits in the chair by my head, and holds my hand. Dr. Graham rolls his chair over next to me. This can’t be good, the way they’re looking at me is never a good sign. “Alright, Nicole, let me explain to you what I think is the best treatment option, and Travis agrees. I’m going to write you a prescription for some oral antibiotics. You’ll take them three times a day for ten days. That should help the infection that is in your kidneys. Because it’s such a fast moving infection, I’m also going to give you a shot of antibiotics today before you leave.” They wait a second for that to sink in, and then Travis takes up where Dr. Graham left off. “He’s also giving us some medicine to take home that I’ll inject every night for three nights, starting tonight. It’s to help your kidneys heal. Are you with us so far?” “I don’t really like it, but I understand. You said so far, isn’t that it?” This time Dr. Graham answers, “I’m afraid not. That just takes care of your kidneys. There’s still a matter of your bladder and your urethra. Now the antibiotics will help them too, just not as much as the next treatment.” “The next treatment?” I look from Travis to Dr. Graham. Dr. Graham takes a deep breath and looks at me apologetically. “While the catheter is in you, I’m going to fill your bladder with a solution that is going to wash out and kill all the bacteria. You’re going to feel really full, and I’m not going to lie, Nicole, the solution does burn. I’m really sorry. It’s just that we really need to kill all the infection ASAP. You’ll hold the solution for thirty minutes, and then I’ll take out the catheter. You’ll then need to urinate out the solution. This will let the solution wash out some of the bacteria in your urethra. Unfortunately the solution has to be held in an area for a certain amount of time to kill all the bacteria, which is why you have to hold it in your bladder. Just the amount of time it’ll be in your urethra isn’t enough. So, after you’re done urinating, I’m going to insert a urethral suppository.” “You’re going to do what?!? I don’t think so!” “Nicole, it’s really the best way to get rid of the infection. I wouldn’t do it if it wasn’t.” “Babe, you’re going to let him do it. Just because I’m not the main doctor right now, doesn’t mean I’m not your doctor. This is the treatment plan that’s the best, so this is the plan we’re going with. You know how the rules are in both of my offices. You also know what the punishment is for arguing about procedures. I’m sure you don’t want Derek to see you get a spanking. I’ve let it slide and made exceptions several times today, but my patience is wearing thin. We both understand that you’re scared, but we have to get you feeling better.” I am so humiliated! It’s bad enough Travis chastising me in front of Dr. Graham, but did he really have to mention spanking me in front of him? I’m so embarrassed all I can say is, “Yes, Sir.” “Sorry about that Derek.” “It’s ok, I’m the same way when I’m dating someone, especially when we’re serious. Now, Nicole, back to the urethral suppository, I’m guessing you’ve never had one before.” “No, never, and the sound of it scares me. When I was sick, Travis gave me a suppository up my butt, and I definitely didn’t like it.” “Well, it’s the same concept, except it goes inside the urethra, and it’s a lot smaller. I’ll push it in, and then take a small sterilized tool that looks like the end of a cotton swab, and push it up to your bladder. You’ll feel some discomfort as it’s inserted. It’s the same kind of solution that goes in your bladder, so I’m afraid it will burn as its melting. It’ll take about 15 minutes before it’s completely melted, it’ll also drain out of you while it’s melting. When you’re completely finished draining, I’ll give you your shot, and then you’re free to go.” “Babe, you’ll have to have this done at home also, once a day for two days, that’s three treatments total. Do you have any questions?” “You said I’d have to pee out the solution from my bladder, but what if I can’t? I mean I’ve tried to pee before, remember, but I wasn’t able to.” “You’re just going to have to try really hard, babe. If for some reason you absolutely can’t, we have ways to make you, we just really don’t want to have to do that. Any more questions?” “Since I’ll have to have it done at home too, that means more catheters right?” Dr. Graham answers this time, “I’m afraid so, Nicole.” “Travis, will you please use the numbing gel? It still hurts too, but not nearly as bad.” “Derek, can you get me some to take home with us?” “I sure will. Anything else, Nicole?” I think for a minute, but can’t come up with anything. “I don’t think so.” “ Alright if you’re ready, let’s get your treatments started.”