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IMG 8808 Copy 380x440 FUNNY: The pain thats worse than giving birth.

Nath Valvo

 

 

 

 

by NATH VALVO

Earlier this year I became a man, a real man.

And no, this is not an excerpt from Chaz Bono’s memoirs.

Drum roll please …

This year, I passed TWO kidney stones. AT. THE. SAME. TIME.

(Insert raucous applause)

Before this happened, it is safe to say that I was a pussy.

A massive pussy.

I cried in grade 4 watching Free Willy. I straighten my hair everyday. And I’m partial to using an exfoliating glove in the shower (does wanting immaculate skin make a man a pussy? Yeah, probably).

But I digress…

I was walking through my local supermarket when I was struck by an excruciating pain in my lower back. Considering I haven’t done exercise since that time in 2005 when I had to run for a train, I was confused as to what the cause of this pain could be. I knew it was serious.

I had to bail on my supermarket visit (I couldn’t afford the box of fruit loops anyway). A few minutes later, I arrived back home and called my nurse friend, Fiona, for advice. Once she had completed her initial assessment and was satisfied that it was not a drunk sex injury, she agreed to come over and drive me to a doctor.

But while waiting for her to arrive, the second attack hit. The final attack.

My entire body began to spasm, my insides felt like they were crumping to a Beyonce song. I found myself on the couch in the fetal position, shaking, vomiting (much like I did that time I watched The Shire)… then… I passed out.

A minute or so later, I came to – just as Fiona arrived. Having not seen me in such a state since 2003 (my Emo phase, don’t go there), she was understandably freaked out and quickly dialed an ambulance.

Waiting for the ambulance to arrive was when the real fun started.

As my lower organs continued to break-dance inside my body, I began to feel an amazingly intense pressure on my bladder. So intense, that it became very clear, very quickly that I was going to start urinating … whether I liked it or not (now I know why my mother of four children refuses to jump on trampolines).

Still in the fetal position on the couch I reluctantly screamed to Fiona: “I’m going to piss my pants! I’m going to piss my pants!” Fiona, without a second thought, slid over a salad bowl (with salad still in it).

Never in my life have I ever thought I would have to make the decision: “Piss your pants or piss in to a salad bowl.”

I undid my pants, screamed to Fiona “Turn around!!!”, placed my penis in the salad bowl… and began to sporadically urinate in rapid squirts.

Let’s recap the scenario.

I’m curled up on my couch… in agony… with my penis in a salad bowl… urinating… sporadically.

That’s when the ambos walked in.

I would LOVE to know what went through the ambos’ minds when they first witnessed this scene. “What a weird fetish!” or “Why not just use a fork?” or “You don’t win friends with salad… let alone having sex with it.”

Ignoring the penis on salad leaf situation, the ambos quickly administered some top-shelf painkillers and I suddenly found myself dancing with a unicorn on the moon to an Enya song. In reality this translated to being taken to the ER for some routine scans.

The scans came back to reveal that TWO, not one, but TWO kidney stones had made the courageous journey from my kidney down into my bladder.

The doctor exclaimed, “passing kidney stones is in the top 5 most painful things a human can go through!”

I am not too sure what makes up the remainder of the list, but here is my guess:

The top 5 most painful things are human can go through:

1. Child Birth

2. Being shot in the face

3. Kidney Stones

4. Beheading

5. Salt & Vinegar Chips after a paper cut

The doctor also told me that the intense pressure on the bladder was the result of the stones “moving in” from the kidney. He also added that I would have to keep an eye on my wizz to know that the stones pass through completely. Fun.

I placed a pasta sieve over my toilet seat every time I tinkled and 2 days later, with surprisingly no pain, the 2 stones passed through my member.

Both father and stones are doing well.

Some friends of mine say the fact that I passed out from the pain still makes me a pussy, to them I say f*@$ you!

Facts are facts people. My gravestone will now read “Nath Valvo : Real Man (with immaculate skin)”

Sharing this story exhausts me. I need to re-fuel. Care to join me for a salad?

Nath Valvo is a comedian based in Melbourne. He can be heard on the Nova FM network and will one day host his own talk show. You can follow him on twitter here.

What’s the most embarrassing situation you’ve ever ended up in? How did you get there?

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143 Comments so far

  1. Cordeline

    I just laughed so hard I had to stop reading half-way through because of all the laughter-tears in my eyes.

    Love it. Love it.

    A great addition to your repertoire of stories MM team.

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  2. Moi

    oh Nath, I’m so sorry for your experience. I too know the pain of passing stones. I was 15 at the time and I remember the doctor telling my mother and I that what I experienced was equal to child birth. My mothers response was prompt.

    DON’T TELL HER THAT SHE WON’T HAVE KIDS!
    thanks mum.

    Hilarious read, I can now get back to finishing my work day. Ta

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    • nath

      After the kidney stones I will def be asking for a c section when I have babies!

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      • Suzeh

        Ahaha! Thanks Nath, this story has made my day! You have definitely graduated from pussy to fierce lion! I hear the pain from kidney stones is crazy- I delivered (naturally) a 9 pound 10 onz baby boy-you have my respect! 

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  3. amp

    Pancreatitis as a result of gall stones. There are no words to describe the pain.

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    • Lily

      Agreed. It’s out of this world.

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  4. Al 3

    I’ve had gallstones, then kidney stones, then a long labour. Labour pain was by far worse BUT not as scary…I knew what was causing the pain. I thought I was dying during the kidney stone attack! ;)

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  5. leadlebeatle

    yes i have had kidney stones and the pain is like a very very strong contraction.

    Ive also had 2 babies and although the kidney stones pain was very very similar i dont see anyone enduring it for more than 2 hours unnecessarily.

    Very well written and hilariously funny writing Nath, enjoyed every word.

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    • Red Dragon

      I’ve had 2 kids and more stones than I can remember. I wouldn’t describe the kidney pain as like a contraction, but then my first one blocked my ureter for 10 days, whereas baby was only stuck for 1.5 hours… Big baby (no1) was nothing on the 10 day pethadine cocktail and the 6mm pyramid shaped stone.

      Awesomely written Nath

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  6. Clare

    I have had 2 kids, kidney stones and gallstones, and had my gall bladder removed. I would definitely choose childbirth. At least the contraction pain eases for a bit before it starts again!!!
    I had my kidney stone attack 12 days after child no 1, and went to the hospital and was told it was back ache. I said, I had a child 12 days ago and this is worse, it’s not just a back ache!!!

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  7. shelikestowrite

    Now I’m really scared about getting kidney stones :( Must google how to avoid them!

    P.S That was a freaking hilarious read!

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    • Seaghan

      Drink lots of water, and don’t ever allow yourself to get dehydrated.

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    • Kellie

      And apparently don’t yoyo diet

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  8. Safiyah

    Allergic reaction to codeine sounds very similar. Probably why they diagnosed my reaction as gall stones. 3rd time round I realised the link and my doctor had just given a lecture on it so he informed me of it. The pain was like my stomach exploding. I felt like i would be living a scene form Alien. I passed out too so don’t feel too bad. I’m a women and we are meant to have a stronger pain threshold.

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  9. Caitlin

    Oh my god. Laughing so hard I may need my own salad bowl.

    But also filled with sympathy, I’m not heartless ;)

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  10. Guest

    I must say, when I read the title I hollered ‘No way, Jose!’, but boy that sounded bad. Thankfully you made it so comical I laughed the whole way through. Great read, and what an achievement – non-identical twins!

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  11. gypsy

    Oh my god I was eating my lunch – A SALAD – when I read this. Funny funny story but I’m gagging just a little. :)

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  12. Al

    Funniest fucking thing Ive read! I’ve had kidney stone pain and gone through labor, I’ll take labor again any given day.

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  13. mumof4

    I know it must of been painful, but I’m crying with laughter. That was hilarious. Seriously though, hope all is well now . :-)

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  14. Elaine Fraser

    Love the humorous description. I’ve never had a kidney stone but know people who have (male and female) and they have been in excruciating pain. Ovarian cysts bursting is the most painful thing I have experienced but I never had to pee in a bowl-now that’s humiliating and excruciating!

    Do you have any other ‘funny’ stories to tell? i like your style!

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    • jamilarizvi

      Hey Elaine,

      The Mamamia Team saw Nath perform live a couple of weeks back and he had us all in stitches. So glad to see other MM-ers enjoying his comedy. We’re very keen to have him back again and again!

      Jamila

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    • NewName

      Ohhhh Elaine, I’ve had to endure a burst ovarian cyst too. Arrghhh bloody painful…..

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    • Leigh

      I had them once – I thought I was in labour

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  15. Renee

    Very amusing! I’m not so keen on salad for dinner tonight…

    Also more painful than childbirth is a ruptured appendix. Although perhaps it just seemed worse because there was no gas?? :)

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  16. Sara h

    Baaahhhhaaaaaaaa

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  17. Bec

    Oh… and I love that you were sensible enough to put childbirth as number 1 on your painful list…. not worth the argument!

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  18. Bec

    I have had 2 c-section babies, one due to a separated pelvis which was extremely painful, but the gall bladder full of stones when my second baby was 5 weeks old resulting in 2 trips to emergency was far far worse! The worst pain I have ever felt!!! You poor thing!

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    • KUp

      I’ll also second gallstones as being as painful as child birth. I was diagnosed with gallstones at 6 weeks pregnant with my first baby after nearly 12 months of being told “It’s indigestion, try Mylanta”.
      For me the pain was on par, but the difference was with gallstones I never knew if the pain was going to last for an hour, a day or a week. At least with childbirth it has to end eventually!
      I had my gallbladder removed just under 12 months ago – best thing I’ve ever done, although the recovery time was worse than after childbirth too!

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      • borogirl

        I third the gallstones. Like you I didn’t know what it was for about two years but I would get these intermittent attacks where I would lay on the toilet floor wanting to die. My attacks got so bad that I even went to the emergency room where they looked at me like I was a maniac when I explained the symptoms. Went to the GP the next day and he straight away said, “Oh that’s gallstones”.

        Induced labour with pitocin and nothing but gas and air was nothing compared to that!

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        • Tania

          Me fourth! My first attack was 1 month after childbirth, and I felt I was having a heart attack. The surgeon in his pre – op examination saw the furrows on my abdomen and asked “have you recently lost a lot of weight?” Yeah – a 4 kilo baby!!! So he then joked ‘how about we offer you a tummy tuck at the same time?’. Maybe I should have taken him up on that one….

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  19. whatahooha

    I love it when a man screams in pain. It’s sooooooooooo funny!! i love love love it.

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  20. Anon

    Nath,
    When are you performing in Sydney again? I would LOVE to see you!

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  21. Dulcie

    I laughed out loud! I never laugh out loud. Thanks Nath

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  22. Jen

    Fricken hilarious! Thanks for that. :)

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  23. Anonymous

    LOVE THIS. What a laugh I had…thanks for that.
    Just saying though, I have had a kidney stone and giving birth to a 10lbs 10oz (old money, sorry) baby after a 51 hour labour hurt more, hands down!

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  24. Brooke

    I nearly inhaled my lunch from the laughing!! Hope you’re feeling better now Nath

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  25. gallstones

    i have been threw 2 drug free labours and natural births, one of which lasted 23 hours and the other which yielded a 9.2 pounder and i can confidently say that gall stones which im told is a similar pain to kidney stones is worse than childbirth

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    • feistyangel

      My mum has told me this, I’ve had gallstones and have had my gall bladder removed and am now 24weeks pregnant and I’m not as worried about the birth :-)

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      • gallstones

        yep i got my first attack 2 weeks after having my second child so its not like i had forgotten how bad it was either lal

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      • inkabinka

        I too have had gallstones, gallbladder removed then gre a cystic duct neuroma so the pain was on par with gallstone attacks but 24/7, took them 5 years to figure out what was causing the pain.
        I’m now 32 weeks pregnant and I’m either going to find birth much easier die to my experioences… or be a total wuss baby about being in pain again LOL

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    • Anna

      My mum also told me gallstones are worse than childbirth. I remember her curled up screaming on the floor in the living while we waited for the doctor to come. After the operation she had quite the little jar full of stones.

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  26. Natalia

    Nath, I saw your show and already knew this story, but read it – and laughed hysterically – all over again. You poor thing. At least you got an awesome comedy routine out of it.

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  27. Margaret

    Try endometriosis of the bowel! It’s the most painful thing I’ve ever experienced. Hoping my gynae can sort it out for me at the end of August. Who looks forward to surgery?! Me that’s who!

    V funny article too, really needed a good belly laugh today so thank you.

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  28. boodie

    I’ve had two kids and kidney stones, and I know which one hurt the most, hands down it was kidney stones. 12 hours of unrelenting agony.

    You have my sympathies and thank you for making me spit tea out my nose with the penis in salad.

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    • nath

      I will be sharing this comment with my mother!

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  29. Guest

    I’ll see your kidney stone and raise gallstones.

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    • mawkath

      I’ve had 2 kids, kidney stones AND gallstones.
      Gallstones win the pain contest.
      But, Nath, you’re no pussy to have survived the kidney stones.
      Stand proud brave soldier! Lol!

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  30. simmy

    Oh, Nath I am so sorry for your pain… but i couldn’t stop laughing at this, you are hilariass!

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  31. SuziQ

    I was just sobbing when I read the Kate Leaver story, then laughing so much my stomach hurt with this one (although I don’t mean to trivialize your pain, but the bit with the salad bowl, with the salad in it was hilarious!) . Phew, a roller coaster of emotions.

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  32. InKL

    I do hope you got a new salad bowl and pasta sieve by way of congratulations.

    It does give the term “toss my salad” a new meaning though doesn’t it?

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  33. Angelina Ballerina

    OMG, the embarrassment would have caused great pain too.
    I have the image of a penis peeing into a salad filled bowl stuck in my head.

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  34. Rhi

    A friend of mine’s Facebook status update said the other day: ‘Singing in the shower is a very bad idea. Singing in the shower = dancing in the shower = slipping in the shower = local ambos getting to see your naked bot-bot! Bless her (she’s bruised and embarrassed but fine now) and our amazing volunteer ambulance members!!

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    • soyabean

      I pulled a muscle in my leg getting into the shower some months ago and it was so bad I could feel myself blacking out. I think the only reason I stayed concious was the fear of being found naked, slumped over my shower, in a shower cap!

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  35. Annah

    Congrats on the safe arrival of your stones.

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  36. Kylie

    Cried laughing – you poor thing!!

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  37. ab

    I had kidney stones at 35 weeks pregnant and an induced birth 6.5 weeks later. The induction was worse! However a friend who has had a natural birth, an induced birth and a kidney stone says the kidney stone pain falls in the middle!!

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  38. another fab single woman

    I’m not sure if Kraft would bottle that dressing.

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  39. Me here

    Don’t forget the pain of wisdom teeth….oh, the agony! I have been told by a friend that kidney stones is worse than childbirth…I’d like to not ever have to test the theory!

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  40. Cat

    OMG funniest thing ever! Honestly pure comedy!

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  41. Sara

    I feel a bit bad for laughing at your pain but that was bloody hilarious!

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  42. Bride Body

    Ah yes, nearly pissing your pants. Nearly did that laughing at this post :)

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  43. Rebecca

    Imagine the things that ambos see. They must have some great stories to tell over beers. You should be proud that your salad penis shall be one of them.

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  44. mostly

    Why not just use a fork?

    Hilarious! Love this post!

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  45. SandraDee

    I once collapsed from low blood pressure at the Blues Fest in Byron Bay. It was really hard for my friends to get anyone to believe I wasn’t just high from too many e’s or too much dope!

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  46. Cold

    One of the funniest things I’ve ever read on this site!

    My grandmother had kidney stones. She said that passing them was excruciating & compared the pain to giving birth to all three of her children, only at the same time (if that makes sense).

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  47. Crunch

    Having experienced the agony of kidney stones (I HAVE given birth and it was worse than childbirth) I thought nothing could make me laugh about the experience.
    I was wrong.

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  48. Cynthia C

    Best post I’ve read all year. Spat my tea out through my nose.

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  49. Tia Maria

    Funniest thing I’ve read in a while. Great post Nath

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  50. jamilarizvi

    This is so funny Nath! Loved it when you performed this in person and love it just as much in print. You’re a great comedian.

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