In a message dated 11/14/98 8:48:37 PM !!!First Boot!!!, [email protected] writes: << what I envisioned as being this giant boulder was barely visible to the naked eye. >> Hello Jim Just wanted to wish you well. Many years ago I rushed my husband to the emergency room in the middle of the night - we were sure he was having appendicitis. After several hours of dye and X-Rays the doctor finally determined the stone was in his uretheral tube, just at the entry to his bladder. For several weeks he carried a sieve with him every where he went and finally passed a "tiny" stone late one night. Although it was small, the pain was excruciating for him. The doggone thing had little barbs all over it! We still have it - somewhere. Hope you are well on the road to recovery! Mary K