Kidney stones questions....help!!

[marshallandcartersmo]

DH has been having severe pains for a week or so......just 2 or 3 times on the left side of his body. After a doctors visit and MRI today, he's been diagnosed w/a kidney stone. They said its 6.8mm by 3.8mm. They want to give him 2weeks to pass it on his own, but the more I read, the more it sounds like one of that size can't be passed on its own.

Any experiences with a stone that size?

Also, how long did it take you to pass it?

OF COURSE, I'm scheduled to go on my first ever trip away from DH and my DS's on Thursday, it's a w/lots of my girlfriends going about 7 hours away. I'm really not comfortable being away from DS's anyway, but throwing this into the mix has be ! I'm really thinking if he doesn't pass it before I'm scheduled to leave I should cancel my trip. I just feel like he should have somewhere here in case he needs help????

TIA

 

[Bilberry]

Poor guy! I've not had experience with a kidney stone myself, but know of others that have had a terrible time with them.

Don't know if it will help, but I read a nephrologist's blog. He has written about a few strategies for preventing kidney stones.

http://nephropal.blogspot.com/search/label/kidney stones

 

[dancin'girl]

I've had two kidney stones a 4mm and an 8mm. The 4 passed no problem, although it took 4 weeks. The pain came and went, only lasting a few hours each episode. Don't know if this is normal or not, I was pregnant, maybe that had something to do with it. The 8mm was discovered after I had been in the hospital for a week with pain. We knew it was another stone, just didn't know how big. I finally delivered my baby and had a CAT scan. I went in for surgery the next day to have the stone removed. I think maybe your husband's stone could be passed. I would give it a little more time. If he's in a tremendous amount of pain, then don't wait it out. He should drink a TON of water. I also recommend seeing a urologist, if he hasn't already. The urologist was so better equipped at handling everything than the doctors at my ER. As far as whether to go on the trip or not - that's up to you. Do whatever feels comfortable/best for you and your family.

 

[dancin'girl]

I just re-read your post and 6.8mm does sound big. I would get a second opinion. No sense in dealing with all this pain if it's never going to pass on it's own. You'll just be prolonging the misery. Hope your husband feels better soon. Kidney stones are the absolute worst.

 

[Chelley00]

I just had a 6.9 mm. There is no way my urologist would let me pass it on it's own. It was bad enough to have to wait a week (I'm on blood thinners and had to wait a week after going off of them) and in that week, it never even moved.

I had a lithotripsy where they used sound waves to break it up. You do have to be out for it, but it's pretty easy to recover. I had some bruising, some soreness, and I still passed a couple of decent size pieces, but it was better than passing it on my own, or having surgery.

Please tell your DH to make an appt with a urologist.

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

I just had a 6.9 mm. There is no way my urologist would let me pass it on it's own. It was bad enough to have to wait a week (I'm on blood thinners and had to wait a week after going off of them) and in that week, it never even moved.

I had a lithotripsy where they used sound waves to break it up. You do have to be out for it, but it's pretty easy to recover. I had some bruising, some soreness, and I still passed a couple of decent size pieces, but it was better than passing it on my own, or having surgery.

Please tell your DH to make an appt with a urologist.

thanks for all the replies....

OF COURSE we're on a holiday weekend, and there won't be anyone at our doctors office to make appointments until Tuesday.

He isn't in pain now, just had an "attack" Sunday that lasted about 45 minutes, and another one Wednesday night that lasted about an hour. Since then he hasn't had any pain at all.

We're just wondering how it all works.........the "attacks" he had Sunday and Wednesday, that was just the stone moving?? It's still somewhere in his body (doctor didn't tell him where today, just the size) because he just had the MRI today and he asked the radiologist "have I passed it yet" and she laughed and said "oh, not yet".

So, will he have pain as it moves further?? Or could he just have pain now as it makes it way out the "end"

 

[diz8297]

Well, if he hasn't passed it, I will venture that he will have more pain. My husband has had kidney stones twice. The first time he ended up having the procedure with the sound waves done. (Stupid brain tonight can't spell the name). Both times he had his severe attacks, we ended up in the hospital er and he ended up on morphine via iv. Just saying. He's pretty stoic so I knew when he couldn't walk without me holding him up, he was in pain. Definitely go to a urologist. Sending good wishes for both of you. I hope this resolves soon.

 

[Chelley00]

He will have more pain. The urologist told me that the pain is caused from the stone moving around, usually when urine is coming down the tube and making the stone wiggle.

 

[holycow]

Have him drink lemonade. The acid helps break up kidney stones. Drink lots of water too. Also if you have a health food store near by hydrangea is also recommended for kidney support.

(along with all the recommended above.)

My poor DS and DH suffer with kidneystones. So hard to watch someone you love suffer.

Good luck!

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

Have him drink lemonade. The acid helps break up kidney stones. Drink lots of water too. Also if you have a health food store near by hydrangea is also recommended for kidney support.

(along with all the recommended above.)

My poor DS and DH suffer with kidneystones. So hard to watch someone you love suffer.

Good luck!

will get some lemonade today thanks

 

[WL Fan]

Is he taking Flomax? It's normally prescribed for patient who have trouble passing urine, but lots of our docs have kidney stone patients take it until they've passed the stone. See if you can't get the on-call doc to call in a script for you.

 

[Micca]

I'm a guy that is pretty self-sufficient when it comes to handling illness and injury. For something like this, I think I'd at least like the moral support of having DW around, especially with kids in the mix.

Sure hope the timing works out with your trip & your DH feels better soon.

 

[Frantasmic]

Kidney stones are weird. They can try to pass and actually go back up in the kidney.

One of that size depends on how big the tubes are from the kidney to the bladder (ureter). Some people have ones big enough to eventually pass a 6.8 mm stone (like me); others don't.

Now, not to scare anyone, but here's how stones get treated: pass on their own (lots of pain), lithotripsy (lots of pain), go UP and get it (obviously lots of pain), or, if a certain kind, surgery to go through the kidney (pain). So, expect some pain.

Most kidney stones are calcium or oxylate or a combination of both, which is usually diet related and not drinking enough liquids related.

Doctors do seem kind of sadistic with the wait and see if it passes routine, but that is the safest (and cheapest) removal method. However, if it doesn't work, your husband can become almost incapacitated by the pain.

Lithotripsy generally only works if the stone is in the kidney or in the top half of the ureter. After that, the hip bone blocks the ureter and makes the blasting sound waves less effective, so they have to get a get the thing. Due to male anatomy, I think you get the picture and it isn't something a guy especially looks forward to.

I would postpone your trip since there is uncertainty and your hubby could go from bad to worse in a short amount of time, including needing a hospital stay.

My understanding with lemon juice/lemonade is that it does little to stones already formed, but helps prevent them from forming. So, once this is all over, your urologist will analyze the stone and make recommendations from there, probably including limiting oxylate foods, drinking lots more water, and trying the lemon juice route.

Good luck.

 

[Swimnoid]

DH gets stones every couple of years. It is horribly painful for him. He usually passes them and has passed a HUGE one (bigger than the one your DH has) but that usually isnt the case. He has had lithotripsy 3 or 4 times. Sometimes he'll have an attack and then it will get better for a few weeks but usually once it starts it has to run its course. Good luck to your DH.

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

thanks for all the replies. DH still hasn't had any pain since Wednesday, but we know the stone is still somewhere since he had the CT scan on Friday. We're just waiting until our doctors office opens on Tuesday to get an appt. with a urologist so we can see where the stone is. Can the urologist tell us by looking at where the stone is.....about how long until it starts moving again?

A nurse practitioner friend suggest flomax also. Our family doctor didn't though. I'm begining to think our family doctor is thinking a stone of this size is no biggie, but most everyone else we've talked to says it's a big one.

I do have a litothrspy (sp) question though. When he does have it (if it doesn't starts coming down on his own--right?) how long until he's back to normal, and does he just pass the stones pain free then?

And I did tell the girls I was going with that I won't be going with them. First trip away from DH and DS's.....seems like its just not meant to be this time.

 

[Chelley00]

I had a lithotripsy in March. I went to an outpatient surgery center, and was out for about 30 minutes, and in recovery for an hour then on my way home. My recovery may be a little different than others because I spent a week in the hospital for pain control before I could have the procedure because I had to be off blood thinners for a week, but my experience recovering was somewhat easy. I was extremely tired for a couple of weeks, and sore and bruised at the site where they placed the machine. I was also just generally achy for a few days.

They had me strain my urine for a week after, and followed up with the urologist 2 weeks later. I passed a lot of "sand" and a couple of larger pieces that were uncomfortable, but not horribly painful. I was also on a few different medications afterwards (antibiotics, Flomax and a couple of others)

My family doctor gave me Flomax when they first diagnosed my stone. With a bigger stone, it usually won't help. (per my urologist)

 

[mamamary]

Kidney stones are weird. They can try to pass and actually go back up in the kidney.

One of that size depends on how big the tubes are from the kidney to the bladder (ureter). Some people have ones big enough to eventually pass a 6.8 mm stone (like me); others don't.

Now, not to scare anyone, but here's how stones get treated: pass on their own (lots of pain), lithotripsy (lots of pain), go UP and get it (obviously lots of pain), or, if a certain kind, surgery to go through the kidney (pain). So, expect some pain.

Most kidney stones are calcium or oxylate or a combination of both, which is usually diet related and not drinking enough liquids related.

Doctors do seem kind of sadistic with the wait and see if it passes routine, but that is the safest (and cheapest) removal method. However, if it doesn't work, your husband can become almost incapacitated by the pain.

Lithotripsy generally only works if the stone is in the kidney or in the top half of the ureter. After that, the hip bone blocks the ureter and makes the blasting sound waves less effective, so they have to get a get the thing. Due to male anatomy, I think you get the picture and it isn't something a guy especially looks forward to.

I would postpone your trip since there is uncertainty and your hubby could go from bad to worse in a short amount of time, including needing a hospital stay.

My understanding with lemon juice/lemonade is that it does little to stones already formed, but helps prevent them from forming. So, once this is all over, your urologist will analyze the stone and make recommendations from there, probably including limiting oxylate foods, drinking lots more water, and trying the lemon juice route.

Good luck.

I know everyone is different but I just want to let the OP know that not all Lithotripsys would cause alot of pain. I've had at least 10 of them. Like a pp said it takes about 30 mts. (I think that is all the time they can do on one). When you wake up you may be a teeny bit sore but most times I was not sore at all. Just wanted to let you know that. Actually my family members have had them too and it didn't hurt them either.

I have to say though that sometimes you may need more than one litho to get the job done. The current stone that I have now has been worked on twice and the little bugger cracked and chipped away some but it is still there. It is small enough though that I'm watching it on a year to year basis. With the size of your dh's stones I know my dr. would prob. recommend a litho. Stones are so painful that I'd be making an appt. pronto to have it taken care of

Hope he is feeling better soon. Please keep us updated.

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

I know everyone is different but I just want to let the OP know that not all Lithotripsys would cause alot of pain. I've had at least 10 of them. Like a pp said it takes about 30 mts. (I think that is all the time they can do on one). When you wake up you may be a teeny bit sore but most times I was not sore at all. Just wanted to let you know that. Actually my family members have had them too and it didn't hurt them either.

I have to say though that sometimes you may need more than one litho to get the job done. The current stone that I have now has been worked on twice and the little bugger cracked and chipped away some but it is still there. It is small enough though that I'm watching it on a year to year basis. With the size of your dh's stones I know my dr. would prob. recommend a litho. Stones are so painful that I'd be making an appt. pronto to have it taken care of

Hope he is feeling better soon. Please keep us updated.

Oh gosh! Your post really suprised me. I was thinking once he had litho he'd pass it within a day or two. I'm guessing after he has litho he'll have another CT scan to see the size of them, or will he know if it worked before we leave?

thanks

 

[Chelley00]

Oh gosh! Your post really suprised me. I was thinking once he had litho he'd pass it within a day or two. I'm guessing after he has litho he'll have another CT scan to see the size of them, or will he know if it worked before we leave?

thanks

He most likely will pass the pieces within a week, and it should mostly be sand. The PP has a history of stones which could be the reason for the need for more than one lithotripsy. I've never heard of someone needing more than one procedure for the stone. Poor PP!!! I feel for you!

The urologist will probably do a KUB (kidney, ureter, bladder) Xray before the procedure, and then repeat it around 2 weeks after the lithotripsy to check on size, status and if there is any left.

 

[Bilberry]

I was skipping through different blogs, and ran across a fellow that is going through kidney stone treatment. Poor guy is getting the old hospital run around.

http://hearthawk.blogspot.com/2010/08/kidney-stones-and-lithotripsy-more.html