Kidney Stones

[momxx5]

WARNING: ***SOME MAY CONSIDER TMI***

Over the weekend I passed a fairly good size kidney stone. That afternoon I was fine and went to work. Overnight I woke with a fever of 103 and lots of pain.
Tuesday AM - able to see Dr. They confirmed I passed stone (because I save it for them). They did xrays. The Dr. says the xrays reveal "several rather large bilater kidney stones". So I ask what is next?

Apparently now we just wait until one of them decides to move...thus pain, blood in urines, etc. Once that happens we'll take action to pass it as quickly and smoothly as possible. I have on had some sort of rapid flow...which is to be taken when Dr. says to....to make things flow faster. I also have strong NSAID for pain, if there is any when stones is moving.

I passed a larger stone about 6-8 months ago with no symtoms, so I didn't even go to Dr.

I developed my first kidney stones back when I was newly pregnant with DS#3 who is currently 14 yrs old. They thought I was miscarrying, but in fact it was a kidney stone....which during pregnancy I ended up developing 7 more. I passed them...some under emergency conditions (surgery) and the rest thru lipotripsy.

For some reason this "sit & wait" method is not feeling right. If I indeed have several rather large ones, would it not be prudent to do something about them now rather than in an emergency situation???

Anyone been in this situation? Any course of treatment that I'm not thinking of?
The lipotripsy still comes on a truck every so often as scheduled. I would have thought that 14 yrs later more hospitals would have the equipment.
DH thinks alot has to do with insurance and what they allow as first course of treatment.

Thanks in advance for you knowledge & assistance.

 

[afeld111781]

I have had pain in my side and back for about 6 months....well the first couple i didnt go to the dr, (i hate em..not because of money or insurance, i just hate em) well I did and they did a renal ultrasound...nothing major showed up...then it took me another month or two to go back and they did a ct scan. The only thing it revealed was some very small kidney stones sittin in my kidney, not moving or passing just sitting and the dr told me to just wait and push fluids for now.... i hear ya i want him to fix me LOL! Oh and I had them first with my first pregnancy too, they didnt end up having to do anything, i was in the hospital for a week at 20wks preggo because it started my contractions and they had to watch me so i havent ever had anything "done" for me for them. I am PRAYING this lets up soon because we are going to disney in dec and i dont want to still be in pain.

I feel for you deeply.

Amanda

 

[aquahollic]

I have been in your shoes several times over the past few years and I honestly feel you pain. My first experience with kidney stones came about as a large stone that was blocking my ureter(sp?). I woke up in excrutiating pain and nothing would make it any better. When the waves of abdominal and back pain kept getting worse, I had my then partner drive me to the emergency department. By the time I got seen, I had 104 fever and was septic and required an emergency surgery to remove that stone. After the surgery and a weekend in the hospital, I was told that according to CT scans, I had several more largish stones in my kidneys. I had a lithotripsy treatment a couple weeks after the surgery and was encouraged to push as many liquids as possible. I passed several pieces of the broken stones during the next couple weeks. I also had the first stone tested to see if there was anything like a high amount of calcium causing the stones to build up. Unfortunately in my case, I was told that my kidney stone issues were more hereditary than dietary. Other than the lithotripsy truck, the hospitals here do not have any other treatment nor have I found any other widely used treatment in my research. I pass several kidney stones a year and the waiting to see sucks but unfortunately, that's about the only thing you can do. When I start feeling twinges of pain or notice blood in my urine, I take an afternoon and drink about a 6 pack of beer in a sitting. So far, (3 times now) in the next day after doing my beer treatment, I have passed a stone. There are also people that swear by pure lemon juice over a 24 hour period but the one time I tried that, the process wasn't worth the result...yeck!! It is a sucky thing to have to deal with to say the least and as a fellow sufferer, you have my sympathies. Best of luck with getting rid of those things in the future.

 

[BSil]

I take an afternoon and drink about a 6 pack of beer in a sitting.

I would do that 2 or 3 times. Should help the pain as well. I hope you all feel better.

 

[MomRN]

Funny, as I ran across this thread I'm sitting here trying to convince myself that my abdominal pain is due to the BBQ pork rinds I just ate and not a kidney stone.

My first experience was a 20mm. Kept causing a dull constant pain in the flank area that was progressively getting worse. Took myself to ER... the end result was a lithotripsy scheduled for 2 weeks later. However, I thought the stent the was put in was worse than the stone itself and begged for it to come out early. The final call was an ultimatem.. either you take it out or I will.

Then, several months later, right before my ds (4) and I was to go to Disney... the pain returned. Same spot but more intense. That time it was a little 3mm stone that was causing agony. It passed on it's own, but that little sucker was a lot more painful than the big one.

And now... the pain is back in the same spot. I guess I should find some beer. I also probably have some Flomax that isn't expired. I tell you it will take a heck of a lot before I get a stent again.... BUT....

it sounds like that is what you probably need, if the stones are passable. If not, some lithotripsy. Typically isn't wise to just let them sit there. That's why most MDs have you strain your urine after diagnosis to make sure the sucker comes out. I know how the rules are supposed to be... but I play by my own rules....

Now, to see if I can go find some old meds. Good luck to you.

 

[25eels]

I'm sorry you're going through this!

I started having stones in my early 20s (am 41 now) and I passed dozens with no pain whatsoever, even largish ones. But this past autumn I had my very first "classic" kidney stone attack, with unbearable pain, vomiting, etc., and ended up in the ER. I felt like such an idiot because I hadn't known what was happening, and I was sure I knew ALL about stones after having had so many! The CT showed I had another large one plus a bunch of smaller stones.

My regular urologist was out of town, but his on-call guy saw me and said I should have surgery that week. I've actually had the surgery before (where they go in with a scope and break it up), but it made me nervous that this on-call guy made such a snap decision. I decided to postpone it and saw my own doctor the following week, and he agreed to wait it out. We gave it (I think) around 2 weeks and I passed without incident it the morning I was scheduled to see him again and revisit surgery. So it was to both of our benefit to wait it out. Are you taking Flovent to help things along? It's prostate medication but it kind of stretches out the ureter.

I live in mortal fear of having another attack like the first, but having the surgery isn't a lot of fun either, so I think your doctor's wait-and-see approach sounds pretty good. Of course, if your gut (including your urinary tract, lol) is telling you to be more proactive, definitely listen and get another opinion!

Good luck and I wish your stone safe passage, and that you can make it through without too much pain.

 

[fauna74]

Well, I've never had kidney stones but they do run in my family.

For those of you having recurrent calcium oxalate stones, try a B6 supplement.

Personally, I would worry about "sitting and waiting" on large bilateral stones causing some serious kidney damage.

 

[travelfanatic]

Reading this thread brought back painful memories! I had one stone in my early twenties and I have to say I have never been in so much pain and I have had two children. Thankfully I have not had any since. They said mine was due to dehydration. After experiencing that I make sure to stay hydrated. I feel so bad for you, having to wait it out sounds excruciating! I pray that you will get a resolution soon! I would not wish kidney stones on anyone. Feel better soon!

 

[momxx5]

Thanks for all the replies.

According to the Mayo Clinic website, the wait and see approach is the most recommended.

Only if ones job is of such importance that an attack of kidney stone pain could be of critical consequenses.....truck driver, machine operator, etc.

I forgot to mention the kidney stones I had after the baby, I first had surgury under sedation to remove a stone that was working its way out, and they put a stent in. Well no one told me that they put a stent in nor at the time did I know what a stent was. So, while still in the hospital....a few hours after lip. in truck, I was in a hospital room recovering. The would not release me until after I went the the bathroom and also after I had full control of my legs. I cannot remember if it was a spinal block or epidural. Anyway, I went to use the bathroom and wiped.....not knowing I had stent with string taped to my leg. So I someone pulled on the string causing the stent to move. Again, I had no idea at the time what was going on.
Later that night and full next day I am "leaking" . DH got me adult diapers and I slept on stacks of towels & blankets.....remember I had a newborn, 1 yr old and 2yr old. .....SO after many calls to Dr. office he finally returns my call around 9pm then next evening. Talking it our we figured that I must had caused the stent to fall our of place and leave a space for my bladder to directly drain. That evening, around 9:30pm while on the phone with MD, my most wonderful DH removed the stent himself. I was left with a lot of pain because of that thing.
SO now I vow to never have a stent put in.....ever.
I have to look to see if I still have my screen drain to catch any passed stones or go get one from doc, so I can keep track.

Although the Dr. never mentioned a follow up visit, I think I need an appt to see exactly how many, what size(rather large) and exactly where they are located. Then go on from there as so what path to take.

Again, thanks for sharing your experiences. I believe the more you hear the more you know and can make a better edcuated decision.

Oh, and I do have 2 sm bottles with 7 capsules in each of Rapaflo. The Dr. said if anything started moving or feeling funny to call and start taking this. Apparently this makes things flow faster and easier. We'll see.

 

[M5ward]

Several posters have mentioned having large stones. What size are you talking about? My first stone was 25mm and caused a lot of pain and discomfort on and off for a VERY long time before I finally saw a urologist. That one took two rounds of lithotripsy to finally get rid of it. Since then I have formed many more stones, had lithotripsy two more times, had at least two stents, had one lodged in my ureter that had to be removed with the little basket thingy, and done multiple 24 hour urine tests.
Following a trip to WDW last Oct./Nov., I thought I had developed a UTI and was prescribed and antibiotic which didn't seem to work. A CT scan didn't "light up" on my left side. After taking a new antibiotic and Flovent and a trip to the ER, it turns out a stone had blocked the ureter, caused an infection then passed causing damage that allowed the infection to enter my bloodstream ; I ended up in the hospital for five days with a septic infection..not fun!! Especially not fun was the stent I had for almost three weeks. Yuck!!
I always drink a LOT of water and keep myself hydrated. I currently have two stones in my right kidney and one in the left..all around 5mm which the doctor says can be passed. I produce a lot of calcium which aids in the stone production; my stones are calcium oxalate (I may try the B6 suggestion) so I don't take a calcium supplement (although I do take Actonel for osteoporosis), Vitamin C, and I don't drink black tea..or any tea for that matter although I have read that teas may actually be preventative.
All I know is that kidney stone pain was worse than any of my five labors and deliveries.

 

[momxx5]

So, although the most common thing is to do the "wait & see" approach.....

Thank you to those who think otherwise also. I just think that if I have some in both kidneys, have 5 kids of my own, 2 jobs I rely heavily one....it just seems that I'm a ticking time bomb. Even without pain, as anyone who had had them know the pain can come on as such a sudden attach I would not want to be in charge of a class of 1st graders and end up on the floor.

Like I said, I will be making an appt to find out what, where and how big they are and what we can pro-actively do about it.

 

[M5ward]

Several posters have mentioned having large stones. What size are you talking about? My first stone was 25mm and caused a lot of pain and discomfort on and off for a VERY long time before I finally saw a urologist. That one took two rounds of lithotripsy to finally get rid of it. Since then I have formed many more stones, had lithotripsy two more times, had at least two stents, had one lodged in my ureter that had to be removed with the little basket thingy, and done multiple 24 hour urine tests.
Following a trip to WDW last Oct./Nov., I thought I had developed a UTI and was prescribed and antibiotic which didn't seem to work. A CT scan didn't "light up" on my left side. After taking a new antibiotic and Flovent and a trip to the ER, it turns out a stone had blocked the ureter, caused an infection then passed causing damage that allowed the infection to enter my bloodstream ; I ended up in the hospital for five days with a septic infection..not fun!! Especially not fun was the stent I had for almost three weeks. Yuck!!
I always drink a LOT of water and keep myself hydrated. I currently have two stones in my right kidney and one in the left..all around 5mm which the doctor says can be passed. I produce a lot of calcium which aids in the stone production; my stones are calcium oxalate (I may try the B6 suggestion) so I don't take a calcium supplement (although I do take Actonel for osteoporosis), Vitamin C, and I don't drink black tea..or any tea for that matter although I have read that teas may actually be preventative.
All I know is that kidney stone pain was worse than any of my five labors and deliveries.

Oops..forgot to add..OP, my doctor did tell me I could go ahead and have lithotripsy to get rid of them rather that wait to see if they pass. They have been there for a long time so I'm just going to wait it out since they could only do one kidney at a time anyway. If I start to have an issue or if my next ultrasound shows new formation then I will re-evaluate.

 

[brandijo5]

I am a nurse and the urologist that visits our hospital recommends lemonade when using the wait and see approach. I'm not sure exactly what it does, but I have had several people swear it works.

 

[timmac]

I just want to first send some pixie dust for your situation. I have had kidney stones at least once, possibly twice (the second time I didn't even bother going to the doctor)... fortunately they were small enough to pass without medical assistance. However, the pain I experienced after waking up in the middle of the night was unbelievable, as I'm sure you're aware.

The first time around, my doctor actually gave me vicodin to take for it. Best advice I can offer is try to minimize moving around as best you can... if you normally do any kind of working out, it might be best to lay off for a few days (jarring a stone loose is a great way to get in a lot of pain quickly)

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I feel for you! I had several kidney stones; one too large to pass on it's own. Had lithotripsy - useless! I would not recommend this procedure. I ended up having a ureteroscopy, which finally worked. However, my urologist did not remove the stone fragments (some doctors do - get one of those). The pain of passing those after my stent was removed sent me to the ER three days in a row. Finally one of the ER docs prescribed me dilaudid in pill form, so I wouldn't have to keep coming back in. I never want to go through that again!

Kidney stone pain is one of the worst pains known to man.

 

[Princess Erin]

Well I hate to brag but I am sure to be the expert on this one. Fifteen litotripsy visits and now just one 3 mm stone left. I have had these stones since 1987 when I was pregnant with my daughter. Two years ago they found that I had high calcium and low vitamin d and needed to have my parathyroid out. Since then I have been stone free (fingers crossed) except for the remaining 3mm.

Anyone have any questions let me know, and I wish you all to be stone and paid free.....

 

[25eels]

I am a nurse and the urologist that visits our hospital recommends lemonade when using the wait and see approach. I'm not sure exactly what it does, but I have had several people swear it works.

Apparently the citric acid is a good thing when your body tends to play "chemistry set!" My urologist told me the same thing.

 

[tinkerbell615]

My DD just had her second lithotripsy last Friday. Your stories of many, many lithotripsies are making me a bit nervous. She is only 19 and she has been fighting this set of stones since March. She had two stones and the first lithotripsy only got rid of one. We are hoping this time the second one is gone also. She also had a stone last October. She is in college and in clinicals, so she can't miss any classes. She missed only a half day class this spring and it sent her back weeks! She takes after me and has a very high pain tolerance, but sometimes I don't know if that is really a good thing. She ended up in the ER in the spring, because she could not stop vomitting, but actually since the first lithotripsy has not had any more pain.

The urologist says after she gets rid of this one, they will start to do the diagnostic testing to try to find out what is causing them. She drinks lots of water and is not a soda drinker. She does, however, love her tea and the doctor told her that tea could cause the stones. She has since cut back drastically on the tea.

OP... I wish you the best!! Good luck.

 

[adisneymama]

I am a nurse and the urologist that visits our hospital recommends lemonade when using the wait and see approach. I'm not sure exactly what it does, but I have had several people swear it works.

1/2 cup lemon juice every day. Lemon juice has a natural ability to dissolve the stone and prevent more from forming. This is what I was told by my urologist about 6 mos ago when I had my first stone after having a baby. So far so good!

 

[Jilian]

Ugh, kidney stones are awful! I've had 5 now and most of them were during/just after a pregnancy. My first was too large to remove so they had to go in and manually remove it and place a stent. The rest passed on their own. The thing is that sometimes they can break up while passing. When I went in to have mine surgically removed they had seen 3 but when they removed they only found 1. I had been hospitalized the day before and they had me straining all of my urine so we would have seen if any of the other 2 had passed. I was passing a lot of what looked like sand so I'm guessing that was it.

I've been stone free (knock on wood) for 3 years now. My last pregnancy I made it through with no stones. My Midwife encouraged me to add lemon to my water because it helps promote kidney function. I also take rainbow light multivitamins daily and an omega 3,6,9 supplement as well as drinking lots of water and trying to keep my urine a pale yellow (the urologist said you never want it to be dark). I seem to remember something about pear juice helping too.

I hope your stones either break up or pass with minimal pain!