Kidney Stones - Not Good :(

[on-ramp]

Been having 4 days of abdominal pain, a pain that would come and go throughout the day in the same spot and last for about 1 second or less.
Finally went to the emergency room on Sat: Urine test, blood test, X-ray, Ultrasound, (among other tests) all in a matter of 5 hrs.
The doctor found 2 small kidney stones in my uterine tract, and blood in my urine along with infection. My kidneys were clean and normal.
Now as I'm in the room, I'm scared as **** as the doctor is telling me this because I've rarely been to the hospital, never had an X-ray, broken bones, etc, been healthy all my life, but now this. To hear the words "kidney stones, blood in urine, urinary tract infection" all in the same sentence sure throws you for a loop, esp. when there's a nurse standing right next to the doctor asking me to take 2 antibiotics right away.
I was prescribed antibiotics, and Perkoset (which i haven't taken any since the pain is not that great). Doctor said to drink lots of fluids, and it should flush out in matter of a few days. My father had stones when he was 35, I'm 31. But his were much more painful.
Have any of you gone through this? It sucks, always bracing and holding on for the pain to come. It hasn't been that bad since the antibiotics but it's still scary hearing other stories. I've been drinking and going to the bathroom every hr, having to go in a funnel, hoping to catch one of them for testing. what a life!
thanks for reading. this place is always reliable in learning a thing or 2.

[dd74]

Oh, man. I'm sorry to hear this. I've seen friends go through this; has happened to me...yet...fortunately.

I think what you need to do is keep drinking (water, that is), and definitely check out if you're lactose intolerant. Do you eat a lot of dairy? Do you use a lot of salt? Changing your diet is the beginning. Well, passing the stone is the beginning.

[TerryH]

"The doctor found 2 small kidney stones in my uterine tract, and blood in my urine along with infection. My kidneys were clean and normal."

If you have problems with your "uterine" tract, then you have bigger problems than stones. You might want to see an ob/gyn.

Sounds like yours isn't that bad. Sometimes they have to blast them into smaller pieces. My brother had a camera shoved up his pecker and he said that wasn't fun. I know I'm probably not putting you at ease, sorry!

[dhoward]

I had a big one about 12 years ago. it was the size of a nickle. Hurts like a mofo. Had 2 failed attempts at lithotripsy, then up the old wanger they went. Broke it up with an ultrasonic probe. I pissed gravel for a week. Drink plenty of fluids. My doc said he didn't care if it was water or beer. I drank beer. . Good luck!

[azasadny]

I'm very sorry to hear you are going through this. My appendix ruptured last April and that was bad enough, I couldn't imagine the pain from kidney stones. I'll be praying for you!

[BlueSkyJaunte]

I know a gal who had kidney stones at the age of 19...why? She's from Bosnia.

Having nothing to drink but unfiltered puddle-water does wonders for the system...

Anyway, I've heard tales of how painful it can be...keep the chin up and drink lots of clear fluids!

[JavaBrewer]

Oh man...I'm sorry to say I've got nothing but bad news. About 3 years ago I suffered a KS. The week or so leading up to it I had the constant sensation of needing to urinate. I had no clue. Then one morning I was in the office really early. My side/stomach started to hurt. Within 15 minutes I was lying on the floor in complete agony. It got so bad I called 911 on my cell phone with images of the movie Alien in my head. 45 minutes later I'm in the ER where I proceed to vomit repeatedly all over the floor. Trust me a KS is the most painful thing you will ever experience. I've had broken bones (arm & leg), surgery, etc... and nothing even comes close.

Keep those pain meds close by, drink tons of beer, keep your urine clear. Good luck dude, seriously.

[KCPSG]

I just went through this about 5 - 6 weeks ago and MAN what a pain it was, the Dr said that women have compared it to child birth...and now I have a whole new understanding (and respect) of women...
Everything is good now but what a crippling pain it was when it happened to me. good luck to you I hope everything works out

[John Rogers]

Oh yea, I went through those several times and they ended up causing gall bladder problems or visa-versa and I had it removed a couple of years ago. I found that everybody in my family has had kidney stone and gall bladder troubles and I guess it may be genetic? As your dad had them there is the link to your troubles. Take it easy and the pain finally goes away after a while!

[elwood-914]

I had them 5 years ago, they had to lazer them into pieces. They gave me a whole list of stuff NOT to eat or drink. Coffee, pepper ect. They tell me I have them again and Gall stones. I do drink plenty of water though.
A guy at work passed a stone last year, looked like a big swollen tick, we call him "Sir" now.

[JavaBrewer]

The major pain occurs when the stone passes from your kidney to your bladder. Penis size jokes aside, passing from there is minimal discomfort. The first segment of the trip nearly killed me.

[dd74]

Originally posted by dmoolenaar
The major pain occurs when the stone passes from your kidney to your bladder. Penis size jokes aside, passing from there is minimal discomfort. The first segment of the trip nearly killed me.

That's what I hear. It's back pain that's the killer, other than that, it's home free.

[on-ramp]

wow. considering they said they were very small and the only pain i have is a sharp abdominal pain that lasts about a sec. and happens about 5 times a day, i should feel fairly lucky.
My dad also said the same thing, the toughest part is when they leave the kidney and make their way into the bladder.
Given that, i think they're making their way down. He also said that pain is good, since they are moving. so you can look at it this way. not something i want to hear but it is reasuring that the're not stuck somewhere and causing other problems.
so coffee is bad, huh? i've been a regular coffee drinker until about a week ago. Been drinking water and tea only.
I've also heard to stay away from pizza and cheese and to drink lots of cranberry juice.

[kmhemi]

They DO suck and I know exactly what you are goin through. I get them all the time. I had about 20 last year. I have one bothering me right now. My advice...drink BEER !!!
My Dr told me to drink a couple beers every day to keep my kidneys cleaned out so the stones pass long before they get big enough to be a big problem. Good luck and I hope u get rid of them soon...

[RickM]

I ripped the headliner in my wife's (then girlfriend) car years ago.

Woke up and had a back pain...no, was it my appendix? no it's my back....just couldn't place the pain. Then I couldn't Pi$$....."Damn what's going on?"

Go to a computer show and collapse from the wave intense pain. Wife runs to get the car and people are looking at me like I'm a freak. Thanks for helping people.

Get to ER and go from inteveneous Saline to Codiene to Vicodin to Morphine . Nurse says worse than giving birth (which must feel like $hitting a cinder block...ouch!).

Days later Urologist asks how long I was in the hopital. I say less than one day....left that night. "Really? They should have admitted you because your kidney ruptured"..... Yikes. Apparently your kidneys have pressure valves that blow out when the liquid has no where to go.

My BB sized/shaped stone was analysed and said to be created by calcium. I was told to drink plenty of water and try to minimize calcium rich foods. According to doc when young the urinary tract is inflexible and even a small stone can bring you down. As you get older you lossen up.

Good luck and get that stone analysed. I'm sure you'll be fine.

[RickM]

Originally posted by kmhemi
They DO suck and I know exactly what you are goin through. I get them all the time. I had about 20 last year. I have one bothering me right now. My advice...drink BEER !!!
My Dr told me to drink a couple beers every day to keep my kidneys cleaned out so the stones pass long before they get big enough to be a big problem. Good luck and I hope u get rid of them soon...

I thought about how stones are formed. IMO, alchohol can help create them. From what I understand many types of stones are a build up of sediment. If one gets dehydrated due to alchohol consumption then this sediment can form more easily. It's also recommended to drink lots of water to prevent.
Just a theory on my part.

[cbeers]

On Ramp,

This is very timely for me as I just had my first kidney stone three weeks ago. I was out in the middle of nowhere for a weekend of dirt biking. Saturday was perfect. I wake up Sunday to take a leak in the woods and go back to my tent. Then it started. Pain that was getting worse by the second in my lower back. I couldn't figure it out, but within 15 minutes I woke up my buddies and said "You guys take all my stuff home, I need to leave NOW" and off I went. Well, the pain was UNBEARABLE and I only made it about 40 miles to a ranger station. A team of them started working on me and before I knew it, I was on a helicopter on route to the ER (to the tune of $2500 for my portion of the lift). Spent the day in ER on Morphine and I.V. and was released by 5. I too had blood in my urine, but it has cleared up since then. Going to the bathroom is a scary experience now as is any little twinge in my body. Gun shy I guess.

My Doc said there really is no confirmed thing to do or not do other than stay hydrated. Even that was of little comfort since when I ride, I make SURE to drink like a mad man all day.

So, who knows. All I know is that is was BY FAR the worst pain I have ever experienced. When I snapped my leg a few years back, I thought I had only twisted my ankle. This time, I FELT it and knew it was something.

Best of luck!


-Chris

[Overpaid Slacker]

Hope you haven't been watching Deadwood lately...

JP

[RickM]

These are the type of stones you DONT want. Woof.

[Burnin' oil]

Great, another thing to worry about . . .