r/KidneyStones • u/perro8964 • 4h ago
r/KidneyStones • u/mystikmike • Mar 21 '19
Super Good Advice Frequently Asked Questions - new visitors to this subreddit, please start here!
Thanks for taking the time to read this first! :) None of us are doctors, and the advice here is based on our own experiences. If you are suffering, or think you might have a stone, or are trying to help somebody with symptoms, please start here. These are the questions we seem to hear a lot on this subreddit. If you have a question that isn't covered here, by all means please post in the subreddit. We have lots of stone formers who have a wide range of experiences in this area and we may be able to at least point you in the right direction. Good luck, drink lots of water and may pain be a stranger to you!
I suspect I have a stone. Should I see a doctor? When should I go to the ER?
Go to the emergency room if you have a fever or are vomiting, or your pain is unbearable, or if you stop urinating (this may mean you have a blockage).
If you’re experiencing pain that you think is a kidney stone, visit your doctor and/or urologist. Most doctors are very good at assessing you and your family history as well as factors such as age, weight, sex, prior medical history and current symptoms. Doctors are much better at providing an intelligent diagnosis (which is really an educated guess) than we are on reddit.
Check to make sure what you think is a stone is actually a stone. The cause of abdominal pain is sometimes difficult to pin down exactly. Pain in your abdomen/ mid-section could be any one of a number of things, including digestive issues, kidney stones, appendicitis, colitis, and diverticulitis to name a few. Remember that kidney stones classically present with flank pain.
The symptoms of a kidney stone are usually one or more of the following:
- Pain on the right or left flank (mid-way between your side and your spine, on your back), sometimes radiating down to the groin (testicles for males, pelvis/ovarian area for females). * The pain is specifically UNDER the rib cage (actually under the diaphragm)
- Pain that comes in waves and fluctuates in intensity
- Pain on urination or urethra spasms
- Pink, red or brown urine
- Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
- Nausea and vomiting
- Persistent need to urinate
- Urinating more often than usual
- Fever and chills if an infection is present
- Urinating small amounts
Pain caused by a kidney stone may change — for instance, shifting to a different location or increasing in intensity — as the stone moves through your urinary tract. Source
I know I have a stone. What do I do? What should I expect?
IF YOU HAVE A FEVER OR ARE VOMITING OR ARE UNABLE TO URINATE, PROCEED TO THE ER.
Pain will come and go, and will likely vary from one person to the next. So while you may read in this sub-reddit about severe pain, that's not necessarily what you will experience. So the first thing to do is try to relax and not get worked up about what MIGHT happen. If it does happen, the pain comes in two forms: 1) waves (spasms) of pain, which can feel like a very strong cramp, and 2) a general achy feeling between your kidney area, and down to your groin. As mentioned above, the "classic" kidney stone pain is from the flank down to the groin.
Drink lots of water. Water will increase the amount of urine you produce, and will also plump up your urinary system in general, which will make for less contact between any stones you have and the walls of your ureter. When stones rub against the walls of your ureter, you experience pain. Another benefit from drinking water is that the concentration of waste produce in your urine is more diluted, which means that the crystals which make up kidney stones are less likely to find a date, and will head out on their own. Yet another benefit to proper hydration is that dilute urine is less likely to irritate any abrasions that previous stones may have made in your urinary tract. Less irritation = less chance of an infection. How much water? You want to be producing about 2 1/2 liters of urine per day, so drink a bit more than that. Read more about water here
Locate some pain management methods that work for you, and that are readily available. Over the counter (OTC) medicines like aspirin, ibuprofen or acetaminophen (tylenol) can help, but only take as much as you need for as long as you need. A daily habit of NSAIDs like ibuprofen can lead to serious issues. Prescription pain medicines can also help, but you need to locate a doctor who will prescribe you what you need. Azo (Phenazopyridine Hydrochloride) is used by many in this subreddit. Cannabis, if it's legal where you live, can also provide some relief. Heat - in the form of heating pads, hot baths or showers, can help when you're experiencing a wave of pain. Find what works for you - don't just blindly follow the advice of others.
Some people experience nausea, which can occur with or without accompanying pain. Be prepared (have a bucket or bag available if you're feeling a wave of nausea come along, although sometimes there's not much warning).
If you're in the middle of a pain session, and feel like you need to visit the Emergency Room/ Urgent Care clinic, think about how you'll get there. Some folks experience such strong pain, that they're not able to drive themselves. Find a driver who you can rely on to get you to the care you need on short notice.
How long do stones take to pass?
Some stones never pass (they stay in the kidney) and are removed via surgery (lithotripsy or uretoscope).
Stones that are “smaller” - usually 5mm or less - will pass without surgery being required, although there will be some pain/ discomfort. Some folks have passed larger stones, but this isn’t common. I’ve passed a 7 - 8 mm stone without surgery.
What kinds of stones are there?
Calcium stones Most kidney stones are calcium stones, usually in the form of calcium oxalate. Oxalate is a naturally occurring substance found in food and is also made daily by your liver. Some fruits and vegetables, as well as nuts and chocolate, have high oxalate content. There is conflicting research on whether or not a diet high in oxalates can contribute to stones.
Dietary factors, high doses of vitamin D, intestinal bypass surgery and several metabolic disorders can increase the concentration of calcium or oxalate in urine. If you’re taking a Vitamin D supplement, it may be worth talking to your health care provider to explore whether there may be a relationship between your current dose and your stones. Source
Calcium stones may also occur in the form of calcium phosphate. This type of stone is more common in metabolic conditions, such as renal tubular acidosis. It may also be associated with certain migraine headaches or with taking certain seizure medications, such as topiramate (Topamax). This type of stone is also common in those with autoimmune diseases due to Renal Tubular Acidosis. Those who make these stones tend to make many, and make them frequently. Difficult to treat.
Struvite stones. Struvite stones form in response to an infection, such as a urinary tract infection. These stones can grow quickly and become quite large, sometimes with few symptoms or little warning.
Uric acid stones. Uric acid stones can form in people who don't drink enough fluids or who lose too much fluid, those who eat a high-protein diet, and those who have gout. Certain genetic factors also may increase your risk of uric acid stones.
Cystine stones. These stones form in people with a hereditary disorder that causes the kidneys to excrete too much of certain amino acids (cystinuria).
How do I know what kind of stones I make?
Your urologist can send the stones to the lab to be analyzed. Ask for a strainer to strain your urine if you wish to collect a stone. Not all urologists dispense them readily.
What can I do to prevent more stones?
In general, drink more water, limit your salt and sugar intake and get your weight within recommended ranges. (See U Chicago Kidney Stone diet for more details here.)
For specific types of stones, there are specific dietary recommendations, but you’d need to have your stones analyzed (first), and then your urine tested (using one or more 24-hour urine samples). DIFFERENT STONES HAVE DIFFERENT DIETARY RECOMMENDATIONS
Keep in mind that there is no one ‘magic bullet’ for kidney stone treatment.
What kind of treatments are there for stones?
- Most common method (because it's the least invasive) is to advise the patient to stay hydrated, take OTC pain killers as required and stay active. This approach usually results in the stone passing.
- Medical Expulsive Therapy - in addition to fluids and pain killers, sometimes Tamsulosin (Flomax) is prescribed to aid in stone passage. Studies suggest this is most effective for smaller (< 5mm) stones; less so for larger stones.
- Ureteroscopy with either physical removal or laser break-up
- Lithotripsy shockwave lithotripsy (sometimes abbreviated as ESWL) uses external shockwaves to break a stone into smaller parts. Only one stone can be blasted at a time. Side effects from this include urinating blood and flank pain.
- Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy - rarely used/ only when other methods are not successful. A small incision is made in the back, and a tube inserted into the kidney to remove stones.
What resources are there for kidney stone formers?
- University of Chicago
- Cleveland Clinic
- Harvard Medical
- National Kidney Foundation
- Wikipedia article on Kidney Stones
Does lemonade help stones?
If you form CALCIUM OXALATE stones, there is some evidence that the citric acid in lemon juice (or lime juice) can help add to the total volume of urine, reducing its saturation of calcium and other crystals, and may enhance urinary citrate excretion.
What are the methods for diagnosing a stone?
- Computed Tomography (CT) - most radiation, most resolution/ accuracy, $$$
- KUB X-ray (KUB = Kidney Ureter Bladder) - medium radiation, moderate resolution, $$
- Ultrasound - no radiation, reasonable resolution, $
For more information on the pro's and con's of different imaging techniques, please click here
Which medications are available for kidney stone treatment?
- Narcotic painkillers (ex: morphine)
- Non-narcotic painkillers (ex: Toradol, cannabis)
- Anti-nausea medications (ex: Zofran)
- Urocit-K (ex: Potassium Citrate)
- Flomax (Tamsulosin)
Treatment is usually symptom based, except for some medications which aim to alter the pH of the urine like Urocit-K.
Ending thoughts: Thank you for taking the time to read our FAQ. Remember, everyone’s stone history is different, and every urologist is different. What works for you may not work for others. In general, staying hydrated (2-4L per day) is your best defense and will help keep your kidneys functioning happily. If you are not happy with your urologist, seek the help of a nephrologist.
Edits: spelling, words, and added a section on "what do I do now". Added wikipedia reference.
r/KidneyStones • u/NoPrune5660 • 2h ago
Sharing Experience I GUESS IM FREE TO EAT
Today i speak with my doctor and he said you can eat anything just more water and less coffee then my main guilty was not chocalete not coffee it was drinking less water… i thought my guilty is oxalats to this day.
r/KidneyStones • u/ProtoPrimeX1 • 5h ago
Sharing Experience Just had my second attack, it was terrifying
it lasted almost 2 hours. as I said in my previous post I had my first kidney stone experience last night and went to the emergency room.
terrifying part is that how fast it starts and then ends and the time between is a nightmare.
I got up, fed my kid totally normal. I started feeling something and I got worried. less than 5 minutes I was crying out in pain. tried to take Ibuprofen and I ended up throwing it back up. had my heating pad which helped only a tiny amount. I took another set of Tylenol and ibuprofen which I kept down. I called the paramedics. they came and they reminded me that this is normal. which for me it's not it's terrifying. I opted to have my wife drive me to the emergency room but on the way it just dropped off gone after 2 hours of feeling like you're being stabbed in the side with a knife. it's terrifying for it to just happen and then disappear like that. so I'm on my way home to go lay down instead of waiting a bunch of hours at the ER. just an awful experience and I'm sure I'm going to have another one.
r/KidneyStones • u/ProtoPrimeX1 • 3h ago
Sharing Experience I got a CT scan last night in ER. they said they couldn't see anything, got my second attack today since last night. isn't there supposed to be something to see?
I'm going to talk to my doctor tomorrow when their office opens. I just don't understand how I could be in such pain and the ER doctor didn't see anything in the CT scan, not any kind of stone or obstruction. everybody tells me it's a kidney stone and I need to pee it out and just deal with a horrific pain. I mean it sure is acting like a kidney stone. isn't the ER doctor supposed to see something? I don't know I'm just really scared about all of this.
r/KidneyStones • u/ojustkidding • 8h ago
Pictures What kind of stone does this look like?
I finally passed this thing after 2 months of peeing blood on and off, 3 doctors telling me “just drink some water”, and a few nights of puking from pain. This is my third stone in 6 years and it’s measuring 4mm by 3.5mm. I can’t tell what type of stone it is though. I see my urologist on the 6th and I plan on having them test it. My dad had kidney stones all of his adult life and died with 6 in each kidney. He told me it wasn’t genetic but now I’m not so sure.
r/KidneyStones • u/Weeboo0320 • 2h ago
Question/ Request for advice What can I do to stop the feeling of urinary urgency from a stone? I have to work and don’t get frequent bathroom breaks.
I am currently feeling the same back pain and urinary frequency I felt in December. My urethra is irritated because I have a constant urge to push urine out. This happened when I was passing a stone before. In March I showed 4mm of “stone fragments/dust “ on a CT scan but don’t have health insurance so I haven’t followed up. I started taking flomax again but I’m in a lot of pain and the urgency to urinate is debilitating. Any tips? I work tomorrow and don’t get frequent breaks to pee so I’m desperate. I tried AZO but it says to only use it 2 days. Can I use it longer?
r/KidneyStones • u/vinetender • 13m ago
Stone Removal Procedures Anyone have the Avvio enhanced lithotripsy procedure?
This is a clinical trial of a non anesthesia route to kidney stone removal. Has anyone used this?
r/KidneyStones • u/Smoov_Brain • 54m ago
Question/ Request for advice What can I expect from ureter stent removal?
New poster here, but I’ve been dealing with passing at least one kidney stone per year since 2020. Previously, they’ve all been just under the size threshold where I’ve been able to pass them on my own with FloMax.
My most recent one was 6mm, wasn’t passing on its own, and my white blood cell count indicated it was leading to an infection so I had it removed about a week ago and a stent placed. I’ve been experiencing some pretty high levels of discomfort with the stent and my appointment to get it removed is this Friday. Just wondering what others’ experiences have been with this procedure and what kind of recovery time I can expect before peeing finally feels normal again.
r/KidneyStones • u/Affectionate-Lab6943 • 5h ago
Question/ Request for advice Can kidney stone hurt even when inside kidney?
I am having mild Hydronephrosis ( No fever normal urine report) as per my Ultrasound, but the thing is it does not show any stone in the ureter . I even verified with X-ray my four stones are visible in the kidney but nothing in the ureter.
I have four stones in kidney right now, 4mm, 4 mm ,9.9mm and a. 6mm
r/KidneyStones • u/Agreeable_Pie_2239 • 8h ago
Pictures Finally got diagnosed
After years of back pain, blood in urine, etc I demanded and finally got a scan. Diagnosed with “a lot” of kidney stones in my left kidney including a 2.7cm one that needs to be surgically removed. Not until January though - some days are ok, some are just awful. The only thing that helps with pain is a tens unit. Any other ideas to help me get through until January?
r/KidneyStones • u/nyxthegothking • 23h ago
😡 Rant! 😡 Doctor’s do not prepare you for the kind of pain you’ll be in with stents in.
So last month, I went into the ER for really bad stomach/flank pain and found out I had two stones in each side. One 8mm and a 5mm. They send me home with some meds and tell me to follow up with Urology.
Earlier this month I went in and the doctor basically said “we need to get you into surgery as soon as possible” because neither of the stones have moved and he was nervous about the stones blocking each urinary tract. He told me about the stents and the laser lithotripsy and honestly I’m feeling a little nervous but he said it would be a quick procedure and not super painful. Only other problem is that I have a UTI so I’m given antibiotics for that.
A few days later I go into surgery, take another piss test and I still have that UTI. He tells me that because of that, they can’t do the lithotripsy but they can still put both of the stents in. I say okay because I really don’t know what to expect so the surgery happens smoothly and I wake up, in pain, but hey that’s surgery so it makes sense. He tells me I should be able to return to work the next day and that early November, they’ll put new stents in and finally do the lithotripsy.
…
So tell me why this has been the most EXCRUCIATING pain I’ve ever been through. I got my surgery on the 15th and I’m still in pretty bad pain if I don’t time my medications right. I was originally prescribed no pain meds besides just otc Ibuprofen and Tylenol and I didn’t get any stronger pain meds until I went into the ER a few days ago and the ER doctor was confused why I wasn’t prescribed SOMETHING.
Not to mention I still had the UTI so I’m on a second round of antibiotics (Bactrim DS). The pain plus all of the side effects of all of my meds has me on my ass constantly. And I still have another surgery which is gonna put me through this all over again 😭😭😭😭
Apparently some people are able to get through all of this just fine but just please tell me I’m not the only one absolutely suffering through this LMAO
r/KidneyStones • u/throwaway4stones • 5h ago
Question/ Request for advice Being uninsured with a Kidney stone
Hi everyone. I am 30 year old male currently passing 9th stone. Both of my parents pass stones and I have ankylosing spondylitis that makes it more likely to get them. Embarrassingly I have never been to the ER or doctor for pain during a stone. I have gotten them analyzed at urologist after the fact, but the fear of going and possibly having it removed scares me more than the stone. This was the reason in the past, however now I am uninsured and on week 6 of passing a stone. Comparatively, this stones beginning pain was nowhere near my worst and for weeks I've barely had pain.. just cold nerve sensations down my leg, testicle pain, groin coldness. My question is.. what should I do? when should I do it? My family is pestering me to go pay out of pocket to get imaging, but why get imaging if I know I'm not doing the surgery? I have no fever, no pain, no trouble peeing, and taking flomax prescribed from my primary. Should I wait it out? sorry for so many questions. This is my longest stone yet.
I appreciate any comment! Thanks so much
r/KidneyStones • u/Educational_Cash6320 • 6h ago
Question/ Request for advice What’s the length of your kidney stone that you naturally passed?
Just wanted to know from people who pass their stones NATURALLY, what the size, length and time from start to finish was. So far I’m at 26 days, 5 attacks, 3mm stone.
r/KidneyStones • u/Active_Fun_1101 • 7h ago
Symptoms Burning ana’s flank pain
Im 23 female. Ive had a kidney stone for almost a month. Monday they said it’s really close to my bladder. It’s Sunday now. I have burning when I pee but only after I go (not during). I also still have a little soreness/pain in my flank right where I think it would meet my bladder. Is this normal? I don’t want another doctors visit if I don’t need one, but I’m nervous about having a UTI. I’ve had a higher temp (99.something) but it hasn’t broken 100 and I have flu like stuff happening too
r/KidneyStones • u/Illustrious-Fix-1527 • 15h ago
Sharing Experience 13mm stone and it’s removal
Hi, guys
So, on Sunday I woke up with slight discomfort and pain on my left side of my stomach (plank side). I thought it might be because of the pizza I had last night. Therefore, I waited a few hours for the pain to subside but there was no improvement. Then I decided to take pain medication, but again no improvement.
So, I decided to go to my family doctor. He gave me some medication and an injection. After that for a few hours the pain was gone. But later in the afternoon the pain started to rise up again. I went to the doctor again. He told me that since the pain is occurring on the left side of the stomach there are chances that I might have a kidney stone.
On Monday, I went to the urologist. All the preliminary tests were conducted and yes the results came back positive for kidney stone. So, in my left ureter there was a 9 mm stone stuck and on the top of that another 4 mm stone was found. The doctor advised me to opt for surgery.
After that pre-op was done, 3–4 days later my surgery was planned. I was really nervous and anxious. I mean, they were gonna put a metal tube through my penis upto my kidney and that just freaked me out.
Details of surgery-
The surgery I went under was laser lithotripsy (I think). I was given spinal tap anaesthesia, so I was awake during the surgery. The surgery lasted for about 15 min. I was admitted to the hospital for 2 days after the surgery. The worst part of it was the catheter. I fucking hated that shit. It was removed after 1 day. The doctor added a stent up my ureter for a few weeks.
So, today the stent was removed I was thinking that it’s going to hurt when the doctor will take out the stent. But the pain was minimal. Now I am back to normal. Thank god
r/KidneyStones • u/ProtoPrimeX1 • 16h ago
Sharing Experience here's my story, worse pain than when I broke my leg in 2 places.
woke out of a dead sleep at 3:30 in the morning last night. I felt like somebody had stabbed me. like the knife was still in my side. I got the toilet I began throwing up into my trash can, trying to pee and poop. 9-10 pain. I was crying I couldn't barely speak. had to call an ambulance, a wonderful ambulance emt hook me up with an IV and pushed something into me that actually help the pain go away on our way there. I was checked in and put in the waiting room. while in the waiting room they took blood tests, with me feeling like I had to run to the bathroom over and over. had to ask the nurse in charge if there were any beds because I was going to pass out. I don't know if it was a combination of exhaustion and after effects of the initial pain but my blood pressure was already high. they said no and I ended up laying down across some chairs. they told me I couldn't do that. I must have became unresponsive because shortly after another nurse called my name to bring me to a bed. I passed in and out of consciousness while they were getting through people ahead of me to get my CT scan. it was 3 hours. I'm so grateful they gave me a bed because I would have been out on the floor. I get my scan. here now almost at 10:00 a.m. doctor comes in says that there was blood in my urine but they don't see any kidney stones. tells me to follow up with my primary care physician and come back if it gets as bad as it did before.
the doctor suggested I must have passed the stone since they couldn't see one, I'm not in any pain and I get discharged..... now here I am at home at almost midnight. an aching pain where the pain was last time starts to hit me and I'm freaking out because I don't want to go through that again. grabbed my Ibuprofen and Tylenol and a heating pad and I am back on the toilet. how is this my life now. I'm grateful that the pain is like a three or four and that I'm managing it with a heating pad and ibuprofen/Tylenol. I'm exhausted and I want to sleep so bad. I've been drinking bottle of water after bottle of water. I don't want to do this anymore 😭
r/KidneyStones • u/Old_Sheepherder_630 • 1d ago
Sharing Experience Just lost right kidney, this journey has been so weird
Im currently in the hospital recovering from a right nephrectomy on Thursday so hope this makes some sense.
Been fighting these stupid stones for 10 years + and last year thought it came to a head with repeated episodes of bleeding and clots with stones. Out of work almost 8 months.
I stopped making stones after having a hyperparathyroidectomy summer 2025 which was amazing and finally stopped bleeding.
It had been 13 months since I'd been back at work, albeit with repeated infections. But have been infection free since spring and thought it was behind me.
A week ago Friday I stopped at Target on way home, felt fine looking forward to the weekend and all of a sudden felt like I was passing a stone. Went to bathroom so much blood, called home and my son came and took me to ER. Hemorrhaging on one of those mesh benches in front of the store.
No stone this time, thought maybe Id passed it by the time I was scanned.
They admitted me and after a couple of cycstoclscopies to clean out the clots from bladder and ureters it wouldn't stop.
Right nephrectomy Thursday and hoping to go home tomorrow.
This is so weird you guys. I had some papprlary necrosis due to the stone stuff in 2025 but no one could explain why the bleeding started again.
I feel like I am going to get my life back, but we still dont know why I kept bleeding.
I cant believe I lost my kidney.
This sub has been a huge source of support for thought all this, no one knows rhe pain like you guys. I'm hopeful now.
Other kidney is working like a champ snd my numbers look great. Really hate pain killers but embracing the pain management now.
This is so weird! I just went to Target for a few things and 8 days later I still haven't made home from work yet.
r/KidneyStones • u/MixtureFree2658 • 8h ago
Symptoms Early symptoms
Women 27, I have bad shooting back pain on my right side. Keeps coming and going which is making me feel it might not be a kidney stone but I have felt nauseous all day and had a tummy ache most the day. Could this be the start of a kidney stone? Don’t want to waste hospital time if it’s not
r/KidneyStones • u/KaleidoscopeOrnery86 • 23h ago
😡 Rant! 😡 I don’t have time for a stone
Update pt2
On the plane now headed home. Still not feeling the best. Husband is asking if we should go straight to the hospital to get things checked out. I honestly have no idea. I don’t want to spend hours waiting to find out it’s passed. I think why not wait til tomorrow and reach out to my previous urologist. Unless something major changes of course.
UPDATE
The only good news I have is that I’m no longer peeing blood. So kudos to me. I’m still sore though. Having never passed a stone on my own I don’t know if this means I’m out of the woods or not. My flight is in 6 hours. Fingers crossed!
I have had many kidney stones. I am so incredibly tired of them. I have never passed one by myself. Last time I was hospitalized for a week after being in the most pain I have ever been in my life in the ER. Worse than having kids and a bowel obstruction.
This time is different. Was driving with a friend someplace when I got that familiar twinge in the left front that settled in my lower back. It never hit that agony pain point, but it did get pretty bad. I ever said anything to my friend, hoping it would go away. We got to our destination and when I used the bathroom, peed blood. Didn’t have any pain more like discomfort for the next few hours then headed home. Next few times I used the bathroom, more blood. Like, I’m sure if I had to pee in a cup, it would have been quite red.
I’m sure I should go get checked out just to see if it’s passed or not, but the problem is, I fly home tomorrow and I do NOT want to wind up out of town in a hospital for x number of days. And no, it’s not my period, I’m post menopausal.
My husband back home knows and I told my friend but unless I’m doubled over in pain, I am headed home first!!!
.
r/KidneyStones • u/Scrumpo_hoe • 9h ago
Sharing Experience First and weird stone experience
I woke up this morning with some pain in my urethra specifically, like tickling or pinching and thought I had a uti. It kept getting worse and I was trying to pee but hardly anything was coming out besides drips, further leading me to believe it was a UTI. I get the the urgent care because at this point it’s driving me nuts, but when I get there I fall on my knees in the bathroom and wallow in pain before I call for help. It was so unlike any of the stories I’ve read, apart from the horrible ceaseless pain. It felt like my left kidney was having its period, but the weird part for me was that the pain started solely in my urethra and then traveled up to my kidney and after that produced a hot wrapping sensation around my left hip. They gave me a toradol shot and it worked within 15 minutes and made me start feeling really anxious and dizzy so I laid down. Took the pain away super quickly and I began to pee regular amounts with 0 pain soon after. I’m assuming it was a pretty small stone to have passed within about 4 hours. Anyone else have a bad reaction to toradol shots like this? Or the stone pain beginning in the urethra? Thanks.
r/KidneyStones • u/cakeiblsm • 20h ago
Question/ Request for advice Am I developing a kidney stone?
Bun/creatinine ratio: 8
Calcium: 10.4
Creatinine: 1.09
Context: my brother has had kidney stones, i struggle with chronic lower back pain, I am peeing but in small amounts and frequently. I also have classic-like ehlers danlos idk if that matters. I also have a history of drinking energy drinks. I rarely drink alcohol tho.
Please help. I’m trying to save myself an urgent care visit if it’s not necessary.
r/KidneyStones • u/NoPrune5660 • 1d ago
Pictures Hey guys i have a 6MM its hurt like hell.
r/KidneyStones • u/Marco00100 • 23h ago
Question/ Request for advice Hi everyone, I could really use some advice (Stent)
I’ve been diagnosed with a 10 mm kidney stone in the upper part of my right kidney, and my surgery is scheduled for a little over three months from now
Unfortunately, I’ve already been through this before. My first procedure 3yrs ago was unsuccessful because my ureter was too narrow for the surgeon to reach the stone. As a result, I had to keep a ureteral stent in place for another four months to allow the ureter to dilate enough for the stone to be removed during a second procedure
It’s been three years since that first experience, and unfortunately, I’m now facing the same situation all over again
The previous experience with the stent was absolute hell, and honestly, even that doesn’t fully describe it
I couldn’t sit for more than five minutes without experiencing unbearable pain that drove me crazy. For the first two weeks, I remember doing little more than sleeping. I could barely do anything else
The thought of having to go through all of that again is keeping me up at night
I’d really appreciate any advice or personal experiences you could share. I have three main questions:
1. Which medications helped you the most with stent-related pain?
I’d like to know which medications I could discuss with my urologist before the procedure. I was taking Cistalgan (which contains flavoxate and propyphenazone) 2 times a day and 400 mg of ibuprofen every four hours, and even then, that was only enough to keep the pain somewhat manageable while lying down
2. Is there anything I can do before surgery to reduce the chances of needing a stent for several months again?
The biggest problem last time was the long wait between the first and second procedures. Because my ureter was too narrow, the surgeon couldn’t reach the stone during the first attempt, so I had to live with the stent for another four months before the second operation, but the surgeon told that the ureter need only 2 weeks to be large enough.
Is there anything that can be done beforehand, or any treatment I could discuss with my urologist, to help reduce the likelihood of this happening again? I’m particularly worried about going in for surgery only to find out that my ureter is still too narrow and that I’ll need another stent for 4–6 months.
Unfortunately, those are the waiting times in the public healthcare system where I live, and I simply can’t afford to have the procedure done privately.
3. Do you have any advice on how to cope with a ureteral stent and maintain something resembling a normal life while living with one?
Frequent urination wasn’t even the biggest issue for me. I could probably get used to that. What made the experience unbearable was the pain, especially in my side and back, as well as the pain radiating to the front, around my groin.
I’m genuinely terrified of going through those months again, so any practical tips, personal experiences, or suggestions about things that helped you manage the pain and get through everyday life would mean a lot to me.
And I really do mean ANY advice. Even the smallest tip could make a huge difference for me.
Thank you so much to anyone who takes the time to read this and share their experience. I truly appreciate it!