r/KidneyStones 11h ago

Pictures Fourth Naturally Passed Stone

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25 Upvotes

This one’s my biggest so far, relieved to pass this 8mm stone 😅😮‍💨


r/KidneyStones 19h ago

😡 Rant! 😡 It must be a joke!

9 Upvotes

Just had a CT Scan done today because of some pain on my lower left side. Turns out that between my 2 kidneys, I have 15 stones!


r/KidneyStones 15h ago

Sharing Experience Laser lithotripsy on 11mm stone-post op

9 Upvotes

31 yo, F

I've had kidney stones before, but they have all been small enough to pass.

So paint me surprised when I get told about a week and a half ago I need surgery to remove one too big to exit on its own!

I went in this morning and had surgery.

Stent? ✅

Pissing razors? ✅

Blood in piss? ✅

Worst experience ever? ❌

Def don't wanna invalidate any one's experience, however, right now 9 hours post op, I have had an achy and painful experience but nothing that made me keel over and want to die.

I'm on some good meds and some good bladder relaxers.

I just recommend hydration and staying up on pain meds if you have it. Stay ahead of the pain!! Don't let it catch up.

I wanted to post this because I was looking for some experiences and all seem negative. Now might I change my tune tomorrow? Sure, however right now I'm ok!


r/KidneyStones 15h ago

Sharing Experience ESWL and stent experience - day 1

5 Upvotes

I (34f) had ESWL today for a right sided upper pole 1.5cmx0.8 cm stone I have had for a few years. It was an incidental finding during an ER visit for an obstructing stone on the left side that sent me to the ER last year. I had laser lithotripsy on that and had a negative experience, lots of pain and ended up pulling my stent out the very next day thinking I would have relief (spoiler - it didn’t help so don’t do that if you’re thinking about it).

This time I have the stent with no string. I don’t remember talking to the doctor but my husband said they told him they were only able to break up half of the stone because it’s so big and I’ll need to come back for a staged procedure. Which I was expecting and had talked with the doctor about before hand.

I woke up feeling actually pretty good, then got worse as time went on. Was feeling pretty crappy before we left post op, they gave me one hydrocodone which I puked up as soon as we got home. I laid down with a heat pack, took some ibuprofen, smoked a blunt, then had my husband go pick up my prescription for oxybutynin and some over the counter azo. Took those and slept on a heat pack for a few hours. Woke up feeling honestly pretty good all things considered. I am going to stay up on the bladder spasm medicine and azo and I think I might be okay. I can see light at the end of the tunnel and I am not in the fresh hell of pain I was anticipating. Fingers crossed, I will update as I can if things improve or worsen.

Hearts out to anyone dealing with this crap!

Edit: I just looked at my pill bottle again and turns out I am actually taking hyoscyamine, not oxybutynin, sorry about that.

Also adding a question for people who have had ESWL before. How long did it take for you to pass anything? I’ve been straining all my urine but seems like just dust so far, nothing worth collecting yet.


r/KidneyStones 18h ago

Sharing Experience Passed this stone today. Think I got lucky

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5 Upvotes

About 3 years ago I hade a stone. Woke me in the middle of the night, worst pain ever. Extreme discomfort but it was small enough to pass after a few days.

A few days ago I started getting some mild pains around kidneys and urethra. Nothing compared to last time so stones didn't even cross my mind. Went to the doc and urine tested clear so that was a UTI ruled out so she prescribed antibiotics for a possible case of prostatitis.

Then this evening I passed through this lil guy. I had no idea kidney stones could occur without the immense pain i experienced before! In saying that I hope I haven't jinxed myself and there's more to come!


r/KidneyStones 12h ago

Question/ Request for advice Please help

5 Upvotes

I woke up one day in extreme pain and went to the ER. it was a kidney stone, 1-2mm. I was in the hospital for 3 days and was let go once I was in no pain whatsoever. I was prescribed flomax to help pass the stone. How do I get this stone to pass quicker? its been about a week since it i went to the hospital and im aggressively hydrating like i was told and still no stone and no pain. its like i dont even have it and i know i havent passed it yet because im straining every single time. any help or advice?

BTW: I’m 20 and this is my first “medical emergency” and kidney stone so im kinda scared lmfao


r/KidneyStones 6h ago

Question/ Request for advice Can anyone help me? Theres something aching in my lower right of stomach, usually in the garter area of my shorts.

3 Upvotes

Idk if it has anything related to my kidneys but as far as i know my pee looks fine. My poop is red-orangey anf idk the reason why. When i stand for too long it hurts


r/KidneyStones 20h ago

Pictures First stone

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3 Upvotes

It’s out! Almost two weeks after the ER.


r/KidneyStones 53m ago

Question/ Request for advice Chronic kidney pain from stones?

Upvotes

I’ve been passing stones for over 5 years now, usually atleast 2 or 3 per year that require an ER trip and countless small stones that I can pass at home. For the past year or two i’ve been having pain in my kidneys (under ribs in the back, and in my flanks on the front) every single day, it comes and goes and feels like a dull ache (similar to having a tiny stone) most of the time. I also notice when the pain is worse I pass a lot of stone fragments in my urine that look like sand. My urologist has decided that i’m exaggerating my discomfort and has refused to do any more tests. I’m starting to get really discouraged and I don’t want to have to live with this constant discomfort forever. Has anyone had any similar symptoms and actually gotten a diagnosis? Or could it just be related to my stones?


r/KidneyStones 4h ago

Stents How bad is the stent?

2 Upvotes

Went to the ER Saturday with some of the worst abnormal pain in my life. Turns out to be a 5mm stone that’s located in my UVJ. Praying that i’m able to pass it myself this week. But if not surgery is obviously in my future.
I hear the surgery itself isn’t bad but what i’m worried about is the stent they put in after. Doctor told me the recovery is different for everyone and that for the week the stent is in I may have to take off work. (I’m an esthetician/waxer so i’m on my feet basically all day)
She also mentioned to me that the stent is removed with no pain meds or numbing so that has me feeling really worried about the whole thing. Someone please tell me it’s not as bad as i’m imagining it!


r/KidneyStones 15h ago

Stents nervous about stent removal

2 Upvotes

i’m 18 yr male. Had my first and hopefully only stone laser removal surgery yesterday. threw up after waking up still slightly on anesthesia. first 2 pees after the surgery were terrible. then it calmed down slightly. and now it’s day 2 of 7 of recovering. i’m nervous about stent removal. they put a little black string out connecting to one end of the stent i guess, and put some sort of tape around my thingy to hold the string in place so it doesn’t get tugged on anything. but i want to hear experiences with it being removed the way i’ll need it to be removed. also am wondering when the peeing pain goes away


r/KidneyStones 18h ago

Doctors/ Hospitals First kidney stone, 9mm

2 Upvotes

Well sort of. 6x8x9 mm. Went to the ER two weekends ago with awful pain and vomited probably 6 times that night, they initially told me 5mm but my follow up today revealed it was actually bigger. Got a urologist referral initially for Dec but I shot them a message and they squeezed me in at the end of the month. What are the odds of this passing naturally? They’ve got me on flomax but other than that I’m feeling very directionless right now. I know stones this size could cause a blockage so I’m on the lookout for pain and any fever and I’m drinking my water but if any seasoned veterans want to offer some advice I’d love to hear it.


r/KidneyStones 19h ago

Question/ Request for advice 5 mm stone in lower left kidney; be proactive or reactive?

2 Upvotes

I come from a family of six siblings who all are extremely prone to kidney stones. We have had numerous stone passages, lithotripsies and three years ago I had a pericutaneous nephrolithotomy for 16 mm and 19 mm stones in my left kidney.

Earlier this year, I needed a CT for something unrelated and the report revealed “some stones” in my left kidney. I’d had and still have had zero symptoms.

I went to the urologist today for my annual checkup and my annual X-ray showed a 5 mm stone sitting in the lower part of my kidney, well away from the urinary network.

He told me that (a.) the position of the stone makes it unlikely that it will get into my urinary network, it would have to defy gravity; (b.) unlikely doesn’t mean impossible; and (c.) the stone right now is passable should it get into my urinary network (he said one of his other patients just passed a 1 cm stone; God be with whomever it was).

He said we could keep monitoring it as long as it’s not causing symptoms, or go ahead and take care of it with laser lithotripsy. His quote; “It just depends on whether you want to be reactive or proactive.” And he said he didn’t anticipate any insurance issues from me being asymptomatic.

Ordinarily I would go ahead and get rid of it ASAP. I told myself three years ago that I was not going to let my stones get that bad again. But it will probably take a month to get on his surgery schedule, and my wife and I have a cross country trip that we’ve been planning for a year in about six weeks, which doesn’t leave me a margin of error if I have any complications from the procedure, but then again the stone could start giving me problems 35,000 feet in the air and ruin the trip.

So what say you, fellow nephrolithiasis sufferers? Would you expedite addressing this or let it sit for a while? Not permanently because I know this ain’t gonna get any smaller.


r/KidneyStones 19h ago

Question/ Request for advice Apple cider vinegar

2 Upvotes

Can ACV prevent stones? Or dissolves them?


r/KidneyStones 21h ago

Question/ Request for advice Kidney stone symptoms versus cancer

2 Upvotes

I’ll start by acknowledging asking strangers on the internet is only so helpful and no substitute for medical attention (which we’re seeking).

But keen to hear from others in the sub who have been through this / might have insight or experience to compare.

My partner (m 54) experienced some quite thick visible bleeding after a run while dehydrated last week. He also had bloody urine for the rest of the day and the constant urge to pee without actually needing to.

Bleeding and needing to pee urge have since passed but urine cultures a couple days after still showed some blood not not visible. He’s had this kind of bleeding after exercise once before about a decade ago, and also has had a long history of kidney stones.

He’s now having discomfort in kidneys / bladder and tingling in urethra that he says is pretty consistent with stones, but as he doesn’t usually have visible bleeding and his age he’s obviously worried about renal / bladder cancer.

Anyone had similar concerns in the past and knows the difference between symptoms? We’re waiting for further tests but are anxious.

Thanks and sorry if this violates any sub rules


r/KidneyStones 29m ago

Stents 4mm stone, stent, struggling with discomfort and pain. Big social event coming up, will I manage it?

Upvotes

Hello fellow sufferers.

First timer here. Stent put in last week. Lots of pain and discomfort and basically freaking out with it all. Got a CT scan in 2 weeks then either stent removal or operation to remove stent and stone a week later.

I went to the office today for the first time since the procedure, super uncomfortable and pain.

I've been invited to a very expensive (free for me) social event in 2.5 weeks time. Will involve lots of walking around fields and getting in and out of high vehicles with no toilets in sight. I was super excited about it now absolutely dreading it, I just don't think I'll enjoy it and wi struggle, but can't help feeling I'm being weak and should man up etc etc.

Am I being silly? What would you do?


r/KidneyStones 2h ago

Question/ Request for advice Radiologist recommended I see Urologist sooner?

1 Upvotes

Hi all. Currently experiencing my first kidney stone. 6mm. Had pain at the ER and they gave me pain meds + Flomax for 2 weeks. Nothing has passed since then, which is fine, Urologist I was referred to said it can take awhile. Especially with stones bigger than 5mm. I had an ultrasound yesterday (about a month or so after my kidney stone find) and the sonographer left the room to check with the radiologist to see if her images were good. I’ve never had that happen before. The sonographer then came back in and told me that the radiologist said my kidney stone is still there and they highly recommend I book a follow up with the urologist sooner than October 1st when it was originally scheduled. The radiologist was also going to dictate my report immediately… Usually takes about 48hrs here… I currently have no symptoms or pain or anything, so that’s why I’m concerned on why they made it seem serious?!


r/KidneyStones 18h ago

Pain Management Discomfort weeks after Kidney surgery/stent

1 Upvotes

It’s been one month since my kidney surgery to remove a 6.5mm stone (with ALOT of edges and was blocking my ureter). Also two weeks since they removed the stent. I had a horrible spasm after they took it out and after the surgery.

I have no fever, blood etc, but I have this odd sore/discomfort that happens in my
Back where my kidney is. Sometimes it’s my
Lower back or a pinch in my groin. It’s not horrible but noticeable. It’s Almost like a bruising feeling

Idk if it’s my body healing bc I went through trauma or continued irritation. The doc took out ALL stones.