I've got a Kidney Stone! - Page 2

Stephen Orr · 04-20-2008, 07:46 PM

I ended up curled up in the floor board of my car weeping when I had a kidney stone attack on the way to a restuarant. We were meeting my son, who had just driven home for the first time from college in Tenn. This was in 2002.

I had two stones - one was 1 cm., and the other was .5 cm. I had no idea I even had them until the attack. I spent the weekend on some major painkillers, and had my lipotrypsy on that Monday.

The next time I suspected that I might have another stone I did not pass go, I had it checked out immediately. Sure enough, they found three small ones, which they pounded out of me with the sonic thingy.

**HTF Ads**

Johnny Angell · 04-20-2008, 10:51 PM

Most of you know that I've had two bunion surgeries recently. I just got the statement of charges for my kidney stone procedure from the hospital. It adds up to more than both bunion surgeries. In fact the procedure itself (without all the attendant hospital charges) is more than the entire total for my two bunion surgeries.

Johnny Angell · 04-20-2008, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen Orr

I had two stones - one was 1 cm., and the other was .5 cm. I had no idea I even had them until the attack. I spent the weekend on some major painkillers, and had my lipotrypsy on that Monday.

So you'll see my stone and raise me one

Mine was .65, I think, so the 1 cm is big, and the .5 is similar. Both were very capable of bringing you too your knees.

I'm starting to get the idea from the comments here, that kidney stone procedures aren't done on an emergency basis. When I saw my urologist, he said if I had another attack in the middle of the night, to take my pain meds, gut it out, and call them in the morning. I guess they're not worried that these things could do damage while passing.

Francois Caron · 04-21-2008, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Angell

I'm starting to get the idea from the comments here, that kidney stone procedures aren't done on an emergency basis. When I saw my urologist, he said if I had another attack in the middle of the night, to take my pain meds, gut it out, and call them in the morning. I guess they're not worried that these things could do damage while passing.

I can tell you it CAN do damage. One week before the stone finally left me, I had a UTI. Not only did I see a few drops of blood leave me after I finished painfully peeing (very scary), a piece of bloody flesh from my ureter actually came out!

All this happened during the week I moved to a new apartment! Ugh!

The attitude of my doctors was just as bad. The problem is that although kidney stones can cause incredible pain, they're rarely fatal. And that's the problem. The doctors would rather give you painkillers instead of eliminating the item which is causing you the pain in the first place.

The problem with me is that I can't tolerate painkillers. They screw up my system so badly that often I preferred to endure the pain instead of dealing with the side-effects of the meds. In fact, the meds they gave me in the hospital were particularly nasty. If I try to eat or drink too early after getting them, eventually my stomach contents would come back up. Somehow, I always made it to the bathroom on time and was able to release it in a controlled manner. But I must admit it's the first time in my life I've ever projectile vomited before.

It could make for an interesting party trick!

Johnny Angell · 04-21-2008, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Francois Caron

The problem with me is that I can't tolerate painkillers.

I'm thinking that maybe your avatar is a photo taken shortly after taking some painkillers

You have my deep sympathy for not being able to tolerate them. It denies you the chance for pain relief.

Bob Graham · 04-21-2008, 01:01 PM

Actually, you don't have to get in the stirrups for the stent removal. You just lie on the table and the doctor draws it out in one quick move. I had visions of myself wildly pissing all over the place when the the thing was removed (like an unattended garden hose with the faucet on full blast), but that didn't happen either. Compared to what you've been through, it's practically painless. The worst is over. Relax.

Johnny Angell · 04-21-2008, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Graham

Compared to what you've been through, it's practically painless. The worst is over. Relax.

I'm going to take a leap of faith and accept what you've said, even though someone is going to be pulling an object out of my penis!

Francois Caron · 04-21-2008, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Angell

I'm thinking that maybe your avatar is a photo taken shortly after taking some painkillers

Nah. I just cut myself shaving that morning.

Johnny Angell · 04-23-2008, 08:46 PM

It's out...the stent that is. Went in for my follow up today and the doc asked "have you still got the string" which I did. He said "I'll send someone in to remove it...oh heck I'll do it." So I drop my drawers set down and ziiiip, it's out. It hurt some, but wasn't agony and it was pleasantly surprising how quickly you start to feel better.

Yesterday, after the doctors offices are closed, I have a bloody, painfull urination and I start doing it often and urgently. Later that night the blood is gone, but not the other symptoms. When I tell the doc this, he says he doesn't get worried about symptoms like that unless they happen after the stent is out.

Within a half hour, the pain and frequency symptoms had declined drastically. Combine that with the fact that I don't have to have the procedure again, I'm a happy old codger today.

I think the stent was thinking if I'm gonna be gone tomorrow, I'm going out with a bang.

Blu · 04-24-2008, 05:57 PM

Wooohoooo!

Drink that water!

Kim D · 05-02-2008, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Francois Caron

The pain would eventually go away after a day and some excellent painkillers. The stone would manifest its presence a month or two later, causing only mild discomfort most of the time, but causing horrible pain only three more times, two of them requiring another trip to the emergency room.

The doctors told me the stone's size was in a grey area where it might come out by itself, or it might not. My research on the Internet confirmed this. Still, I was pissed when I realized the urologist misread the x-ray. I was even more pissed when I went in for day surgery, and they cancelled it after spending all day in the day surgery ward worried sick about how much it'll hurt peeing afterwards and living with a stent for three weeks.

Anyway, the stone's finally out, and no surgery or stent was required, which was actually a relief. And I knew it was finally out because it went *DING* when it hit the toilet bowl.

All I'm hoping now is that I never get another one. I had already eliminated soft drinks from my diet, so that's one probable cause out of my life.

Drink up Johnny!

Johnny Angell -- thanks for starting this thread.
Francois Caron -- thanks for sharing your experience.

My husband had incredible pain in his flank and was vomiting early one morning. We had just moved to a new city and were set to close on our house the next day. We didn't know any doctors, didn't know the hospitals and didn't want to postpone closing. After throwing up, the pain went away. And stayed away for a couple of weeks.

On Tuesday morning, the pain was back. My husband, the tough guy, decided he was going to go to work. I walked with him to the bus stop. After he doubled over in pain and started vomiting, he decided it was finally time to go to the hospital.

The cat scan showed a stone in the grey area size. But it's sitting just above the bladder. He has an appointment with a urologist on Monday.

Today was the first day that he felt well enough to go to work.

This thread has helped him to have a better understanding of what to expect. Thank you all.

- Kim

Johnny Angell · 05-02-2008, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kim D

This thread has helped him to have a better understanding of what to expect. Thank you all.

- Kim

That's the idea behind posting a thread like this, to share experiences. I'm sure we are all glad we helped your husband a little bit.