topic Re: Kidney stones in Wellness

Kidney stones

Susan in California — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 22:15:36 GMT

Three weeks ago I ended up in the emergency room of our local hospital experiencing excruciating pain. It turned out to be a kidney stone. The whole experience was awful.

The emergency room was filled with people, and after somewhat of a wait, a doctor saw me. I had a CT scan, was given morphine, and was released with a prescription for pain meds and an appt with the urologist.

Last week I had another CT scan, and today the urologist said the stone was passed, but I had two very small stones in my other kidney. So now, it's checking with ultra-sound every six months.

I have not felt myself, and in general have stayed close to home.

I have heard that lemon juice and lots of water is a good remedy for keeping stones at bay. I am trying to drink the

6-8 glasses of water a day, but at times it is a challenge.

The urologist has a very nice bed-side manner, but he seems to be very hasty and is over-booked.

Re: Kidney stones

janefromnewmexico — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 22:22:44 GMT

I have had 3 bouts of kidney stones, two of which had to be removed with minor surgery. The last time the doctor collected the stone and had it analyzed and was able to tell me the types of food that cause my particular type of stone. You should ask your dr. if he sent it for analysis. Continue to drink lots of water. I know I immediately felt better after I had the stone removed/passed.

Re: Kidney stones

millieshops — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 22:33:55 GMT

@Susan in California I am sorry for your pain. Stones in a duct meant for liquid are excruciating.

Sorry, too, for your busy doctor although that seems to be the more common experience now in any densely populated area. So many patients needing to see too few doctors- and each of the doctors often supporting a whole cadre of support help.

Maybe in a year or two, post pandemic effects, they will work under less time pressure and we will feel more cared for?

Re: Kidney stones

KingstonsMom — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 22:34:00 GMT

@Susan in California

You poor thing! So glad you're doing better and keeping on top of the other 2 smaller stones.

Sounds like you're in good hands, especially your own!

Re: Kidney stones

Mindy D — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 23:27:16 GMT

@Susan in California @If you frequently drink soda, stop. Avoid the extra phosphoric acid found in sodas. There Ian more than one type of stone, so getting a sample of one will tell the doctor what type of stones you have. Drink lots of water and remember the phrase, “Dilution is the solution to the pollution.”

Here is a journal article which summarizes, based on research, the best methods for prevention of stones of all types. Lemon juice is discussed as well as other methods that enhance prevention.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwiWnN7YjNXzAhXSlmoFHSkRBUIQFnoECCsQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fpmc%2Farticles%2FPMC4265710%2F&usg=AOvVaw1Yv4XZQ_OQOa8C12FhGU_f

Re: Kidney stones

nana59 — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 23:42:27 GMT

worst pain i've ever had.....

Re: Kidney stones

NEvans2 — Tue, 19 Oct 2021 00:04:07 GMT

@Susan in California I've had three kidney stones. The first two were too big to pass so I had a procedure called lithotripsy. That's where they explode the stone with sonar. The third I passed while I was at work. My urologist never told me to stop drinking pop, but he did tell me to cut way back. However, he did tell me to stop drinking iced tea. I drink water like a camel. I allow myself one can of Coke a day. It's been 18 years since I had my last stone, so I must be doing something right. Those kidney stones were the most painful experience I have ever been through in my life. I have three children and I would take child birth over a kidney stone any day of the week. The second one was so bad if the Dr. would have said, go lay on the highway and let traffic run you over, I probably would have done it. It does take a while to feel normal again. Just take care of yourself and don't overdo. Good Luck!❤️

Re: Kidney stones

ThinkingOutLoud — Tue, 19 Oct 2021 01:24:17 GMT

Sorry you're dealing this. I've heard of a product that you may want to consider taking:

Stone Breaker Chanca Piedra - Natural Kidney Cleanse & Gallbladder Formula - Detoxify Urinary Tract, Flush Impurities, Clear System

Re: Kidney stones

lkat — Tue, 19 Oct 2021 02:39:58 GMT

@Susan in California As someone who has had more kidney stones than I can count, I feel your pain. They can be excruciating. I can vouch for lemon water being good for keeping them at bay. I had multiple small stones in both kidneys that were checked every 6 months for the last few years and they all stayed small. I passed a few of them but because they were small, the pain only lasted about 6-8 hours.

I had been adding the juice of one lemon into my water every day until getting out of the habit late last year for some reason. At my last ultrasound we discovered that a few had grown a lot and now I had ones that were big enough that they might not pass on their own.

I ended up having to have the shockwave treatment for the second time on both kidneys and this time it was a lot worse than my first time. I passed a bunch of small stones/fragments in the first 6 days and even though they didn't take as long as my other stones, they still hurt like heck. So drink lots of water and add the juice of one lemon (or lime) to your water every day!

Also check out the list of foods that are high in oxalates and try to avoid where possible. One of the things on the list is spinach which I love. I avoid it most of the time but my urologist told me that if I'm going to have some, have a Tums beforehand. I guess the oxalate will bind to the calcium and pass instead of staying in your kidneys.

Good luck! Hopefully yours will stay small and stay in your kidneys.

Re: Kidney stones

hckynut — Tue, 19 Oct 2021 03:24:46 GMT

The more work your kidneys do processing straight H2o, the less likely for kidney stones. Work for everyone? Of course not, but for the higher percentages? You bet.

I don't get the "it's hard to drink 6-8 glasses" of water day. If one is that busy, they bess assess their priorities. Don't have enough time? That I could unfortunately put on many of my co-workers, and a few good friends, tombstones.

hckynut(john) 🏒

Re: Kidney stones

Teddie — Tue, 19 Oct 2021 10:54:11 GMT

@ThinkingOutLoud wrote:
Sorry you're dealing this. I've heard of a product that you may want to consider taking:

Stone Breaker Chanca Piedra - Natural Kidney Cleanse & Gallbladder Formula - Detoxify Urinary Tract, Flush Impurities, Clear System

Thank you for this, @ThinkingOutLoud . That’s the kind of advice I love to see. I saved this information and will look into it later. I had kidney stones a little while back and am hoping to never repeat it. My urologist told me once you’ve had this you are apt to get it again.

Re: Kidney stones

msgb — Tue, 19 Oct 2021 14:37:38 GMT

A few summers ago I had three kidney stone surgeries. My husband and I call it my summer from HE!!.
I have ever since then been very aware of the types of food and the beverages I drink. I do drink hot water with lemon on many early mornings. There are a lot of foods and drinks that can help. There are also a number of supplements that can help--such as magnesium. Just watch the kind of magnesium you take as--there is a thing called milk of magnesia and you will have a different problem.

It is trial and error for each person.

Re: Kidney stones

Susan in California — Tue, 19 Oct 2021 17:18:38 GMT

@msgb

Yes, thank you for your comment.

I am not a soda drinker or ice tea drinker. I do drink coffee, but have been drinking water instead of soda for several years, since WW membership really stressed its importance daily.

The warm water with lemon juice sounds like a good idea as well.

@ThinkingOutLoud Thanks for your suggestion.

Re: Kidney stones

riley1 — Tue, 19 Oct 2021 20:51:10 GMT

My hubby had a bout of kidney stones last summer. It came to them "blasting" one because it was so large. Well, that didn't work and he wound up having surgery. Not a great summer.

Re: Kidney stones

ECBG — Wed, 20 Oct 2021 00:35:21 GMT

So very sorry. What ever it takes, I would do to pass those stones and be done!

Re: Kidney stones

Pooky1 — Wed, 20 Oct 2021 15:24:44 GMT

Omg sue. Sorry to here what you went through and glad your on the other side of the kidney stone misery. I haven't had them. My wife has had them many times. She had the surgery to blast them away. Good luck to you going forward.

Re: Kidney stones

Catiele — Wed, 20 Oct 2021 16:30:41 GMT

So sorry to hear this. I had them once. Was in the hospital and finally passed them. Kidney doctor said drink water and drink water.

Re: Kidney stones

BLH — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 16:47:01 GMT

My husband would get a kidney stone after every time he ate any kind of nuts. Stopped the nuts and the kidney stones stopped.

Re: Kidney stones

hckynut — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 20:56:39 GMT

@BLH wrote:
My husband would get a kidney stone after every time he ate any kind of nuts. Stopped the nuts and the kidney stones stopped.

@BLH

"Every time he ate any kind of nuts"? If only everyone that has had kidney stones were so lucky. Eat a certain food! BOOM , kidney stone(s).

Even Allergist would be hard pressed to diagnose an allergy so easily. Sounds like he didn't eat nuts too often if: Nuts=Kidney Stone(s). Or, he has had them many, many times.

hckynut

Re: Kidney stones

gardenman — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 23:17:27 GMT

I'm dealing with a kidney stone issue now. I first had them fortyish years ago and then none since then. Friday I felt like a UTI coming on. Burning, urgency, increased frequency. I upped my fluid intake and by Saturday morning was feeling a bit better. On Sunday things went downhill. Lower back pain along with the return of the burning and frequency had me out to the ER for some antibiotics and Flomax for the UTI. There was some blood in the urine. (I'm a hemophiliac, so when isn't there blood someplace?) Later in the day Sunday I could feel the stone moving from the back to the center of the abdomen and the nausea and vomiting kicked in. I knew it was a kidney stone then. Felt better Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday the urine darkened a bit indicating more bleeding so I infused clotting factor for the hemophilia. Feeling pretty good today, but still darker urine so another infusion of clotting factor. Things seem to be under control now. We'll see what happens tomorrow.

The first time I had kidney stones (six episodes in four months) my urine would be black, thick, syrupy, and really ugly. A nurse examining a urine sample joked that if she ever passed anything that looked like that, they could just take her straight to the morgue. This isn't even close to that, but it's a more brownish color than I'd like so I've got to treat it as a bleeding episode. Once the calcium crystals get flushed out and things calm back down I should be back to normal. With cooler weather, I haven't been drinking as much and this is nature's way of reminding me to drink more. It's very effective.