Kidney Stones anyone?

Where do I begin! Deep breath..here goes...

I've had them twice. Once I passed it on my own..the second time I had to go in and have it removed in surgery (non-invasive...they knock you out and there are no incisions involved). After that procedure, they did a cat scan and saw more, so I went for a laser prodcedure called Lithotrapsy to have them broken up so that they were painless to pass and go bye bye! The laser procedure is outpatient, and can only be done on stones that are still in the kidney and not on their way out....

They are either caused by excess of uric acid, or calcium. The calcium is more common in women and can be controlled by limiting calcium enriched foods. The most important thing about kidney stones and avoiding them is to drink water constantly. They are reoccuring, and they is no real 'cure' just things you can do to help avoid them. Diet and water consumption is key. If they get REALLY out of hand, and involve uric acid, sometimes medication is prescribed to be taken daily to regulate and break up stones.

What else ya wanna know...I am a text book!

Do you wanna hear about the pain and stuff?

Here is a great resource...

http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/stonesadults/index.htm

And here's another....

http://www.kidney.org/general/atoz/content/lithotripsy.html

Thanks for all the help Misty

No worries honey. It'll all be good!

Oh, no, Jenn...I hope you don't have them.

DH had a stone last summer. He passed it on his own-didn't need any of the procedures that Misty did. He's a tough guy, but the pain from this literally brought him to his knees.

Unfortunately, the urologist said that once you have a stone, you are likely to have them again.

I don't know if I have them. I have pain but not horrible pain, more like constant pressure-worse when I sit...I went to the doctor today-he did a test & there is blood in my urine.

I go for Xrays tomorrow morning.

Oh Jenn - I hope all is OK. Kidney Stones are no fun!

Now, I don't know because I haven't had a baby yet, but my mother said it's worse than completely natural childbirth. And from what I experienced...I think childbirth will be a breeze.

But there are ways to avoid it, and things that can handle it as long as you get yourself to a doctor or ER as soon as you feel pain...morphine was my friend for a few hours before surgery!

Jenn, it could be a really teeny one (mine was 7 centimeters and I was hitting the ROOF and anyone/thing around me)....is the pain on one side? Touch your back on that side and feel around..is it tender when you touch it?

Listen to me I'm like Dr. Misty.

Sorry to hear

I hope that everything turns out OK...

Misty I had gaul stones before so I kind of know (?)

I have no severe pain...only constant pressure-worse when I sit.

Hope you feel better sweetie!

Thank you Jamie

Jenn - I have had Kidney infections, twice that I was hospitalized for...also with blood in my urine.
Could it be that?
I had horrible dull pain in the lower back, followed by a fever and the pain worsening.....
Please be careful with that....Good think you went in and had tests....

I hope you feel better soon

Hugs Jen! I hope everything turns out fine!

hope everything is ok

oh, jenn. I am sorry you have to go through this too. Take care of yourself!!!

I had kidney stones last summer and it was the worst pain ever. Just like Misty, I went for the laser surgery where they break up the stones.

The pain of the stones was so unbearable. I was also throwing up and went to the emergency room.

Feel better Jenn