Kidney stones: Is surgery necessary?

From CT, ultrasound, and KUB images. I'm about to have another KUB image to see if there's been any change.

@tgregg99
Your kidney stone should pass on it's own.
If you have an enlarged prostate that may be a problem depending on how enlarged it is. Flowmax may help as well as Lemon.
Although I've read orange juice is more beneficial than lemon.
If this is a chronic problem potassium citrate may be used to reduce future stones. I don't know how effective if at all it is in treating an existing stone.
I've had 8 calcium oxalate stones but haven't one since starting potassium citrate, occasional lemon juice and daily orange juice.
Good luck,
Jake

My urologist told me my 2 cm stone is too large to pass on its own, but I'm going to have another discussion soon with him.

tgregg99
Oops, sorry about that Gregg.
I must have been thinking of millimeters not centimeters.
Good luck,
Jake

I have had kidney stones since I was 15, and never knew it. The pain was intense, and when I finally went to the hospital the first year i was married they 'had no idea' what was wrong, gave me some pain pills, and sent me home. I was in my mid 50s before anyone even used the term "kidney disease" in front of me. I put it down to the fact that I was female (and therefore either too stupid to live or just looking for attention) and I was stunned to realize I actually had something that could be fixed. They did, and now my one remaining kidney and I are doing just fine. Ask questions. And since robotics is such a big deal these days, all they do is snip the dead kidney and leave it there. Really.

I also have a very large kidney stone in my left lower pole. I am asymptomatic and also considering just sitting on it and keeping a watchful eye.
Just wondering how you’re doing and if you’ve had any change since you’ve been monitoring it.

If the stones are in the bladder there is less urgency to remove them. 1 cm might pass through the urethra, but they often do get stuck and then you need to have a doctor put in a catheter or more complex probe to remove it or blast it with ultrasound. Other stones can remain a long time in the prostate ....or I think the kidneys. On Monday I just had many stones removed: no flesh cutting, just the catheter type probe with camera, cutter, holder for stones, etc. They break up the stones and cut out prostate tissue and let it drain out. I'm still weak and tired but my urologic problems should be fixed now.