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Gary, I've had kidney stones. Compared to other stories I heard, my pain was not the worst. However, there were times it was very bad, also an 8 out of 10. These were usually short lived sessions for me, and happened predictably when the stone (5mm) was passing through the tight angled areas of the ureter. Otherwise the stone caused discomfort that felt like an intense restless leg in my flank and backside area, and caused me to lose a lot of sleep. Eventually drinking lots of water and taking tamsulosin (Flomax), I was able to pass the stone.
Have you seen blood in your urine? Bright red blood and an ultrasound confirmed the diagnosis for me.
Replies to "Gary, I've had kidney stones. Compared to other stories I heard, my pain was not the..."
Charlena: No, I only took Flomax to help the passage of the stone. As I understand it, the medication simply helped to relax or dilate the ureter to make it pass more easily. It isn't prescribed for prolonged use for kidney stones.
I just found this information about instructions for passing a kidney stone http://urologygroupvirginia.com/adult-patient-library-web-pages/kidney-stone/instructions-for-passing-kidney-stones/
I also stayed active which I think helped pass it too.
@colleenyoung, I have not seen blood and I am now speculating that it may be stones in my pancreas. I have had them previously and they increase my Pancreatic pain. I will see my GI in two weeks; he is a very nice guy and it would be next week, but he is out of the office. He can do an ERCP locally, so I expect that is where we will end up and they drag a balloon through the pancreas to remove the stones and I may get a stent to enhance drainage from my pancreas and I usually get a good amount of relief from that procedure.
I grew up in a Baptist church where alcohol abstinence is a tenet of one's faith. My minister had recurring kidney stones and Dr.'s used to recommend a 6-pak of beer and aspirin. I think he had someone sneak it into the hospital for him so none of his flock would know.
Colleen, how long did it take to pass the stone?
When I checked out that I had kidney stones by the color ultrasound machine its maximum diameter is four mm, then I use the Febuxostat Tablets, the Sodium Bicarbonate Tablets and the Uralyt-U (Potassium sodium hydrogen citrate by Madaus GmbH Germany). And I used Chinese herbal medicines. I don't know what as the treatment results will be.
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Great information, thank you! One question, do you still take the Flomax on a daily basis?