1. < Kidney & Bladder

Kidney stones

Posted by Gary, Alumni Mentor @gman007, Mar 9, 2018

I am usually trying to help folks understand their symptoms, but need some myself now. I have chronic pancreatitis and have had it long enough that the way that pain manifests itself is pretty familiar. I have been experiencing a pain that is about an 8 on the typical 1-10 scale, but is more in my flank and lower than where my pancreas pain is. It is also very tender to the touch and if I move in any way that involves my torso the pain screams at me. I take pretty stri=ong opiates for my pancreatitis, so the pain is not being affected by those meds or if it is, I would be crying without them. Anyone have any thoughts? I already have had a urinalysis and it is not an infection in kidneys, bladder, or urinary tract. I am thinking kidney stone, but have never had the pleasure, so that is simply a guess.

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nancye3 | @nancye3 | Jan 6, 2019
In reply to @colleenyoung "Gary, I've had kidney stones. Compared to other stories I heard, my pain was not the..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

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.

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Colleen, how long did it take to pass the stone?

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1 reply
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jan 6, 2019
In reply to @nancye3 "Colleen, how long did it take to pass the stone?" + (show)
@nancye3

Colleen, how long did it take to pass the stone?

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I don't remember exactly now, but it was a few weeks, perhaps as many as 4.

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2 replies
Leonard | @jakedduck1 | Apr 11, 2019
In reply to @colleenyoung "I don't remember exactly now, but it was a few weeks, perhaps as many as 4." + (show)
@colleenyoung

I don't remember exactly now, but it was a few weeks, perhaps as many as 4.

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@colleenyoung
4 weeks, how did you manage to cope with it for so long? I would have had them rip me open and get rid of that sucker pronto. My last stone was 10mm. My doctor said it could take a year to pass it. I told him to rip me open and he did. They discharged me too soon my doctor said and she called an ambulance and had me admitted.
I just got back from the Urologist and was put on Potassium citrate to prevent them from forming. My liver isn’t producing enough. He said no salt, less animal meat especially beef, no oxalates.
Anyone else taking Potassium Citrate?
He sure took the fun out of my day.
Health & Happiness,
Jake

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1 reply
randyr | @randyr | Apr 12, 2019
In reply to @jakedduck1 "@colleenyoung 4 weeks, how did you manage to cope with it for so long? I would..." + (show)
@jakedduck1

@colleenyoung
4 weeks, how did you manage to cope with it for so long? I would have had them rip me open and get rid of that sucker pronto. My last stone was 10mm. My doctor said it could take a year to pass it. I told him to rip me open and he did. They discharged me too soon my doctor said and she called an ambulance and had me admitted.
I just got back from the Urologist and was put on Potassium citrate to prevent them from forming. My liver isn’t producing enough. He said no salt, less animal meat especially beef, no oxalates.
Anyone else taking Potassium Citrate?
He sure took the fun out of my day.
Health & Happiness,
Jake

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I haven’t had any stones but do have severe oxylate damage in my kidneys. So I was on potassium citrate until my potassium went to 5.7-6.0. Low oxylate diet for the last year.

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Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Apr 13, 2019

I came across this - You might find it interesting.
Science Saturday: What do Yellowstone rocks teach us about kidney stones?https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/science-saturday-what-do-yellowstone-rocks-teach-us-about-kidney-stones/

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trishanna | @trishanna | Apr 13, 2019
In reply to @colleenyoung "I don't remember exactly now, but it was a few weeks, perhaps as many as 4." + (show)
@colleenyoung

I don't remember exactly now, but it was a few weeks, perhaps as many as 4.

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Does your doctor now feel you are stone-free (assuming you are based on an MRI, etc.) and that you do not need to adhere to any particular diet? It seems to me that once a stone-former, always a stone-former, or is that not true? My nephrologist feels there's no problem about diet because an MRI didn't show any. Since I've only one kidney, it could be a little late if one does form.

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1 reply
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | May 7, 2019
In reply to @trishanna "Does your doctor now feel you are stone-free (assuming you are based on an MRI, etc.)..." + (show)
@trishanna

Does your doctor now feel you are stone-free (assuming you are based on an MRI, etc.) and that you do not need to adhere to any particular diet? It seems to me that once a stone-former, always a stone-former, or is that not true? My nephrologist feels there's no problem about diet because an MRI didn't show any. Since I've only one kidney, it could be a little late if one does form.

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@trishanna I'm a kidney stone producer. I limit a few things in my diet, but mostly I take care to drinks lots of liquids and then drink some more.

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djc59 | @djc59 | Jun 1, 2019

I take Cranberry Extract once a day. No stones in 5 years. Works for me!

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1 reply
judyinca | @judyinca | Jun 1, 2019
In reply to @ella2000 "If the pain passes I doubt it is a kidney stone. The pain is continuous and..." + (show)
@ella2000

If the pain passes I doubt it is a kidney stone. The pain is continuous and is unforgiving.

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Depends on the size of your stone...smaller ones can pass, with some pain.Large ones may require surgery

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