How do you prevent kidney stones? Looking for advice

@katesf Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. We are a group of fellow patients, family members and caregivers who share information and tips to get along on our health journeys.

You have asked a great question! Here is a video posted by Mayo Clinic to help you. https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-video-on-kidney-stones/
Also, here is an older discussion about kidney stones, from this group: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/kidney-stones-1/
And lastly, from kidney.org, here is an article about the four types of kidney stones: https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/kidneystones

The first thing would be to find out what type of kidney stones you have. Has your medical team told you about the type, yet? I know kidney stones are definitely no fun! I had one many years ago, and certainly would not wish it on anyone!

Please come back and let us know if you have more questions, and what your team says.
Ginger

Hi @katesf, I'd like to add my welcome. I've luckily only had one kidney stone, but I don't want to experience that again. So like you, I went on the search for things I could do to prevent it. I'd like to bring @tracilynn0418 @fiesty76 @lagrange5 @jolinda @trishanna @kamama94 @jakedduck1 and others into this discussion who may have had issues with recurrent kidney stones.

I agree with @gingerw, that finding out what type of kidney stones you produce is helpful to guide your diet choices. My kidney stone was passed without my being able to capture it (so to speak) so I don't know what kind it was. Presumably it was the most common type of kidney stone - a calcium oxalate stone. I think my biggest contributor was lack of movement and too little water. I work predominantly at a desk and sometimes forget to get up and move. I now set a timer to move at least every hour and measure that I drink minimum 2 liters of water a day. So far so good.

Do you know what kind of kidney stones you produce? What diet changes have you made so far?

@katesf
Like others have said find out what type they are. Easy enough if you have surgery. I've had 7 kidney stones and one bladder stone. All the doctors said drinking enough fluids will prevent them. One told me fluids don't always work so who knows. Mine are calcium oxalate. I've had surgery for most of them. My last one was 28mm if memory serves.
I was told to cut way down on oxide containing foods which is hard to do since all plant foods contain them in varing amounts, some more than others of course. Meats have them too but in insignificant amounts.
Spinach salad and sweet potatoes are a favorite but high in them and the doc said don't eat them very often. Sure glad I don't mind very well. But when I do eat them I make sure to drink extra water.
Good luck with no more stones,
Jake

Hi @katesf
Get as much information as you can about the type of kidney stones you have. It’s important to know what foods to avoid. I’ve been told that kidney stones and gout may be related. So being forewarned is being forearmed. Treat your food like medicine. Consider yourself to be your own best medical advocate and make your decisions based upon what you know is best for your own health and well-being.

@katesf
My doctor used to prescribe potassium citrate. Now I drink lemonade instead to help prevent them.
Lemonade has citrate known to inhibit them, at least calcium stones.
Jake

I had a small kidney stone, and the Mayo docs made me take a Mayo education class on how to prevent future stone. The take home message was to eat daily a certain amount of cheese. Cheese seems to bind the substances that create kidney stones, and they get removed from the body through the stool. I did this for 3 years now, and have not a trace of any stone. A tasty and low priced system to keep stones away.

@lindes How interesting! Any certain type of cheese, or quantity? I've not heard of this preventative measure before! You're right, a tasty and low-cost system.
Ginger

Any kind of harder cheese, as long as it is not cottage cheese or some yogurt type or fresh cheese. About 100 to 150 grams. Nothing really critical with the amount. I just eat a cheese sandwich a day with good healthy type bread to make it even better.

I have only had 3 stones but a large one that couldn’t be passed caused kidney damage and now in stage 3 kidney disease. Diuretics cause decreased kidney function. What can I do to prevent stones?

@codyspack, prevention is good medicine. You've asked a good question about how to prevent kidney stones. I moved your discussion to this existing discussion so you can connect with other members like @gingerw @jakedduck1 @lindes @lagrange5 and others.

- How do you prevent kidney stones? Looking for advice: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/kidney-stones/