Kidney issues, paging Dr. House? Anyone else?

Hi, I am looking for some help with some kidney issues. Here is some background (maybe too much?).

Age: 59, Height: 69”, Wgt: 157 pounds, life-long asthma and allergies, no alcohol or drug use (sober 36 years), never smoked, office job, mostly sedentary, slightly elevated cholesterol (taking Statin), poor diet (eat out too often), water intake could be better (most days 20-36 oz-some days less and some days 40+ oz).

History: spring 2014, no previous issues but woke up with slight crampy feeling believing onset of diarrhea. Pain and symptoms worsened though the morning. Presented to ER 5 hours later with severe left flank pain, nausea, flush, pale and mild fever. Diagnosis: two kidney stones locked in pelvic ureteral joint causing renal failure. Admitted immediately to hospital and had surgery the next morning with stent placement. Was told surgery went well but during surgery one of the stones shot back into the kidney and they were not able to remove it and that I would need a second surgery within a few weeks after I had healed. A few weeks later I went in for the second surgery as ambulatory procedure with stent placement and removal about two weeks later. Between spring of 2014 and winter of 2022, I have had 6 other kidney stone surgeries (all ambulatory and all on the left side).

On November 14th, 2021, I cut a trip short because of left flank kidney stone pain. On the 16th I went to the ER with chronic pain and nausea and had a “medium sized” stone of about 5.5 mm removed. Beginning in late December, I had milder stone symptoms and by January of 2022 after a CT was confirmed to have a “small stone” of just over 1 mm present. Decision was to see if I could pass it. 6 weeks later by mid-February, I had not passed it, and surgery was scheduled for February 18th. During surgery it was discovered that I had complete blockage of the left ureter and the surgery was abandoned. I had a consultation after I was awoken and told of issue and that I needed to see a specialist at the University of Minnesota for pyeloplasty surgery and that I would be scheduled on the 21st to have a nephrostomy. Nephrostomy went well but started leaking within two weeks and was seen at the ER twice on the same day. Second nephrostomy was scheduled and while in the pre-op, the doctor and I decided to wait since I was due to have the pyeloplasty later that week. Pyeloplasty performed with stent placement on March 10th, 2022. Surgery went well with no complications. Stent removed in office on April 20th, 2022. No issues from April of 2022 through end of 2024.

February 25th, 2025, I went to the ER after a few days with pain and nausea consistent with a kidney stone. Trace amount of blood and mucus, and elevated urea nitrogen (30.9), and creatinine (1.43) found in UA and after a CT, no stone or hydronephrosis was detected. I continued to have mild to severe nausea and didn’t connect it. In March of 2025 I was given a short-term anti-nausea prescription (ondansetron ODT 4 MG) and the nausea subsided within a month after the receiving prescription. No issues again in 2025.

On January 3rd of 2026 I took myself to the ER after a few days of mild to severe pain and mild nausea prepared for another kidney stone surgery. Again, trace amount of blood and mucus, and elevated urea nitrogen (26.1), and creatinine (1.43) found in UA and after a CT, no stone, masses or hydronephrosis was detected (although a small stone was detected inside right kidney). I have had a mild, dull ache to occasional, sudden, punching or stabbing pian consistent with the feeling of a stone along with mild nausea almost daily since.

In phone consultation with specialist, I said as no masses were detected I was not concerned about kidney or ureter cancer and wondered if the pyeloplasty had failed and he said it all looked good. I was scheduled for a cystoureterscopy with retrograde pyelogram with a possible left stent in mid-March. After the visit I sent the following message:

Hi Doctor ( ) I thought I'd send a list of symptoms I am having I hadn't mentioned. Each might be unrelated and could be explained by something else, but I know each are also associated with kidney issues so I figured I should let you know for your consideration. Mild left flank pain (almost daily) mixed occasionally with a punching or sharp, sticking or stabbing pain, mild nausea (almost daily-last March I got a RX for Ondansetron as I had more severe nausea daily), fatigue, very tired the last 3 weeks, sleep issues (sometimes can't sleep others I can't seem to get enough), itchy skin (especially the back and stomach) lower appetite, decrease in mental acuity (forgetting or cannot recall things- typing has more mistakes), I generally pee 5-6 times a day and some days recently I pee less often but the volume is the same and other days I am peeing far more often (yesterday 2/4 I peed a dozen times) but the volume is less each time (not dribbles, just less volume)

Sorry, this me be a lot…thoughts on it all?

Has anyone else experienced mirrored symptoms of a kidney stone with no stone present or have any medical professionals who may be looking here heard of such a case and have any ideas?