Kidney Stones

libragirl

I had one about 10 years ago. That was the worse pain i ever had. I never got another one thank God. It literally feels like someone twisting a knife in your back. You can't get comfortable.

pearljgirl2010

maaaaan! I was hoping that no one would be able to relate--there are too many of us who've gotten these stupid things!

Thanks for the lemon juice/diet info--my mom said something yesterday about lemon juice but I had already passed it by that point...maybe I'll go down some now, just in case!

My lower back is still sore today, i guess my kidney is irritated. i'll take that anyday over what I felt tuesday night!!

rival.

its funny, when i had mine, a heating pad believe it or not helped the pain/discomfort more than any medication i was given. the thing was honestly a life saver. the heat helped so much.

Phantom Pain

pearljgirl2010 wrote:

I'm curious to find out if anyone else here has had kidney stones. I've had them 3 times, the most recently last night, then back in 2005, and first in 1998...I wouldn't wish them on my worst enemy!!

If you have had them, have you had any luck with diet/vitamins/etc to help stop them? Unfortunately, mine have never been analyzed, so I don't know exactly what's caused them...

My Dad has had them for years

His urologist recommended taking a Magnesium supplement

He said the calcium would build up and crystalize the Magnesium helps the kidney prevent the build up and if he would pass one it wouldn't be painful because it would be very small

Google Magnesium and Kidney Stones you'll find some good stuff

mr.pink

Phantom Pain wrote:

pearljgirl2010 wrote:

I'm curious to find out if anyone else here has had kidney stones. I've had them 3 times, the most recently last night, then back in 2005, and first in 1998...I wouldn't wish them on my worst enemy!!

If you have had them, have you had any luck with diet/vitamins/etc to help stop them? Unfortunately, mine have never been analyzed, so I don't know exactly what's caused them...

My Dad has had them for years

His urologist recommended taking a Magnesium supplement

He said the calcium would build up and crystalize the Magnesium helps the kidney prevent the build up and if he would pass one it wouldn't be painful because it would be very small

Google Magnesium and Kidney Stones you'll find some good stuff

It has to be Magnesium Citrate in most cases, not Magnesium Oxide. The Mag does play a role in Calcium absorption, but the Citrate plays a bigger role in replacing the Oxalate in stones, thus preventing them. I used to take a product called, "natural calm" which is a highly absorbable powder form, but the milk thing with a diet including some citrus has worked the best for me.

TravisTheSky

Oh! You all have my sympathy! These posts made me cringe.

Good luck, and good health.

pearljgirl2010

mr.pink wrote:

Phantom Pain wrote:

My Dad has had them for years

His urologist recommended taking a Magnesium supplement

He said the calcium would build up and crystalize the Magnesium helps the kidney prevent the build up and if he would pass one it wouldn't be painful because it would be very small

Google Magnesium and Kidney Stones you'll find some good stuff

It has to be Magnesium Citrate in most cases, not Magnesium Oxide. The Mag does play a role in Calcium absorption, but the Citrate plays a bigger role in replacing the Oxalate in stones, thus preventing them. I used to take a product called, "natural calm" which is a highly absorbable powder form, but the milk thing with a diet including some citrus has worked the best for me.

thanks for that info...my back is still sore today, but i feel a lot better. I've added lemon juice to my water, and am researching the magnesium citrate, so hopefully I can avoid these suckers in the future!!!

Steve Dunne

get well J...

i've never had these...knock on wood...

LennonMcCartneyFanatic

pearljgirl2010 wrote:

I'm curious to find out if anyone else here has had kidney stones. I've had them 3 times, the most recently last night, then back in 2005, and first in 1998...I wouldn't wish them on my worst enemy!!

If you have had them, have you had any luck with diet/vitamins/etc to help stop them? Unfortunately, mine have never been analyzed, so I don't know exactly what's caused them...

Based on the assumption your stones are Calcium Oxalate (you should get evaluated for a cause though), here is some advice:

If you are having recurrent kidney stones you should be consuming moderate amounts of Calcium and less amounts of Oxalate. When you consume Calcium the free Oxalate is able to bind to it in your blood. This prevents free Oxalate from being secreted into your urine, preventing Calcium and Oxalate binding together and forming Kidney Stones.

Essentially, here is what you should know:
1. Consume about 600 mg of Calcium per day (roughly one good dairy meal per day)
2. Drink MORE WATER (Most important thing)
3. Consume less protein, oxalate (google can give you a list of foods containing high oxalate) and salt

Finally, my best advice is to get evaluated by your PCP. I get nervous when I see patients having a recurrent medical problem but not having an evaluation for a specific cause.

-PJ fan and final year Medical Student

allmyrivals

I had stones this pass summer. I was the worst pain i have ever felt. I thought i was dieing. I ended up staying in the hospital for almost a week. My stones were to large to be passed so i needed surgery to get them out. The problem was that they said my blood pressure was to high for me to be put out for the surgery. So they had to get my blood pressure under control before they would do anything. After they got the blood pressure down they were ready to go forward with the surgery. But then they told me because of a history of bad reactions to anesthetic in my family, they were just going to freeze the bottom half of my body and do the surgery with me wide awake. Basically they gave me an epidural. They put a scope up my urethra thew my bladder and up into my kidney and shot the little bastards with a lazer. I was awake during the whole thing. What a mind fuck. The only thing that was kinda cool i guess was that i was able to see the live vid on the screens. I actually watched the whole thing on tv live LOL

So they say it's like the pain one feels giving birth......well i felt that pain AND got the epidural !! I got as close to giving birth as any man can . Oh and after they got the stones out my blood pressure went completely normal. They told me a blockage in the kidney can cause high blood pressure.

I never want to go threw that again.........

Backspacer 76

allmyrivals wrote:

I had stones this pass summer. I was the worst pain i have ever felt. I thought i was dieing. I ended up staying in the hospital for almost a week. My stones were to large to be passed so i needed surgery to get them out. The problem was that they said my blood pressure was to high for me to be put out for the surgery. So they had to get my blood pressure under control before they would do anything. After they got the blood pressure down they were ready to go forward with the surgery. But then they told me because of a history of bad reactions to anesthetic in my family, they were just going to freeze the bottom half of my body and do the surgery with me wide awake. Basically they gave me an epidural. They put a scope up my urethra thew my bladder and up into my kidney and shot the little bastards with a lazer. I was awake during the whole thing. What a mind fuck. The only thing that was kinda cool i guess was that i was able to see the live vid on the screens. I actually watched the whole thing on tv live LOL

So they say it's like the pain one feels giving birth......well i felt that pain AND got the epidural !! I got as close to giving birth as any man can . Oh and after they got the stones out my blood pressure went completely normal. They told me a blockage in the kidney can cause high blood pressure.

I never want to go threw that again.........

:shock: :wtf: :shock: :wtf:

skippybrew

I had gall stones. The pain everyone here describes sounds exactly how I felt (on and off for about 3 years before they finally figured it out). I think kidney stones may be even worse and if that's the case - :shock: Luckily I was able to have the whole damned organ taken out and now I'm in no more danger. I've been freaked out that they just jumped ship and are waiting to resurface. I know that's not exactly how it works, but if my body just likes stones... Yikes. I feel for you.

tinkerbell

I had kidney stones about 18 months ago. Holy shit worst pain ever!!!! Seriously! I have had 2 natural drug free briths and I'm not kidding the stones were worse!!! I was rolling round on the floor crying - my poor partner almost called an ambulance cos we didn't know what was wrong with me, and then it passed and I felt fine! Very weird! Fingers crossed that I NEVER get them again!!!

Holtzmn

skippybrew wrote:

I had gall stones. The pain everyone here describes sounds exactly how I felt (on and off for about 3 years before they finally figured it out). I think kidney stones may be even worse and if that's the case - :shock: Luckily I was able to have the whole damned organ taken out and now I'm in no more danger.

I've had both kidney and gall stones, gall stones were nothing compared to the kidney stones. I've also had my gallbladder removed so thankfully I don't need to worry about that anymore. I wish I could say that I don't have to worry about getting more kidney stones.

pearljgirl2010

Thanks, LennonMcCartneyFanatic....that's some great info. i'm still doing research and am hoping to see a urologist when i have real insurance


An update on me: I ended up NOT getting any better over the weekend...as a matter of fact, i got a fever the went up to 104 and my guy had to take me to urgent care on Saturday. the dr said i have (and i quote) "a rip-roaring urinary tract infection" and prescribed me a ridiculously expensive 2-week antibiotic and vicodin. i finally got a good night's sleep last night...but DAMN YOU KIDNEY STONES!

Heatherj43

I had 3 of them pass when I was a kid. I never had them again. I didn't tell anyone about them back then, cuz I had no idea what was happenibng to me and I was scared of doctors. All I remember is feeling the worse pain I ever felt and then I pissed on myself, but felt instant relief. Obvious to me now, I pissed on myself cuz the stone had passed. The pain was so bad for that moment that I was numb. I couldn't move or anything. Then I had instant relief. As a kid, any pain prior to passing the stone didn't seem so bad compared to that moment of passing.
I was just numb in pain. Its hard to explain. I know having a baby is easier!!

Heatherj43

Holtzmn wrote:

skippybrew wrote:

I had gall stones. The pain everyone here describes sounds exactly how I felt (on and off for about 3 years before they finally figured it out). I think kidney stones may be even worse and if that's the case - :shock: Luckily I was able to have the whole damned organ taken out and now I'm in no more danger.

I've had both kidney and gall stones, gall stones were nothing compared to the kidney stones. I've also had my gallbladder removed so thankfully I don't need to worry about that anymore. I wish I could say that I don't have to worry about getting more kidney stones.

You can still get gall stones. My bf's mom had her gall baldder taken out many years ago, but a few years ago she had real bad pain. They couldn't find the cause. A second hospital finally found she had gall stones in tubes that are left after the gall bladder is removed. It seems that stones can still build up in these tube things. They went in and removed them. I don't think they can pass. i think they HAVE to be removed.

Cosmo

Just be glad you're a girl... the description i have heard for male co-workers is, "Think of peeing... and there's a piece of sharp, splintered, thorned, broken glass flowing theorugh your dick hole".
...
I had a scare... once. Turned out to be a bladder infection because I often held my peeing for too long.
From what my doctor told me... steer clear of the 'cross-topped' vegetables (broccoli, calliflower, brussel sprouts, etc...), drink plenty of water (he also said cranberry juice was good) and pee when your body says, "Youz gots to pee".

LennonMcCartneyFanatic

pearljgirl2010 wrote:

Thanks, LennonMcCartneyFanatic....that's some great info. i'm still doing research and am hoping to see a urologist when i have real insurance


An update on me: I ended up NOT getting any better over the weekend...as a matter of fact, i got a fever the went up to 104 and my guy had to take me to urgent care on Saturday. the dr said i have (and i quote) "a rip-roaring urinary tract infection" and prescribed me a ridiculously expensive 2-week antibiotic and vicodin. i finally got a good night's sleep last night...but DAMN YOU KIDNEY STONES!

Sounds like you could have Pyelonephritis (kidney infection). Make sure to stay on the antibiotic course the doctor gave you, as this could be a very serious condition if not urgently treated properly.

pearljgirl2010

yeah--lennon, i'm definitely taking the antibiotic for the whole course, NO chances! I'm only taking the vicodin once at night, to help me sleep, but i'm only going to do that for another night or two, as i'm feling SO SO SO much better...I appreciate your advice :-)