[MoreCowbell]

Was in the emergency room all night. Never have I had pain like that before. At one point, I pissed almost pure blood.

Not good times.

Bad times.

[ksfrogman]

People say the pain is worse than going through labor.

[shimshimhada]

Sucks man. Hope you push them out soon. At least you can sympathize with women now.

[leosong11]

I never understood kidney stones. Isn't there a way to know beforehand and take them out before it starts to hurt?

[larryn]

Had them before too. I feel for you. I was not able to pass them, and had to have lithotripsy. Good luck!!!

[ed328ci]

Can they use ultrasound or do you have to pass them? Good luck!

[Foo's Girl]

I have sympathy for you! I had them at the beggining of the year, 5 weeks after I gave birth to our son. And yes, the pain is comparable to labor pains. After I had the CT scan, they said i have a couple more that may or may not ever come out.

[e90rocks]

Originally Posted by leosong11

I never understood kidney stones. Isn't there a way to know beforehand and take them out before it starts to hurt?

Kidney stones are generally calcium salts which precipitate out in one's urine.
If they're small, you try to pass 'em. If they're too large to pass then you may try lithotripsy, or removal using a basket device. The main thing is to try to prevent them. While there are exceptions, which need to be ruled out, most "stone formers" as they are called, are victims of bad luck, metabolically. Staying hydrated is one of the keys to avoiding stones. Certain medicines, like thiazide diuretics, may decrease calcium excretion into the urine and thus decrease likelihood of stone recurrence, but this is not absolute. Some people have conditions which, when treated, may decrease likelihood of stone recurrence.

[shragon]

man, that sucks! my dad has had them. i heard a good way of preventing them is to drink more water.

[leosong11]

I'm going to drink some vitamin water now after reading this thread.

[geeslice]

Whoa! I thought you meant "Kidney grilles" until I opened the thread.

That sucks. Hope you are okay!

[findtom]

I thought they could zap them with ultrasound or something now?

Fuck, you'd think in this day and age they would have ways to avoid pain like that for something so common.

<----- scared of kidney stones

[puck724]

my mom had them. sorry bro.

[Squawks]

Originally Posted by findtom

I thought they could zap them with ultrasound or something now?

That would be lithotripsy. They literally use shockwaves to try to break up the crystals so as to permit you to pass them through your urine.

http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/h...ey_stones.html lists a lot of reasons how you could get kidney stones.

[findtom]

Originally Posted by Squawks

That would be lithotripsy. They literally use shockwaves to try to break up the crystals so as to permit you to pass them through your urine.

http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/h...ey_stones.html lists a lot of reasons how you could get kidney stones.

So why wouldn't they do it for the blood pissing OP?

[Squawks]

Originally Posted by findtom

So why wouldn't they do it for the blood pissing OP?

I dunno - but I'm assuming they must have done some tests and it probably looks like the OP doesn't have any stones that are too big to be passed through.

The lith doesn't completely extirpate the stones - they'd still be painful to pass through but at least they're not able to pass. Lith usually reserved for kidney stones that are perniciously too big.

[findtom]

Originally Posted by Squawks

I dunno - but I'm assuming they must have done some tests and it probably looks like the OP doesn't have any stones that are too big to be passed through.

The lith doesn't completely extirpate the stones - they'd still be painful to pass through but at least they're not able to pass. Lith usually reserved for kidney stones that are perniciously too big.

Even if they are passable... why wouldn't they just make them as small as possible? I've heard of people passing stones that are so small they have to filter their urine to make sure they did in fact pass them. That sounds awesome... extreme pain and pissing blood sounds not awesome.

[Squawks]

Originally Posted by findtom

Even if they are passable... why wouldn't they just make them as small as possible? I've heard of people passing stones that are so small they have to filter their urine to make sure they did in fact pass them. That sounds awesome... extreme pain and pissing blood sounds not awesome.

Heheh, perhaps an MD'er can step in and elucidate us on this.

But my guess for bypassing the lith is the cost. There could be some side effects of the lith procedure as well, but I'm not sure. Or the doctors could just be lazy and wrote him off home. He's in New York - their ERs must be insanely packed.

[findtom]

Originally Posted by Squawks

Heheh, perhaps an MD'er can step in and elucidate us on this.

But my guess for bypassing the lith is the cost. There could be some side effects of the lith procedure as well, but I'm not sure. Or the doctors could just be lazy and wrote him off home. He's in New York - their ERs must be insanely packed.

I guess so. I'd be whining like a little girl until they booked me in though.

[MoreCowbell]

Originally Posted by Squawks

Heheh, perhaps an MD'er can step in and elucidate us on this.

But my guess for bypassing the lith is the cost. There could be some side effects of the lith procedure as well, but I'm not sure. Or the doctors could just be lazy and wrote him off home. He's in New York - their ERs must be insanely packed.

Exactly. Emergency room was absolutely packed. Just a mob scene. I seem to be getting so "small things" in the urine now. i'll keep you posted.

As far as the pain for now...i've masked it with Morpine and vicodine. i guess a big test will be tomorrow morning.

[larryn]

It's better to let the stone pass themselves, than having your kidney(s) slammed with ultrasound water waves strong enough to break up stones.

The lithotripsy is no bargain either, but it better than trying to pass a larger stone or two. By the way, the lithotripsy does not eliminate the stones. It just breaks them up into smaller pieces that you still have to pass.

[Squawks]

Hey, gluck - whatever you do don't abuse the drugs! Especially vicodin - that stuff can get quite addicting. You should also probably give up the crack and heroin too. I don't think those help you much with your stones problem.