I have kidney stones...spent last night at the ER

[ArtG]

13 hours ago, icelandgirl said:

Hi ArtG, 

That's good to know.  My grandfather apparently had it done and said it was painful.  I'm ordering my urine collection jug today...so crazy. 

It's oddly comforting to know that someone else is in the same position as I am with these stones.  Please update me after your appointment next week?

Also, do you feel anxiety about the pain coming back?  I do and it's super annoying. 

Iceland Girl, honestly, I do not have much anxiety over it.  At 63, it is ridiculous some of the physical issues I am dealing with, none absolutely terrible, but nuisances. I think I'm fortunate to have insurance and doctors I trust (mostly).   I have a meditation practice that helps me to keep calm and grateful.

i will definitely let you know how my appointment goes next Tuesday.

Art

[icelandgirl]

21 hours ago, ArtG said:

Iceland Girl, honestly, I do not have much anxiety over it.  At 63, it is ridiculous some of the physical issues I am dealing with, none absolutely terrible, but nuisances. I think I'm fortunate to have insurance and doctors I trust (mostly).   I have a meditation practice that helps me to keep calm and grateful.

i will definitely let you know how my appointment goes next Tuesday.

Art

Love your outlook Art...hope to get to that point myself.

[ArtG]

Hi Iceland Girl, I am so sorry for the delay in getting back to you but I wanted all the info before I gave an update.  I saw the urologist on the 12th and we looked at the ultrasound together and he stated that it looked like I had several stones in my right kidney.  He had me get xrays to better determine.  The xrays came back and "there were on obvious stones".  The result of the stone biopsy came back as calcium oxalate and considered large 4x3x3 mm.  When I met with the urologist, he had said that if the stone biopsy showed it was uric in composition, they could be broken apart by meds;, but, if they came back large and calcium oxalate, shock wave to break them off would be recommended.  So, I was confused.  A It took over a week for the urologist to respond to my request for clarification and I just got off the phone with him.  Because the xrays did not show any stones, he suggests another xray in 6-12 months but for now. nothing to do.

So, this appears to be good news (unless of course, I pass a new one of those buggers).  How are you?

Art

[icelandgirl]

Hi ArtG,

It's good to hear back from you!   That's so odd and interesting...I wonder what happened to the stones?  

I've completed all of my testing...xray, bloodwork, 24 hour urine collection.   I go back to see the urologist on Monday.  At the end of my 24 hour collection I did pass a small stone.  About 1.5x1.  I did collect it, took it to the dr and they sent it in for analysis.   I got a copy of the urinalysis and nothing really stood out.  My calcium, oxalate and ph were all just a little high...but that's it.

Did he recommend any dietary changes for you?

I'm glad you're doing well and am hoping for no more stones for us!

[ArtG]

Iceland Girl, I discussed with urologist my celiac diet, and items mentioned on this thread, spinach, chocolate, and nuts, with nuts being the item of the three  eat the most of, and he was not overly concerned, suggested that I drink more water (which I am needing to do anyway).  I am glad there is no more treatment needed as I just found out cataract surgery in one eye is necessary, damn, enough already!  How did your follow-up go?

[icelandgirl]

Hey ArtG,

I saw the urologist today...unfortunately for me they can still see my stones on an xray.  Sigh.  The largest is 3x6 in my right kidney.  He does not believe I can pass this one on my own.  

All of my bloodwork came back fine.  Nothing alarming in the urinalysis either.

His recommendations...keep drinking tons of water.  I had 4.2 liters of urine output when I tested.  Add in a fish oil supplement.  Decrease sodium intake.  Limit meat to 10 ounces per day.  Increase dietary calcium.   Work at lowering oxalate consumption...my urinary oxalate was 45.  They want it between 20 and 40.  But he gets people that are over 100 so mine is not all that high.

3 options...1. watch and wait.  Recheck in a few months to see if there is stone growth.  2. Shock wave lithotripsy.  3. Let it come out when it decides to and see what happens.

I just don't know.  I hate the idea of being put under as they would do for the shock wave thing.  I've had too many surgeries already.  It scares me to be honest.  I also don't want to deal with another episode.  

I don't know what I'll do.  We've got a vacation planned at the end of the month and I just want to go and enjoy that.  Not worry about kidney stones.

I'm sorry to hear about your upcoming surgery...it really is always something!