Kidney stones SUCK- Question page 5

[kimblebee]

I ended up at the ER again tonight. Not the urgent care place from yesterday, an actual ER. I waited about an hour which wasn't bad at all. I went tonight because I had a 9 that lasted about an hour and then two hours later had another 9 that had me in tears and shaking from the pain. I now have Flomax. I was told that Naproxen is the best thing for pain but in reality, it's just really going to hurt. I was given a printout of the ct results and found out that each of my two stones are 5 mm. This is super frustrating because anything over 6 mm gets further intervention. It's now 5.45 am and I am having my third 9 pain of the night.

Guys, honestly, I don't know how I'm going to do this for days on end until they pass.

Also, dumb question, but when it is time for them to be peed out, won't that be a problem in itself given the size of the opening they're coming out of? Maybe it's late and I'm overthinking it, but I don't see how it's possible.

 

[J'aime Paris]

So sorry you're going through this

My urologist (had enough stones that I was referred to the specialist) always suggested fluids. Lots and lots of fluids to help push the stone along.
The continued pain is likely the stone moving toward your bladder.
Upon exit, I usually felt a "pinch" sensation.

Better to pass it naturally than have surgery. Good luck!

 

[mamamary]

I ended up at the ER again tonight. Not the urgent care place from yesterday, an actual ER. I waited about an hour which wasn't bad at all. I went tonight because I had a 9 that lasted about an hour and then two hours later had another 9 that had me in tears and shaking from the pain. I now have Flomax. I was told that Naproxen is the best thing for pain but in reality, it's just really going to hurt. I was given a printout of the ct results and found out that each of my two stones are 5 mm. This is super frustrating because anything over 6 mm gets further intervention. It's now 5.45 am and I am having my third 9 pain of the night.

Guys, honestly, I don't know how I'm going to do this for days on end until they pass.

Also, dumb question, but when it is time for them to be peed out, won't that be a problem in itself given the size of the opening they're coming out of? Maybe it's late and I'm overthinking it, but I don't see how it's possible.

So sorry about this. On the previous page I had put that there is no pain when they come out. The pain is when they are on the move. I hope they come out soon. I don't think any of mine lasted more than 24 hrs??? I currently have a 6mm one in me now but we are doing a wait and see on it (I'm not in pain at all).

 

[Scootypuffjr]

I ended up at the ER again tonight. Not the urgent care place from yesterday, an actual ER. I waited about an hour which wasn't bad at all. I went tonight because I had a 9 that lasted about an hour and then two hours later had another 9 that had me in tears and shaking from the pain. I now have Flomax. I was told that Naproxen is the best thing for pain but in reality, it's just really going to hurt. I was given a printout of the ct results and found out that each of my two stones are 5 mm. This is super frustrating because anything over 6 mm gets further intervention. It's now 5.45 am and I am having my third 9 pain of the night.

Guys, honestly, I don't know how I'm going to do this for days on end until they pass.

Also, dumb question, but when it is time for them to be peed out, won't that be a problem in itself given the size of the opening they're coming out of? Maybe it's late and I'm overthinking it, but I don't see how it's possible.

The flomax will definitely help and with it being a 5mm stone you'll probably hear it hit the toilet when it comes out. I heard mine. The naproxen will dull it, but it will still be painful. You're in for a rough couple of days, but you should be able to pass it. FWIW, the intervention options don't feel great either. Good luck!

 

[Frantasmic]

It is uncomfortable to pass from the bladder out of the body, but not as bad as from the kidney to the bladder. The tubing is larger from bladder out. Plus, the pathway is shorter for females. *Edit* Previous poster describing a pinch is very close.

I've suffered through 3 sets of kidney stones. Two were resolved by lithotripsy; one was passed on its own. One of the most painful conditions because resolution in any form is just painful: passing them, blasting them, or going after them. All three just hurt.

 

[mischief32]

I have been there and let me tell you I had to catch my first stone in the strainer I when in and when it cam out I was like this little things caused all that pain. You might be surprised at how small it appears to the naked eye but boy does it hurt coming out. I can tell when I have a big one now and when you pass it it is instant relief. I was passing one at work and suddenly I had to go really bad and I felt the relief after that. I can not really describe the feeling before I pass one but I know.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I just read this (was away for a few days) and the first thing I thought of was you do not need any more to deal with right now!! I'm glad they've figured out what it is and given you meds, but sorry you're going through it at all. I hope it resolves quickly!

 

[tzolkin]

Guys, honestly, I don't know how I'm going to do this for days on end until they pass.

Also, dumb question, but when it is time for them to be peed out, won't that be a problem in itself given the size of the opening they're coming out of? Maybe it's late and I'm overthinking it, but I don't see how it's possible.

{{hugs}}

If you're drinking lots of water and taking Flomax, it should come out fine. I had one that size that the lithotripsy did not break. I did not feel when I was passing it. I only knew because the doctor had me using a strainer-type device in my toilet (they wanted me to collect it and bring it in for testing).

Like others mentioned, it's the trip from the kidneys through the ureter that's much more painful. The bladder out the urethra is much easier.

 

[AnnaFloridaLover]

I'm really sorry you are dealing with this Kimblebee. Kidney stones suck. I've only had them once and that was enough to remember that they are hell. Hopefully they'll pass soon.

 

[lsyorke]

Kidney stone pain is referred to as "exquisite" pain. Pretty much covers it.

 

[ols386]

I didn't see that anyone had answered (I only skimmed), but you'll know when it passes...you just will. I have had dozens of stones over the last couple decades and it's to the point now where I don't go to the dr anymore unless there's a lot of blood and it feels too big to pass (sorry for the TMI). If you can get a prescription for Flomax it helps (I was able to pass a 5mm stone on my own with it). It's also better if you can hold off on the pain meds as much as possible so you feel them move down. The other thing that also helps is drinking water with lemon oil (or just lemon) and organic raw apple cider vinegar. According to my urologist the mixture dissolves the stones. It seemed to have worked with my last round. Just make sure it's diluted really well or you'll end up with heartburn too. If you have any questions feel free to ask. I've seriously had so many that I feel like a gumball machine. Hope they pass quickly and you feel better soon! Just to give you a heads up, it could be a couple days. There is also the possibility that they could settle without you passing and then move again in a few months or so.

Yes dr has given my adult dd Flomax and it helped her to pass a stone. She has also had stones that she didn't pass, but the stone just stops moving, and rears its ugly head at some later point in time.

 

[BCDisneyFanatic]

I, too, have had a lot of stones in my life. My last one was also about 5 mm and took 9 days to pass. The renal colic would come and go...it was really frustrating. The best treatment I've found for kidney pain is a combination of Tylenol 3s and naproxen (aleve), taken simultaneously, which will take a 9 down to about a 3.

When I finally passed the stone, I wouldn't have noticed if I hadn't been straining the urine - I was amazed since it was rather large. Other stones have been a little...um...uncomfortable during that last short trip from the bladder to out of the urethra, but luckily that's always been a very quick experience compared to the trip from the kidney to the bladder (never more than half an hour).

 

[ols386]

I'm sorry you are still suffering, Kimblebee. If they have you on Flomax, that should help you to pass the stone.

Your journey so far has been similar to my dd's...multiple trips to the ER/Urgent Care. With one stone in particular, she went three separate times to ER.

Keeping my fingers crossed that your stone passes soon.

 

[xjillianpaige]

So sorry you're dealing with this!

I had my first stone at 14. Really wanted to go to school, but my mom drove me to the ER (she was on her way to work at the same hospital anyway) and I puked on the side of the road because the pain was so bad (the first and last time I puked from pain). After a series of stones landed me in the hospital, I began to see a urologist every 6 months. The hospital visits included an X-ray and CT to confirm, then meds to control pain and a lot of fluid before home. The urologist visits started with an ultrasound. After nearly a decade of visits, I stopped going and figured it was managed well enough. I drink lots of water and take advil if I have what I call a "twinge."

I have no recollection of pain when passing the stone. For me, the stone's journey from kidney to bladder was the worst part. My doc described it as an olive pushing through a straw. The actual peeing part wasn't bad (from what I remember.) Actually, my side kind of hurts right now and this could be kidney, but I'll ignore it and hope it continues to be okay tomorrow.

If possible, find out what your stone is made of - in addition to drinking a ton of water, you can also manage the stone's build up by eliminating foods that contain whatever your body struggles to break down. For me that's calcium oxalate and the oxalate is the problem.

Sending good vibes and luck with this! They're not fun!

(Also, the pain scale is annoying. I like to give decimal answers because I hate the scale. It's not a 10 because I'm not fully engulfed in flames, but yeah, it hurts. Also, women tend to be ignored more often than men when it comes to pain... I'll see what articles I can find and share them.)

 

[kimblebee]

So sorry you're dealing with this!

I had my first stone at 14. Really wanted to go to school, but my mom drove me to the ER (she was on her way to work at the same hospital anyway) and I puked on the side of the road because the pain was so bad (the first and last time I puked from pain). After a series of stones landed me in the hospital, I began to see a urologist every 6 months. The hospital visits included an X-ray and CT to confirm, then meds to control pain and a lot of fluid before home. The urologist visits started with an ultrasound. After nearly a decade of visits, I stopped going and figured it was managed well enough. I drink lots of water and take advil if I have what I call a "twinge."

I have no recollection of pain when passing the stone. For me, the stone's journey from kidney to bladder was the worst part. My doc described it as an olive pushing through a straw. The actual peeing part wasn't bad (from what I remember.) Actually, my side kind of hurts right now and this could be kidney, but I'll ignore it and hope it continues to be okay tomorrow.

If possible, find out what your stone is made of - in addition to drinking a ton of water, you can also manage the stone's build up by eliminating foods that contain whatever your body struggles to break down. For me that's calcium oxalate and the oxalate is the problem.

Sending good vibes and luck with this! They're not fun!

(Also, the pain scale is annoying. I like to give decimal answers because I hate the scale. It's not a 10 because I'm not fully engulfed in flames, but yeah, it hurts. Also, women tend to be ignored more often than men when it comes to pain... I'll see what articles I can find and share them.)

I know exactly what you mean by a twinge. Usually they turn into 9s but tonight (and I'm jinxing it) I haven't had a full on pain, just a dull pain in my back. I'll still keep drinking a ton and taking my pills so hopefully I can go back to no pain.

 

[leebee]

Aw, man, Kimblebee, can't you catch a break?

My experience in the US is you would have been taken back immediately, given an IV and once evaluated given pain medication.

Man, I wanna go to your hospital/ER. I am in the US and my experience is that you wait in line like everyone else. Triage... take the sickest people first. Four hours waiting time is about average.

If one's fortunate enough to have insurance. Referring to US citizens. Just saying... 'cause otherwise I'm at a loss how your contribution to this thread helped?

Hey, Ned (LOL!), we have pretty decent insurance; it doesn't make any difference at all when it comes to having to wait in line at the ER/walk-in-care. I think they moved DD ahead in line the time she went in via ambulance, with breathing trouble and suspected meningitis. Other than that, you wait according to the severity of your illness. Life-threatening situations (cardiac issues, active bleeding, no breathing, etc.) gets you immediate attention; neither pain nor health insurance seem to be related to position in line!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Having worked in a busy ER, the best advice I can give is to think hard about what time of day you go there. Sometimes it can't be helped and there is no choice (such as with an accident), but if you have to go and have a choice, very late night to very early morning is often the best time. After that is when everyone else goes. Longest wait times are usually going to be mid-day to early evening.

 

[Kitty 34]

I don't know how I missed this thread (real life has been getting in my DIS way lately ) but hope all is going well with you, Kim.

 

[PlutoRocks]

I had Flomax too and mine didn't pass - thus the surgery 10 days later. The surgery (for me anyway) was no problem. I had the stent for 7 days but I didn't feel it and had no pain when they removed it either. Can you go to a urologist and make sure it is still progressing?

I hope you get relief soon - regardless of how it happens!

 

[ols386]

A few years ago I had to have my husband drive me to the ER. I told them it was a 9 on the pain scale and even said I have had three non-medicated births and it was worse.

I had to pee while in the waiting room and had no choice bit to go even though they wouldn't give me a cup for a sample. Of course, when I get taken into a room they won't do ANYTHING or bring in the doctor until I provide a urine sample. Spent a few hours writhing in pain on the toilet (nothing would come out). Finally start vomiting and they want to rush me in for a CT scan, but insist on a pregnancy test first (had to wait for a blood test). Get the CT scan and then the doctor comes in with results. He says, "This didn't present like a kidney stone because YOU WEREN'T IN PAIN". What part of "9/10-- worse than childbirth" gave them that idea I will never know.

Later, DH told me that next time I need to "act more like I'm in pain" because apparently if you're not screaming and uncontrollable you are not taken seriously. Also, the nurses said "everyone always says 11, so 9 isn't that bad". I'm a rational person-- 11 is not part of the scale of 1-10! And, to me, nothing can even be called a 10 because I can always imagine that there must be something that is potentially worse.

The stone was too large to pass so I was sent home and scheduled for a lithotripsy procedure the following day. It took several days before everything did pass and I was pretty miserable. I did not use any pain medication.

Wow! You poor thing. I'm sorry you had to go through that.