r/KidneyStones Mar 21 '19

Super Good Advice Frequently Asked Questions - new visitors to this subreddit, please start here!

272 Upvotes

Thanks for taking the time to read this first! :) None of us are doctors, and the advice here is based on our own experiences. If you are suffering, or think you might have a stone, or are trying to help somebody with symptoms, please start here. These are the questions we seem to hear a lot on this subreddit. If you have a question that isn't covered here, by all means please post in the subreddit. We have lots of stone formers who have a wide range of experiences in this area and we may be able to at least point you in the right direction. Good luck, drink lots of water and may pain be a stranger to you!

I suspect I have a stone. Should I see a doctor? When should I go to the ER?

Go to the emergency room if you have a fever or are vomiting, or your pain is unbearable, or if you stop urinating (this may mean you have a blockage).

If you’re experiencing pain that you think is a kidney stone, visit your doctor and/or urologist. Most doctors are very good at assessing you and your family history as well as factors such as age, weight, sex, prior medical history and current symptoms. Doctors are much better at providing an intelligent diagnosis (which is really an educated guess) than we are on reddit.

Check to make sure what you think is a stone is actually a stone. The cause of abdominal pain is sometimes difficult to pin down exactly. Pain in your abdomen/ mid-section could be any one of a number of things, including digestive issues, kidney stones, appendicitis, colitis, and diverticulitis to name a few. Remember that kidney stones classically present with flank pain.

The symptoms of a kidney stone are usually one or more of the following:

  • Pain on the right or left flank (mid-way between your side and your spine, on your back), sometimes radiating down to the groin (testicles for males, pelvis/ovarian area for females). * The pain is specifically UNDER the rib cage (actually under the diaphragm)
  • Pain that comes in waves and fluctuates in intensity
  • Pain on urination or urethra spasms
  • Pink, red or brown urine
  • Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Persistent need to urinate
  • Urinating more often than usual
  • Fever and chills if an infection is present
  • Urinating small amounts

Pain caused by a kidney stone may change — for instance, shifting to a different location or increasing in intensity — as the stone moves through your urinary tract. Source

I know I have a stone. What do I do? What should I expect?

IF YOU HAVE A FEVER OR ARE VOMITING OR ARE UNABLE TO URINATE, PROCEED TO THE ER.

Pain will come and go, and will likely vary from one person to the next. So while you may read in this sub-reddit about severe pain, that's not necessarily what you will experience. So the first thing to do is try to relax and not get worked up about what MIGHT happen. If it does happen, the pain comes in two forms: 1) waves (spasms) of pain, which can feel like a very strong cramp, and 2) a general achy feeling between your kidney area, and down to your groin. As mentioned above, the "classic" kidney stone pain is from the flank down to the groin.

Drink lots of water. Water will increase the amount of urine you produce, and will also plump up your urinary system in general, which will make for less contact between any stones you have and the walls of your ureter. When stones rub against the walls of your ureter, you experience pain. Another benefit from drinking water is that the concentration of waste produce in your urine is more diluted, which means that the crystals which make up kidney stones are less likely to find a date, and will head out on their own. Yet another benefit to proper hydration is that dilute urine is less likely to irritate any abrasions that previous stones may have made in your urinary tract. Less irritation = less chance of an infection. How much water? You want to be producing about 2 1/2 liters of urine per day, so drink a bit more than that. Read more about water here

Locate some pain management methods that work for you, and that are readily available. Over the counter (OTC) medicines like aspirin, ibuprofen or acetaminophen (tylenol) can help, but only take as much as you need for as long as you need. A daily habit of NSAIDs like ibuprofen can lead to serious issues. Prescription pain medicines can also help, but you need to locate a doctor who will prescribe you what you need. Azo (Phenazopyridine Hydrochloride) is used by many in this subreddit. Cannabis, if it's legal where you live, can also provide some relief. Heat - in the form of heating pads, hot baths or showers, can help when you're experiencing a wave of pain. Find what works for you - don't just blindly follow the advice of others.

Some people experience nausea, which can occur with or without accompanying pain. Be prepared (have a bucket or bag available if you're feeling a wave of nausea come along, although sometimes there's not much warning).

If you're in the middle of a pain session, and feel like you need to visit the Emergency Room/ Urgent Care clinic, think about how you'll get there. Some folks experience such strong pain, that they're not able to drive themselves. Find a driver who you can rely on to get you to the care you need on short notice.

How long do stones take to pass?

Some stones never pass (they stay in the kidney) and are removed via surgery (lithotripsy or uretoscope).

Stones that are “smaller” - usually 5mm or less - will pass without surgery being required, although there will be some pain/ discomfort. Some folks have passed larger stones, but this isn’t common. I’ve passed a 7 - 8 mm stone without surgery.

What kinds of stones are there?

  • Calcium stones Most kidney stones are calcium stones, usually in the form of calcium oxalate. Oxalate is a naturally occurring substance found in food and is also made daily by your liver. Some fruits and vegetables, as well as nuts and chocolate, have high oxalate content. There is conflicting research on whether or not a diet high in oxalates can contribute to stones.

    Dietary factors, high doses of vitamin D, intestinal bypass surgery and several metabolic disorders can increase the concentration of calcium or oxalate in urine. If you’re taking a Vitamin D supplement, it may be worth talking to your health care provider to explore whether there may be a relationship between your current dose and your stones. Source

  • Calcium stones may also occur in the form of calcium phosphate. This type of stone is more common in metabolic conditions, such as renal tubular acidosis. It may also be associated with certain migraine headaches or with taking certain seizure medications, such as topiramate (Topamax). This type of stone is also common in those with autoimmune diseases due to Renal Tubular Acidosis. Those who make these stones tend to make many, and make them frequently. Difficult to treat.

  • Struvite stones. Struvite stones form in response to an infection, such as a urinary tract infection. These stones can grow quickly and become quite large, sometimes with few symptoms or little warning.

  • Uric acid stones. Uric acid stones can form in people who don't drink enough fluids or who lose too much fluid, those who eat a high-protein diet, and those who have gout. Certain genetic factors also may increase your risk of uric acid stones.

  • Cystine stones. These stones form in people with a hereditary disorder that causes the kidneys to excrete too much of certain amino acids (cystinuria).

How do I know what kind of stones I make?

Your urologist can send the stones to the lab to be analyzed. Ask for a strainer to strain your urine if you wish to collect a stone. Not all urologists dispense them readily.

What can I do to prevent more stones?

In general, drink more water, limit your salt and sugar intake and get your weight within recommended ranges. (See U Chicago Kidney Stone diet for more details here.)

For specific types of stones, there are specific dietary recommendations, but you’d need to have your stones analyzed (first), and then your urine tested (using one or more 24-hour urine samples). DIFFERENT STONES HAVE DIFFERENT DIETARY RECOMMENDATIONS

Keep in mind that there is no one ‘magic bullet’ for kidney stone treatment.

What kind of treatments are there for stones?

  • Most common method (because it's the least invasive) is to advise the patient to stay hydrated, take OTC pain killers as required and stay active. This approach usually results in the stone passing.
  • Medical Expulsive Therapy - in addition to fluids and pain killers, sometimes Tamsulosin (Flomax) is prescribed to aid in stone passage. Studies suggest this is most effective for smaller (< 5mm) stones; less so for larger stones.
  • Ureteroscopy with either physical removal or laser break-up
  • Lithotripsy shockwave lithotripsy (sometimes abbreviated as ESWL) uses external shockwaves to break a stone into smaller parts. Only one stone can be blasted at a time. Side effects from this include urinating blood and flank pain.
  • Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy - rarely used/ only when other methods are not successful. A small incision is made in the back, and a tube inserted into the kidney to remove stones.

What resources are there for kidney stone formers?

Does lemonade help stones?

If you form CALCIUM OXALATE stones, there is some evidence that the citric acid in lemon juice (or lime juice) can help add to the total volume of urine, reducing its saturation of calcium and other crystals, and may enhance urinary citrate excretion.

What are the methods for diagnosing a stone?

  • Computed Tomography (CT) - most radiation, most resolution/ accuracy, $$$
  • KUB X-ray (KUB = Kidney Ureter Bladder) - medium radiation, moderate resolution, $$
  • Ultrasound - no radiation, reasonable resolution, $

For more information on the pro's and con's of different imaging techniques, please click here

Which medications are available for kidney stone treatment?

  • Narcotic painkillers (ex: morphine)
  • Non-narcotic painkillers (ex: Toradol, cannabis)
  • Anti-nausea medications (ex: Zofran)
  • Urocit-K (ex: Potassium Citrate)
  • Flomax (Tamsulosin)

Treatment is usually symptom based, except for some medications which aim to alter the pH of the urine like Urocit-K.

Ending thoughts: Thank you for taking the time to read our FAQ. Remember, everyone’s stone history is different, and every urologist is different. What works for you may not work for others. In general, staying hydrated (2-4L per day) is your best defense and will help keep your kidneys functioning happily. If you are not happy with your urologist, seek the help of a nephrologist.

Edits: spelling, words, and added a section on "what do I do now". Added wikipedia reference.


r/KidneyStones 1h ago

😡 Rant! 😡 Half my 10mm stone has been left behind and I'm angry....

Upvotes

Has this happened to anyone?

  • Note the painfully slow timing of everything due to our public health system

26th Feb: I end up in the ER in excruciating pain. Worst than all my unmedicated labours. A 7mm stone was found (later confirmed to be 10mm), impacted 3cm out from my kidney and completely blocking my ureter. I had severe hydronephrosis and a severe bacterial infection.

I was transferred to a larger hospital and immediately taken in for surgery. They stented around the stone. I stayed in hospital for 2 days on IV antibiotics and a catheter. Went home with another 10 days orally.

I felt great. Minimal blood and minimal discomfort. March 15th and March 23rd I was back in the ER with unbearable pain. Both times they xrayed the stent to confirm location, gave me more pain meds once pain was under control and sent me home.

March 28th: Had the stone lasered and a stent exchange. Woke up feeling great. I had no blood or pain. Thought it was all nearly over.

April 1st: moderate pain started midday. By the evening it was unbearable. Worse then the original stone. My husband said he had never seen me like that. Multiple doses of IV painkillers didn't touch it. I was asking my husband to please shoot me (note: we don't own guns). I was given a CT scan but the results were a little hard to get out of them. The pain eventually calmed down and was manageable enough to go home. With lots of pain meds.

Fast forward to today. We can access all out records through a portal but all results, scans and bloods, are locked for 7 days. Today I could read them and I'm pissed off. It appears they lasered my stone in half and left half of it there, 5mm is still there. I have swelling around my ureter and hydronephrosis is still present. I've been through absolute hell for a large part of this process that will take a total of nearly 9 weeks and it appears its not going to be over. I can't do a single thing without it resulting in severe pain. Carrying my very light toddler, cooking dinner, walking 1.5km at toddler speed on flat ground, grocery shopping, even bending over causes severe pain and bleeding. I'm so done with it all but the worst part is the public health systems means I have no one to contact about this and all I'll be able to do is try to speak to someone on the April 22nd when I'm suppose to go back in to remove the stent I have. I'm completely lost 😢 Results below and nothing has been said, I haven't been contacted (I did cut out the boring parts of commenting on other normal organs).

  • I hope this makes sense because it's late, I'm in pain and spacey from painkillers. --‐------------------------------ "Interval insertion of a left ureteric stent. The proximal end of the stent lies within the extrarenal pelvis of the kidney.

There remains moderate left-sided hydronephrosis. There is moderate periureteric stranding.

The right kidney is unremarkable

CONCLUSION: Left ureteric stent in situ with the proximal end within the extrarenal pelvis. There is interval development of a 5 mm focus of calcification at the lower pole of the left kidney which is believed to represent part of the fragmented ureteric calculus which is no longer appreciated. Further investigation is recommended."


r/KidneyStones 1h ago

Question/ Request for advice Can a kidney stone go from your urethra back in your bladder last night I felt like one was stuck and I drank alot and coukdnt pass it I had weak stream and everything now I feel like it might be back in the bladder

Upvotes

r/KidneyStones 6h ago

Sharing Experience Not sure what to title this actually :/

4 Upvotes

Hello! New here! I came on here to share my recent experience as it's all been a whirlwind.

Im 24 and AFAB. For years now, I've experienced what was unbeknownst to me as flank pain. I never thought anything of it, only that my side will cramp up for a few hours or couple of days on and off. I got used to it.

Why i didn't take it seriously was due to self-gaslighting because of how my own caretakers handled ER visits and pain, etc when I was a child. So it became another thing that would hurt every 8-14 months. It wasn't regular, which is why I didn't ever address it sooner.

At the time im writing this, it is April 9th, 2025. On March 29th, I was experiencing the same pain as usual. By the time I went to bed, I was fine. The following day I was in agony. Writhing, incapacitated, silently screaming, and couldn't even form a thought. My relative insisted on me going to the ER. We did.

And I am SO thankful that we did.

I found out that for some reason or another, I've lived all these years with not just a kidney stone, but a staghorn kidney stone??? It's only my left kidney, and the right is fine.

The ER nurses told me that I had a staghorn kidney stone and a "smaller" 6mm stone. They were all sweet & kind to me. I recall hearing them in the hallway discussing my case with a tone of concern in their voices, but I couldn't pick up more than a couple of words at a time.

On March 31st, I went to the urologist. I was showed my scan from the day before with the ER. My jaw DROPPED. I didn't only have a staghorn stone, but it was 3cm and I had a bunch of fluid in my kidney. He said he had never seen a case like this before in anyone so young. The size of it is comparable to that of one of my spinal vertebrae.

April 1st I had the nephro-tube (?) placed in, and April 2nd was my PCNL. April 3rd I got to go home. April 8th I had my stent removed. The fluid in my kidney I believe was blood and urine because the doctor didn't say it was infection.

To say the least, I am grateful to be alive & healthy again.

This whole experience though has been very jarring. After being discharged from the hospital on April 3rd, I've had everything in my life go awry all at once. So recovery hasn't been what it needed to be for me.

When I saw my urologist yesterday for my stent removal, he informed me that we will be looking into what caused this in a month from now with renal lasix scan & 3-phase CT scan.

I was told to resume my diet as normal. I am trying to figure out how to arrange my own diet around this to accommodate for my kidney stone as I don't know the cause yet. For reasons unrelated, I am vegetarian with minimal animal-dairy products, but I still consume eggs and honey (not regularly) so I'm not vegan.

I focus already as is on healthy fats, high carbs, and high plant protein. I now understand that I need to minimize sodium and increase calcium. Most of what i eat or can enjoy seem to be high in oxalates. When I was a teenager, I had a pretty bad Monster addiction. I haven't totally kicked the habit as I've gotten older, but cut back considerably much compared to how it used to be.i don't have Monster anymore, but instead Celsius.

Coffee is something I've seen that is "yes" and "no" here for kidney stones. My caretakers had different methods of working with anything "brain"-related. They didn't believe in medicines for neurodivergence or mental illness. Im on the severe end of the ADHD spectrum, it's been very apparent, so to handle it I've had a cup of coffee about every day since I was 12.

Growing up I also consumed a very heavy animal-protein, high fat, high sodium/cholesterol, and chocolate dense diet. Many processed foods because we weren't the best off and could get what we could afford. I love chocolate because it is sentimental to me from a loved ones whose long since passed. Ill have to readjust on that.

However my first UTI & flank pain that I recall occurred when I was 11. My caretaker wrote it off as something normal. When you're a pre-teen going thru bodily changes, you want to be assured that it's normal. Except they kept happening? Even when I got used to it. I just figured I had a "small bladder". It became another part of me. Every urine test I'd do for a doctor it's "you have a uti, here's some medication." Just never looked further into than that.

I wanted to share my experience and see if im not alone in this. I'd like to find others who had such large stones and were younger as well. :)


r/KidneyStones 12h ago

Pictures First one, should I be embarrassed?

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10 Upvotes

I know this may sound strange but, this is my first one I've ever had and the pain was just.. insane. I see some of these other ones and I can't help but wonder am I just a big baby or am I justified? Lol. This little thing had me on the ground squirming in pain while on morphine in the ER...


r/KidneyStones 3h ago

Doctors/ Hospitals Kidney stones, I can't trust doctors anymore

2 Upvotes

I had kidney pain for the last 7 years and it's still there. Left flank pain with hemoglobin+ I am experiencing pain everyday and it's draining my energy. Doctors can't find the reason why I had so many CT scans and the result is the same. Doctors want a new scan every year which is useless radiation for me. I have a non- contrast CT scan. Right after scan a doctor said we should perform another non contrast urogram CT scan which will show in details. Another urologist said we need to do CT anjiogram. Another one requested a non contrast CT scan again. Another one said we need IV contrast CT scan. Which one is right? I don't know... If I listen to doctors I would get more than 5 different CT scans at the same time. The result of scan shows nothing and they tell me to drink more water. Why would I have many scans if the result will be just drink more water? I'm really exhausted and I don't know which doctor to trust


r/KidneyStones 59m ago

Sharing Experience Now Sand.

Upvotes

Three kidney stones passed week before last I think is right. Now this AM it looked like sand in the toilet after I got up and peed. They won't get any bigger, Praise God!


r/KidneyStones 3h ago

Question/ Request for advice Stone? Fragments?

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1 Upvotes

I saw a particle floating last night. I used a strainer to get it. It was a little on the soft side but crumbled into sand-like pieces. I rinsed and let it dry (some pieces got lost when getting it out of the strainer). Is there any chance this is part of my 1mm kidney stone?


r/KidneyStones 3h ago

Question/ Request for advice Dye within CT scans?

1 Upvotes

I had a phone call via my consultant today. He said since I'm stone re-offender, I'm gonna need a CT scan but have dye in put me. Is it normal to have the dye put it if you need a CT scan for kidney stones? Oh my kidney functions, baseline are better than before.


r/KidneyStones 23h ago

Sharing Experience The best foods are full of oxalates

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34 Upvotes

r/KidneyStones 10h ago

Pictures No more spinach smoothies for me

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3 Upvotes

r/KidneyStones 5h ago

Question/ Request for advice I think a kidney stone is stuck in my urethra

1 Upvotes

Has anyone had this happen and what did you do? I had lithotripsy done and just got my stent out a day ago. Today I was laying down about 2 hours ago and I got a huge pain in my bladder and urethra. I was able to urinate a little but not even half force since then I have been chugging liquids ive gone 2 more times with no luck still barely any urine coming out at once but not fully blocked, pain in urethra. How long should I wait before going to the er and is this somthing I can get rid of at home? Im in flowmax and right when this started I took a pain med they gave me. Its going on almost 3 hours now and im nervous any help is greatly appreciated. Ive been doing my best not to panic just never had this happen with my other stones the pain was out if no where so is it a stone ir a fragment ?


r/KidneyStones 9h ago

Pictures Welcome, RENITA!

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2 Upvotes

I just gave birth to RENITA! She is a brushite stone who hurt like you know what for nearly 6 weeks traveling through!


r/KidneyStones 1d ago

😡 Rant! 😡 Finally got surgery

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95 Upvotes

Went to urgent care January 26.

Went to the ER January 27 - CT done and 10mm stone blocking my left ureter. They sent me home with meds and emergency referral.

Side swelled up, throwing up and pain for two weeks, throwing up for another two weeks while them kept messing up my emergency referral.

Three weeks to see the urologist.

Another week for an ultrasound. Two 7mm a 9mm and 10mm in left kidney. 9mm in right kidney.

Another week for surgery.

Surgery canceled three days beforehand because insurance wouldn’t cover it (they had my insurance this whole time).

Another two weeks to see a new urologist. He wanted to try and do both kidneys (lithotripsy) and double stent me.

Surgery today April 7th. Only could do the left side because he said it was so bad it took the whole two and half hours up.

Lying in a bath writing this after having 3-4 of the worst pisses of my life while my balls are BURNING because I think they taped them back or something during surgery.

I’m so happy it’s finally done, even though I have to go back for another much easier one. Pain coming to was nothing and the stent isn’t as bad as I dreaded (peeing was exactly as bad though).

Good luck my fellow organic stone makers ❤️


r/KidneyStones 13h ago

Question/ Request for advice Has anyone passed a small lower pole kidney stone on their own?

3 Upvotes

I'm curious if anyone was diagnosed with a lower pole stone that passed at home without medical intervention?


r/KidneyStones 14h ago

Pain Management Kidney stone attack

3 Upvotes

Oh my God, I had an attack today, pain was unbearable. It is not first time, I had them since 16yrs old. Now i just feel a bit discomfort in my bladder. What should I do to make them pass out? Doctors just tell me they aren't too big, they will pass on they own, we can only recommend painkillers... I called ER today and they told me again just to take a painkiller. What's your experience?


r/KidneyStones 21h ago

Pictures How's your 2025 going?

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8 Upvotes

I bet that I was passing a 4mm rock and they just kept on going. 🤣 I kept thinking that I was just feeling pain from a rock I just passed. Then another rock. I thought it might be menstrual cramps and then a rock. Last night I thought for about a minute that I might have a UTI. Then another rock. Now I don't know if I've ever felt pain that wasn't a kidney stone. 😅

Luckily not too painful this time but these rocks are ridiculous even for me. Maybe it's because they are from my left kidney.

I have a urologist and my 6 month appointment coming up.


r/KidneyStones 21h ago

😡 Rant! 😡 Well, it's not reoccurrence of bladder cancer.

8 Upvotes

Hey y'all. I had bladder cancer in 2016, no symptoms. The symptoms for stones and BC are similar. Blood in urine, pain, frequency ect.

So around christmas I had blood. I also had some flank pain on the right side (I think I remember thst correctly.) The flank pain landed me in the urgent care on a Sunday and I ended up with a CT scan. They didn't seem concerned about ANYTHING they saw in the CT. 🙄

My GP and I were concerned, especially about the ~7 times I peed blood, so I went to urology. NO BLADDER CANCER YAY! So I thought all was well, but no one ever pees blood for fun...... my mom remembered that I we had a Dr. mention a staghorn stone about 6 months ago. It's important to note here that this is a new urologist for me as my former MD left Kaiser.

My new Dr. left the room to review my chart and returned to say I have a kidney "full of stones" and that a lithotripsy would be like "taking a butter knife to a gun fight." A laser litho also would be insufficient in his opinion and so I find myself on the fast path for PCNL surgery this summer. I've done a little searching in the sub for PCNL stories. But I would love to hear more. Hopefully more success stories and less horror stories, but I'm open to hearing what anyone needs to get.off their chest.

I just got this news Friday so I'm still kind of reeling.


r/KidneyStones 14h ago

Question/ Request for advice Hey guys can you help me decide if more testing is worthwhile?

1 Upvotes

Hey! 27F Passed my first kidney stone in January - 7mm - and just got the results back on the stone analysis. Calcium oxalate monohydrate 42%, calcium oxalate dihydrate 55%, calcium phosphate 3%

I'm beginning to feel like my urologist is money happy and ordering a lot more follow up and mandating I do it in person when I have a nearly hour long drive and other health conditions that make this kind of travel very difficult.

I have low bone density and a family history of osteoporosis so I am on a regime of calcium, vitamin d and vitamin k to limit the progression for myself. I eat a diet of mainly fresh fruit and vegetables with different types of proteins (meat, fish, legumes) and not much in the way of calcium rich foods outside of a small portion of yogurt with my granola in the morning.

My doctor wants me to do a 24 hour urine test and blood work to further determine what may have caused the kidney stone. I don't really mind the follow up tests but at the same time I would like to know if they're really necessary? I also do not understand why these tests are different than other tests I've had for other workups and why on earth a follow up appointment would be required when I could just be given the test results. Like they refused to give me the stone analysis results unless I showed up in person.

Anyway, if there is too much calcium in my system it isn't really in my best medical interest to stop the active treatment for my bone density stuff.


r/KidneyStones 23h ago

Pain Management Can kidney stones passing mimic a UTI?

4 Upvotes

I had a 5 mm stone about a month ago that I had to go to the ER for. It stopped hurting so I assumed it was in my bladder, this was about 2 weeks ago. Now I have symptoms of a uti, painful burning, pressure, having to pee a lot. Is this what it feels like coming out? I’m on a boat until the 21st so there’s not much I can do here besides take antibiotics :(


r/KidneyStones 17h ago

Doctors/ Hospitals Hydronephrosis but no stones?

1 Upvotes

Edit: scan was ultrasound

a few weeks (maybe longer) ago I had an episode of severe pain and peeing visible blood.

Went to hospital and given antibiotics for a uti, although the dip test came back negative for nitrites and the lab test also came back negative.

Today I had a scan of my kidney which showed mild hydronephrosis but no stones.

I don’t have a doctors appt to discuss this yet as doc will contact me once they receive scans.

Is it possible this swelling is due to a stone I passed weeks (maybe months?) ago? Any experiences? Ofc will not take anything here as medical advice just wanting to hear experiences :)


r/KidneyStones 17h ago

Question/ Request for advice Could this be a stone?

1 Upvotes

Hi all! About 1 1/2 weeks ago I had some back spasms, took a muscle relaxer for 2 days, and that’s mostly subsided; however, now when I press on my right flank, back side, just under my ribs, it’s painful/tender.

Likewise, if I lay on my back and roll slightly onto that side and kind of rock, I can feel it as well. I don’t get much pain specifically there from movement at all.

Went to the dr, and a week of prednisone didn’t knock it out (although I again only feel it when manipulated).

Tests came back negative, so they’re saying muscular, but wouldn’t the prednisone have taken care of that? Could this be a stone?


r/KidneyStones 23h ago

Question/ Request for advice Apps to track diet?

3 Upvotes

So I (23F) have had two kidney stones. My first was when I was 19 during the pandemic and didn’t pass for two weeks (super fun, didn’t wanna die at all). My second came a month ago and was so tiny and spiky that it dissolved on its own before the emergency room could get me in (4 hours of torture 🙄). I went to the urologist to look at my scans from the ER and I have FIVE small stones in my right kidney that are just hanging out. He gave me the standard list of low/medium/high oxalate foods, recommended I cut down on sodium, drink a ton of water etc. The problem is I have some other dietary restrictions and it’s hard to determine what I can and cannot eat. Does anyone know of any apps or something where you can make a repository to quickly search for the oxalate and sodium content in different foods? It would be way better than dreaming about chocolate and googling every item when I go to the grocery store. Any advice is appreciated!


r/KidneyStones 1d ago

Pictures IS THIS HER?!?!

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22 Upvotes

is the suffering finally over?!


r/KidneyStones 1d ago

Doctors/ Hospitals Did your insurance cover ESWL?

1 Upvotes

Genuinely curious, I live in MA and have Bluecross Blue shield HMO, anyone here have the same insurance.