Kidney stones anyone? (janobonano)

Me me me!!  I get them.

They are worse than childbirth x10000!!!  The first time I had an attack Dh and I were living together and he found me in the fetal position on our floor.  I literally thought I was dying.  So I hear you.  The second time we were getting ready to go on vacation.  Luckily the ones I have had passed within 5 - 8 hours.  Morphine and the like do the same to me...barf, barf, and more barf.  You will be able to tell when it is starting to pass when the pain starts shifting to the front.  For women, once it gets into the bladder the pain goes away or it is so lessened that the worse part is over - since it has already traveled from the kidneys.  For men it hurts until it comes out.

I have never felt anything like that before in my life.  They are debiliatating and come on at a drop of a hat...zero warning.  It's like you have a time bomb inside of you ready to go off at any moment.  The best advice I can give you to help avoid them in the future is watch what kind of water you drink.  I am assuming you have well water or at least not Milwaukee/city water??  If you do, that's probably how you got it.  "They" say that the minerals in the well water build up forming the stones.  I used to live in an area with well water and since they run in my family, I got one within a year.  After I moved - nothing.  You may want to buy jug water at the grocery store to drink - that might help.

I feel awful for you because I know they are horrific!  Just keep pumping in those pain pills.  The only thing that helped me deal with the pain was sitting on the toilet hugging my knees and rocking back and forth and barfing...what a picture huh!

mrstjohnson

The only thing that helped me deal with the pain was sitting on the toilet hugging my knees and rocking back and forth and barfing...what a picture huh!

OMG, yes! I was rolling all around on the floor whining and crying and moaning. It was absolutely awful. Poor DH was like uh...?

The doc did say that most women say it's more painful than childbirth. The pain for me has always been in the front/side. I didn't even think my back hurt until the doc tapped me there, then I just about went through the roof.

I do have well water. I'll have to pick up a jug tonight. I never even thought about that. Thanks!

janobonano

The doc did say that most women say it's more painful than childbirth. The pain for me has always been in the front/side. I didn't even think my back hurt until the doc tapped me there, then I just about went through the roof.

For me it always starts in my kidneys (back) and starts rotating to the front.  But once it gets around the front of my stomach I know relief is coming soon.  Did they do the procedure where they shoot you up with iodine and take pictures (I have no idea what specific medical procedures are called)?  Could they see the stone and where it was in the tract?  Did they make sure it wasn't stuck??  Not to totally freak you out, but if it is too big, they have to go get it through surgery or break it up so then you can pass 20 smaller stones

Sorry for the 20 questions!

Owweeeeeee!

I've never had one but your description makes it something to avoid.  I just wanted to give you a big HUG!

I hope you are "passed" this soon!

He said it was small - 4 millimeters. I don't know where it was. I guess I just assumed it was still in my kidney. I had a CT scan but not with contrast. Thank God. I had that once and I thought I peed my pants. It was so weird. I have to make an appointment with a urologist this week for a follow-up.

janobonano

I had a CT scan but not with contrast

Yeah, the last time I had to have one I had a reaction to the iodine.  I literally thought I was freezing for 3 days.  I couldn't feel my finger tips, I was constantly cold, and shaking and it was 90 degrees outside...not good.

 Luckily I've not experiencd anything like that, but I had to have a CT scan in September and that contrast is a doozy isn't it?! lol I had the same weird "have to pee" sensation, but luckily they warned me about it first. :)  Hope your stone passes smoothly (and asap)!

My DH has had three or four, I'm sure he feels that he has given birth, but to kidney stones.  He was literally rolling on the floor, the pain was so bad.  He hasn't had any in ten years at least.  He drinks lots of water and says that is why.  They will analyze the stone's content once you pass it and then can offer tips hopefully for prevention.  I really hope your's passes soon and you never have another.

Oh Jano, I so feel for you.  I've had stones but not like yours.  I've felt off for a few years.  I went to different doctors complaining of pain in my side.  Oh it's all in my head.  Finally I get a pretty bad UTI/bladder infection while I'm on vacation.  After taking lots of pain pills & antibiotics  & getting home I go see my Dr.  I find out that I have a 13mm stone kind of in the bottom of my kidney.  It wasn't going to go anywhere but it was making me miserable.  I opted for a lithotripsey.  That's when they hit the stones with ultrasound.  Not fun but at least my stones are gone.  My urologist didn't say a thing about the type of water I drank but the types of foods I should avoid.  I'm supposed to avoid things that have oxalate's.

Thanks everyone. So far no surprises in the ol' filter.

mrstjohnson

Yeah, the last time I had to have one I had a reaction to the iodine.  I literally thought I was freezing for 3 days.  I couldn't feel my finger tips, I was constantly cold, and shaking and it was 90 degrees outside...not good.

I was the opposite - it felt like I was burning up from the inside out. Weird.

13 mm Annie?! Dang! That's almost the size of Willa when she was born. 

janobonano

13 mm Annie?! Dang! That's almost the size of Willa when she was born. 

All in my head, huh?  I HATE Doctors.  Anyway, I really, really, really hope you feel better soon.  Grady sends smushes your way.

 Oh Janice I am so sorry you have experienced this - I have a condition which means I make lots of stones and my goal is to not get them to pass because mine always block something and I get sick.

There is no magic to gettting it to pass once it starts - circa 1900 they served beer in hospitals to kidney stone patients because it makes you pee - so you could try that LOL - just keep lots and lots of fluids going.  If it has made it to your bladder the next bit is slightly easier because the tube is shorter.

The only time I ever vomit is when I have a stone 'issue'

I will be thinking of you and wishing you a swift uncomplicated passing!

Wow....that sounds terrible! I hope you feel better soon!

 Wow!  I feel terrible for you.  I've never had one before and I had never believed it was actually worse than childbirth.  The people I know who have had one have been men, and I always just thought they were being babies.  But I believe you....you've done both....poor thing.  At least Childbirth has a good outcome. 

Wishing you a quick recovery!