Got another kidney stone today. Worse than the first one five years ago.

[Aristus]

Fortunately, visiting the emergency room was a breeze. Mrs. Aristus drove me to the hospital around six this morning (the pain and nausea started around 4:45), and there was no one in the waiting room! The registering nurse immediately whisked me away to an exam room, set me up with some IV analgesics and anti-nausea meds, then ordered the CT. From the time I staggered in the door until I walked out with my prescriptions and follow-up instructions, it was about two hours.

Been spending my Saturday in a bit of a stoned daze, praying the pain won't come back, and thankful for appropriate symptomatic treatment. I'm definitely calling out on Monday. Four hours of severe pain have wrung me out.

The ED doctor taking the HPI asked about my history with kidney stones, and about potential risk factors. I told him how often, and how much, I habitually drank alcohol, and he just shrugged, saying that much didn't seem like such a big contributing cause. The labs came back - Liver function: normal! So that's good.

Still, I'm forgoing my Saturday night tipple, and sticking to lots of water for the time being.

I like being lazy on the weekends. But there's always this voice in my head nagging me to get stuff done around the house. I love having a legitimate excuse not to have to do anything.

Hope everyone is having a restful weekend. I love you all...

[enid602]

1. Milk

Make sure you always drink lots of water, and avoid drinking too much milk, as the stones are generally made from calcium deposits.

[HappyLarge]

22. This is the exact opposite of what you should do. Calcium is not the problem. It's oxalate and phosphorus

not being bound up in the gut or being excreted in urine that is too concentrated or acidic. Stop drinking brown soda‘s (or any really). Drink plenty of water and combine any high oxalate food with high calcium food or drink.
Uric acid stones and steruvite stones are rarer and different recommendations.

[Mosby]

2. I had an episode about a month 1/2 ago.

It was a nightmare. My issue seems to be bladder, out. Almost three weeks of hell.

After it was all over i heard about "jump and bump" on reddit.

Mine was about 7mm.

If you are able to save one they can test it, there are different kinds with different tx protocols.

[anciano]

3. Best wishes 🙏

[Silent Type]

4. Glad you are OK. I've had one, the nausea is what got me. Seriously, sick.

[Aristus]

5. Yeah, it's awful.

I was happier when the anti-nausea med kicked in than I was when the Norco took effect.

Just like last time, I'm convinced that at least half of the euphoric effect of opioid medications stems just from the sheer relief at not being in pain anymore.

[Easterncedar]

6. Love you back

Rest up and feel better soon.

[LiberalLoner]

7. I've had three. Not for decades though. Bad stuff. Hope yours passes quickly. 🙏💙

[LuckyCharms]

8. Feel better Aristus...

I feel for you. I've been through that twice. No fun, to say the least!

[True Dough]

9. "I like being lazy on the weekends."

Ditto! But I'm not going to hope for a kidney stone to give me an excuse! So far, I've been fortunate enough never to get one in my 52 years. No family history of them, but I am a big dairy consumer, milk in particular. Fingers crossed!

Hopefully the pain passes quickly, Aristus. Take care.

[Aristus]

10. Thank you!

[Nictuku]

11. I've had 2 kidney stone episodes, and one bladder stone

(so my doctor says), the bladder stone passed while I was at the doctors when I was giving a urine sample.

The bladder stone was not the same level of pain as the kidney stone, which is why my doctor thinks it was a bladder stone. More of a constant urge to go pee.

I wouldn't wish kidney stone pain on anyone, though I have heard women who have had children say it is worse than childbirth.

I feel for you. I have heard it is worse for men than women. It is no fun, and yes, definitely - you deserve to be lazy for the rest of the weekend! No guilt!

[Marthe48]

12. Feel better!

I hear they hurt really bad.

Healing thoughts headed your way

[Rebl2]

13. I had

them in my early 20’s and ended up in the hospital a couple of times. The first time I had one I had no idea what it was. My dad and I were on our way to work and he ended up taking me to the ER. That was in 1979. I was in the hospital for days and was so sick to my stomach and in sooo much pain. They ended up having to take it out because it was hung up in my urinary tract. I still to this day have a few, but I take some medication that keeps them small. It was explained to me ( by my doctor) that if they stay small they are less likely to cause problems.

[Aristus]

14. That's very kind, thank you.

[Wolf Frankula]

15. Maybe you should give up vodka and drink beer.

Malty beers and ales are very good for the digestion. I'm a stout, dark lager and porter fan and I don't know what constipation is like.

Cheers to you!

Says Wolf over a pint of tmavy.

[HeartsCanHope]

16. So sorry you are going through this.

I've had kidney stones in the past and it is horrible. Had a natural birth with my son and would rather do that EVERY DAY of my life than go through kidney stones. Hope you feel better soon. Sending healing vibes and lots of empathy!

[Aristus]

18. Thank you.

I've had more than one woman tell me that kidney stones are worse than the pain of childbirth. I'll take their word for it. Not fun...

[yellowdogintexas]

24. Right there with you !! I am glad I had the kidney stone experience before I became pregnant

Being able to compare labor pains to the stone made things much easier.

Let's face it: our bodies are not designed for sharp hard things to move down a tube that is too small. At least with a baby, the body is designed for it, and a baby's head does not have lots of little pointy things all over it.

Mine got stuck at the exit of the kidney, hurt for about 8 hours but not that bad kind of a dull ache.

Then it moved and worked its way about 1/3 of the way down and got stuck there. That is when the fun began. I was very sick, vomiting, pain, and the feeling I had a steel rod running up my back.

Two more milder episodes a couple of weeks apart.

Finally passed it after 4 episodes and about 7 weeks.

[HeartsCanHope]

25. My first kidney stone experience was WHILE I was pregnant.

The stones I form are calcium stones. The doctors thought the first stone happened because of the prenatal vitamins and not enough fluids. As you said, yellowdogintexas, having my son naturally was a breeze compared to passing the stone! So sorry you had stones, too.

[debm55]

17. Wishing you good luck, Aristus. Rest and take care of yourself.

[Aristus]

19. Thank you, deb.

Will do.

[3catwoman3]

20. As far as needing a "legitimate" excuse for being "lazy" on weekends, I'll give you mine.

I'm a firm believer that doing nothing is doing something. Doing nothing can be very restorative.

This retired nurse practitioner hereby prescribes several hours of doing nothing whenever needed.

[Aristus]

21. Oh, to be retired!...

Ever since I started in practice, I have grown to appreciate the importance of doing nothing on my days off. Clinical medicine is so draining.

[3catwoman3]

23. For the nearly 25 years I was in my final job, I only worked 2 days a week...

...and it was enough. It was a very busy pediatric office. Had I been full time, which was 4 days a week for this practice, I'd probably have retired earlier. I worked until 1 month shy of my 70th birthday. I'd definitely go home feeling as if I'd "left it all on the field."

[multigraincracker]

29. I retired 23 years ago at age 52.

Keep very busy thanks to ADHD.

Last time I had a huge one and they put me in a water tank and broke it up with sound waves. Worked great, but now I have a pace maker. Can’t do that now.

[Ocelot II]

26. Yikes, I hope you feel better soon!

I used to work with pilots at a large airline, and I heard a lot of stories about kidney stones. The air in an airplane is very dry, and pilots often get dehydrated. They take bottled water with them but it's not always enough to stay properly hydrated - so kidney stones are sort of an occupational hazard in that line of work. If it happens it's incapacitating so they have to get medical clearance to return to flying. The descriptions they gave of the symptoms sounded awful, like not being able to get up off the floor, so you have my sympathy!

[surfered]

27. I've had one, which they were going to go in and get it. An uncomfortable procedure.

Luckily, I passed it naturally the day of the scheduled procedure.

Drink plenty big water and avoid tea, chocolate, and nuts. Consult your doctor on a diet.

Good luck. Cheers 🍷

[Sucha NastyWoman]

28. I don't even bother going to the hospital anymore

Take a strong dose of Tylenol as long as the pain persists, until the stone is passed. It seems like taking the Tylenol brings down the inflammation and makes it easier for the stone to pass. Last time. I went to the emergency room with a kidney stone, that’s all they gave me was Tylenol anyway..

[Frasier Balzov]

30. Switch to instant coffee.

The store brand which dissolves quickly.

(Assuming you are a coffee drinker and have been brewing from ground beans.)

[Norrrm]

31. A cement block studded with nails ripping its way down through your guts.

[yellowdogintexas]

33. Good description. nt

[ProfessorGAC]

32. Tough Spot

A guy I worked with 20 years ago had a couple.
He struggled with it.
Hope things work out better for you.

[True Dough]

34. Let us know when that lil' sucker passes!

We can throw a party. But we cannot throw stones, because we live in glass houses!

[Drum]

35. Yikes. Sending recovery vibes.

📡

[OldBaldy1701E]

36. I am very glad that you were able to find relief and aid.

I went to the emergency room a few months back due to chest pains. After three hours there, I decided to just leave. The place was a madhouse. My mother was an emergency room nurse for decades and I am accustomed to there being crazy times in the ER, but this was a compete lack of people and ability to handle what was there. (Which numbered about ten people actually. I am still not exactly sure what was going on.)

I guess I did not have the 'good' insurance.

I hope the rest of it goes as well. Glad you are feeling better!