stone in the kidney
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: on earth
Age: 49
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
stone in the kidney
hi everyone,
I am an airline pilot and i got a small stone in the kidney.Has someone had this recently?what was the outcome and recovery?licence,etc..?
thanks for those who experienced that and reply
I am an airline pilot and i got a small stone in the kidney.Has someone had this recently?what was the outcome and recovery?licence,etc..?
thanks for those who experienced that and reply
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: U.K.
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Your query
Yep, had one about 8 years ago.
Just blood in urine - I didn't actually pass the stone through the plumbing system. It was treated with Holmium Laser. ie laser and camera up the old willy (under general anaesthetic!) to blast the stone into powder. The residue was passed, uncomfortably, but not too painfully, through the system.
CAA a pain in the arse as usual.
You need a clear Xray or ultrasound after two years and again after seven years, before they clear you completely.
Hope you're OK
Are you in UK or elsewhere? You can find info on UK CAA website.
Regards
Jonesy
Just blood in urine - I didn't actually pass the stone through the plumbing system. It was treated with Holmium Laser. ie laser and camera up the old willy (under general anaesthetic!) to blast the stone into powder. The residue was passed, uncomfortably, but not too painfully, through the system.
CAA a pain in the arse as usual.
You need a clear Xray or ultrasound after two years and again after seven years, before they clear you completely.
Hope you're OK
Are you in UK or elsewhere? You can find info on UK CAA website.
Regards
Jonesy
Psychophysiological entity
I have no scientific data on this, but I'm intrigued by the idea that drinking at least a gallon of distilled water a day might effect a reduction.
I'm basing this on my home that had a huge plumbing system which was seriously furred up within ten years from new. When I took it over, I installed a big softener, and within five years the pipes were like new inside.
How one can compare the two I don't know, but isn't the dangerous material the same?
There is however, the possibility that one may reduce the size of a stable stone and make it mobile. Only qualified opinion would know the dangers of leaving such a stone unturned.
. Sorry, couldn't resist.
Frankly, given how disabling they can be, I'd want it out of the way before doing much serious flying.
I'm basing this on my home that had a huge plumbing system which was seriously furred up within ten years from new. When I took it over, I installed a big softener, and within five years the pipes were like new inside.
How one can compare the two I don't know, but isn't the dangerous material the same?
There is however, the possibility that one may reduce the size of a stable stone and make it mobile. Only qualified opinion would know the dangers of leaving such a stone unturned.
. Sorry, couldn't resist. Frankly, given how disabling they can be, I'd want it out of the way before doing much serious flying.
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Indonesia
Posts: 289
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Chinese herbals
Depending where you are based, a visit to the Chinese herbalist can help. I know two people that got rid of painful kidney stones that way. One used the standard brown bag of bundled herbs that needed boiling with water. It tasted disgusting, but worked very well, with the urine coming out with a milky colouring. Four years later no repeat of the condition, this with no dietary changes. The other person used herbal tablets, very cheap, bought over the counter, that worked well also.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: on earth
Age: 49
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
cojones
Yes I have been told complete anestesy required.you said xray after 2 years plus after 7years but no loss of class I medical right?
i am in the middle east.
my stone is in the kidney , not yet down the tube.
i am in the middle east.
my stone is in the kidney , not yet down the tube.
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: U.K.
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
172Flyer
Probably best to have it seen to sooner rather than later. If you do pass it in flight, it would be incredibly incapacitating, and would lead to an emergency situation for your other crew member(s) ie Single crew ops and emergency diversion en route. And just imagine the paperwork for that!!
Here's the UK CAA algorithm re the restrictions.
http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/49/SRG_MED_Renal_Stones.pdf
Good luck
Jonesy
Here's the UK CAA algorithm re the restrictions.
http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/49/SRG_MED_Renal_Stones.pdf
Good luck
Jonesy
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: In this very moment of a short life.
Posts: 180
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I had a 4mm stone last March and man was it painful, I was given heavy pain killing injection by the next morning I was okay. Now if I feel the slightest pain in my kidneys I drink 500ml raw lemon juice and after 1 hour water as much as I can when I can for a few days, I never had a repeat.
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Indonesia
Posts: 289
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Lemon juice
Yes you are near the mark, my wife had kidney stones a few years back and was treated with a liptotropter I think its called. The after treatment was two containers of Potassium Citrate tablets. They also made her thirsty.
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Down the airway.
Posts: 689
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Here is part of the stone story.
If they are small and in the kidney, a lithotripsy will usually deal with them.
This can be done walk in walk out with an anaesthetic suppository or with a full anaesthetic using much stronger strength machines. If I have the option again, go for walk in walk out even if you have to repeat it.
If the stone is stuck in the tube you may have be put to sleep while it is blasted out. This is also a walk in walk out day procedural.
If you leave the stones in the kidneys they can cause kidney failure and that means dialysis and that can be for life every twice a week or so!
If you leave the stones in the tube they can beecome imbeded in the tube flesh and then you have to be cut open or have micro surgery to remove it.
The CAAs are correct treat them seriously. There was a helicopter crash in UK recently becasue the solo professional pilot was struck down with a stone.They are like having your finger nails pulled out or babies.
Stones can form in one kidney and not in the other. If you have them once you will probably have them again. That is why the CAA want X rays but really only a Scan with/without dye, will do the real job.
Most stones are calcium. They cannot be dissolved. They have a string like growing effect in the kidneys. A low calcium diet has nothing to do with stopping stones. I do not remember why-something to do with chemical reaction on another body chemical? Cola drinks make stones grow and so does salt ie: nuts and also---do not know what---English type tea!
If they are small and in the kidney, a lithotripsy will usually deal with them.
This can be done walk in walk out with an anaesthetic suppository or with a full anaesthetic using much stronger strength machines. If I have the option again, go for walk in walk out even if you have to repeat it.
If the stone is stuck in the tube you may have be put to sleep while it is blasted out. This is also a walk in walk out day procedural.
If you leave the stones in the kidneys they can cause kidney failure and that means dialysis and that can be for life every twice a week or so!
If you leave the stones in the tube they can beecome imbeded in the tube flesh and then you have to be cut open or have micro surgery to remove it.
The CAAs are correct treat them seriously. There was a helicopter crash in UK recently becasue the solo professional pilot was struck down with a stone.They are like having your finger nails pulled out or babies.
Stones can form in one kidney and not in the other. If you have them once you will probably have them again. That is why the CAA want X rays but really only a Scan with/without dye, will do the real job.
Most stones are calcium. They cannot be dissolved. They have a string like growing effect in the kidneys. A low calcium diet has nothing to do with stopping stones. I do not remember why-something to do with chemical reaction on another body chemical? Cola drinks make stones grow and so does salt ie: nuts and also---do not know what---English type tea!
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: sydney
Age: 64
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
well summarised, Hammer.Yes , 90 % of the stones are calcium oxalate. It's not the dietary calcium so much as the oxalate which is the problem. Thus plenty of water, and avoiding excess dietary oxalate ( nuts, rhubarb, spinach, asparagus, COKE !!!!!!!) is the go. Have a 24 hour urine metabolic screen for your levels of urinary calcium, oxalate, urate and phosphate.
Some recurrent stone formers will need the potassium citrate tablets long term. Old style lemonade or any source of citrate is good, as citrate is a stone inhibitor. Alll of this is for future prevention. The current calcium stone will not "dissolve". Dissolution therapy only applies to uric acid (urate) stones (about 9 % of all stones).
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: East Anglia
Age: 83
Posts: 437
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well..I have had a large deeply enbeded left kidney stone since 1974...neither the Newcastle consultant then or later the CAA or FAA or Arabic doctors were inclined to go after it.
I had henceforth trace blood in urine at every flight medical and this was acceptable or so they said...now retired from flying this is still the attitude adopted by my NHS GP...personnally I would like it fixed but hey maybe the NHS have a valid medical reason other than cost and my age.
However to tell the total truth.... one Omani national CAA doctor recently inflicted upon GF was soon involved in a pay dispute with GF.
This bloke decided to ground a number of GF pilots to prove his point and to gain his commisions he decided to insist the local hospital in my case must go after my stone via the lipotripter (smasher). This was against the hospital urologists consultants wishes but I needed my licence.
The hospital improperly medicated me and the pain was huge and the results negative...I recall the operator reading the GDN newspaper and smoking a fag as I suffered on the lipotriptor...eventually I rolled off the slab and the session ceased...I will never forget the pain.
The senior GF medical doctor returned from leave and apologised to me for what had happened and signed my medical fit to fly.
Another "very attractive GF lady Indian doctor" told me she was simply horrified that my skeleton had received such treatment at age 57 and said she would have used "other" methods....I did not ask!
The only people who got really interested in 1974 regarding my kidney stone were the loss of licence insurers whom immediately slapped restrictions on my loss of licence.
Every medical case is different and in my case to leave it well alone I cannot argue with.
So far I have managed to completed my flying career to retirement age plus 9years.
I had henceforth trace blood in urine at every flight medical and this was acceptable or so they said...now retired from flying this is still the attitude adopted by my NHS GP...personnally I would like it fixed but hey maybe the NHS have a valid medical reason other than cost and my age.
However to tell the total truth.... one Omani national CAA doctor recently inflicted upon GF was soon involved in a pay dispute with GF.
This bloke decided to ground a number of GF pilots to prove his point and to gain his commisions he decided to insist the local hospital in my case must go after my stone via the lipotripter (smasher). This was against the hospital urologists consultants wishes but I needed my licence.
The hospital improperly medicated me and the pain was huge and the results negative...I recall the operator reading the GDN newspaper and smoking a fag as I suffered on the lipotriptor...eventually I rolled off the slab and the session ceased...I will never forget the pain.
The senior GF medical doctor returned from leave and apologised to me for what had happened and signed my medical fit to fly.
Another "very attractive GF lady Indian doctor" told me she was simply horrified that my skeleton had received such treatment at age 57 and said she would have used "other" methods....I did not ask!
The only people who got really interested in 1974 regarding my kidney stone were the loss of licence insurers whom immediately slapped restrictions on my loss of licence.
Every medical case is different and in my case to leave it well alone I cannot argue with.
So far I have managed to completed my flying career to retirement age plus 9years.
