kidney stone?
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kidney stone?
well my hard living years have caught up and I've a 5mm stone in my tract. Thought someone shot me when it came out of kidney. ended up in in a & e. seeing surgeon this evening armed with ct scan and reports.
This'll knock me out of work for a while? any feedback appreciated.
This'll knock me out of work for a while? any feedback appreciated.
Last edited by suasdaguna; 30th Apr 2009 at 17:58.
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Suasdaguna
Hard liviing isnt the cause, its more biochemical and the shape of the kidney thats to blame. Becoming dehydrated is a cause though, so fluid intake is critical. Proprietary isotonic drinks are very good. If you have access to an occupational health physician they will be able to advise you on the causes as the blood tests reveal much, and give advice as to diet and most of all, fluid intake. Food and drink high in calcium are best limited, so reduce the cheese and milk.
The pain, as I'm sure you know, is when the stone moves from the kidney into the tube connecting the kidney to the bladder. If the stone is passed through the bladder you wont need any intervention.
In a way you are lucky. 5mm is about the right size of stone to be obliterated by lithotripsy, which is sound waves used to shock the stone into fragments which will pass through the urinary tract. If there are stones which stay in the kidney or ureter then lithotripsy is the best choice. It doesnt hurt, isnt even uncomfortable during the process, needs no anaesthetic and is completed in about an hour.
Surgery if needed, also isnt horrendous as most stones can be taken out with a camera technique which a small camera, very similar to that which engineers look inside engines, is used to take stones out of the urinary tract. Its known as dormia basket extraction, or endoscopic renal surgery. No incisions are necessary although it usually means a general anaesthetic.
Surgery usually is undertaken if the stones are large (Ive seen 30mm stones) or a shape that gets stuck in the kidney (staghorn calculi) or there are an awful lot of them. This is pretty much at the far end of the scale of treatment. Its hard to tell at the end of a computer but I guess that this wont be necessary as about 80% of kidney stones are dealt with by lithiotripsy or endoscopic dormia basket extraction. Hopefully the stone will pass normally.
You have my best wishes and I hope this has helped.
Hard liviing isnt the cause, its more biochemical and the shape of the kidney thats to blame. Becoming dehydrated is a cause though, so fluid intake is critical. Proprietary isotonic drinks are very good. If you have access to an occupational health physician they will be able to advise you on the causes as the blood tests reveal much, and give advice as to diet and most of all, fluid intake. Food and drink high in calcium are best limited, so reduce the cheese and milk.
The pain, as I'm sure you know, is when the stone moves from the kidney into the tube connecting the kidney to the bladder. If the stone is passed through the bladder you wont need any intervention.
In a way you are lucky. 5mm is about the right size of stone to be obliterated by lithotripsy, which is sound waves used to shock the stone into fragments which will pass through the urinary tract. If there are stones which stay in the kidney or ureter then lithotripsy is the best choice. It doesnt hurt, isnt even uncomfortable during the process, needs no anaesthetic and is completed in about an hour.
Surgery if needed, also isnt horrendous as most stones can be taken out with a camera technique which a small camera, very similar to that which engineers look inside engines, is used to take stones out of the urinary tract. Its known as dormia basket extraction, or endoscopic renal surgery. No incisions are necessary although it usually means a general anaesthetic.
Surgery usually is undertaken if the stones are large (Ive seen 30mm stones) or a shape that gets stuck in the kidney (staghorn calculi) or there are an awful lot of them. This is pretty much at the far end of the scale of treatment. Its hard to tell at the end of a computer but I guess that this wont be necessary as about 80% of kidney stones are dealt with by lithiotripsy or endoscopic dormia basket extraction. Hopefully the stone will pass normally.
You have my best wishes and I hope this has helped.
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Just to add, as soon as the stone is passed or is obliterated, then you should be able to go back to work as soon as you feel fit enough to do so. If its a single stone and is passed then the problem is gone. Just watch the milk and dont grow another! Any residual infection can be dealt with by antibiotics, although most dont cause infection.
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thank you so much mercury for the info.
I have a 5mm stone and its impacted.....as in stuck at the opening of the bladder. consultant has booked me for next tues for the thing up the you know where op to grab it out. They cant blitz the blighter either.
My mate a consultant / prof etc into radiography had also a look at the ct scan. He smiled and said sorry mate you'll have to have a wee op 3 consultants are all in agreement and taking bets that it wont shift.
If I have a bad night as in pain I'll just go to hosp tomorrow otherwise next tues.
I have never endured such pain when the stone moved from the kidney towards the bladder, I more or less collapsed.
I have to keep all wee peed and any stones let go. They are v keen to get the stone so they can advise me re diet etc for the future.
Far as I know CAA are very cautious letting one back in the saddle and to be honest I have no interest in seeing a plane until I'm all done and as you say feel upto it.
Cheers and appreciate your valuable info.
I have a 5mm stone and its impacted.....as in stuck at the opening of the bladder. consultant has booked me for next tues for the thing up the you know where op to grab it out. They cant blitz the blighter either.
My mate a consultant / prof etc into radiography had also a look at the ct scan. He smiled and said sorry mate you'll have to have a wee op 3 consultants are all in agreement and taking bets that it wont shift.
If I have a bad night as in pain I'll just go to hosp tomorrow otherwise next tues.
I have never endured such pain when the stone moved from the kidney towards the bladder, I more or less collapsed.
I have to keep all wee peed and any stones let go. They are v keen to get the stone so they can advise me re diet etc for the future.
Far as I know CAA are very cautious letting one back in the saddle and to be honest I have no interest in seeing a plane until I'm all done and as you say feel upto it.
Cheers and appreciate your valuable info.
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Ah yes, that makes sense. a 5mm stone isnt going to pass through anywhere. I'm surprised it got as far as the bladder end of the ureter. Lithotripsy cannot work on that part of the body. It is used at the kidney or in the kidney end of the ureter.
Plus side - the stone isnt up in the kidney so will be easy to get out. Its also likely to be round. Funny shaped ones can be a nighmare to clear. Ideal for dormia basket extraction. If its just a single stone then its an even bet that you wont get another.
Composition of the stone is important but this needs to be matched with your blood chemistry. One type of stone is urea crystalloid. This will match high urea in the bloodstream. Its a very similar process to gout, so dont think that any inflexibility in the feet or foot pain is irrelevant. Tell the medics everything. High calcium stones are most common. Hence my suggestion to lower high calcium food and drink. Keeping fluid intake up is very important. Aircraft can be dehydrating so plan to increase your fluid intake by about 15% when you do get back to work, and not coffee either. If you go anywhere hot and humid then you could easily double the fluid intake.
The pain from kidney stones is phenomenal and isnt that susceptible to any strength of painkillers as the pain is caused by spasm.
I hope the surgery goes ok.
Plus side - the stone isnt up in the kidney so will be easy to get out. Its also likely to be round. Funny shaped ones can be a nighmare to clear. Ideal for dormia basket extraction. If its just a single stone then its an even bet that you wont get another.
Composition of the stone is important but this needs to be matched with your blood chemistry. One type of stone is urea crystalloid. This will match high urea in the bloodstream. Its a very similar process to gout, so dont think that any inflexibility in the feet or foot pain is irrelevant. Tell the medics everything. High calcium stones are most common. Hence my suggestion to lower high calcium food and drink. Keeping fluid intake up is very important. Aircraft can be dehydrating so plan to increase your fluid intake by about 15% when you do get back to work, and not coffee either. If you go anywhere hot and humid then you could easily double the fluid intake.
The pain from kidney stones is phenomenal and isnt that susceptible to any strength of painkillers as the pain is caused by spasm.
I hope the surgery goes ok.
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cheers again...did the bloods etc this morn again....a urine sample and then they put me on a course of antibiotics prior to procedure....just feel exhausted from the whole thing and can't wait to get that stone out.
doc mentioned as per your post.....radial changes in lifestyle.....1 tea or coffee a day etc. Looking fwd to feeling normal again. Thanks again mercury...appreciated.
Shall report back.
doc mentioned as per your post.....radial changes in lifestyle.....1 tea or coffee a day etc. Looking fwd to feeling normal again. Thanks again mercury...appreciated.
Shall report back.
