How Long Can A Kidney Stone Stay In The Kidney

Kidney Stone Symptoms You Should Know

Anyone who has ever had a kidney stone knows how miserable it can make you feel. Kidney stones develop when high levels of salt and other minerals in the urine stick together. Over time, these congealed bits can form stones ranging in size from sand-like grains or small pebbles to chunks of gravel.

Some are soft, some are sort of crushable, some are more crystaline and some are more solid, like a petrified rock, says Margaret Pearle, MD, PhD, professor and vice chair of urology at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

Kidney stones can pass in your urine without any need for treatment. But when a stone gets lodged in a bad place, especially in the uretersthe narrow passageways that allow urine to move from the kidneys to the bladderthe pain can get pretty intense. Larger stones may even block the flow of urine. That being said, stones that remain in the kidneys may not cause any pain or symptoms at all. As long as theyre not obstructing urine flow or associated with infection, they can be left alone.

A variety of factors like diet, certain medical conditions , and family history of the issue can increase the risk for developing kidney stones. One of the most important and easily correctable risk factors is dehydration. Boosting your daily water intake can reduce your risk of forming kidney stones in the first place.

Here are the key warning signs of kidney stones, plus what you can do to get rid of these little troublemakers.

Pregnancy : : Possible Kidney Stones

Im a 29 year old female 36 weeks pregnant. Back in January I had a large amount of blood in my urine and some flank pain happened again two weeks later so my OB requested a urology work up. I had a full ultrasound which showed mild fluid in my right kidney which is normal in pregnancy. Then sent me off to a urologist for a cystoscopy and two cytologies to look for bladder tumors and Cancer cells. All which were negative. Fast forward to April and again some flank pain with blood in my urine. Urologist wants a CT scan but cant due to pregnancy. So it became a waiting game. May comes along and im having blood every few days with a little more Intense pain lower along my hip and into my pelvis. No back or flank pain per say but now I am urinating large clots and tissue and blood. Went to the hospital they pumped me full of fluids did an ultrasound and saw absolutely nothing and said probably a kidney stone well look closer after you have the baby. Does any of this sound like a kidney stone? They feel it would be a small one since it cant be seen on ultrasound and I am not in excruciating pain. But Im having a hard time wrapping my head around a small stone causing so much trouble, blood and clots and taking MONTHS to pass Any thoughts?

How Do I Know If I Have Ureteral Obstruction

If you suspect you have ureteral obstruction, you should see your doctor. Some of the signs of a blocked ureter are similar to symptoms of other conditions that need treatment, such as urinary tract infections , having pain, or not getting good urine output even when you drink plenty of fluids. Its important to see your doctor for diagnosis and treatment.

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Is Milk Good For Kidney Stones

Yes. Calcium-rich foods such as milk, yogurt, and some cheese and oxalate-rich foods are beneficial for preventing kidney stones. This is because oxalate and calcium from the foods are more likely to bind to one another in the stomach and intestines before entering the kidneys, make it less likely that kidney stones will form.

How Long Do You Stay In The Hospital After Having A Stent Put In

Watch this video, provided courtesy of Boston Scientific Corporation, to learn more. Recovery from angioplasty and stenting is typically brief. Discharge from the hospital is usually 12 to 24 hours after the catheter is removed. Many patients are able to return to work within a few days to a week after a procedure.

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Shock Wave Therapy And Percutaneous Nephrolithotripsy For The Treatment Of Kidney Stones

Some small studies have tested shock wave therapy and PCNL. In comparison, PCNL was more successful than shock wave therapy. The following results were observed three months after treatment:

• 44 out of 100 people didn’t have any kidney stones after having shock wave therapy.
• 95 out of 100 people didn’t have any kidney stones after having PCNL.

But the outcome of shock wave therapy depends on the size, position and composition of the kidney stones: Stones with a diameter of less than 10 millimeters are easier to break up. This is more difficult if the stones are larger or harder. Stones in the lower part of the kidney are also harder to treat with shock wave therapy.

Shock wave therapy carries the risk of leaving behind kidney stone fragments that are too big to pass through the ureter. These fragments might get stuck in the ureter on their way to the bladder. Additional treatment is then needed. To prevent this from happening, a small tube is sometimes temporarily placed in the ureter. The stone fragments can then flow out smoothly.

The shock waves can be painful, so painkillers are given before the treatment. They can also damage the kidney tissue, which may lead to bleeding, for example. But serious complications and long-term damage are rare.

Because only a few small studies have compared these two treatments, there are no exact figures on the likelihood of complications. But shock wave therapy is still considered to be the more gentle treatment.

How To Remove Your Stent

Wash and clean your hands thoroughly

It is important to try and relax. This will make removal easier.

Take hold of the string and with a firm, steady motion, pull the stent until it is out. Remember that it is approximately 25-30 cm long. This will feel uncomfortable but it should not be painful.

Once the stent is removed you will probably experience some pain the next time you pass urine and you may also notice blood in your urine. This is quite normal and it will pass.

Make sure you drink enough fluid to keep your urine a pale yellow colour. This will reduce the likelihood of blood clots in your urine.

If you feel that you are unable to remove the stent by yourself, dont be concerned. Contact Urology Associates and arrange a time to have the stent removed by a nurse.

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How Is The Procedure Performed

The procedure is usually performed with the patient asleep . Sometimes a local anaesthetic, with or without sedation, is administered.

During this procedure, a tube with a tiny optic camera is inserted through the urethra into your bladder. The bladder is inspected, and the ureteric opening is located. The urologist may use x-ray images taken with a contrast agent in the ureters to assess the urinary tract and to locate the obstruction.

The stent is placed during surgery by sliding it over a guidewire placed in the ureter .

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Kidney Stones : : Staghorn

Thursday morning I spent the night in the ER with a kidney stone in the left kidney when they did a CT Scan they came and told me that they made an incidental finding in the right kidney that is a problem they have discovered that I have a Staghorn kidney stone that has attached itself and almost completely filled the right kidney. He said that I will not pass it and now my GP has made me an appt. with a Nurse Practitioner at the urologists office for Tuesday morning to discuss my options. What are my options going to be?

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What To Expect Back Home

At hospital discharge, your doctor or nurse will give you instructions for rest, driving, and doing physical activities after the procedure.

Because surgical instruments were inserted into your urinary tract, you may experience urinary symptoms for some time after surgery. These symptoms usually disappear in a few weeks.

Symptoms may include:

• a mild burning feeling when urinating
• small amounts of blood in the urine
• mild discomfort in the bladder area or kidney area when urinating
• need to urinate more frequently or urgently
• pain resulting from an internal abrasion that needs time to heal

Try to drink fluids often but in small quantities. Sometimes a blood clot can cause pain . The urine contains a substance that will dissolve this clot.

If the pain remains despite the use of pain medication, contact the hospital or your doctor.

Do I Need To Restrict Activities While I Have A Ureteral Stent

You may need to restrict physical activities for the first week after the procedure. If your job doesnt require lifting heavy objects, you should be able to return to work as usual within 24 hours after the procedure.

Your provider may recommend not having sex for the first week after stent placement to reduce the risk of a UTI.

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When To Call Your Healthcare Provider

Contact your healthcare provider right away if:

• Your urine contains blood clots or you see a large amount of blood-tinged urine

• You have symptoms similar to those you had before the stent was placed

• You constantly leak urine

• You have a fever over 100.4°F , or as advised by your health care provider

• You have chills

• You experience nausea or vomiting

• Your pain is not relieved with medicine

• The end of the stent comes out of the urethra

• You experience new or worsening symptoms

What Can I Do The First Week After Surgery

• Try to drink enough fluids: 1.5 litres daily throughout the day to facilitate urine flow and the spontaneous loss of small stone fragments.
• Try not to have sex within the first week after the procedure to avoid urinary tract infections.
• Eat more vegetables and less meat to have softer stoolthe inner healing process will be helped if you do not have to squeeze when using the toilet.
• Allow your body to rest during the first week after the procedureyou are allowed to lift a maximum of 5 kg and to go for walks. You can start cycling and exercising after this period.

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Who Interprets The Results And How Do I Get Them

After the procedure is complete, the interventional radiologist will tell you whether the procedure was a success.

Your interventional radiologist may recommend a follow-up visit.

This visit may include a physical check-up, imaging exam, and blood tests. During your follow-up visit, tell your doctor if you have noticed any side effects or changes.

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When Is A Kidney Stent Used

Although there are different types of stents, they all serve the same purpose. The purpose of a stent is to allow drainage of urine from the kidneys to the bladder, whenever there is blockage of the ureters.

Ureteric Stent is sometimes used in the following circumstances:

• When it is essential to relieve obstruction on a temporary basis, before treatment of the underlying condition is carried out.

• It is not possible to identify what has caused an obstruction and immediate treatment is necessary.

• Following an operation on the ureters. It takes time for the ureters to heal, so stents are used as a temporary measure to prevent obstruction and allow the ureters to heal properly.

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Get Rapid Relief From Kidney Stones At Your Nearest Emergency Room In Frisco Or Fort Worth Tx

The pain and frustration of kidney stones can be debilitating and wreak havoc on a persons everyday life. Not only that, but some kidney stones can cause dangerous complications when left untreated. Dont sacrifice your comfort, health, and safety when it comes to kidney stones. If you suspect you may be passing a kidney stone or have previously been diagnosed with kidney stones that are now causing you painful or worrisome symptoms, visit your nearest iCare ER & Urgent Care location in Frisco or Fort Worth, TX today. Our exceptional and compassionate team of board-certified emergency physicians looks forward to giving you the relief and confidence you deserve.

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How Does Passing A Kidney Stone Feel

Small stones can pass without any symptoms at all, but larger stones can be a problem.

As long as the stone is in the kidney and not blocking the flow of urine, you probably wont feel it. Eventually, the stone leaves the kidney and enters the ureter on its way to the bladder.

The ureters are tiny, about 1/8 inch wide, so if a stone cant move through, its hard for urine to flow.

This can cause swelling and incredibly painful spasms . Youll feel a sharp, stabbing pain in your side or back, below the ribcage. Pain sometimes radiates to the groin and genitals.

You might find that the intensity of the pain changes as you change position and as the stone continues its journey through your urinary tract. Youll probably find it near impossible to lie still, tossing and turning in an effort to stop the pain. Pain can subside for several hours before returning.

• vomiting
• blood in the urine

The pain tends to ease up once the stone reaches the bladder. If the stone is small, or has broken into small pieces, you may not feel it as it flows from the bladder, through the urethra, and out with the urine.

Stones dont usually block the urethra, since its twice as wide as the ureters, but a larger stone can cause resurgence of pain.

It takes an average of 31 days to pass a small stone. Stones 4 millimeters or larger may take longer or require a medical procedure to assist.

• chills, fever

• blood work

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Are There Any Foods Or Drinks That Help Treat Kidney Stones Are There Any Home Remedies

There are three liquids rumored to help with kidney stones:

• Cranberry juice. Although cranberry juice can help prevent urinary tract infections , it doesnt help with kidney stones.
• Apple cider vinegar. Vinegar is acidic and it can sometimes create changes to your urine, which helps with kidney stones. But, this doesnt always help. Talk to your healthcare provider about the use of vinegar.
• Lemon juice. Lemon juice is rich in citrate, which can help prevent kidney stones from forming. Citrates are found in several citrus fruits including lemons, limes, oranges and melons.
• Coffee. Studies show that coffee may decrease your risk of developing kidney stones.

Avoid soda and other drinks with added sugar or fructose corn syrup. They increase your risk.

Causes Of Kidney Stones

The most common cause of kidney stones isdehydration. Youre not drinking enough water to dilute the concentration of minerals in your urine . Recommended water consumption is about two liters or half a gallon of water a day.

Water is the best fluid to drink in order to prevent kidney stones, Dr. Abromowitz explains. But water from a well is very high in solutes, which increases your chance of kidney stones. So i f youre drinking well water, you ought to have a purification system on it. Every year I see patients who develop a kidney stone for this reason.

Other kidney stone risk factors include:

• Too little or too much exercise
• Being overweight

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Treatment Options For Kidney Stones

Small kidney stones often pass out of the body on their own. As long as they don’t cause severe pain or complications, treatment isnt necessary. Larger kidney stones usually need to be treated. Depending on how large the kidney stones are and where they’re located, they can be destroyed or removed using an .

Most kidney stones with a diameter of less than 5 millimeters, and about half of all stones between 5 and 10 millimeters, pass out of the body on their own. These smaller kidney stones are often flushed out in the urine after one or two weeks.

If its thought that a stone will probably be flushed out without any treatment, doctors generally recommend waiting. If the kidney stone causes pain as it travels through the ureter , painkillers like ibuprofen or diclofenac can provide relief.

Larger stones that cause problems will usually have to be broken up or surgically removed. That needs to be done if

• the stone isn’t passed within four weeks,
• there are complications,
• it causes severe colic , or
• the stone is larger than 10 millimeters in diameter.

Uric acid stones can sometimes be dissolved using medication.

What Are The Most Common Types Of Kidney Stones

The most common type of kidney stone is a calcium oxalate stone. This type happens when calcium and oxalate combine in your urine. It can happen when you have high quantities of oxalate, low amounts of calcium and arent drinking enough fluids.

Stones caused by uric acid are also fairly common. These come from a natural substance called purine, which is a byproduct of animal proteins .

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