What Are The Signs Of Kidney Stones In Females

How Kidney Stones Are Diagnosed

There are several tools doctors can use to diagnose kidney stones, according to the NIDDK. After talking to you about your symptoms and doing a physical exam, your doctor may order these tests as well:

• Urinalysis: This is a test of your pee that can show whether your urine contains high levels of minerals that form kidney stones. A urinalysis can also tell whether your pee has blood, bacteria, or white blood cells in it .

• Blood tests: Your doctor may want to take a sample of your blood to test for high levels of certain minerals that can lead to kidney stones.

• Abdominal X-Ray: This is a picture of your abdominal area that can potentially show the location of kidney stones in your urinary tract. One major caveat, though: Not all kidney stones can be seen on X-ray.

• Computed Tomography Scan: CT scans use a combination of X-rays and computer technology to create images of your urinary tract. In some cases you might be given an injection of contrast medium, a dye or other substance that makes certain things inside your body easier to see during imaging tests.

If The Kidney Stone Is Not Causing Any Symptoms Should I Still Be Treated

There are some instances when it is OK to leave a kidney stone untreated. If the stone is small and not causing any pain, there is a good chance that it will pass on its own after it falls into the ureter. Such stones may be followed with “watchful waiting.” This means that the stone is not actively treated, but instead your doctor keeps a check on the stone to be sure that it is not growing or changing. This can be done with periodic X-rays.

What Are Some Early

• Pain in stomach, back, side
• Has been compared to the pain of childbirth
• When a stone moves into the ureter, it causes a blockage, creating pressure in the kidney
• Pain can start suddenly and vary in intensity/locations; comes in waves that can last for minutes; back pain tends to spread
• Please note: the presence of back pain, or even pain that you identify as being near your kidneys, does not mean you should begin worrying you may have kidney stones. Please visit a doctor as soon as possible. They will be able to palpate the area and determine if the pain is coming from the area around your kidneys or the area around your spine.

Pain during urination/frequency

When the stone reaches the intersection between bladder and ureter, pain is felt during urination; often is a sharp/burning sensation

Often mistaken for urinary tract infections

Needing to urinate irregularly often is a major sign of kidney stones

Blood in urine

Blood usually pink, brown, or red

Sometimes blood cells are too microscopic for human eyes, but ask your doctor to test you for this issue

Cloudy/odorous urine

Smelly urine can be a signal of infection in kidneys/urinary tract

Cloudy urine signals pus could be in urine

Inability to empty bladder

Blockages caused by kidney stones can halt/slow urine flow

If unable to urinate, go to the nearest medical center

Queasiness/vomiting

Fever/chills

Signals infection in kidneys/urinary tract

If experiencing fever with any sort of pain, go to nearest medical center

Men:

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Whats The Outlook For Kidney Stones

The outlook for kidney stones is very positive, although there is a risk of recurrence . Many kidney stones pass on their own over time without needing treatment. Medications and surgical treatments to remove larger kidney stones are generally very successful and involve little recovery time.

Its possible to get kidney stones multiple times throughout your life. If you keep developing kidney stones, your healthcare provider may work with you to discover why the stones happen. Once the cause is found, you may be able to make dietary changes to prevent future stones.

How Should My Kidney Stone Be Treated

Historically, the treatment of kidney stones required major surgery and was associated with long hospitalization and recovery periods. However, in recent years an improved understanding of kidney stone disease, along with advances in surgical technology, has led to the development of minimally invasive and even noninvasive treatments for people with kidney stones.

At Johns Hopkins, we believe that the treatment of a patients stones requires an approach that is unique to that individual. We offer a complete range of state-of-the-art treatment options, including ESWL , ureteroscopy and PERC, and we will discuss with you the advantages and disadvantages of each therapy as they apply to your situation. Our goal is to provide each patient with a clear understanding of the nature of their stone burden as well as the most appropriate course of treatment.

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Dietary Calcium And Kidney Stones

Only lower your calcium intake below that of a normal diet if instructed by your doctor. Decreased calcium intake is only necessary in some cases where absorption of calcium from the bowel is high.;

A low-calcium diet has not been shown to be useful in preventing the recurrence of kidney stones and may worsen the problem of weak bones. People with calcium-containing stones may be at greater risk of developing weak bones and osteoporosis. Discuss this risk with your doctor.

How To Prevent Kidney Stones In Women

In general, you can help to prevent kidney stones by consuming lots of fluids and preventing dehydration. This dilutes your urine and decreases the possibility that chemicals will combine to form stones.

You can prevent calcium oxalate stones by eating low-fat dairy products and other calcium-rich foods. Taking calcium supplements, however, can increase the risk of stone formation.

Women who excrete excessive oxalate into their urine should prevent eating foods high in oxalate. These foods consist of beets, spinach, chard and rhubarb. Tea, coffee, soda pop, chocolate and nuts also include oxalate, but these can be used in moderation. Eating too much salt and meat can cause more kidney stones to form.

After your doctor gets an analysis of the chemical composition of your kidney stones, she or he can suggest medications or modifications in your diet that will assist to avoid stones from forming in the future.

Certain medications may increase the risk of stones. So your doctor may wish to adjust your regular medications if you have had kidney stones.

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Feeling Faint Dizzy Or Weak

Why this happens:

Anemia related to kidney failure means that your brain is not getting enough oxygen. This can lead to feeling faint, dizzy, or weak.

What patients said:

I was always tired and dizzy.

It got to the point, like, I used to be at work, and all of the sudden I’d start getting dizzy. So I was thinking maybe it was my blood pressure or else diabetes was going bad. That’s what was on my mind.

What Is A Kidney Stone

A kidney stone is a hard object that is made from chemicals in the urine. There are four types of kidney stones: calcium oxalate, uric acid, struvite, and cystine. A kidney stone may be treated with shockwave lithotripsy, uteroscopy, percutaneous nephrolithomy or nephrolithotripsy. Common symptoms include severe pain in lower back, blood in your urine, nausea, vomiting, fever and chills, or urine that smells bad or looks cloudy.

Urine has various wastes dissolved in it. When there is too much waste in too little liquid, crystals begin to form. The crystals attract other elements and join together to form a solid that will get larger unless it is passed out of the body with the urine. Usually, these chemicals are eliminated in the urine by the body’s master chemist: the kidney. In most people, having enough liquid washes them out or other chemicals in urine stop a stone from forming. The stone-forming chemicals are calcium, oxalate, urate, cystine, xanthine, and phosphate.

After it is formed, the stone may stay in the kidney or travel down the urinary tract into the ureter. Sometimes, tiny stones move out of the body in the urine without causing too much pain. But stones that don’t move may cause a back-up of urine in the kidney, ureter, the bladder, or the urethra. This is what causes the pain.

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Signs And Symptoms Of Kidney Stones In Females

There are some signs and symptoms that may indicate kidney stones in an individual but the exact answer can be known only after medical examination and tests. Below are mentioned the 10 Signs and Symptoms of Kidney Stones in Females:

You remain tired and less concentrated- The functioning level of kidneys decreases and can lead to formation and building up of impurities and toxins in the blood in case a person is suffering from kidney stones. The individual can feel weak, dizzy, tired all the time and can feel fall in concentration level. Kidney stones can also lead to anemia which further causes weakness and fatigue in the person.

Sleeplessness- The kidneys serve the purpose of filter and remove the toxins from the blood. The kidneys are not able to properly serve that purpose of purification and the toxins stay in the blood only instead of leaving the body through the urine. The patient is unable to sleep in such cases.

Dry, flaky and itchy skin- Healthy kidneys remove the wastes, extra fluids, toxins from the blood. In case of kidney stones, the kidneys are unable to help make the RBCs and maintain the normal balance of minerals in the blood. Dry and itchy skin is a sign of imbalance of minerals and nutrients in the blood, which indicates kidney stones.

Blood in urine- Kidney filters are damaged if stones are present. This leads to blood leak into the urine. Apart from kidney stones, blood in urine can also indicate infection in the kidneys or tumors.

Are Home Remedies Effective For Kidney Stones

For some people who have had many kidney stones, home care may be appropriate. When passing a kidney stone, drinking lots of fluid is important. In fact, this is the most important home care measure. Medications may help control the pain . However, if it is the first time one has had symptoms suggestive of a kidney stone, it is important to see a doctor right away.

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Can Children Get Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are found in children as young as 5 years. In fact, this problem is so common in children that some hospitals conduct ‘stone’ clinics for pediatric patients. The increase in the United States has been attributed to several factors, mostly related to food choices. The two most important reasons are not drinking enough fluids and eating foods that are high in salt. Kids should eat less salty potato chips and French fries. There are other salty foods: sandwich meats, canned soups, packaged meals, and even some sports drinks. Sodas and other sweetened beverages can also increase the risk of stones if they contain high fructose corn syrup.

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Who Is More Likely To Develop Kidney Stones

Men are more likely to develop kidney stones than women. If you have a family history of kidney stones, you are more likely to develop them. You are also more likely to develop kidney stones again if youve had them once.

You may also be more likely to develop a kidney stone if you dont drink enough liquids.

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How Is Kidney Stones In Women Treated

In many cases, a trapped kidney stone eventually flushes out of the urinary tract on its own, specifically if you drink lots of fluids. With a doctors supervision, it is most likely that you can remain at home. You can take pain medicine as needed till the stone dislodges and flushes away.

Sometimes, it is essential to have your stone got rid of or gotten into fragments that can pass more easily. This might hold true if:

• The stone is too big to pass on its own.
• Your pain is severe.
• You have considerable bleeding.

Medical professionals have a number of choices for ruining stones lodged in the urinary tract:

• Extracorporeal lithotripsy Shock waves used externally break kidney stones into smaller sized pieces. The fragments are then swept away in the urine stream.
• Percutaneous ultrasonic lithotripsy A narrow, tube-like instrument is passed through a small cut in the back to the kidney. There, ultrasound breaks up the kidney stones in women. The stone fragments are then gotten rid of.
• Laser lithotripsy A laser breaks up stones in the ureter. The stones then hand down their own.
• Ureteroscopy A really little telescope is placed into the urethra as it makes its way to the bladder. The doctor finds the opening of the affected and guides the scope up the ureter until it reaches the stone. The stone is then either fragmented or gotten rid of.

It is uncommon that surgery is required to remove a kidney stone.

There Are A Number Of Reasons To Treat A Kidney Stone Even If It Is Not Causing Any Painful Symptoms

Recurring urinary tract infections

Some kidney stones may be infected, and in many cases, despite proper antibiotic treatment, the infection cannot be cleared from the stone. In such cases, the only way to remove the infection completely is to remove the stone.

Staghorn stones

These are extremely large stones that grow to fill the inside of the kidney. There are serious health risks associated with these stones, and left untreated they are associated with an increased risk of kidney failure.

Occupational requirements

For example, the Federal Aviation Administration will not allow a pilot to fly until all stones have been cleared from his or her kidney. Other occupations also do not allow for the unplanned passage of a kidney stone.

Extensive travel

The patient who, whether for business or otherwise, travels to locales where medical care is not reliable may wish to consider preventive treatment.

Patient preference

After thorough consideration of all options available to them, many patients elect to remove their stones at a time when it is convenient for them.

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Upset Stomach Nausea Vomiting

Why this happens:

A severe build-up of wastes in the blood can also cause nausea and vomiting. Loss of appetite can lead to weight loss.

What patients said:

I had a lot of itching, and I was nauseated, throwing up all the time. I couldn’t keep anything down in my stomach.

When I got the nausea, I couldn’t eat and I had a hard time taking my blood pressure pills.

When Should A Kidney Stone Be Treated

When a kidney stone causes pain to the extent that the pain cannot be controlled with oral pain medication, the stone should be treated. Similarly, stones that are associated with severe nausea or vomiting should be treated. Some stones are associated with infection or fever such situations can be life threatening and demand prompt attention. Stones that are associated with a solitary kidney, poor overall kidney function or complete blockage of urine flow should also all be treated.

Sometimes, when a stone is associated with bothersome symptoms, it may be appropriate to wait and see if the stone will pass on its own. If the stone is small, this is a very reasonable course of action. However, stones larger in size than 5 mm are unlikely to pass on their own and should be considered for treatment.

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Can Kidney Stones Be Prevented

It’s not always possible to prevent some types of kidney stones.

But anyone who’s had kidney stones should:

• Drink a lot of liquids throughout the day. Avoid dark sodas, soft drinks, and sports drinks. If their pee is almost clear, that’s a sign they’re drinking enough. Ask your doctor how much you should drink.
• Limit the salt and protein in their diet.

If dietary changes don’t prevent kidney stones, medicines can help. Depending on the type of kidney stone you had, the doctor can prescribe treatments or medicines to lower the levels of crystal-forming substances in the pee.

Doctors will keep an eye on teens who have had kidney stones and try to prevent new ones. The doctor might have you use a 24-hour urine collection test. This measures the volume of pee within a 24-hour period and checks what’s in it.

Kidney stones aren’t usually a worry for most teens, though it’s always a good idea to eat healthy foods and drink enough fluids to avoid dehydration.

Use Effective Home Remedies For Fast Relief From Kidney Stones

• Drink coconut water every day to keep yourself hydrated and prevent the formation of new kidney stones.
• Fresh pomegranate juice is loaded with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties that improve the functioning of the kidneys.
• You can also use the banana stem as it is enriched with potassium and magnesium that prevent kidney stones from forming. The banana stem also acts as a diuretic that increases the volume of urine to pass.
• Have lemonade or lemon juice in a glass of warm water every morning to dissolve kidney stones.
• Juice of basil leaves is yet another remedy for a kidney stone that prevents kidney stones from growing bigger and severe.

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What Are The Treatments For Kidney Stones

The treatment for a kidney stone depends on the size of the stone, what it is made of, whether it is causing pain and whether it is blocking your urinary tract. To answer these questions and to figure out the right treatment for you, your doctor might ask you to have a urine test, blood test, x-ray and/or CT scan. A CT scan sometimes uses contrast dye. If you have ever had a problem with contrast dye, be sure to tell your doctor about it before you have your CT scan.

If your test results show that your kidney stone is small, your doctor may tell you to take pain medicine and drink plenty of fluids to help push the stone through your urinary tract. If your kidney stone is large, or if it is blocking your urinary tract, additional treatment may be necessary.

One treatment option is shock wave lithotripsy. This treatment uses shock waves to break up the kidney stones into small pieces. After the treatment, the small pieces of the kidney stone will pass through your urinary tract and out of your body with your urine. This treatment usually takes 45 minutes to one hour and may be done under general anesthesia, which means you will be asleep and unable to feel pain.

In rare cases, a surgery called percutaneous nephrolithotomy is needed to remove a kidney stone. During the surgery, a tube will be inserted directly into your kidney to remove the stone. You will need to be in the hospital for two to three days to have and recover from this treatment.