Kidney Stone Q + A
Though they are usually quite small and are only in your system temporarily, kidney stones can inflict some serious pain. The good news is that there are a few simple things you can do to keep them from forming. Here are answers to questions about recognizing, treating and preventing these tiny, painful pebbles.
Q. What is a kidney stone? A. Kidney stones are made of salt and minerals from your urine that build up and stick together to form a pebble. They’re usually no larger than a grain of sand.
Q. How do I know if I have a kidney stone? A. Sudden severe pain that gets worse in waves is the most common symptom. This occurs when the stone leaves the kidney and travels through the urinary tract. Some women describe it as the worst pain they’ve ever experienced. Other warning signs include nausea, blood in the urine or painful urination. If you experience any of these, be sure to see a doctor right away to find out what’s ailing you for sure – some of these symptoms are also signs of urinary tract infection.
Q. How do I get rid of a kidney stone? A. Almost 90 percent of kidney stones will pass through the urinary tract on their own, usually taking between one and three weeks to clear your system. The smaller the stone, the more likely it is to pass on its own. Larger stones may require further treatment – they can be removed surgically or broken up into smaller pieces.
Q. How can I avoid getting kidney stones? A. The No. 1 way to avoid painful kidney stones is to drink more fluids. This will better balance the salt and minerals in your body, making it difficult for stones to form. Eating more fiber and calcium rich foods – and eating less beef, pork, poultry and salty foods – can also make a difference.
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What others are saying
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Sara, 12/16/2009 5:51:31 AM
OMG this is just what I needed to know! My sister-in-law has been experiencing a lot of trouble with kidney stones these past couple of years and they seem to be getting worse. I wanted to know if there were diet changes that would help to help prevent them. Thanks! -
michelle, 12/16/2009 6:34:34 AM
I get kidney stones with my pregnancies even though I eat lots of fiber and drink lots of water. Some people are just prone to get them and during pregnancy the baby squishes your organs making it so they can't drain properly. It feels like you are in labor when the pass. I usually start with having severe back pain. -
Karla , 12/16/2009 7:41:28 AM
Well I heard drink cranberry juice will help too. -
chiquita, 12/16/2009 7:55:14 AM
I thought this article was great and very helpful because I have a family member who had them but I really didn't know what they were. -
Vicki, 12/16/2009 7:57:39 AM
Kidney stones definitely caused me more pain than anything else, including my 10 C-sections! The pain was in my lower back.
I have had 6 kidney stones that I know of. I thought I was going to die with 3 of them.
Number 6 was "blasted". It was my "easiest" kidney stone to recover from.
Two of them were surgically removed. I ended up in ICU for 4 days after one of them because of a kidney infection that the stone was blocking. When they removed the stone, the infection spread throughout my body and into my blood stream.
Kidney stones aren't for wimps! -
Lisa, 12/16/2009 9:27:50 AM
I started getting kidney stones with my pregnacies and still have problems with them. My urologist said my body produces alot of calcium that helps contribute to them. I have had cystoscopies and lithotripsy for them in the past. They have been extremely painful. -
Mary, 12/16/2009 9:31:38 AM
do you ever get rid of kidney stones after having two procedures? -
Tammy, 12/16/2009 9:42:38 AM
The last month and a half of my first pregnancy was awful due to kidney stones. I passed two during visits to the hospital. The third time, I had stents surgically put into my ureters so my kidneys could drain--the remaining stones were too big to pass at that time.
After my son was born, the stones broke up enough that I could pass them. My total count was somewhere between 40 and 60 stones, most of which were passed post-partum. Even better, three of the stones I passed were the size of peas.
I sure hope the rest of my pregnancies don't go like that!
The pain was horrible, and I felt like I was dying, too. I've talked to other women whose doctors tell them they can only take Tylenol for the pain. That's ridiculous! Initially I was put on morphine, but apparently I don't respond to it. So my doctor put me on demerol, which made the pain bearable, and phenergan, which took care of the nausea. Upon release from the hospital, my doctor prescribed me Tylenol 3. If you're pregnant and passing kidney stones, it may be worth it to push for more than Tylenol--severe pain can put you into pre-term labor!
I still think labor was worse than the stones, but maybe that's because it lasted longer and the pain continued to worsen until I got an epidural. (I don't handle pain well!) -
Nancy, 12/16/2009 9:51:57 AM
I'm a 41 (ouch) year old woman who has had kidney stones since I was 16. I have just recently discovered I have an overactive parathyroid gland, which is causing an increased amount of calcium in my blood stream which results in kidney stones (about 1 every other month). I have had every surgery imaginable, even had a tub through my back into my kidney to remove stones as there were too many to "blast".
If you get multiple stones get your blood checked for calcium levels. I am going in for surgery in February and can hardly wait to be STONE FREE!!!! -
Rebecca, 12/16/2009 9:57:29 AM
I have had kidney stones 14 times and I would rather give birth to 20 kids then have another one. One way to control it is to drink lemonaide and lower your salt intake. The acid in lemons help break the stone up. I feel everyones pain who has had one ....OUCH ! -
Mary, CNA, 12/16/2009 10:17:20 AM
Excuse me, but kidney stones can be much larger than a 'grain of sand'.
I had one that was .1 of an inch. Another one was .2. My daddy had some that were .3. Ouch. no fun.
Also, if you are prone to having kidney stones, leave off as much dairy as you can, especially ice cream, if you are a big eater.
Cranberry juice helps a bladder infection (UTI), and can ward them off by drinking a couple ounces a day. Never heard it used for kidney stones. But surely won't hurt to drink it! -
Marie, 12/16/2009 10:23:58 AM
Definitely the worst pain I have ever had, much worse than labor pains! I truly wished for death during my first experience with kidney stones. My urologist said once you have them you can expect to have another. So far, I have had them three times, about 5 years apart. Stay hydrated with water, cranberry juice, and lemonade. -
Cathy, 12/16/2009 12:46:56 PM
I am a nurse, and if anyone has ever been treated for something painful, nurses will often ask you to "rate your pain on a scale of
0-10", with 10 being the highest possible pain score. Kidney stones set the standard for what a -10- really is. It usually requires doses of some big narcotics, specifically usually morphine, if the person isn't allergic or asthmatic. Often the problem is simply that the person chronically does not drink enough water. There are so many reasons to drink water-it makes everything in your body operate at a higher efficiency level. It is essential for life. And so many times when I teach patients about having an adequate water intake, I hear "Well, I just don't 'like' water". Well, you can add lemon or lime or whatever you have to do, but I can tell you that if you start drinking adequate water, soon you will crave it when you don't have it. Another thing.....GROW UP! Drink Water! You didn't like your vegetables when you were a kid either, but your mom knew they were good for you, and you learned to love them. So, do the same thing for water. Just because you don't "like" water, doesn't mean you just choose not to drink it. CHANGE! Or you can wait for your first kidney stones.
:) -
Sharon, 12/16/2009 1:16:56 PM
Great Information! Thanks! -
MARGIE, 12/16/2009 1:20:32 PM
My urologists has told me Not to drink cranberry juice for kidney stones. Cranberry juice aggravates the problem. -
Nancy, 12/16/2009 1:29:41 PM
I had lost a lot of weight and even though I drank a lot of water and ate the proper foods I got them and they hurt. Worse than having a baby if you ask me, I ended up in the hospital twice. Once they scrapped my kidneys looking for them and the second time because they stint they put in hurt as bad as the stones. Finally on a morphine drip I was able to pass them and not hurt so bad. I wish this on no one. -
pixielin13, 12/16/2009 2:15:59 PM
My husband was suffering from kidney stones while we were on a Harley Road Trip to Newfoundland. We happened to meet up with a fellow rider from Ontario who showed us that beets seemed to dissolve the stones at a great rate of speed. Within about 12 to 15 hours my husband was able to continue our ride. Now he eats beets once a week and this has seemed to help him. -
Louise, 12/16/2009 3:38:01 PM
I had kidney stones so bad each time had to have stent for urine and they had to break them up with laser . Dr said to much protein in my urine take meds now called alluurpol -
Pam, 12/16/2009 4:01:55 PM
I also have suffered from kidney stones for 20 some years and I'm 42. The biggest one I had that dropped was a 1/2 inch stone. Thought I was going to loose my mind!! It was blasted then a stint was put in then when the stint was taken out another stone dropped!!! But then I got really sick about a year ago or so when they found out my calcium was so high that they thought I had cancer. Had a biopsy of my liver and they found I had Sarcoidosis which was making my calcium so and whole bunch of other things that were out of whack. And I went in to acute renal failure. So if you're having a lot of stones maybe have your calcium checked. -
Theresa, 12/16/2009 4:14:05 PM
I had a kidney stone a year before getting pregnant. Dr warned me it would be like giving birth. Let me tell you I think the kidney stone was much worse. I had back labor which hurt like heck but man that kidney stone was so unexpected I thought an alien was coming out of my stomach and the back pain was worse than the labor back pains. Although I got drugged up for that. try and drink water but yes its boring and plain so I get the flavored water pouches to add to my bottle. I think I had one a few months back and I was told once you get one, you will keep getting them. Ouch! I can only imagine what its like for a guy. -
Crystal, 12/16/2009 7:00:16 PM
I've had at least six stones that I know of and I have reduced their size and frequency by giving up dark pop. I can always figure out if I have one because when I drink dark pop I end up having a painful attack right after. -
Paula, 12/16/2009 9:21:07 PM
I had my first experience with a kidney stone a few years ago. I've had two really tough pregnancies and I have to agree with these posts. The kidney stone was horrible. I didn't know what was happening and I was terrified. It hurt much worse than having my children and I had the first one completely natural. I sure hate the thought of having to face another one. I couldn't even talk after a point because I hurt so bad. Never have I felt like that! I sure pity those that have had to go through this more than once! -
Juliette, 12/16/2009 10:07:41 PM
Be careful about drinking cranberry juice if you have a kidney stone. Cranberry juice is suppose to help an urinary infection. I could be wrong, but I would do more research before drinking cranberry juice if you are trying to pass kidney ston. -
michele, 12/16/2009 10:59:32 PM
kidney stone was much worse than child birth. I thought I would die. I heard there are two kinds of stones, calcium and, dont know the other kind, does any one know. I heard to add lemon to water. Sure hope I never have another stone again. Good to know about taking fiber and more water, water, water. -
Nancy, 12/17/2009 12:27:08 AM
My husband has had 7 kidney stone attacks. A doctor told him to take uva ursi, found in a vitamin store. At first, my husband took 2 or 3 a day for several days and the stone dissolved enough that he could pass it. Now, as a preventative, he takes one uva ursi at least monthly. No more kidney stones! -
Liz, 12/17/2009 3:57:43 AM
NO FUN! drink lots of water! Cranberry juice can actually make them worse because cranberrys are high in oxalate! So is chocolate, most berries for that matter, most beans. -
april, 12/17/2009 4:44:54 AM
i have passed 3 stones prior to my last prgnancy but when i was pregnant the dr discovered i had a 23mm stone & a 17mm that were not goin to pass. my pregnancy was horrific. i would pass liver sized blood clots from my bladder i had numerous ER visits for pain relief. bein preggo makes you feel guilty to use opiates for relief but you have to do something bcuz the pain which can trigger labor. The year after my delivery i had 3 lithotripsies (luckily my baby was born early in yr so insurance was met) i still have the 2 large stones as they regroup before i can pass all the debris. i believe labor is by far worse pain wise but passin stones is right up there! Toradol (which u cant take while pregnant) along with percocet help with mine the most. maybe one day i will be brave & let em go thru my back to take em out but my insurance recently changed & my urologist doesnt accept it at this time. Drink plenty of water, lemonade or really any liquids other than tea! i read recently asparagus may help break down stones -- odd cuz i actually get cravings for it! I have passed a 7mm stone w/o a stent & with relative ease minimal pain...but i do believe my tolerance is quite high as my left back hurts daily & i know its from the stones. Good luck everyone & hope you never get one! -
Jeanne, 12/17/2009 8:19:41 AM
I have had just one kidney stone. When the urologist heard I had two children, he asked me what was worse, labor or the kidney stone... it was definitely the stone! I was initially misdiagnosed - my own fault because I had called my ob-gyn office and told them I was sure I had a UTI, so they called in an antibiotic prescription, but I wasn't getting any better. I was pretty much rolling on the floor in agony. So I went to my doctor, who promptly sent me for x-rays and they found the stone. The urologist gave me Tylenol with codeine, which helped the pain some but made me so I could not function. Luckily the stone passed in about a week. I was told it was composed of calcium oxylate, and I suspected immediately that it was probably due to the calcium supplements I was told to take when I was nursing my younger child (this stone episode occurred when she was 2 yrs old). I also used to drink a lot of tea, which contains oxylate. I still drink tea but I have never taken any more calcium supplements. Now I'm at the age where it's recommended but I try to get calcium from my diet... no more supplements! This all occurred 22 years ago and I've never had another stone so I think I must be correct about the cause. There's also no history of kidney stones in my family. I do drink cranberry juice to help prevent infections, and also it's good! I had never heard anything about it preventing kidney stones. The main thing, as stated above, is drink enough fluids! I love water! -
Ruth, 12/17/2009 8:35:28 AM
I had kidney stones since I was a teenager, maybe even before that. I didn't know what I was dealing with, was treated for infection in female organs, which did not help. After birth of my first child had an attack that sent me to the doctors office, where I was sent to the ER and treated for kidney stones. Had a stone the size of a pencil eraser lodged in a ureter. Finally had to have it surgically removed. My urologist told me that if I did nothing else, to drink enough water that I passed two quarts a day. I have done this consistently since then, and so far have not had a stone, and that was 14 years ago. -
Judy, 12/17/2009 11:34:30 AM
Kidney stones are worse than labor pain! According to the urologist, mine was the size of "a shooter marble." I had lazer surgery to break it up, but instead of the pieces washing out as intended, they went up, back into my kidney. This required another surgery to fish out the pieces. I was off work for over 2 months. It was the horrible. -
Felicia, 12/17/2009 11:57:46 AM
Huh? One of the most common kidney stones is formed by Calcium & Oxalates. My doctor told me not to eliminate Calcium, which is needed to for bone health, but to watch too much calcium, don't overdo milk, calcium fortified OJ or calcium supplements. -
Virginia, 12/17/2009 2:37:13 PM
I know what it is to pass kidney stones and calbladder stones, too. I suffer many times and years with these and I which I could do something to get rid of these stones completely. I drink gallons of water, especially in the Summer time, and I wonder is there something else I should be doing to assist me with passing these. Cranberry juice has helped me at times, but I know my dad and mom suffered with kidney stones, especially my dad, so maybe it hereritity.
What do you think?
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Amanda , 12/18/2009 3:55:14 PM
I recently had surgery to remove 2-4 kidney stones. it was the worst pain i have felt and didnt get sleep for 24 hours up until i visited the hospital in the early morning in the E.R. to get a CAT Scan. Waited 5 days to finally get surgery to get them removed! this information was helpful! thank you so much for the helpful info! -
Anita, 12/19/2009 10:35:25 AM
I 've had a stone and it was worse than anything I 've ever had. I've had ruptured discs and joint replacements and they were a piece of cake compared to the stone. All I passed was sand like material and the Dr. said that was it. Then I had to collect my urine for 24 hours and it was analyzed. My oxalates were high. On a list of foods to use sparingly, were raw carrots and iced tea.
I was eating lots of baby carrots as they were easy to take in my lunch and I love
iced tea. I cut back and have not had a problem since. -
Karen, 12/19/2009 10:46:46 PM
I Just got home from the hospital I had a stag horn stone which they could only remove part of it, a tube was put in my back and when I heal from this I will have to have sound waves break up the rest of the stone.
All seven people in my family have had stones. I was told that we live in the kidney stone belt of the US. I live in MD. I'm not sure if this is true but in every hospital in this state there are ten plus urologists there. I know I need to drink more . my doctors have me takeing 500 mg. vit.C twice a day to help stop the stones from forming.
this is my first experience with a stone
and so far it been no picnic.
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Noemi , 1/1/2010 3:06:48 PM
Yes they look very painful , my mom has been going through that pain for a long time. At first she missed her operation appointment and instead ended up going to get acupuncture. They gave her proper medicine and she was able to pee them out she didn't even feel it and was fine for about a year . She got more now and had to go to the hospital and spend the night, her doctor told her it is caused by stress and too much anger. They took away all types of food and seasoning. Her diet requires her to eat only soup no salt or pepper , vegetables cooked with no skin, no red vegetables and some milk of magnesium every day . Some jello for lunch and two glasses of water and at nigh milk of magnesium and some crackers no salt. She has lost so much weight and is on medication. It is very hurtful to watch her suffer at times she gets back pain and isn't able to sit as if her bottom part of her body paralyzes. She has spend the night at the hospital even while she's on her med. So if you start feeling any symptoms you should get it treated A.S.A.P before it gets worse. -
Heather K, 1/8/2010 8:37:45 PM
I got my first kidney stones a little over a year ago and it was a nightmare. A week or so before hand, I thought I was suffering from a UTI because I had the feeling of a full bladder and pelvic pain that could only be described as a sand paper gritty feeling. I also had a dull back ache. A week after those pains begun I got the stabbing pain that was the worst pain I've ever felt in my life. I was out of work for two weeks with on and off pain episodes trying to pass it. The ER doc told me in addition to the stone I had (2 mm) I also had "ticking time bombs"....multiples in both kidneys that would come out eventually. Now I think I'm getting them again. But this time I'm able to recognize those symptoms as kidney stones. It's a horrible waiting game...waiting around for that excruciating pain. I called my doc and he prescribed me some pain meds just in case because I'm STILL paying on my bill from last time. I'm also taking the herbs Hydrangea and Marshmallow which are supposed to dissolve the stones. They work so far because the pain has t escalated past the groin pain. My question is: Has anyone on here been able to forsee their kidney stones happening?....AKA having certain pains before the really bad pain? I've googled and all I can find is people saying they abruptly feel the really bad pain. I'd like to know your thoughts. Thanks and wish me luck!!!
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