Big Kidney Stone

[SandraCT]

I have 2 kidney stones in my right kidney. One of the stones tripled in size and is now about 1.3 cm. I think it got bigger from taking large doses of vitamin C. But I have retention and blood in my urine and dull aches. My doctor does not think it's the stone causing these symptoms because the stone has not moved from the kidney. Another doctor thinks I should have the stone out. I don't know what to do. My sister is a nurse and said not to touch it and that when they blast them up, you are in a lot of pain. I'm not sure what I should do. Does anyone have big kidney stones and if you have had them removed can you tell me about the procedure and if it was painful? My IC is very sever. I have horrible retention with a very weak flow. I also have urgency/frequency/burning. I'm all mixed up.

Thanks for your help.
Sandy

[dg2901]

I have a 2cm stone sitting in my left kidney--where its been for a couple of years now. My dr never suggested removing it, however I wouldnt allow him even he had mentioned it. I've passed a couple of stones and theyre no fun. I've also spoken to people who've had lithotripsy done and they said thats not fun either. I'm the type to leave well enough alone. Should the stone start moving and causing me problems then I'll seek intervention--until then it'll sit right there! :)

Good luck deciding what to do.
D

[DenySue]

I have had 5 kidney stones. The second one was so large that it lodged in the ureter just below my kidney. They took me to the OR and tried to laser it during a cysto, but it was so large it just cracked instead of breaking up. My kidney was blocked and so they had to place a tube through my back into the kidney to drain it. I had lithotripsy twice. It isn't fun, but they gave me drugs and I was sort of in and out. The first time didn't break the stone up enough to pass it, so I had to wait two weeks and they did it again. I actually looked forward to having the second lithotripsy, bacause I wanted the tube out of my back! I asked the urologist to "hit me as hard as he could" (it uses sound waves) and after that time I was finally able to pass it.
If the stone continues to grow, I would think it could cause problems with your kidney. If it could fall out of the kidney, it could block the ureter, but it sounds like it may be too large to fall out. Maybe you should get a second opinion?

[Dakota]

Hi Sandy
I had 3 stone procedures done in 2006. Like DenySue mine was stuck in the ureter, but the only symptoms I had were frequency, but no pain. After being treated for a UTI which I did not have, I was sent to a Uro who found it on a cat scan. In fact I had 4 stones in the same kidney and another in my other kidney. He tried to break up the big one in my ureter with laser, but was not successful and I left the hospital with a stent from the kidney to the bladder. I then went back a second time and he finished breaking all the stones up. The third procedure was a lithotripsy and I was not stented. On the way home I passed a fragment and was in horrible pain. It finally subsided after an hour and I was fine. I was diagnosed with IC about a month later. I have to say that through all of the procedures I had done, I really did not have pain. It was only after the lithotripsy without the stent. I think you should discuss this further with your doctor and ask if you will be having a stent put in after the procedure. I believe that is was the stent that prevented me from having severe pain.

[SandraCT]

Well I'm scheduled for the surgery on Aug. 12th and I'm having the lithotripsy. She did not mention putting in a stent. I'm nervous about this but I think I should have it done because I have blood in urine and retention. I'm not 100% sure it's from the stone, but it's something I have to rule out. My stone is big; 1.3 cm. My kidney doctor along with the Urologist both said to take it out now while they can still do this procedure. I'm hearing both pros and cons about it. Thanks so much for your replies. It helps to hear from others who went through it.

Sandy

[SandraCT]

Yes the stone is too big and will never pass on it's own. Also I am having twilight anesthesia during the procedure. No stent was mentioned but she did say I may have to have one put in afterwards. Ughhhh...

[Dakota]

Hi Sandy

Wow that is a large stone! I agree with your doctors about getting it out now with lithotripsy. When I had mine I had the twilight anesthesia too, and let me tell you it was the most relaxing thing ever. I went into another world, and I could hear the doctors talking, and the litho machine doing it's thing. I have no memory of being transferred back to the recovery room. When I opened my eyes, my daughter was there, and I told her I wanted to go back to that "other world" because it was so peaceful there. With a stone this big I would think they would be using the stent which is a good thing. It will help any fragments pass and most likely prevent you from having any pain. I wish you the best, and just wanted to tell you not to worry to much because it really was not such a bad procedure at all. I know "easy for someone else to say" right?

[SandraCT]

Thanks for your response Dakota. Im really nervous about this but I do think I should have it blasted before it gets bigger. I have to see if this is causing the blood in my urine and retention. But the doctor said she is not putting a stent in. I don't know why this is. Ughhhhh. So nervous but thanks again for your concern and compassion.
Sandy