[tabula99]

Hello all,

I'm a 23 year old male dealing with kidney stones Like many on this forum I'm frustrated and feeling a little bit helpless.

I was training for a marathon when the week before the race I was struck with that knife feeling in my left flank, vomiting and writhing in pain I was rushed to the ER. A CT scan found a 5 mm stone stuck in the ureter. They gave me Vicodin and Flomax (after pumping me full of morphine) (to try to ease the stone along) and told me to go see a urology specialist.

I had uncontrolled vomiting the next two days (probably from the narcotics) and missed work. When I finally got an appointment with the urologist he immediately scheduled me for lithotripsy. The surgery was found to be a success, immediately I passed a few shards and I left feeling good.

However, I woke up the next morning vomiting uncontrollably and screaming in pain, not knowing what else to do my girlfriend took me back to the ER, where they gave me anti-nausea pills and of course, more pain meds. I did end up passing one more shard of stone, but that's it.

I still have pain and went back to the urologist Since then I've been put on the heaviest Rx dose of Potassium Citrate, 1040 mg which I take three times a day, I also take Magnesium Citrate 300 mg once a day and try to do the lemon juice in water thing while also taking Flomax (I'm pretty much a pharmacy.)

I now have pain in both sides, I've been sent for all types of tests and have been all over the spectrum.

KUB X-Ray showed no stones on either side. Urologist said this was good.
Renal Sonogram showed three stones, two on left one on right, urologist grimly told me I was screwed.
He then sent me for this Intra-Veneous Polygram (fluid test) to see what sort of procedure I should have, this test showed no stones and perfect kidney function. Urologist was jubilant and said we didn't need to do anytihng.
Now, I just took another CT Scan (the final arbiter) because I'm still in pain and I know something is there, I'm grimly awaiting these results. It's really frustrating to be emptying my savings on these tests which show nothing and the conflicting results have me worried. I also just got Epididymitis (NOT FUN) and am getting antibiotics to help that, so...basically my whole urologic department has shut down.

Like many on here in the other posts, this problem has sort of taken over my life (the dark cloud over you thing right?) and I've been studying like a fiend to try and figure this out. It's honestly maddening. The worst thing is that every doctor, nurse, and other specialist I've seen has commented on how young I am, it makes me feel almost as if I've done something wrong. I keep myself in good shape and while I don't eat as well as I probably should I don't think that makes me much different than any other 23 year old.

No history of stones in my family either, I'm the first one. I like my urologist ok, he seems like a nice guy, but I'm starting to have doubts.

Thanks for listening guys. Good luck to everyone. Any advice please reply, I'll take what I can get!

[Stoneman231]

Dude,
What a night mare.
I go in Mon. for eswl "blasting" did you have this done? Or did they go in through your unit.
I just passed a 4mm stone last friday, hung in my groin area for 30 days prayed to pass it so they wouldn't have to go get it I heard it's no treat.Lots of Pecocet.
I have 3 stones left, a 6mm in my kidney and 2 smaller ones as well.
Just want to know if anyone had eswl And what to expect.
Thanks

[haylee_beutler]

I can honestly say i know exactly how you feel.

Although, i am a 22 year old female, and i was diagnosed with a 22 mm stone that, unfortunately, had to be removed through invasive surgery. I was diagnosed in October and i also found myself searching the internet for answers to my questions. I felt very alone because it is not common for someone as young as us to have these problems. For me, lithotripsy was out of the question because my stone was just too large. I have learned a lot from my experience and i can tell you that sometimes "Doctors just dont listen!" I sometimes wish that i could find a urologist who has had kidney stones so they know exactly what it feels like to have one. CT scan will give a great difinitive answer. KUB's can sometimes not show your stones due to the amount of remains in the intestines and gas. Many doctors think that if nothing shows up on test then there must not be anything wrong, but dont give up. If you feel there is still a problem or you still might have stones, keep searching for a urologist you can trust, and dont front any money for any tests that you dont think will give a difinitive answer.

I have had basically every test involving the kidney and i would be very happy to answer any questions you have regarding stones, treatments, and different procedures. I answer many peoples different questions about their kidney stone problems, and i am finally glad i found someone that can relate to my own age.

[haylee_beutler]

I was also going to add that you can read my story if you would like. It's titled "My Story, 22mm stone, PCNL surgery" ... It has a lot of information on it.