[Guest]

i have kidney stones all time. I just had a ca of soft tissue of neck contrast. specific attention to thyroid gl parathyroid region demonstrates no definite focal mass re mild nonspecific gaseous of lower cervical esophagus at level just below thyroid gl. re is some mild gaseous distention of hypopharynx. No laryngeal or paralaryngeal mass lesion is identified. No focal mass is seen in eir submibular gl or parotid gl . re nonspecific lympf nodes in high deep cervical submibular chain. largest in jugulodigastric region bilaterally, measuring approximately 1 cm. No centrally low attenuating lymph nodes identified. re aer mild to moderate spondylotic changeof visualised cervical spine. visualized lung apices grossly clear is on my test rezults Can tell me y mean I have an HMO .I get kidney stones all 6 time . else can I ask m to do I really need help .It seams like y will only do something if know to ask .I got to tell my stones calisum. please help me . thank Barbara Mailman 2lightspeed.net

[Guest]

Unfortunately, you have given me none of the specific details needed to answer your question. A clear chest x-ray does not tell me what your stones are made of or why they were made. Also, calcium alone does not form stones. They are always formed of two ingredients if one of them is calcium. The most common type is calcium oxalate and the other one is calcium phosphate. These two stone forming chemicals are sometimes found together. Find out exactly what the stone composition is and don't take "calcium" as an answer.

Next, tell your physician that you want a stone prevention metabolic study including serum calcium, sodium, creatinine, bicarbonate, uric acid and electrolytes as well as a 24 hour urine chemistry analysis for volume, oxalate, calcium, citrate, sodium, magnesium, phosphate and uric acid. These commecial test profiles are available from a number of reference laboratories including Mission, Litholink, Dianon, Quest and Urocor, but we usually recommend the "Comprehensive Kidney Stone Prevention Program" from LabCorp because it is the most comprehensive and best analyzed. You can get more information by contacting LabCorp directly at 1-800-222-7566, Ext. 63125.

When these results are available, ask the physician to explain what the high risk factors are and what to do about them. If you are not satisfied with the answers, get a second opinion.

I would also suggest you get hold of a copy of "The Kidney Stones Handbook" that I wrote specifically for patients like yourself who need good information to be able to speak intelligently about this problem with your physicians. You can check your local library or click on the name of the book in the right hand column. Good luck.

Stephen W. Leslie, MD

Assistant Clinical Professor
Dept. of Urology
Medical College of Ohio

Founder and Medical Director
Lorain Kidney Stone Research Center
Lorain, Ohio