[morknmindy]

Hello, I am so new to all of this ... I've had UTI's, back pain and pelvic pain since 2002. I have tested positive for blood and sometimes for protein in my urine since 2002. This past Nov. I had a nasty lower pelvic pain and it was dismissed in the ER as UTI with possible cystitis. I saw a Urologist and he read the actuall CT scan report which indicates 2mm kidney stone. He wants to do a shockwave therapy of some sort... Any input on people with this experience would be apprectiated... Isn't 2mm rather small...? Anywho... Thanks for hearing me out...

[tabula99]

That does seem to be a bit small, though if the stone is stuck in the ureter and causing pain I can see why he would do it.

Litho as a procedure is fine, afterwards your kidney has smasms and you will need painkillers and herbs to calm it down.

Have you tried herbs or Flomax to push the stone along? Usually doctors will try that before doing the procedure.

Good luck...

[morknmindy]

Thanks Tabula99. The stone is sitting in the kidney and I have had blood in my urine for quite some time now..(couple of years) it is not visible to me but it is there and twice it was pretty high. I have had alot of abdominal pain and the bladder checks out fine.

Have you ever had this procedure? If so, would you mind walking me through your procedure... I'd like to be prepared.

Thanks again...( a million thanks)

[tabula99]

No problem I'm happy to help.

I'll start with the procedure, it's called Extra Corporeal Schockwave Lithotripsy, you lie down in either a tub of water or some other soft material and then your urologist, after locating the stone on X-ray, aims sound shockwaves at your kidney and lasers them in to break the stone down into small fragments, hopefully grains of sand and they pass through your ureter to the bladder. You will probably be knocked out with intravenous drugs during the procedure, when you wake up you will feel like you've been punched in the kidneys a few times, it really isn't too bad on the outside. However on the inside your kidneys will spasm (this is normal) and you will have blood in the urine as well, drink lots of water to help that out. The pain from the spasm can be excrutiating, make sure you get powerful painkillers, take warm baths and take herbs to help calm it down. Hydrangea, Stone Root, and Gravel Root are useful to help flush any remaining fragments out and calm down the kidneys. Hopefully you'll be just fine. One other thing, my doctor recommended taking a Flomax before the procedure to relax your ureter and help the fragments pass, also take any antibiotics you may have or get some to prevent infection. Talk to your doctor and see if he advises this as well.

Usually this procedure is done when a stone is stuck in the ureter, your Dr. may have determined that you are in pain even though the stone is still in the kidney. Apparantly that is unusual but many claim on this forum to have that pain as well.

It sounds as though you have had a lot of infections and back pain, I would load up on the antibiotics and also get a CT to check your spine as that may be causing some problems as well in that area.

Again good luck, you are smart to want information, I wish I had more of it myself before I did it. I probably could've made it through it better. If you read my story you will see we have some similar problems.

[Stoneman231]

Hello
I just got on this site.
I go in for shockwave..eswl on Monday morning.I'll let you know how it is.
2mm is small you should pass it unless it is in a spot in your kidney that you will never pass it.
I just passed a 4mm last friday and it took 30 days but I'm a male the other altenative was for my dr. to go in me to get it..No way...
So monday am they blast a 6mm and 2 smaller stones as well.
Go on you-tube check out how to pass kidney stones..outlivetheant was the guys username.
The lemon juice thing does have some merit It helped me I was takamine231 user on his site.
Well over a 150 lemons but it does help move the stone along also a ton of water.
The olive oil-lemon thing didn't work for me nor the apple cider thing.
Pure lemon juice not the bottle stuff is the way..
The one I just passed had a hook on it so it tore me up the whole way out.Thats what took so long.
I've passed 4 prior little stone in the past 14 yrs in a day or two.
If your not in killer pain try and pass it..
Do your homework on eswl,
I have to do eswl a 6mm stone is real tough to pass.
Also my 1st urologist was hot to put me out and grab all 4 stones by going up my unit into my kidneys.
My 2nd guy said tough it out and try to pass as many as you can. Good Luck..Let you know monday..

[morknmindy]

Wow! That is really detailed information and it puts my mind at ease. I don't like going into something blind. This is very useful to me and I truly appreciate your feedback...

Be well and thanks again.... :-)

[morknmindy]

Thanks today was D-DAY for you... How did it go?

[Stoneman231]

My eswl knocked me out monday I'm 6-2 250 they doped me up big time.
Today is tues 6pm still real tender both sides more so the 6mm stone side.(left)
I think I over did walking around took dog out etc.Caus kinda little blood in my pee.Was fine all day(clear)
I figure there is a hole where that stone was, it probably needs to heal. Plus some of the fragments might be working their way out.
I feel a little relieved, I can at least take a deep breath without a shooting pain in my sides.
The worst part for me was the I.V I hate needles,although I have a couple of tattoos.
The nurse was gentle,Guess she figured I was a big baby..
Did'nt feel the procedure, they blasted my 3 stones..Took 45 min. A little strange laying in 2 inches of warm water bare ass at least covered in the front some dignity..Slept most of the day mon.
just feel wiped out today should get better each day..I'm curious how they lifted my 250lb dead weight body from the eswl table to the girney I woke up on ?? Somebody got a back ache..
Girlfriend took a picture of me with the hospital gown on will release the picture if I don't behave..
All in all, anxiety was my worst enemy, worrying about the unknown. Hopefully no more stones, go back on the 23rd for xrays.Keep ya posted
Robbie

[morknmindy]

Hey, that's good news... I am so happy all went well. You would be suprised how easy it is to move a heavy person once the weight is distributed. They usually use the sheet under you to do the lifting. They probably had about four people firmly grip each corner and extend their other hand towards the center and lifted on the count of three. It's not to bad that way... That's not important but it is something that makes us big people wonder. I too am 250 pounds but I am a whole foot shorter so go figure..LOl... Anyway, God Bless and feel better.

[lioness]

Yes, 2mm is rather small for ESWL...if its not causing obstruction or problems the uro will leave it alone...target treatment for stones is usually 5 - 6mm & up depending on where you go...I am surprised that he wants to shock a stone that small...I would get a 2nd opinion...