[Brian_McLeod]

I was recently diagnosed with a 6mm kidney stone stuck in my ureter, towards the bottom. They inserted a nephrostomy tube into my back to drain my kidney and left it in place. A week later, I saw a urologist and he said that the first thing he wants to try is to put me on Flomax to relax my ureter and see if I pass the stone spontaneously. At first I just went along with this, because he's the doctor, but then I started to think about it more... I have a tube in my kidney draining it, meaning theres no pressure to force the stone out... is a little Flomax really expected to do the trick? I don't understand how relaxing my ureter ever so slightly is expected to allow the stone to pass, when days of backed up urine pushing on it wouldn't even push it out.

But, I thought I'd come here for a second opinion.

[haylee_beutler]

I just recently had a nephrostomy tube in my right kidney........ I feel bad for you. I was so excited to get mine removed! Even though you have a tube in your back to drain your kidney, you will still have urine passing through your other kidney, causing pressure on the stone. I have heard that flomax helps relax the ureters and also helps to stretch the ureters so the stone will pass easlily. But if you have the stone stuck in your ureter for too long (over a week) i would talk to your doctor about a different treatment. You dont want to cause any further problems. Good luck and hopefully you will get the nephrostomy tube taken out soon.

[Brian_McLeod]

The stone has already been stuck for over a week. They said they want to try the flomax first before anything else, and they didn't set my next appointment until December 31st.

[Brian_McLeod]

[quote="haylee_beutler"Even though you have a tube in your back to drain your kidney, you will still have urine passing through your other kidney, causing pressure on the stone.[/quote]

How will urine passing through my left kidney cause pressure on the stone in my right ureter?

[haylee_beutler]

Your nephrostomy tube wont completely drain all of your urine in that kidney so you will still have slight pressure in that ureter and you will still have urine passing through your other kidney. Anything is worth trying, but your stone is very large to pass (although still possible) If the stone is causing you pain, i would not wait till the 31rst for treatment. It is likely that treatment will be an "outpatient" procedure. Even if you pass the stone fron your ureter, it may get lodged somewhere else before you pass it. There is prolonging treatment if you will be unable to pass it. I would ask your dr. or urologist what the chances are of the flomax actually working??