Kidney Stones Rock my World

Backache, Surprise Kidney Stone

2011-03-14T11:31:00.000-07:00

I had a backache this past weekend. It was hurting enough to take my breath away at times. It never occurred to me it could be a stone. I took ibuprofen thinking I hurt my back. I went for a walk in the woods and never let it get the best of me. Last night I noticed that I passed a big kidney stone. It never ceases to amaze me that I sometimes don't relate my pain to a kidney stone. I feel much better today.

How do you do your daily responsibilities when you are in pain?

2011-03-04T11:00:00.000-08:00

I am feeling better and I am getting a lot done finally. When I have kidney pain or kidney stone pain I have to take strong medicine which interferes with my daily activities. I am learning to work through the pain at times, but I rely on my great kids more than I would like too have to. They are great, but they are children and they need their mom to be healthy and active. I try to make up for the time I am sick in bed by doing extra things when I feel well.

How do you cope? Please post your comments below.

Doing Great, Pain Free for Days

2011-02-27T16:05:00.000-08:00

I have been pain free for days now.(I did have a bout of kidney pain on Thursday)It has been more than a week that I have felt healthy and have even been doing some walking on a treadmill.
I have been getting a steady stream of comments on OH NO! A KIDNEY STONE. Two people have had bad parathyroids. I will have to do more research into the parathyroid. Check back soon for more information on the parathyroid and its role in kidney stone production.

No My Daughters Did Not Inherit MSK!

2011-02-17T08:33:00.000-08:00

Thankfully I got the results of the ultrasounds the girls took yesterday and their kidneys are both normal. MSK is congenital but they do not know yet if it is genetic. We will get Joseph tested to make sure his kidneys are normal too.
This is such a relief to us and the girls. They see me suffer and now they don't have to worry that that will be their future too.

Did My Kids Inherit MSK?

2011-02-16T10:41:00.000-08:00

Today I took my two girls for ultrasounds of their kidneys to see if they inherited Medullary Sponge Kidney disease. Hopefully the ultrasounds will be normal, if not at least we have the knowledge to prevent them from forming the stones in the first place. We are pretty nervous about the outcome of the tests. My 10 year old son also wants to be tested, once he heard there is a test. I will ask the doctor when she calls with the girls' results. I got to sit in and watch the ultrasounds, but do not know how to interpret them. It was frustrating not to know right away. At least their kidneys do not look like mine do on ultrasound.

Stent removal

2011-02-14T14:49:00.000-08:00

Well, I finally got the stent out this afternoon. Dr. Perez and his nurses were very patient about my anxiety. It went smoothly. They numbed me but I still felt them pulling it out. Ugh. Greg held my hand and watched the video monitor...I kept my eyes closed. I am a big chicken about getting stents removed.
On a positive note, I have had NO pain on my right side for a few months. Maybe the pain on my left side will stay away now that I have had the lithotripsy and the stent is gone. I am looking forward to being pain free!

2 Days of Pain

2011-02-13T11:18:00.000-08:00

Well, Friday evening and Saturday were pretty painful for me. I had to use Dilauded and a heating pad and I was mostly laying around in pain even with the dilauded(which is related to morphine and very strong). Today I am not in pain. I am SO looking forward to getting this stent out tomorrow and hopefully being pain free again. This has been a long hard recovery this time. I hope this is the last time, but I doubt it.
My husband, Greg, always comes with me to get the stent removed. I am always scared and he holds my hand. I hate that they do it awake. It is never as bad as I fear, but I still dread the actual procedure. The doctor inserts a cystoscope into my bladder and using the camera, finds the end of the stent and pulls it out. I wish they put me out for it.
2:30 tomorrow, only 24 more hours with this stent, thank God.

2 More Days with this Stent

2011-02-12T08:15:00.000-08:00

This past week has been very good. I received prayer for my kidneys on Sunday and I had no more pain until last night. Last night I was in a lot of pain again, but it passed and I am doing well today, Praise God!
Monday afternoon I get the stent removed. I can't wait.
I have not had any kidney pain on my right side this whole time. The procedure was on my left kidney. I think my left kidney is in worse shape.
I want to be sure and thank my readers for reading about my journey with kidney stones and Medulary Sponge Kidney disease.

Lingering discomfort & Pyridium

2011-01-27T12:14:00.000-08:00

It was 2 weeks yesterday that I had the cystoscopy with laser lithotripsy. I have been feeling much better. I have had some burning and urgency sensations and have been taking Pyridium- and it has been helping a lot. I looked it up at nih.gov and this is what it said:

Phenazopyridine relieves urinary tract pain, burning, irritation, and discomfort, as well as urgent and frequent urination caused by urinary tract infections, surgery, injury, or examination procedures. However, phenazopyridine is not an antibiotic; it does not cure infections.

Stent or Stone

2011-01-24T14:34:00.000-08:00

What is worse, a kidney stone or the stent the doctor places in the ureter for several weeks after removing the stone?
I think the stone is usually worse, but there have been times I am not sure if the cure is not worse than the stone. Stents have caused me cramping and pain and a lot of blood in my urine. I have had a stent for almost two weeks and will not have it removed for two more weeks. This time it seems to be in a good position. I do have some pain, but no bleeding or cramping. I only needed pain medicine once yesterday and none today so far.

recovering

2011-01-22T10:22:00.000-08:00

I think I am recovering nicely. Greg thinks I am sicker than usual after the procedure. I guess I don't see how I act. Anyway, I am feeling good today. This stent isn't too bad this time. I haven't been bleeding from it for days.
I feel better than I did before the procedure so I would again say it is worth it.

Scopolamine Patch

2011-01-18T16:16:00.000-08:00

I had a scopolamine patch during the procedure. It lasts for 3 days. It really worked for nausea. The day after I took it off was not pretty. I was so nauseous and actually got sick in the evening. I am going to ask for an Rx of it to have at home when I have to take pain medication.
I have not needed any pain medication for two days. I think I can say I am recovered from the procedure now. Yay!

On the Mend

2011-01-15T09:13:00.000-08:00

I am feeling much better. I have not needed anything for pain since yesterday. I have a slight discomfort on my left flank, but nothing I can't tolerate.
My mother has been here since Monday and she is a great help. Elizabeth & Joseph are having a couple of friends over to make home movies.

Days two and three post op

2011-01-14T14:47:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I was in so much pain that dilauded was not helping,I rested and napped when I could.I kept a heating pad on my kidney area to help with the pain. About 9:30pm I called my Pastors for prayer. I had to urinate frequently and it was painful. I took pyridum which is an anelgeisc for the urinary track. It helped me to be able to sleep the entire night and next morning.
Today I slept until noon. I was not in any pain when I woke up but had some bad pain after walking around for a little while. Dilauded helped this time
My pastor dropped by with flowers and a nice card. They are a real blessing to us.
Hopefully the worst is behind me

Surgery day

2011-01-13T10:51:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was surgery day.I got to the hospital at 9:30am for prep work, paperwork and IV. My mother and Daughter, Elizabeth stayed with me until 11am, when I was transported to Pre-op where I got my pulse oxygen and blood pressure monitored and Vancomycin antibiotic. Anesthesiologist came in and gave me a 3 day anti-nausea patch for behind my ear. After an hour or so (no clock) I was moved into the OR. They put some EKG strips on me and had me breath deeply some oxygen. That is all I remember until waking up in recovery and wheezing. My throat was so dry and I kept coughing. They gave me ice chips and took out the catheter. I stayed in recovery for about an hour. My mother and Elizabeth stayed in the waiting room while I was in Pre-op, OR and Recovery. Then we all got moved back to the room I started at. There we waited while I had my vital signs monitored and they had to measure how much urine I was outputting.They gave me another IV and I stayed for a couple more hours. I was ready to go home when they discharged me at around 5:30pm. I was a little anxious when I got home. I did not settle down until around 7:30 when I went to bed.

Pre-admission Testing is done

2011-01-11T09:05:00.000-08:00

I am done with pre-admission testing. I am home and in pain. I want to take a pain killer, but have to drive somewhere first.

Tomorrow I have my procedure and the kidney stone pain will be gone, but I will have a stent in for several weeks.
Last night I went to bible study and several ladies mentioned they are praying for me. It is so sweet to know I am being covered with prayer.

My mother will be staying with me at the hospital and my mother-in-law will stay with my kids.

Greg and Rebekah are in Tallahassee and will be back tomorrow evening to be there for my recovery.

I love and appreciate my family.

2 more days

2011-01-10T12:42:00.000-08:00

I am feeling better today. I go for pre-admission testing tomorrow and then have the retrograde Ureteroscopy and Laser Lithotripsy on Wednesday. Classes started at the community college I attend today. I am taking all internet courses so the procedure and recovery should not impact my classes. I do not even attempt classes that I have to go in person. I never know when I will be too sick to attend.

Day 8 of kidney stone

2011-01-07T10:20:00.001-08:00

I have been passing this kidney stone for 8 days now. Fever on and off. Some days I am ok, others I am flat in bed in pain. 5 days until my laser lithotripsy. My family is being very considerate and understanding.

Waiting and waiting

2011-01-04T17:14:00.000-08:00

A lot of time with a kidney stone is spent waiting... waiting for a stone to pass or waiting to have a stone removed via lithotripsy or waiting to have a stent removed.
I have been waiting for a stone to pass since Thursday. I saw my urologist on Monday. I have an infection and need to have more stones removed. I am waiting for the laser lithotripsy to be scheduled, then I will wait for the procedure. In the mean time, I sit here in pain...waiting.

Oh No, A Kidney Stone!

2009-10-11T16:14:00.000-07:00

If you ever had a kidney stone, or even worse, you are suffering from one now, you know the indescribably intense level of pain a kidney stone causes.