those with kidney stones---

[cornbread]

I'm just curious as to how many of you guys have had kidney stones, and how many have recurrent stones? I've had 60+ with another (estimated by the radiologist) 100 small stones, ranging from grain to 6 mm... I have recurrent stones, and I'm sure others of you have had the same problem or similar, and I'm just curious if anyone has had any good remedies or success in avoiding stones, or what your stories are..
As far as myself:
I've seen 3 different urologists, had a cystoscopy with removal of a few stones, never had an ultrasound (all have been within size of passing), I've tried the diets, tried meds, tried the different tests that have been ordered, and nothing has arisen.. I'm lactose intolerent, so milk could not be a factor - in fact, I have heard that diets low in calcium may be a cause of stones (new studies are saying at least)-- anyone tried anything with any luck?

The only remedy all the doctors have offered me so far is some kind of replacement tube between my kidneys and my bladder, and another dr just offered pain meds.. I want to rid the cause of the problem, and just want to network with others to see if they have any possible solutions..

Someone mentioned several months back that drinking lots and lots of cocacola would help to dissolve a stone - no luck. calcium oxalate stones are not dissolvable..

Hope to hear from some of you guys/gals

 

[notfred]

That sucks. A former neighbor of mine had kidney stones once. He said they hurt more than getting shot (and he had been shot before... in Vietnam or something).

 

[Nocturnal]

Ouch man. I hope you can find someone who knows how to fix that.

 

[orion7144]

I hope I never have to go through that pain...

 

[SSP]

My dad went through that, but it wasnt serious. Sorry to hear about the recurrent stones... that must suck.

 

[Nebor]

That seems like one of the few things that would make me consider suicide.

 

[DOSfan]

Well..... I have only ever had a kidney stone once. It was about 1 cm in diameter, and about 3 cm long. I tell you...... PAIN!!!!!

Needless to say, it could not be passed. Ultra sound did not work. Had to get laser surgery. That was not pleasant.

All I can tell you is what I was told.

Avoid milk, cheeses, and dairy products. (I know, you said you were lactose intolarant. Just giving you the whole deal.)
No soda. If I must drink soda, keep it diet only.
There was a list of vegetables and fruits I should have either avoided, or "doubled up" on..... But I can not remember it.

The end result:

I ignored the list.

I have not had a stone since. At least as far as I know.

I bet this does not help you, but it is all I can tell you.

From what I remember on an unrelated note..... Cranberrys and cranberry juice are supposed to be good for urinary tracts. I believe it was for avoiding bladder infections..... But it is something for you to look into. There is a brand of seltzer sold in my area caller Polar, they have a couple of varieties with cranberry juice in it. Good stuff.

Sorry I could not help more. Good luck to you. I can honestly say, I feel your pain.

 

[BUTCH1]

I had a stone about 2 years ago, the pain was unbeliveably bad..Since then I make
sure that I stay as hydrated as possible, force yourself to drink every time you pass a fountian even if your not the least bit thirsty. Also I switched from soft drinks to lemonade
as supposedly the type of acid in lemons helps discourage stone formation. Try to avoid
foods rich in oxalate, there are a number of urology web sites around that can give you
lists of what to avoid......Good luck.

 

[DanTMWTMP]

my dad had stones earlier this year....he says it's 10 times more painful than getting shot...damn...

 

[TheCorm]

Originally posted by: DanTMWTMP
my dad had stones earlier this year....he says it's 10 times more painful than getting shot...damn...

Yikes...

 

[dartworth]

Allopurinol helps prevent kidney stones...it reduces uric acid which causes stones

 

[blade]

I feel for you getting that many. I'll get them maybe once every 1-2 years that'll last up to a week or more. And the other guys are right, very few things hurt worse. Feels like freddy krueger is inside trying to get out with his finger knives. And usually the tiniest ones cause the most pain. Fortunately the pain pills work.

They tell me to drink nothing but distilled water. Lots of it. Once I get the the pain I do, but eventually stop. I'm surprised your doctors haven't told you that.

 

[TheGameIs21]

I pass noticable stones almost every third month. I used to pass multiple in a month (me and my screen were best friends) with many of them doubling me over in pain. I attribute my decrease in production of noticable stones to an increase in water intake. The stones I have passed that I notice have not been killers either, little twinges of pain every now and then. There is no diet that will help prevent most types of stones. I had many Dr's try to get me to take meds (side effects are not worth it) and other homeopathic options but I finally had one Dr tell me "If you are pushing enogh water through your system, stones wont have the chance to develope since you are constantly flushing your Kidneys.".

I have a home water service with Culligan since I feel that all the crap in our tap water couldn't be good for a cronic stone producer and I really feel all around better by pushing the water.

I don't know if this will help you or not.

 

[cornbread]

Originally posted by: TheGameIs21
I pass noticable stones almost every third month. I used to pass multiple in a month (me and my screen were best friends) with many of them doubling me over in pain. I attribute my decrease in production of noticable stones to an increase in water intake. The stones I have passed that I notice have not been killers either, little twinges of pain every now and then. There is no diet that will help prevent most types of stones. I had many Dr's try to get me to take meds (side effects are not worth it) and other homeopathic options but I finally had one Dr tell me "If you are pushing enogh water through your system, stones wont have the chance to develope since you are constantly flushing your Kidneys.".

I have a home water service with Culligan since I feel that all the crap in our tap water couldn't be good for a cronic stone producer and I really feel all around better by pushing the water.

I don't know if this will help you or not.

I drink 1-2 gallons of water daily - As far as helping the stones get through - a couple of advils and a few beers normally help for the small passing pains, the more painful ones I end up taking lortab, or if i'm caught out on the road without my meds, havent gotten anymore from the dr, or I'm having a particularly bad one, i end up taking a trip to the e.r.
I have noticed though, the stones seem to go in spurts - I'll pass 10-20 of them over a month or so, then they just disappear, and when I go a few weeks or a month without having one, when i start thinking maybe I wont have anymore - boom it goes through the same cycle again.
As far as the uric acid - mine have always been calcium oxalate.. I've done the whole diet thing, to where I was pretty much starving because all of my favorite foods were out of the picture. Didn't help a bit. New studies are showing that LACK of calcium can be a cause of stones -- I know for sure I've probably been calcium deficient for years - I show some of the signs but they're so vague it could be anything.. Maybe I'll start taking a calcium supplement and see if that works.
I don't like taking medicine, but if I can take a pill each day to put an end to it, or just make it more bearable, it's worth it to me.

 

[Antoneo]

Hmm... I don't drink a lot of fluids... perhaps 4 cups on average a day of water and the rest of liquids come from soups or such. I know, I have a BAD diet. I am increasing my chances of kidney stones then?

 

[Apathetic]

I feel for you, I really do (I've had 11 large stones and numerous smaller ones). The one thing that has helped me is the fact that I drink a LOT of water and by your last post you do too.

After a year or two of getting kidkey stones, I started to pay very close attention to my diet. I am VERY careful with the amount of dairy products that I eat. I don't avoid them, but I try to be VERY consistent with the amount I eat. This helps me determine how much calcium I can have before I start getting stones.
The tricky thing is that it takes the stones some unknown amount of time to form (everyone's a bit different). So if I'm having a stone now, it may be because of what I ate the month before.

You may have what my doctor called a "stags head" (I don't know if that's what other doctors would call it) - a large stone with "branches" going out in lots of directions. It may not hurt , but bits and pieces of it break off from time to time and you then pass lots of smaller stones. Have you had an x-ray recently? A couple of times they injected me with some type of dye/contrast before they took an x-ray. This allowed them to see where the blockages (stones) were - including the large one which was the source of all my small stones.

I REALLY wish I could be more helpful, but unfortunately you seem to have a lot more experience with this than me.

For those of you who have never had one, you have no idea how lucky you are. I've had my entire arm torn open down to the bone, and that didn't hurt anywhere near as much as several of the stones I've had. Add to that the inability of telling when you need to go to the bathroom (you ALWAYS feel like you have to piss like a race horse)....

Dave

 

[vi edit]

A couple of tums a day will get you just short of all the calcium you should need.

Sorry about your chronic stone problem.

 

[iamwiz82]

I had them once and dont ever want to feel that pain again. I drink much more water per day than when I did have them.

 

[PunDogg]

i know there are some drinks you can make that help flush the stones out, i'll try to find them, i found them once for a friend on google, but i can;t remember the web site as of right now

DOgg

 

[Rage187]

I've had 7 in 6 years.

Its gotten worse and I now get 1 every 6mons that requires codine.

I have something to look forward to every june and dec.

 

[Spamela]

my older son had them regularly from about age 13.

since he started following the physician's diet recommendations they're much
less frequent. i don't believe he takes any medication.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

I had problems with them from about 7-12. The doc told me to stop drinking so damn much milk and I would not have the problem. Problem solved.

 

[DorkBoy]

Wow, I had 2 I can't imagine 60. :Q

I had 1 stone analyzed but never heard back from the doctor.

Goodluck

 

[godspeedx]

I'm scared to go to the bathroom now. . .:Q

 

[FrOsTxxbYtE]

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