PCNL surgery advice please

Thank you and sorry they had to go through your rib! Did that effect your breathing? i'm just healing from 2 dislocated ribs very painful on right side. Since stones are on the left I hope no set back. so climbing stairs will probably take a few days of a week? How bad was the pain when you went home?

There was no pain after 2 days or so, which I spent in hospital. Did not need pain meds after leaving hospital, but morphine and opioids first two days. The pain after surgery was intense. Tubes out the genitals and back area. No effect on breathing, I think they went in between the ribs, which they all said was extra painful. I have no climbing stairs in my life, but if you just go very slowly and all will be well and you will be surprised how quickly you recover energy. All in all, I am very happy for having done this surgery. My thinking on the matter was, OK, endure a couple of days of intense suffering as the result will be freedom from pain, UTIs etc.

Thats kind of what Iam expecting 1-2 days of pain. i should not have a stent but tube out the back and the catheter overnight. I am nervous for sure!

Good luck. Keep us informed about how it goes. And don't be afraid to ask for morphine and opioids. For a few days, no danger of addiction. Been there. In fact I hated the opioids. No desire to take them except for extreme pain

Hi Barbara,

i don't think i have to get the stent but will have tube out my back. Did it hurt to get tube in radiology first?

They say 1-2 daysin hospital. The first urologist i saw didn't even offer pcnl he said 2-3 procedures would be required and a stent for like 3 months. i knew this would not be my doctor, lol. I got a second opinion and they are like your stone is too big for that! I guess I would rather have a few days in the hospital over 3 months of pain.

HI deborah, IN RADIOLGY I TOLD THEM I WANT TO BE PUT OUT AND SO THEY DID, I FELT NOTHING, next i knew i was being wheeled into surgery and out like a light. I WILL PRAY FOR YOU THAT YOUR RECOVERY WILL BE AS FAST AS MINE, I ALSO HAD A VERY LARGE STONE. I HAD THE OTHER SURGERY LIPTROPISY, NEVER BROKE THE BIG STONE . TO ME THAT WAS WORSE THEN PCNL. I HAD A GOOD EXPERIENCE. GOOD luck LET ME KNOW HOW YOU DO. JUST TELL THEM YOU WANT TO FEEL NOTHING.

Thank you so much that makes me feel better!

HI Barbara,

i just got my pcnl scheduled for October 7th. i have to go to radiology first at 8am but surgery is not until 330pm. i guess the surgeon likes to wait in between because of the blood. yikes this scares me!

did your wait time take that long? the scheduler said they keep me sedated and comfortable and isure hope that is the case. i will tell them i dont want pain of course i was just trying to see how long your wait was inbetween radiology and surgery.

thank you,

deborah

Thank you Sarah,

I will ask them before hand when I go in for the blood work and ekg tests.

Did you have tube out your back and a stent? I'm not really in pain because my stone is too big to get stuck in tube.

I found out about this huge stone when I had ct scan to try and figure out my rib pain. I have had rib pain for a whole year because dislocated ribs don't show on xrays or ct scans quite the nightmare. Now I have to take care of this 1.88cm stone and have more pain but I can't just let it grow. Ugh I'm nervous!

They said no stent so I'm crossing my fingers on this part. I'm pretty sure my back pain is caused by this stone but its more of a ache not too bad.

Catheter in for a few days and stent for a week.

A few weeks after the nurse at my local surgery did take a stitch out, the rest had dissolved.

Having stent taken out was a bit painful and uncomfortable but certainly not unbearable.

Sarah

Hi Sarah,

thanks for getting back to me. It is quite variable that some people get internal stents and some don't.

I'm hoping I don't have a stent from what they described just catheter overnight and tube out back for a day or 2. I'll ask about this when I go in for pre surgery tests.

Well now you've got me thinking, did I have a stent?

I certainly had a catheter. A tube in the back as well. Every time they tried taking this tube out to see if I could manage without it the answer ws NO so they put it back in again. Was this a stent?!!

Sarah

Hi Sarah,

From what I'm reading and researching the tube in the back is actually called a catheter too but to me it's a nephrostomy tube. I probably spelled this wrong. Internal stents sometimes are placed too but more for tubeless pcnl. I am panicking and scared because i have the two step process radiology for 2 hours then have to wait 5 hours because there is so much blood they explained before pcnl surgery. they said id be sedated but this is going to be a really long bad day i think. the scheduler reassured me its this way for all the pcnl surgeries and they will keep me comfortable. i do know the urologist has 18 years of experience and does this weekly so im trying to have faith and calm down.

A drainage tube out the back, kind of looks like a transparent garden hose. A stent is a different animal that is placed up the urethra to keep the channel open so as to be able to pass bits and pieces of stones that have been lasered

Hi Moltoncore,

Thanks for clearing that up. I am hopeful no stent I really dont want that too.

I'm nervous enough with this 2 step all day procedure. The scheduler said overnight hospital at least 1 night is required and with things taking all day even though I check in at 7am surgery won't be over with till about 5 or 6pm. I wonder because of this if I'll get stuck for 2 nights. This is going to be expensive for sure!

Our insurance still requires 20% after deductable is met, but there is a $3500.00 per person maximum thankfully.