Ureteroscopy

Hi Lori, 

Sounds familiar. I too have been told that the multiple stones in the kidneys would not cause me pain. This is untrue. Someone on this site had posted a study to prove this theory wrong. I wish I could find it. Anyway good luck with the ureteroscopy. 

I posted the study about a month or so ago. I will have to see if I can dig it up.

I just had uretorscopy in October. It was about an hour or so long procedure, but mine was also in the lower pole and in a tight nook. He struggled to get it out, but fortunately he managed. You are going to wake up with a stent and it's going to be the most unpleasant part of this process. Make sure you are given a script for an anti-spasmodic (urabel/uramit), a ureter dilater (flomax or something like it) and a good pain pill (they always give me Norco/hydrocodone). Get the Urabel and flomax in your system as soon as possible and take the next doses as soon as it is safe to take them. If you keep on a consistent dosing cycle, the discomfort from the stent will be tolerable. I've had two stents in the past few years and while immediately upon waking from the procedure, I'm miserable...I get those drugs in me as quickly as possible (Urabel takes a bit to get to a therapeutic level) and a few hours after I'm almost back to normal. Also, make sure you get the stent out as quickly as possible. Some doctors seem to not mind leaving us with them for months. I had my first for about two weeks. The second one I had for I think three or four days (I made them squeeze me in). It said on my discharge notes to come in for stent removal on a specific date and the people at the urologists front desk tried to push me back. I insisted that I was to follow the discharge notes and made it happen. I've found you have to be pushy about your care or they will treat you at their convenience.

Now as far as your stomach pain... definitely could be the kidney stone. I had mild to severe pain in all the areas you described. Sometimes I was bed-ridden from it. I was convinced something serious like cancer was growing inside me. I had an entire gynecological work-up (including vaginal ultrasound), was told I might consider seeing a GI doctor since they could find nothing. Saw the GI doctor and shortly after, underwent a colonoscopy and an upper endoscopy. Nothing. GI doctor decided to send me in for a barium x-ray and a CT scan with dye because she thought it could be a joint/hip problem. And there it was, a 1 cm stone. Referred to a urologist. I was lucky that he did not question whether the stone was causing the pain...he knew it was. Started me on hydrocodone and it gave me immediate relief. Once the stone was removed, all the pain went away (stomach, back, flank, pelvic). One stone was causing me that much pain, it was unreal. Now I know there is a stone in my left kidney when those pains come back. Oddly, I'm unsymptomatic with my right kidney. Had no idea it had stones until I was in the ER passing them. I've now had two procedures (shockwave lithotripsy and uretorscopy with laser lithotripsy) and passed six 4mm stones on my own. I go back this month to see if I've grown anymore stones.

I have a panic disorder, but have been able to get through all this without losing it. I'm getting used to this being an annual problem. I'm trying a few different things in hopes of preventing future stones. I know it's scary where you are with this right now, but be proactive with your treatment and you will be fine. In my experience, the stent is the worst part, but even it is manageable. It sucks, but it's going to be okay!

I had the same problem with my first urologist. While he took care of my first kidney stone and believed in my pain, he still ran a cattle call operation and it felt like all my treatments were designed to maximize profit on his end. He didn't let me ask questions, rushed our appointments without me getting a word in. He had me unnecessarily put under sedation to remove my stent when it's actually a simple outpatient procedure that took a few minutes. So I also changed urologists and love my current one. He talks to me, explains things and also drew me pictures lol. And most importantly ran the tests needed to figure out why I'm making stones. The other urologist gave me no info, probably so I would come back and spend more thousands of dollars.

Flomax isn't the only dilator available. I'm looking in my cache of leftover meds and I think tamsulosin hcl is an alternative to flomax. I've also taking another kind that starts with a V...can't find the bottle though. Maybe you can use an alternative that doesn't make you nauseous?

Okay I looked it up. Tamsulosin is flomax (flomax is the brand name). But some alternatives to flomax include: alfuzosin, nifedipine, doxazosin and terazosin. Maybe one of those will be more agreeable to your system? I've used nifedipine before with no problems, but flomax also doesn't bother me.

Thank you to all who responded. I was so nervous this morning, but everything went well. They got the stone out! I even asked the dr 3 Times to make sure. Lol

The stent is in but will be removed Friday. I have some discomfort in my flank area. A little burning when I pee but they gave me a prescription for that and for antibiotics. I am so relieved now. Sending good thoughts and prayers to everyone. I hope everyone feels better. 

I am 45 male and had 2 Kidney stones removed.. first time it went ok as i was awake, but second time round they put me to sleep... I dunno what there staff have done while i was asleep.. because 2 weeks later i was admitted into hospital for 5 days for acute kidney injury as my kidney function dropped to 5-10% .. i was in danger of falling into a induced coma... i did recover leaving the hospital with heart issues/ kidney issues and really frail as i only weigh 8.7 stone even when im well.... my experience in hospital was a nightmare as i was given a pain killer injection where my heart rate dropped to 25 and i was in severe pain shouting at the staff... they had to call the specialist to make sure i do not go into cardiac arrest...then they gave me antibiotics for kidney infection

by drip which was making me more poorly... when i questioned this to one DR who was good, he immieditatly took me off them stating i had no infection from day one by looking at my blood notes and urine sample....i was on antibiotics for 3 days for no good reason....i was drugged up with many unnecessary drugs via the NHS as all my body required was fluid at that time..too be honest i cried at that time in being in so much pain,,, overdose of all the drugs was killing me... i hardly eat any pain killers so my body was not use to all the drugs which were given to me for no good reason.. ..all the drugs i was given have left me with many health conditions.....in my experience I have never experienced such disregard for human life the way i have been treated by the NHS.... i was fit and well apart from kidney stone for over 40 years until the nhs operated on me..i never stayed in hospital ever, i never use to go to my GP when i was well in 40years.. its been over 3 years and i have a bloated stomach since the OP, suffered AKI and have to continue drinking water constantly as otherwise i feel like im going to faint because this is one of the symptoms for AKI tiredness! my body starts itching when i know i aint drank enough for some days... aches and pains for past 3 years with no help...

now i go to sleep with pain and wake up with pain is my life now...i have no choice as i have come to terms with my fate.i been injured but no one wants to accept there is something wrong...for the rest of my life every 6 months i need to go for blood check ups on my kidney function.. because of the operation i have high chances of having kidney disease or failure/ stroke/heart attack and many more serious complications...

i have a CT scan coming soon see if they can figure out what the hell is going on...

all i can say is thank you NHS you have gave me a shorter life!