Question:
What is the deal with kidney stones?
Hi, I am hoping to have the DS this summer, but I have heard about people developing kidney stones post-op (not specific to DS, just post-op WLS in general). I have a few questions 1) What causes them? 2) How do you get rid of them? 3) Can they kill you or destroy your kidney's? Does there seem to be a higher prevalence of kidney stones for RNY or DS? Sorry if I'm a little uninformed, and thanks for the input! — [Anonymous] (posted on January 7, 2002)
January 6, 2002
Hi! I am prone to kidney stones and am pre-op for RNY. So I've looked
into this a lot. Kidney stones are formed usually either from Uric acid or
calcium oxalate stones. Uric acid stones can be more easily dissolved by
meds but usually the calcium stones need to be blasted out. The big key to
both in not forming them is drinking lots of water. If the urine is more
diluted then the excess uric acid isn't there to form stones. It is my
understanding that you are more prone to forming stones with WLS (at least
RNY and I don't really know about DS). You can also form stones on high
protein diets. So it is important to get your vitamins in, drink drink
drink that water and really follow your Dr. instruction. If you have a
kidney stone you'll know it. First clues for me are usually some
tenderness over the flank area (kidneys), cloudy urine, mild pain on
urination. I usually have a UTI when I have a stone playing havoc so
sometimes I'll need an antibiotic. I've had many uric stones I eventually
passed usually with some pretty good pain but eventually did have one that
needed surgery to remove. The problem arises if they block the ureter and
then you can have some serious problems. Treatment after a stone is trying
to not form more: drink water, cranberry juice is a good one too but water
foremost; some meds Drs use are Allopurinol to help dissolve stones and
other meds to keep your urine more dillute. So it is worth watching and
really taking heed to. But I also know other WLSers who've had no problems
with kidney stones. Hope this helps.
— AJC750
January 6, 2002
My surgeon says NO tea after surgery - only herbal teas. Tea is a BIG cause
of kidney stones.
— Brenda S.
January 7, 2002
I had open RNY on 9/13/01 and had my first (and hopefuly last) kidney stone
on 10/12/01. The urologist and my WLS surgeon told me there really is no
connection between surgery and kidney stones. My urologist told me that
although some stones are formed from calcium he would rather that I
continue on my calcium regimen (1500mg of calcium citrate daily) than risk
osteoporosis later on. He did suggest in addition to drinking lots of
water, adding a glass of lemonade daily. Something in the lemonade
apparently prevents stones from forming.
— Debbi C.
January 7, 2002
I had a kidney stone at eight weeks post op. I'm quite certain it was from
massive dehydration. So it's not really the surgery that caused it, but
the surgery was a factor in my dehydration. So I think it's a correlation
but not a direct cause. I take full responsibility for what happened
there. I didn't get my water in and I paid the price. I also paid with a
dangerously low potassium level. I think that getting your water in post
op can not be emphasized enough. It is the singlemost important thing for
your body in the early days. If you aren't getting it, come to us for
suggestions. Try bottled water, different temperatures, adding sugar free
tastes. Whatever it takes, get that water in. This is me being a drill
sergeant, but I have to admit that I knew all of that and still got myself
dehydrated. So sometimes stuff happens. If you do get dehydrated or think
you have a kidney stonge, get to the ER and they will help you. Good luck.
— kcanges
January 7, 2002
I have not had a kidney stone in years and thankfully I haven't had one
since my WLS (knock on wood), but when I did have one, it was from too much
calcium and not enough water. The first poster was correct in saying there
are two different kinds of stones. The ones I get are from taking Tums,
Rolaids and consuming dairy products. (At the time I had gotten mine, I
was taking the largest bottle of Rolaids you could find on the market over
a 3 day period of time.) My hubby gets them also and has had to have
kidney surgery to remove one that was the size of a half dollar that was
blocking the exit from the kidney (with over 300 small stones behind it)
and his are made up of the calcium you find in regular tea (not herbal) and
vegetables like spinach, broccoli and brussel sprouts. Whereas mine are
able to be dealt with by taking meds, his have to be shattered. The
biggest thing to remember is to drink plenty of water! The less you drink
the more concentrated your urine becomes and the more likely you are to
develope a stone, especially after WLS when you are concentrating on
getting in more calcium by way of supplements. Although we can't do it
after WLS, my original urologist told me to drink a glass of beer at night
before bed as the beer will make you have to pee during the night -
relieving the pressure on your kidneys and keeping the urine concentration
down throughout the night. Once you are drinking 64 oz of water or more a
day however, you will find you are up peeing during the night anyways, so
that should not be a worry. Take care...
— Kellie Jo B.
January 7, 2002
My answer would match that below me, in that the carbonates tend to form
stones, as do the acids in the yummy green leafies & teas & colas.
The "treatment of choice", per my urolgist is calcium citrate.
We don't have a choice about calcium, so citrate it is. You asked if DS or
RNY are more prone. I've not seen/heard that either is more prone, it's
more the aftercare. Lousy water habits, wrong calcium habits. Many of us
love tea & green veggies, so those are all contributors. As you can
see here, the water is the #1 key, no matter which procedure you do.
— vitalady
February 21, 2002
I to had kidney stones for the first time in my life 8 weeks post op rny.
If you are reading this page you already know they are the worst pain ever.
My doc said surgery had nothing to do with the stones forming. This is my
opinion.......DEHYDRATION.......however did. It is very difficult post op
to get in those fluids we so desperately need. Why i believe that the
surgery did not "cause" the stones, i do believe not being able
to get in correct amounts of fluid due to the small pouch however did.
WATER, WATER, WATER... I went one week later and decided to pass another
stone on the right side ( prior one was made on left side) so i got real
familiar with the er team at our local hospital. They did their dye test
and it would appear they are out of the kidneys, but you can bet i am
drinking plenty of fluids now. Good Luck.
— darlene N.
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