Yet another reason to get copies of ALL kinds of lab reports

I had to get the kidney, etc. xray today, so while I was at the radiology office, I asked for a printout of the report from my kidney ultrasound last week.  (I try to have copies of reports for all lab work, surgeries, procedures, etc.)  The urologist told me I had stones in both kidneys and said one was 6mm and one was 8mm.  According to the ultrasound report, there is a 5mm stone in the right kidney (which also shows some mild fluid blockage) and 8mm and 10mm stones in the left one.  According to the pamphlet he gave me, 10mm and larger stones often require more than one lithotripsy procedure. 

So, that might explain why the bulk of the pain I have been having is on my right side even though that isn't where the larger stones are.  Although when the report says right kidney, is that MY right or the right side of the xray (which would be my left)?!?  Anyone know?

Anyway, just one more reason to get copies of all medical reports. Sometimes the info relayed by the doctor is incomplete or not quite accurate.

Lora

It should mean YOUR right side.

That's what I thought, but then as I typed it, I started to wonder... and the more I thought about it, the more confused I got, LOL.

Lora

Lora,

I'm so sorry you're having these problems with kidney stones, they sound very painful. I hope the lithotripsy procedure will alleviate some of the discomfort.  You've been through a lot lately, have barely had time to fully recoup from your knee surgery.\

And yes, right kidney does mean your right.

Hope things improve for you soon!

Kathy

If it said your right kidney then it is the one on your right side.   Often with stones, you can have one that, believe it or not, does not cause problems UNLESS it moves into the ureter (tube that runs from the kidney to the bladder) or causes hydronephrosis (fluid/urine) gets blocked from passing.   I also have seen cases of disagreement between the specialist and the radiologist.  It is possible that the 5mm stone is the one causing all the pain (kidney REALLY dont like to be swollen).   Either way at some point he will have to address the 10mm stone on the left side, but depending on its location in the left kidney it is not the major concern.  Hope this didnt make things more confusing. :-)   I hope you feel better soon.  Kidney stones suck.

Kat

Thanks for the info! That helps me understand why the smaller stone (and the "mild" buildup of fluid in the kidney) is more painful. According to the report, the 10mm stone in the other kidney is in the lower pole, so we will definitely need to do something about it.  I am not at all trained in reading xrays (!) but I looked at the X-ray films (they gave them to me to take to the urologist next week) and I didn't see any stones up in the kidney area, but it looked like some stones down in the bladder.  

It was really interesting to see my IVC filter, though, and what appear to be staples (in a weird cluster on a 2-dimensional X-ray) from my bypass.  There are also some smaller things that look like staples down in my pelvis.  I have no idea what they would be from, though.

Lora