Question:
Anything else going to happen to me?

OH MY GOD!!! Two days ago I had to go to the emgergency room!!! I had the most unbearable pain in my right kidney to my groin!!! I was scare to death and thought oh oh I going to die for sure now. Found out it was a kidney stone!!I am almost a 8week post-op and my surgeon says its common to have this happen. Has anyone passed a kidney stone after surgery? I have never had kidney stone problems. Does this means I am going to have more of them in the future??    — Laura G. (posted on February 12, 2002)

February 12, 2002
I have had kidney stones off and on over the years. It has nothing to do with WLS as far as I know. I am diabetic and there were questions regarding the connection with that. One time the stone moved on its own. Two years later to the day I had to go to the ER and had to have it removed via surgery. They inserted a stint and hoped that I would pass the last 2 stones. I was told that once you have stones you are prone to more. Drink LOTS of water to help prevent the reoccurance.
   — [Anonymous]

February 12, 2002
By coincidence on of my best WLS pals just went through this. She actually ended up in the hospital over the weekend with kidney stones. They did laser surgery to remove them on Saturday and She was home yesterday. But she told me she knew exactly why she developed the stones. She was only getting in about 30 oz of water a day and she is about 3 months post op. Make sure you are getting in those 64 oz or as close to it as you can to lessen the chance that you will have more stones.
   — SARose61

February 12, 2002
I had one at 3 yrs post-op. My husband had one last week. Actually 4 of them, all too big to pass. They surgically fetched out the smallest that was blocking and the other 3 will be blasted shortly. They left a stent in place until "blast day". I KNOW our years using calcium carbonate and Tums-like products contributed, as well as the use of caffeine, colas and teas (yes, even decaf--tannic acid). AND of course, we were slacking in water, too, since we never "felt" thirsty. My urologist in 97 told me that we stand a much higher chance of stones than teh general public and once you've had one, the chances go to 50/50. UNLESS you go 4 yrs without, then your odds return to normal. I JUST passed my 4 yrs anniversary. I hope it goes by the exact date! LOL! I'd prefer NOT to do that again. Both urologists prescribed calcium citrate to help prevent oxalate stones.
   — vitalady

March 1, 2002
I am glad to know I am not the only one out there that has kidney stones. I went to the ER about 4 weeks post-op with a massive kidney stone in my ureter! I had lithotripsy 2 times and then finally they had to laser it out. I had a nasty stent for 6 weeks! My urologist felt the large stone had been in there for a year, so he didn't attribute it to weight loss. But here we go again, I got another stuck in the left side and had it lasered out again. This was Feb. 27. My urologist says I need a stone study...I guess all those years of drinking coke, tea and whole milk and following the atkins diet did it! My stones are always so big and bad!
   — Lisa R.