Question:
Surgical removal of kidney stones.

Hi, I went to the ER Monday night urinating a lot of blood, and having a horrible pain on my right lower side and to the back near my kidneys. The pain had been going on for a while, but Monday it was horrid. Anywhoo, they did a CAT scan and found that I have a 7MM kidney stone, pretty large. The ER doctor seemed to think that there was a small chance that it would pass, and suggested I go to a urologist. My PCP after reviewing my ER paperwork, told me today that a urologist isn't what I need, but surgery is. Now I'm freaking out. Has anyone passed a stone that large? Is there alternatives to surgery, like medications to dissolve it, or if surgery is what I have to have, how do they go about doing that, through my back? I'm in hysterics, crying all day thinking about having to go through another surgery. Any info you can give would be a great help. Thanks!!    — Carey N. (posted on July 19, 2002)

July 18, 2002
I had one 10 years ago that got stuck between my kidney and my bladder, it was the size of a quarter. I am not quite sure why your pcp said you didnt need to go to a urologist because thats who did my surgery. It wasnt a cut me open surgery tho. They went in through the vagina and were unable to get it that way and I ended up having lithotripsy which is where it gets blown up by sound waves(I think?) Neither was a bad surgery as far as recovery I was just out of it for that day and both were outpatient procedures, home that day.
   — kittycat

July 19, 2002
Hi, I had the same thing happen to me about 6 weeks out from my WLS. I have had kidney stones in the past but this one was too large to pass. They can do what's called a lithotripsy which is where they use ultrasound waves to bust up the stone. But this procedure can only be done after taking into account where the stone is stuck. My stone was near my ovary and I still want to have children so, they had to surgically remove my stone. My doctor told me that I could try to flush the stone beforehand with lots of water, but it didnt work. By the way to 'surgically' remove my stone, they didnt cut me open, they put you out, and go up the urethra, bladder, and ureters with a wire and grab the stone and pull it out. I recovered pretty quickly and didnt really feel like I had even had surgery. After removing the stone, my doctor said it was large enough that it would have never passed on it's own. So, guess its a good thing that I went through with the surgery. I wish you the best of luck. E-mail me if you have any other questions. This too shall pass.....(in a matter of speaking). Good luck, hope you get to feeling better soon.
   — Cory F.

July 19, 2002

   — Rosario T.