Incontinence and Kidney Stones

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I do not know how it is possible to get Kidney Stones when I have no bladder control but apparently it is possible.
Right after getting back from vacation a few weeks ago I started feeling like crud, it got worse till on day 3 (a Sunday) I went to the ER for it. They did scans, cathed me to get a urine sample, did blood work. Came back and said I have a non-obstructive Kidney stone. I received a shot of Toradol and a RX for Tylonel with codine. (Neither helps with the pain). I was told to follow up with my urologist, called them first thing Monday Morning and was told I could not get in to see my Urologist for 3 weeks but they could get me in the see his NP on Thursday. I take the appt.
I get the first appt of the morning, wait almost 2 hours for the NP to come into the exam room. He shows up, no exam just says we got the records from ER and you have Kidney Stones (now plural) but he has no images so he does not know how big they are. He tells me we are going to monitor them and to make a follow up appt to see the actual Urologist in 3 months.
Not real happy with medical right now. Pain is better as a partner told me to drink 4 oz. of lemon juice a day. This dissolved his in about 3 weeks.

Anyone else get Kidney Stones and is bladder incontinent?

 

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Dont underestamate the power of lemons. I use them daily and believe they help
prevent ilnesses.

 

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And they are great in lemonade and Corona

 

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Oh wait, corona is lime

 

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@MarineJohn I won’t bore you with how many physical painful things I’ve endured in life, but here are a few to help put what I’m about to say into perspective: I’ve had a third-degree/full-strength burn 8”x9” which required five surgeries, 11 concussions including one where I split my forehead 3” across and chipped my skull near my eye socket, two kinds of cancer, falling down a cliff which fractured my pelvis, a broken leg, two knee surgeries, etc.

I have also passed a couple of kidney stones. KIDNEY STONE PAIN IS ONE OF THE WORST PAINS A HUMAN BEING CAN EXPERIENCE! Every woman I’ve met who has given labor and also passed a kidney stone, says a kidney stone is many times more painful than birthing a child! And they’re even more painful for men (so I’ve been told). For me, kidney stone pain ties with when I cracked my forehead for the most painful thing I’ve survived. I had my first kidney stone when I was 17. They’re common here in the Rocky Mountains where our drinking water runs over granite rock on the way down the canyons and into our mouths. Granite is comprised of large amounts of calcite (calcium), which is what most kidney stones are made of.

I was So. Horribly. Sick. from the kidney stone pain. I couldn’t quit vomiting, for days, until it passed. I was terribly dizzy, fading in and out of consciousness from the intensity of the pain. I couldn’t see straight. There are no words to describe that kind of pain. When something hurts so bad the only way your body can deal with it is to make you pass out, that is SERIOUS PAIN! Ughhhh! Bleck!

I am So! Sorry! you are going through this!

I don’t know anything about using lemons to help a kidney stone pass, but I do know drinking tons of liquid helps them pass faster. I recommend straining your urine so you can catch the stone when it does pass, so your doctor can analyze it to see what it’s made of, which can then possibly explain why you got it in the first place and what you can do to prevent getting one again in the future. For instance, if your stone is comprised of a high proportion of calcium carbonate, you need to quit drinking carbonated beverages, even diet ones.

I wish you a swift stone passing.

My stone came out looking like the end of a “morning star” mace.

By the way - there’s no way your doctors/N.P. can know for certain that you have kidney stones just from labwork. The primary test for a kidney stone is an x-Ray called an intravenous pyelogram (IVP). Sometimes also called an intravenous urogram (IVU), an IVP is a radiological procedure used to visualize abnormalities of the urinary system, including the kidneys, ureters, and bladder. Unlike a kidneys, ureters, and bladder x-ray (KUB), which is a plain (that is, non-contrast) radiograph, an IVP uses contrast to highlight the urinary tract.

The contrast they use is iodine, so if you’re allergic to shellfish, you can’t have that particular x-Ray. It’s a simple, quick procedure, and kind of fun, because the iodine is quite a rush - like a drug - I sat straight up on the x-Tay table like Uma Thurman did in “Pulp Fiction” when her friends injected her with adrenaline.

Anyway. I can’t believe the ER didn’t do that standard IVP on you?! Very odd. It’s not expensive or anything. I would call your N.P. and demand that you want an IVP and if they refuse, go to another urologist. It doesn’t take three months (!!!) to pass a kidney stone; it usually takes a few days or worst case scenario, a couple of weeks. Usually if it hasn’t passed after a couple of weeks, they use lithotripsy (lasers) to break up the stone to get it to pass. I’m afraid you’re not getting the quality of care you deserve.

Hang in there, and try to get an IVP in case what you’re experiencing is *not* a kidney stone - could be something worse, or something that can be treated differently.

 

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Almost a year ago, I had a kidney stone. Best guess as to cause was that I was subconsciously dehydrating to limit changes during the day. Since then, I've been much better at keeping well hydrated. Of course, a consequence has been discovering just how incontinent I really am. Better hydrated and better padded!
BTW, my kidney stone was imaged with a CAT scan and no contrast so one might ask the doctor if they start discussing an IVP with contrast--the CAT scan is going to be easier though there is a lot of radiation.

 

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Had Kidney stones in 2003. Was out to sea, took 36 hours, from when I figured it out, to get to a port, and i had to be taken off duty - putting more load on my shipmates. Very small hospital, but they figured it out without even an x-ray. The ER gave me a filter to try to detect if I'd passed one - and I passed a couple, right in the hospital. Been awhile, don't remember if they gave me a drug(s), but i agree on the pain. Worst I ever had. I wasn't allowed to work the rest of the way home.
The ER told me to go to a urologist as soon as possible. The voyage ended the next day, I went home, made an appointment, had to fly 5 hours. My Seattle hospital/clinic makes room for Alaskans when it is non-routine.
I can't Believe they gave the old "take 2 aspirin and call me Monday" routine! Sheesh. No, Tylenol #3 doesn't work for that.
Get a real doctor - and a urologist! A different urologist!
Mine gave me a long-term plan for hydration, signs to watch for (such as color of urine), and I guess, food advice.
I haven't had one since. Knock on wood (or my head - same same.)
It was the urologist and his tests who found the prostate cancer. Oh joy. My previous PSAs hadn't reached the danger zones or gone up, much, yet, but it was found to be aggressive. So I'm alive today. With zero PSAs. He had taken samples and I got the results in the middle of the next voyage. Such nice timing. The envelope with the test results had arrived, it got put on my bunk, and I found it there after we sailed and I got off watch. I finished the voyage; hell with it. (After that news, I wasn't at my best, I realize now.) I don't remember if I had Contrast.
I had the operation (the prostatectomy) and that's when the incontinence began. Is there a connection between kidney stones and prostate cancer? I was told no. But it gets them interested in the whole area, so it's better than the finger wave.
I think you should politely express your disappointment with your current Dr/PA/Urologist and find new ones. Tell them that. Maybe they'll treat the next patient better.
Good luck and God Bless.

 

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I really feel for you. Kidney stone pain is one of the worst pains there is.

I used to have regular bouts with kidney stones. In my case, it stopped when I gave up iced tea - so the Isaiah in the tea was causing the formation of calcium oxalate stones. I have a small stone in one kidney now, but it hasn't passed into the ureter where they cause me pain. The only worse pain I've had was when they poked a home in one of my bile duct with a aren't, which led to retroperitoneal air - I was imagining the end of Braveheart at that point!

Like snow, I'm surprised that they didn't do an IVP on you. They can also pick them up in an MRI, but that's a more expensive test.

 

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Wow, those of you who have been through that I feel for you. Glad you pulled through. From the sound of it it’s excruciating. Thanks for sharing, may save some others from brushing off their symptoms and going to the ER to get checked out promptly.

A friend of ours is getting her gallbladder removed for gallstones for the second time on Tuesday. She’s been so sick. Please say a prayer for her that this helps her feel better. She’s a lovely person but has been plagued with Crohn’s and GI issues most of her life. Prayer always helps.

Thank you again friends. So Blessed to have you all in my life.

Jim

 

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For what it's worth, I had my gallbladder out in 2014, and haven't missed it at all. Some people have to be careful about eating certain things, but many people see little to no change.

Nonetheless, I'll be praying for your friend, @jrpoorman.

 

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Thank you. Always works. Poor girl needs it for sure.

 

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@snow The ER did scans, I was just not caring wheat they called it at the time. It did involve contrast though but I have had a lot with it so was not an issue.

FYI the lemon juice seems to be helping (knock on wood).


Stay healthy and sate,
John