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Kidney Stones and Diarrhea?

For the past four years, I keep having these bouts where my lower abdomen hurts terribly bad, feeding pain back up into my kidneys.  Usually, it comes on suddenly, and I can't move because it's so bad.  A few hours later, I end up with diarrhea.  The most recent two times, I have eventually passed a kidney stone after these episodes, and then they get sooo much better until the next time.  Can kidney stones really cause diarrhea or is there something else going on that I should be worried about?  My GI tract has been thoroughly investigated, but nobody can find anything.  Help?
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Avatar universal
I use oval liquid gell capsules to help manage my pain. it cuts my pain by 75% if I take it at the first sign of back pain. my episode still lasts 3 days but I can function through it. lots of burping. I think the Gass release reduces the swelling and bloating and the pain.

I have had this for 30 years...all the test no help from doctors.

I have also done the kidney cleanse when you drink Epson salt you can Google it

it is horrible but it does provide relief if you can choke it down.

I would only do it between episodes

blasting kidney stones may help. my family friend just diedon't from kidney failure.  his kidneys were blasted too many times to work any more...
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
With my stone, hopefully the last I ever get, I did not have diarrhea.  However, after they pulled the stint out I had horrible pain off and on for more than a week.  The pain was coming from the ureter and it happened every time my bowels got full.  Generally, after having a movement the pain would lessen or subside completely.  So I have little doubt that your bowels and urinary systems are tied closely together.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am a pro at these things but either way they aren't fun at all I have had stomach problems on and of half my life anyways but I have past over 25 some in the 8-9 mm range have had two surgeries etc stones usually always trigger stomach issues always as well as feelings of hit in the boys with a base ball bat and feeling like your peeing fire and razor blades.  I have had them stuck in the last part of the plumbing (I am a guy) if you get my drift and the real awkward one is stuck for days in the prostate just some of my past but at the moment trying to fly home and passing not one but two one from each side confirmed from dr and a ultra sound I have had so many CT scans I'm surprised I'm not glowing hope I can still have kids any ways make something positive out of these agonizingly painful lil bastards thankfully I have so much scar tissues a 2-3 mm stone is like nothing I pass those at work not even knowing I am passing one then TINK out it comes
Shaun
Helpful - 0
3 Comments
Hi im just wondering..u say u hv had stones up to 8mm. Did these ever pass on their own or was surgery involved? Thanks for any help u can offer. I hv a 7.5mm n the urologist keeps telling me it will not pass :(
I’m wondering the same thing. I have an 8mm stone left kidney. Telling me non obstructive but keep battling the kidney stone symptoms and pain. Only went away for less than 6 days and came back. This sucks!
I have passed a lot of stones from 1mm-8mm believe it or not but i don’t know about anything any bigger. My doctor also told me it wasn’t possible to pass one that large but I was tired of all the surgery bills and just tried drinking as much water as possible and holding my pee as long as i could and then pushing as hard as possible and bam there it was almost that is it was stuck right at the tip and i had to use tweezers to pull it the rest of the way out. Painful as hell but I didn’t have to pay $10,000 for surgery and best of all no stent
Avatar universal
This is my first kidney stones ever. I have all these symptoms too, but I'm also feeling weak in my arms and legs. Does anyone else feel this way?
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Yes I do right now I am going through it as well
Avatar universal
Thanks you for what you have told about your husband, it is really helpful for me to know this is exactly a problem for the symptoms I has been having for long times. God bless  you and all people.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
So glad this thread was started. I was ready to call my GI Dr with the diarrhea.

I also posted this else where, but then found this thread via google, Gotta love technology.

I have not passed a 4mm K/S that dropped into my left ureter on 5-11-16 I was in great pain when it first dropped down, CT scan showed it was about in inch or so into ureter, pain went away in the hospital, so I went home. the following night almost the same level of pain in the same area (flank then back) it went away after about 15-20 minutes. This is my 3rd K/S in 3 years, the others passed no problem.

Went to my kidney Dr (stage 3 kidney disease) he said kidneys were stable & to see a urologist. Urologist set me up for stone removal on 6-22 He did not mention a stent until I brought it up. I forgot to ask him if he is able to get K/S out do they still leave the stent in, assuming I need a stent. If the stone passes before then he said we will just cancel the procedure. I don't mind them going up there to remove it, but am leery about them leaving the stent in there if they get the stone out, don't know what the purpose is. What am I missing here?

Also been having loose stool and some diarrhea since the K/S pain. Dr said the two are not related?
Right now I am in no pain whatsoever, just discomfort from the irregular bowl movements. This has me concerned.

I am moving around as much as possible, drinking almost a gallon of water a day and have not changed my diet except for Oxalate foods. I was eating over 1/2 cups of nut every single night and the same amount of shell pumkin seeds. I am type 2 diabetic, these snacks are permissible for a diabetic, but when I saw the Oaxalte content I quit eating the a day after the this latest issue. Nut contain no salt at all and the seed have light sea salt.  

Comments welcome

Gary In Michigan (69)
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Have passed many stones over the last 14 years. Had surgery to break up a 25mm one with stents put in. They remove or change them every 10 days until all the stone fragments are gone. They use a catheter to do this. The poop problem is caused by the pain signals our kidneys and ureters are sending to our brain. Our intestines have sympathy pains and spasm too. Amazing how the body works but wishing these parts weren't so friendly myself. Trying to pass a 4mm one now. No fun. Good luck to you. Avoiding iced drinks helps me with the kidney spasms and stomach pain. Room temp or warm seem to work best. Soaking in Epsom salts helps too.
Avatar universal
I've passed 20+ stones up to 13mm in size. Terribly painful. Now I see a naturopath who prescribed an herbal tincture, glutamine powder, magnesium citrumate, and Epsom salt baths. I get going with this regimen as soon as I feel the first twinge and stay on it about a week or so. After about 48 hours I'm out of pain and I hear them pass but don't feel them. I'm not sure exactly what's in the tincture, but I know it has colinsonia and ulmus. It tastes terrible but it's not as terrible as the pain, or a surgical answer.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I too suffer with kidney stones. They usually start with the pain we all know but sometimes the pain feels like you need to poop and when you do its diarrhoea. My doctor said that the pain from the stone causes cramping in the gut and that causes your bowels to react in sympathy to the pain thinking they are the problem. Your mind thinks the problem is somewhere in your gut and it's easier to go to the toilet and poop than pass a stone hence the stomach pains and diarrhoea. For me, it's only ever one or two episodes and then it's all down to the renal colic pain. Worst thing in the world but good luck all.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you to you all so much for taking the time to share your experiences!  Hearing your situations is very helpful.  My husband started having these unexplained bouts of sudden, SEVERE vomiting and diarrhea with horrible pain - cold sweats, he would look grey and then he would get the chills and also end up lying on the bathroom floor totally exhausted.  Recovery takes days and he can't stomach anything more than some chicken broth during that time.  We watched his food intake to see if there was a common link ... nothing - he went to the doctor, GI specialist, urologist - had all kinds of tests and ultrasounds and CT scans - nothing (thankfully) showed up, but they did find kidney stones!!  Didn't realize at that point that the vomiting and diarrhea episodes were related (and although his medical investigation was centered around this, no doctor EVER suggested it might be related to the stones), but he eventually passed them and has been symptom-free for about a year. Well, the bouts have returned and from the consistency of symptoms with before and with everyone who has posted, I'm sure his stones are back.  So comforting to share your experiences!  Thank you so much.  God bless you all and may you all find some relief.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
You have H-Pylori, a stomach infection.  This will cause kidney stones also.    The diarrhea will stop when the bacteria is gone.  You MUST be treated with 2 antibiotics at once as it becomes very resistant to one at a time, and you MUST take a proton pump inhibitor (Prylosec for instance).  Blood test will show you have an antibody for Helio Bactori but not if it is active.   Ask your doctor to treat for this either way.  14 days or maybe even a month, and you'll be great.  Your pancreas, etc. will begin to show elevated Serum Peptide level if untreated also.    Go get em, this crap can end.  No need to suffer because you do not have to.  :-)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am going through passing my second stone as we speak. I knew it was coming because they told me it was in there after doing a CT when I was passing the first. That one was 3mm. This one is at least 2mm. Both small enough to pass on my own, but big enough to be awfully painful. Anyway, both started exactly the same - with the most painful cramping diarrhea I've ever had. Next comes the constant feeling of peeing and then hurting and burning when it comes out (in that phase now with no 2). Finally, the most insane pain I think known to man.  According to my doc, that was when the ureter spasms to finally push the stone into the bladder. Once that happens, symptoms pretty much go away and it's just whizzing into a filter until that little speck comes out. One thing that helped a lot is my doc put me on Flomax. Made that last part much easier. In any event, it is helpful to see these posts and have some understanding of what is going on. Going through it the first time with no real knowledge was scary. Best of luck m
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Hi I have been told I have a kidney stone and it has been a couple days since I went to the hospital and was told that. I am now in the diarrhea stage and feel like I have to go all the time I really hope this passes soon I need to get back to work. What does everyone think about drinking cranberry juice with this?
Avatar universal
Exactly the same symptoms, I dont know if anybody sweats hard/ severely during diarrhea
To knock the attack on its head I usually load up with water 12-24 hours after the first pain
then off to the Gym and sweat excessively
this seems to help for me and knocks out the pain. My father had kidney stones exactly at the same time of life as me he drank then exercised constantly and hasn't had attack since I hope this helps

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I just had my second kidney stone in one year. Both episodes started with diarrhea and then vomiting. My doctor this time told me that diarrhea was not an indicator of a kidney stone. Then they did the tests and sure enough, I had a kidney stone. This appears to me my pattern, no matter what they say. They kept trying to tell me I had a UTI that was causing kidney pain... until they found the stone.
Grrr.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
I wished I could talk to you. I am scared. Hospital said I got 2 kidney stones, sizes 1-2mm. I even feel weak in my legs and arms.I was told a uti by my dr, then went to Er next day cause I couldn't stand the pain anymore in my left back side. Our story's sound the same.
Avatar universal
peeing repeatedly is a problem?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
almost the exact same symptoms my son is having, unexplained diarrhea. He has had colonoscopy, EGD, parasite tests, biopsies, you name it. He is in hospital as we speak with 10 millimeter kidney stone. Just had stent place and now on IV antibiotics for infection. One doctor said the diarrhea could be related to kidney stone, one said there is no connection. I guess time will tell.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you - your comments have helped me.  My issue is too much sugar and not enough water and probably not enough salt also.  I've been under stress at work and have been eating lots of sugar lately.  Not my normal thing though, I try real hard to watch my food intake due to colitis.  But wanted to tell you thanks for writing all that - it was helpful.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Wow! Thanks for all the comments. I too had 6 months of bad diarrhea & lower left abdomen pain. Initial tests showed small kidney stone(never had 1 before)... Doc said that wouldn't be cause of symptoms. So off I went to GI doc & tests & colonoscopy...fun! I was fine. Mystery continued. Finally, one day I had sudden crippling pain...had to call 911...medics came, my mom stayed with my young daughter & off to ER for another fun experience. Finally, after hours of pain, special x-ray done where I drank some horrible red liquid first, which made diarrhea even worse, they discovered I had a BIG kidney stone. Went to urologist, had the stone broken up by that sound wave procedure, stone got stuck, ended up in hospital for 3 days in extreme pain until it finally passed. They almost had to cut into the kidney but thank God, it finally came out. All docs said diarrhea not related. Well, after that, I was all better & funny, the diarrhea was gone!!! Now I am having painful diarrhea again & back pain (5 years later) & need to get looked at soon or else it'll be ER again. I just made an appointment with a new doc but it's a month away. Pray I'll be able to get in sooner. Best wishes to all similarly suffering. You are NOT alone, and sometimes, we know a little more than the doc! :-)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I found this community the other day trying to find the relation between kidney stones and diarrhea for my wife. I found it very deja vu to hear the post from the doctor. My wifes kidney stone journey started 2 years ago with an 8 month 100k dollar nightmare(Insurance covered most but we got stuck with almost 10 grand) with many doctors (atleast 20) disregarding my wifes 13mm kidney stone and dissecting her GI tract only to find nothing except tell her it is all in her head, you know anxiety and stress and that sort of thing. If you have bowel movement problems, nausea, instant sweating, pain(mild to wild) and find yourself searching for something to eat that won't upset your stomach you most likely have a kidney stone. Sometimes too small to show up on standard xrays. The Docs will never lean toward that prognosis, they would rather tell you your crazy BUT gladly keep taking your money. Once the nausea sets in good you will sweat profusely further adding to the problem of dehydration. What I really want to say though is what I think is causing my wifes problem. There are three things that in my opinion lean toward extreme with my wifes habits and I want to put it out there. She is a 37 year old, always been thin, has IBS and gastritis. She too wonders why all of her fat friends can eat whatever they want and she needs to be careful and eat healthy. Some bodies do not handle bad eating, ones that can handle it well store it to fat, thus the reason her friends can eat anything. The relation to IBS could be coincidental but alot of kidney stone folks have or had ibs. Could be the layout of the organs, it is a tight fit in there ya know? Especially for thin waisted women which most ibs folks are. Organs share space right? Let me get back to what I feel is causing my wifes problem with stones. SUGAR is one thing. We argue over it all the time. She has high sugar intake. Candy, slushes, and of course the whole slew of carbs from cinnamon rolls to cereal. She cannot stop with the sugar though. Her attitude is, well we don't know that is what it is. My attitude is we don't know it isn't. She never stops with sugar. We knew she has a stone again and right know it is 12;30 at night and she has been dry heaving for about 4 hours but guess what? Earlier tonite while she was feeling ok she wanted ice cream! WATER, the other problem. Throughout her life she has treated water like it is gasoline. She is finally figuring out how important water intake is for her yet still only drinks at most 80 ounces a day. I drink atleast that and have never had a stone. If I did I would drink no less than 16 ounces of water every waking hour. Lots of bathroom trips? Sure but from the pain and discomfort and medical COSTS especially I'd say all the peeing be worth it. SALT is the third and final ingredient. My wife hates it. We all know salt helps retain water, we also know that stones are caused by an imbalance of ingredients, salt being one of them. My attitude is this, if you don't know what is causing your stone issue change everything. I am kind of writing this out of frustration cause my wife won't really listen. Maybe someone will. Another thing worth mentioning is my wife is lactose intolerant and has very little calcium intake. Although most stones are made out of mostly calcium it doesn't mean you can't have calcium. I have read about tests being done on people prone to stones being given high calcium intakes and they actually had less issues with them. Again if you have stone issues and have calcium intake, than quit with calcium. If you don't have calcium at all in your diet than most certainly add it. Common sense stuff to me. I hope this post helps someone, it certainly helped me. I am no doctor and could be wrong about everything I am saying but it only makes sense to figure out what you are doing and do the opposite and it may very well help. Now if I can just get my wife on board we may be able to put some money in a college fund for our kids or something as opposed to giving it all to stupid, arrogant doctors who have been very little help and surely have cost us alot of pain,aggravation,time and mucho money. Good Luck to you all.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Your wife should find a really good urologist who can specifically identify what type of stones she is passing and if there are other issues.  The urologist will then be able to help identify a specific diet for her type of kidney stones or as with me  I personally have a type that no diet will control it.   I have medullary sponge kidney I will make them all my life.   There are also medications that can help control kidney stone making as well.  Which her urologist should review and try with her.   The only really good way is to find a good urologist and 1 have them do a 24 hr urine test and 2 strain for a stone and have it analyzed.  Maybe there are other ways as well but these are the 2 I know of.    No matter what type she has though at least 64oz of water a day minimum is still necessary she will feel the difference.    
Some things Dr's won't tell you is about the diarrhea, the anxiety and the sciatica pain these side effects that can be felt from stones.  But as you know is real.
I too have IBS, am lactose intolerant and get irritable bladder (from the stones).
You sound very concerned for her, nice for her to have someone who cares.   May I suggest the best thing you can do for your wife as frustrating as it may be on your side of it is to 1 get a good urologist and 2 support her and help her stick to his/her plan for her.
Good luck :)
Avatar universal
I'm on my fourth episode of kidney stones, and all of us that have had them can surely agree, the symptoms are tell-tale and ones you don't forget.  I get extremely painful cramping and horrible diarrhea EVERY time I'm trying to pass a stone.  Actually, that's the first symptom I've had each and every time.  It is the worst, painful diarrhea ever, and something I've only experienced when a stone starts moving through my urinary tract.  Like clockwork, soon after, that hallmark back pain starts.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
This post and comments have really helped.  I consider myself very pain tolerant but two nights ago found myself curled up yet constantly moving on the floor from pain in my back.  It started three days ago with the worst rush of diarrhea, I knew there could be no fluids left in my digestive tract.  I figured it was from a questionable taco stand I ate at that day.  After that, the next night I felt like I had been punched in the kidneys several times and was sore.  Then the sharpest pain came about an hour after that.  I laid on the floor for half an hour and then vomited all that I had eaten that day.  To be honest, I felt 80% better after that.  The strange thing is, the next day I knew I was dehydrated so I try to drink h2o but only a little at a time. The more I drank, the more my back hurt.  I had lunch, and that same terrible pain came back an hour later, and an hour after that, I vomited.  Instant relief.  I'd go see a Dr, but can't afford it.  How much longer is this going to last.
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1 Comments
Get on low income assistance like me. It's called MAP in Texas. You could have passed stone and still are if you feel better after all that cause if the stone were stuck or slowly moving you would feel like you were dying. You still need to go to doctor cause stones can cause damage to your urethra like infections. I got the pain and nausea went to rest room could hardly pee so what I did was PUSH like your giving birth while drinking water and it came out. It looked like brown sand. Hard as a rock and little. Get a hat( urine catcher) so that you can take it to doc.
Avatar universal
I have these exact symptoms on and off for the past year and a half. I have food allergies and thought that was it but couldn't figure out how I missed an ingrediant I can't eat. Finally realized I had kidney stones about 2 months ago. Just want to die when that vomiting and diarrhea start! I have actually fainted twice. At least I know I'm not crazy as others have had the same symptoms!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
hello there i am so glad and happy to find these threads ... I have just come out of the hospital after getting a bout of penom. now at home on oxgyen for the next four weeks .   In hospital they noticed blood in my urine ... actually even i noticed it .. I had an xray and it shows a calcific density on my kidney which looks like to be a stone.   Since coming out of hospital i have had severe pain down my left lower tummy.  The pain isnt so bad now since im drinking lots of water and my urine has now turned a light yellow .. but i sit here , on the toilet typing this , as for the last two days i have had horrific cramps and diahorra (sp) .  Its heart warming to know that all my symptoms are of  those relating to kidney stones .  I go back tomorrow for hospital follow up and will mention that the pain is worse than it was in the hospital
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Sorry to have to say this, but most doctors are absolute idiots. I always get diarrhea when I have kidney stones (I have chronic stone formation).  The GI upset is like clockwork...and occurs at regular cycles, in relation to the passing of a stone.  If you look around at people's experience noted online, many people report having GI upset with kidney stones.
Helpful - 0
563773 tn?1374246539
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi,
There are a few conditions which may be associated with both the diarrhea as well as the stones in the kidneys. Examples of the same are crohn’s disease/ulcerative colitis, renal tubular acidosis etc. For the confirmation of the same, you’ll need further investigations like a CT scan, colonoscopy, urine analysis etc. Please do consult a urologist/gastroenterologist for the same. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care.
Helpful - 0
2 Comments
Can you answer my question from christybatx
I believe I'm passing stones but the CT came back negative
2
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