Stones without blood in the urine

Posted by Terry on July 27, 1999 at 12:01:58
I have suffered with Kidney Stones for the last 20 years.  Most have been composed of calcium.  The problem I run into is some do not show on X-rays and with the past three stones I have had there has been no blood found in my urine.  I insisted once that my Dr. Perform a cystoscope and he found a stone the size of a nickel about an inch from my bladder that did not show on x-rays
on another occasion one had to be removed from my prostate.
Since that time I have had three or four episodes of what feels like stone pain.  I will go to the Dr. and if there is no blood in the urine he will tell me the chances are I do not have a stone and try to treat it with muscle relaxers.  On at least one of those occasions I have passed a small stone the size of a popcorn kernel
My question is it possible to have no blood in my urine and have stones?  Why do these stones not show up on x-rays?............      

Posted by HFHS M.D.-JS on August 05, 1999 at 10:30:33

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Thank you for your inquiry.The signs and symptoms of kidney are varied according to the type of stone, the size of the stone and the location of the stone.  The most common presentation for kidney stones is acute onset intermittent flank pain where the patient cannot find a comfortable position.  If a urinalysis is performed it often reveals microscopic hematuria, occasionally white blood cells and bacteria.  There may also be crystals in the urine and /or casts.  The different types of renal calculi present with different features on a urinalysis or  X ray.  For example calcium kidney stones often produce microscopic hematuria, if a urinary tract infection is present there may be increased number of WBC