3 mm kidney stone won't come out

[doctora42]

I am a 70-year-old female in the midst of a kidney stone episode:
10 days ago, sudden onset of an episode of excruciating pain on right side of abdomen, accompanied by nausea and vomiting and bloody urine.  2 days later:  An episode of painless gross hematuria.
CAT Scan reveals 3 mm. distal right ureteral calculus just proximal to the UVJ causing minimal fullness of the right ureter. Ever since:  constant pressure in the lower abdomen (pelvis and groin), and a constant urge to urinate that makes me practically home bound.  On Flomax 0.4 mg. and hydration.   I use a strainer, and thus far – no stone.
1.  Is a 3 mm stone likely to pass on its own, if it has not passed already?
2.  How long can it take for a stone to pass?
3.  Anything I can do to expedite the process?
4.  How much fluids should I consume?
Please, advise...  

[momo1982]

I have a kidney stone that is 3.5mm it hurts so bad I'm in so much pain Monday will b the 8th day an I cannot pass it I'm taking my meds and drinking plenty of water an cranberry juice I need help..I don't know wat else to do I've been out of work for 7 whole days today.I can barely walk..I keep laying in the bed everyday I want to go on with my life but I can't someone please help me....

[jemma116]

Thanks for the info.

Sorry to hear of your problem.  And yes even a stone as small as a grain of sand can cause of lot of problems.

Use of stents seem to the new thing these days.
I didn't have any stent, but my problem was 22 years ago and it was probably not a procedure that was used or know about then.

Best wishes.

[ChitChatNine]

I think there is info on low oxalite diets here in our health pages

http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/list?cid=185

I'm so glad you are doing better.  I've had a stent and obstruction/infection from a 3.0mm stone .. it doesn't make sense something so small can be so invasive!

C~

[jemma116]

Thanks.
As you have access to a computer, you can find low oxalate diet recipes online too.

Writing to you about those foods, also reminded me the foods that I should not be eating.  Especially, the grapes, celery, strawberries, peanut butter and chocolate,  - no wonder I had a problem with my kidneys and produced a lot of sediment over the last few months!  Things have now settled down for me and my unltrasound did not detect any stones, only a cyst.

Best wishes

[doctora42]

Thank you very much for the information.  Stone is currently being analyzed.  Stent removed on Monday.  Still looking for a good book with information on Low Oxalate Diet...  Be well and best regards.

[jemma116]

Great that you did not to have an incision to remove the stone.  And wishing you a speedy recovery.

Now that you know your kidney stone was made up of calcium oxalate, limit or eliminate foods with significant amounts of oxalate. These are spinach, beets, rhubarb, Swiss chard, beets, wheat germ, chocolate, peanuts, okra, sweet potatoes, liver, grits, grapes, green pepper, celery, strawberries and black tea. Many other foods contain oxalates in lower concentrations, but will not pose much risk.

Although it may seem a little counter-intuitive, you may benefit by moderately increasing your calcium consumption. Free oxalates in the urine increase your tendency to form stones; adequate calcium intake will bind enough of that oxalate to decrease your overall chances of getting stones. Be sure, though, to get your calcium from dietary sources like dairy products as taking calcium supplements can increase your chances of kidney stones.

My stone may years ago was diagnosed as being calcium oxalate, but then the thinking was to avoid all dairy products.  So things have changed a lot since then.  

And of course, the usual of drinking water and not getting dehydrated also is a preventive from stone formation.

Did they let you keep the stone?

Best wishes.