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3 mm kidney stone won't come out
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...
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...
I had a stone before 10 years ago -- but it passed during the initial attack. What makes this episode interfere so severely with work and travel is the need for high water consumption and the low abdomen pressure both resulting in a constant urge to urinate... I am a survivor of multiple medical problems, but this is especially hard because I have no idea how long it would take, I need to keep on drinking (+ take Flomax), and I feel physically uncomfortable all the time. Thanks again!
Even if the stone does not come out by then, I would not cancel your trip.
See how you go. If the stone does not move, it will not give you any problem. And it can take a very long time to pass through.
If you feel ill a a day or so before (I don't know how much notice you have to give to cancel) you go, then cancel.
I was on pethedine and when I asked my doctor if I could go on holiday at the time, he didn't see why I shouldn't. Unfortunately we went on a boating holiday and I made a mistake of jumping off the boat that started the stone to move. I was extremely ill that night and the family were frantic (unbeknown to me) searching for a doctor. The doctor came in the morning and I was prescribed with an antibiotic that cleared the infection. Although it got jarred it did not come out, I thought I felt OK, but I was very ill again a few weeks later and had to have it surgically removed.
So play it by ear so to speak and see how you get on.
I think I had something a few weeks ago because my kidney was in pain and there was a lot of sediment in the urine. My blood tests have come back normal. I occasionally get leucocytes and a speck of blood showing of the urine stick. Tomorrow I am going to have my kidneys scanned. So I will see what happens.
Have you never had one before?
Take care.
See how you go. If the stone does not move, it will not give you any problem. And it can take a very long time to pass through.
If you feel ill a a day or so before (I don't know how much notice you have to give to cancel) you go, then cancel.
I was on pethedine and when I asked my doctor if I could go on holiday at the time, he didn't see why I shouldn't. Unfortunately we went on a boating holiday and I made a mistake of jumping off the boat that started the stone to move. I was extremely ill that night and the family were frantic (unbeknown to me) searching for a doctor. The doctor came in the morning and I was prescribed with an antibiotic that cleared the infection. Although it got jarred it did not come out, I thought I felt OK, but I was very ill again a few weeks later and had to have it surgically removed.
So play it by ear so to speak and see how you get on.
I think I had something a few weeks ago because my kidney was in pain and there was a lot of sediment in the urine. My blood tests have come back normal. I occasionally get leucocytes and a speck of blood showing of the urine stick. Tomorrow I am going to have my kidneys scanned. So I will see what happens.
Have you never had one before?
Take care.
Thank you so much for your detailed response (I just printed it). Yes, I did go to see a urologist who told me that the stone is likely to pass on its own, because it is small (3 mm.) My urine was checked by my internist -- no infection. I will try to increase fluid consumption (which increase the discomfort + frequent urination and make me practically home bound). I am supposed to travel for business in 3 weeks and will have to cancel if the stone does not come out, so I feel my life is on hold... Thanks again for you kindness.
Are you under the urologyst? They should be keeping an eye on you.
If the stone gets stuck in the ureter it is extremely painful (as you have already experienced) and you may have to have it surgically removed, or have it shattered so it moves out on its own.
Every time you are bleeding and experiencing the nausea and vomitting, the stone will be moving. Sometimes this causes an infection so you will need to see your doctor to check your urine for infections and be treated with antibiotics.
Unfortunately, there is no time limit for a stone to come out. They do not hurt and you wouldn't know you had one if they didn't move (or shown on xrays).
You should be drinking plenty of water at least 3 litres per day throught the day. The norm is 2-3 litres. But when I had my stone stuck in the ureter my urologyst told me to drink 3 litres. You are doing the right thing in catching the urine to see if the stone comes out. Sometimes the stone does not come out as a solid piece, but you may find bits of sediment or grains of sand in the urine.
The pressure in your lower abdomen may be from a bladder infection, so always get your urine checked if it is cloudy, or bloody.
Pains in the lower abdomen like wind pains are called renal colic.
I have heard some people say to drink lemonade to dissolve the stones, but I don't know if this works or not. Another one is to drink water with lemon juice. This changes the urine into more alkaline rather than acidic. I do drink water with lemon juice (but not when I had my stone) so don't really know if it works or not.
Once you have had stones, unfortunately you will be prone to getting them again, so always make sure you stay hydrated.
I had to have mine surgically removed at the age of 39. Unfortunately it could not be shattered as it was too solidly suck in the ureter. But I was very ill intermittently for 5 months.
Wishing you a speedy "birth".
If the stone gets stuck in the ureter it is extremely painful (as you have already experienced) and you may have to have it surgically removed, or have it shattered so it moves out on its own.
Every time you are bleeding and experiencing the nausea and vomitting, the stone will be moving. Sometimes this causes an infection so you will need to see your doctor to check your urine for infections and be treated with antibiotics.
Unfortunately, there is no time limit for a stone to come out. They do not hurt and you wouldn't know you had one if they didn't move (or shown on xrays).
You should be drinking plenty of water at least 3 litres per day throught the day. The norm is 2-3 litres. But when I had my stone stuck in the ureter my urologyst told me to drink 3 litres. You are doing the right thing in catching the urine to see if the stone comes out. Sometimes the stone does not come out as a solid piece, but you may find bits of sediment or grains of sand in the urine.
The pressure in your lower abdomen may be from a bladder infection, so always get your urine checked if it is cloudy, or bloody.
Pains in the lower abdomen like wind pains are called renal colic.
I have heard some people say to drink lemonade to dissolve the stones, but I don't know if this works or not. Another one is to drink water with lemon juice. This changes the urine into more alkaline rather than acidic. I do drink water with lemon juice (but not when I had my stone) so don't really know if it works or not.
Once you have had stones, unfortunately you will be prone to getting them again, so always make sure you stay hydrated.
I had to have mine surgically removed at the age of 39. Unfortunately it could not be shattered as it was too solidly suck in the ureter. But I was very ill intermittently for 5 months.
Wishing you a speedy "birth".
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