Kidney Stones and Diarrhea?

[mungufuata]

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?

[jannyjo]

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.

[tiencyjo]

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.

[alu813]

peeing repeatedly is a problem?

[Sherbear9]

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.  

[nettie0628]

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.

[Batgirl99]

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! :-)

[brettski19]

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.

[debbiemlsm]

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 :)