Kidney Stones

[mikecd1]

Depends a lot on the individual, the pain you might be in and general tolerance for drinking the yuck. I wouldn't do it after a big meal, but if I was in an active problem perhaps once in morning, again in afternoon and evening. Lots of water all the time. Hydration is key.

 

[HolmeBass]

Thanks, from what I've read up on all you mentioned doing is what seems helpful as far as what I can do myself.

Staying physically active is another thing recommend/mentioned in a few articles I've read. I do 24 minutes to 1 hr on a treadmill daily so I'm good there.

I've been looking at everything I normally eat and drink to determine whether they are high oxalate or not. So far, peanut butter is one thing that looks like a culprit. I've been eating way too much of it. Half a jar a day lol.

I drink instant coffee which has more oxalates than brewed so I'm going to limit myself to one cup per day and drink some lemon juice in water before I drink the coffee.

Anyhow, from what I've read so far only two of my 7 stones are too large to pass. Supposedly, stones up to 4 mm will pass 80% of the time.

We'll see

Why is drinking lemon juice good for stones? I have never heard that.

In fact, when your body processes organic vitamin C, oxylate is one of the byproducts.

 

[lowplaces]

Why is drinking lemon juice good for stones? I have never heard that.

In fact, when your body processes organic vitamin C, oxylate is one of the byproducts.

It's the citrate in the juice.


"Citrate, a salt in citric acid, binds to calcium and helps block stone formation. "Studies have shown that drinking 1/2 cup of lemon juice concentrate diluted in water each day, or the juice of two lemons, can increase urine citrate and likely reduce kidney stone risk," says Dr. Eisner."

How to pass a kidney stone & 5 tips to prevent them - Harvard Health

Passing a kidney stone can be painful. Here's how to pass one and five lifestyle tips to prevent the likelihood it ever happens to you....

www.health.harvard.edu

 

[lowplaces]

fact, when your body processes organic vitamin C, oxylate is one of the byproducts.

From what I gather it's only amounts of over 500mg C that causes issues.

A cup of lemon juice is only about 95 mg of vitamin C

 

[HolmeBass]

Thanks, from what I've read up on all you mentioned doing is what seems helpful as far as what I can do myself.

Staying physically active is another thing recommend/mentioned in a few articles I've read. I do 24 minutes to 1 hr on a treadmill daily so I'm good there.

I've been looking at everything I normally eat and drink to determine whether they are high oxalate or not. So far, peanut butter is one thing that looks like a culprit. I've been eating way too much of it. Half a jar a day lol.

I drink instant coffee which has more oxalates than brewed so I'm going to limit myself to one cup per day and drink some lemon juice in water before I drink the coffee.

Anyhow, from what I've read so far only two of my 7 stones are too large to pass. Supposedly, stones up to 4 mm will pass 80% of the time.

We'll see

I had one that was over 1 mm, and apparently got stuck in my ureter. They used sonic ablation to break it up and allow it to pass.

All of my other stones were small enough to pass on their own.

 

[SharpCat]

Careful what you drink to get the fluids people are (correctly) advising. I once got stones from drinking too much iced tea.

 

[P. Aaron]

Similar threads:

 

[Five or Six]

Ya, caffeine isn't a good thing either so I went to decaf. They say beef isn't good as well. Well OK. But, I eat a bunch of venison so he said that's better. I'm a meat and taters guy so there is that. I think if a person did just like the urologists wants us to, we'd have to go out in the front yard and graze. I had 2 together the last time I was blessed by the kidney stone God. Both were 10.5 boulders. I wasn't eating anything. I was puking until they fetched those skudders.

 

[Hurricane Jimmie]

So Anyway, best wishes to the OP.

When I was an OR Tech, we sometimes had to surgically remove them from the ureter when time, medication and stents didn't work. It was pretty brutal just to remove a tiny stone. The surgery was such an insult to the body. This was before lithotripsy became more available.
There are so many better options now.

Good Health to all of you.

 

[lowplaces]

Careful what you drink to get the fluids people are (correctly) advising. I once got stones from drinking too much iced tea.

Yep

Water, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar is all I'm focusing on.

Going to be tough to cut back on coffee but the NKF says 1 1/2 cups is ok and may be helpful.

If I drink more than that I'll combine it with some lemon juice in water.

New Study Supports Coffee and Caffeine Can Reduce Kidney Stones Risk

www.kidney.org

 

[lowplaces]

So Anyway, best wishes to the OP.

When I was an OR Tech, we sometimes had to surgically remove them from the ureter when time, medication and stents didn't work. It was pretty brutal just to remove a tiny stone. The surgery was such an insult to the body. This was before lithotripsy became more available.
There are so many better options now.

Good Health to all of you.

Thanks

Other than blood in my urine and slight burn when I urinate I'm fine. Eta: can't see the blood but it's showing up on 3 urine lab samples.

I suppose catching it before any obstruction works in my favor.

 

[klaatu]

I didn't notice if anyone has mentioned to avoid spinach which has one of the highest amounts of oxalates.

 

[lowplaces]

Wow, by going through my intake of staple foods to note the oxalate content if each, I decided to look into my use of tobacco-free nicotine pouches. I switched to them to stop smoking.

It appears they can promote kidney stone formation as well as have other negative effects on the kidneys.

So, I'll have to stop using them. I've tried weaning off of them in the past. Cold turkey or bust moving forward.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Don't know what type yet but I have them. No pain but urologist ordered a urine test and it detected blood and calcium oxalate crystals.

Sent me to have a ct urogram with these results..

"
FINDINGS:
Abdomen: The kidneys are symmetric in size. There are bilateral nonobstructing renal calculi. A calculus in the lower pole of the left kidney measures 1.3 cm (internal density of 1140 HU). There are 2 additional left renal calculi measuring up to 4 mm. A calculus in lower pole right kidney measures 1.7 cm (internal density 1000HU). There are 3 additional right renal calculi measuring 2 to 3 mm. Benign renal cysts are identified. No abnormal enhancing renal mass. The renal vasculature is patent. There is uniform excretion of IV contrast into the renal collecting systems. There is no abnormal ureteral enhancement or ureteral filling defects.

The liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, and adrenal glands are within normal limits. There is low-attenuation adreniform thickening of the adrenal glands. The small bowel is not dilated. The appendix is normal. No enlarged retroperitoneal or mesenteric lymph nodes. Abdominal aorta is normal in caliber.

Pelvis: No pelvic mass. No enlarged pelvic or inguinal lymph nodes. No bladder calculi. There is no abnormal bladder enhancement or bladder wall thickening. No bladder filling defects.

IMPRESSION:

1. Bilateral nonobstructing renal calculi. No hydronephrosis or ureteral calculi.
2. Benign bilateral renal cysts.
3. No acute findings in the abdomen or pelvis."

I searched all the geeky terms and such and if I read it all correctly, there is nothing alarming.

Also have some sort of scope to look at my bladder Tuesday but the urologist told me before the CT that pending the results of it they may not have to do the scope. Still need to show up for the appointment to discuss the results of the ct.

Anyone been treated for them ? Just curious what to expect. In the meantime I'm using lemon juice and eating cottage cheese and plain yogurt for the calcium. Both citrate and calcium are said to bind to oxalates.

I had one once about 20 years ago.it passed within a couple of days. Not fun. Sounds like your’s is a lot more involved. Best wishes.

 

[lowplaces]

Good news: Scoped my bladder today. No cancer, , no infection, so stones definitely why the blood in urine.

Also, urine test today was all normal each category. And only a trace amount blood. I was kind of disappointed the sample didn't list the crystals level like the last one did. I was curious if my lemon water and dietary calcium increase was working.

Just as my armchair interpretation of the CT results was, the two largest stones won't pass.

Bad news: They are "staghorn" stones. Their location, size, and angle of my kidneys won't allow blasting/retrieving them.

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy is what doc recommends. Says he can get to the ugly stones and a few others out by going though my back. (Has risks, but he has 11+ years experience)

Post op stent, a week or so. But a day or so if I stay in the hospital for monitoring.

Or, he said we could wait and watch since I'm in no pain.

After thinking about it, if one of the large stones moves and results in urine blockage, that will come with pain. Then I'll have to have surgery and add the post op pain to it. Double dose.

Anyhow thanks for all the replies, support, info, experiences, etc.

Guess I'll let him dig them out.

 

[SharpCat]

Everything is in context. Generally “They stuck things where the sun don’t shine” is not described as “good news”. But here, completely justified.

I think you’re making the right decision—all the times I had post op pain, it was nothing compared to the two times I had kidney stone pain. Yowch! In any case, best wishes and take ‘er easy.

 

[Zooberwerx]

On a brighter note: nothing feels better than when you pass one of those SOBs. Okay...5 minutes after. The urologist wants you straining the stream like you're some sort of Yukon Cornelius panning for gold.

Riis

 

[lowplaces]

Here's what my large ones look like.

Not mine, and mine are not as large, but similar.

 

[mrpackerguy]

Found this..

Kidney Stone Treatment in Lafayette, LA | Southern Urology

Our board-certified urologists provide expert diagnosis and personalized treatment plans for kidney stones. Contact our clinic today.

southernurologyla.com

I'm already doing plenty of water with lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, and avoiding animal protein.

This. While I seemed to have outgrown them in my old age, starting at about age 34,got them every 5 years seemingly like clockwork. 1st attack was ambulance to the ER. I swore my guts were being sliced up from the inside. Got in the ambulance and the EMT looks at me and says "kidney stones". Don't let your wife tell you childbirth is worse. Had a bad kidney stone 5 year anniversary bout 10 years later requiring the master blaster. Non-invasive but not fun. I required morphine IV each attack. As I aged and got serious about hydration and citrus drinks they waned. I think it's been 15 years since the last go round.

 

[lowplaces]

This. While I seemed to have outgrown them in my old age, starting at about age 34,got them every 5 years seemingly like clockwork. 1st attack was ambulance to the ER. I swore my guts were being sliced up from the inside. Got in the ambulance and the EMT looks at me and says "kidney stones". Don't let your wife tell you childbirth is worse. Had a bad kidney stone 5 year anniversary bout 10 years later requiring the master blaster. Non-invasive but not fun. I required morphine IV each attack. As I aged and got serious about hydration and citrus drinks they waned. I think it's been 15 years since the last go round.

Good deal on not having issues for 15 years !

I'm lucky so far as far as pain. Only some mild burning when I urinate and that's been subsiding since I started drinking more water and at least 1/2 cup lemon juice per day. Been eating yogurt of cottage cheese with meals for calcium to bind with any oxalates intake.

I don't think I've passed any small stones yet. The two I passed in the past didn't cause any pain but both looked big enough to do so. I wish I hadn't just ignored them but here we are.

Two of 7 stones I have are too big and in the wrong location to be blasted according to my urologist. Dreading surgery but I figure it's best than waiting for them to move into the wrong place. Then I'll have both pre, as well as post op pain.

Anyhow I just watched this interesting lecture today on the problems with oxalates.