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...
2015-05-12 11:36:47
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".
2015-05-12 11:37:26
