Kidney Stones

[meganallie]

I am 22 weeks pregnant and a week ago Friday I was in the ER and they released me about 12 hours later thinking it is kidney stones though the ultrasound didn't show any (which is common for ultrasounds). I started with Tylenol with Codeine then Vicoden and neither of them are helping for the pain anymore.

I still haven't passed the stone and keep waking up in the middle of the night for pain. Last night I woke at 345am and the pain didn't go away until 10 am. I was vomiting and crying because it is so unbearable.

I just need to know if I wake up again with the pain today do I go back to the ER or wait it out? Because of my pregnancy they can't do a whole lot but I can't handle this pain for much longer. I'm not sleeping and I'm throwing up most everything I eat or drink today. Do I just wait for it to pass or go back to the ER and see what happens then? I feel like I'm wasting the time of the hospital staff but really cannot deal with it for much longer.

Also, is it normal to have a stone for 1 week 2 days and not pass it?

Thanks.

[haylee_beutler]

It is very normal to have a stone not completely pass. Sometimes, if a stone is large in size, it can become stuck in your ureter causing pain, nausea, infection. If you are in that much pain and it is starting to intefere with the nutrition of yourself and the baby, then i would definitely go back to the ER. Talk to them about maybe the possibility of doing a ureterscopy with a basket procedure. They might be able to do this while your pregnant. This procedure is done frequently when a stone becomes lodged in a ureter. You will be put out for the procedure. They will insert a scope into your bladder and sometimes up to your kidney to look for the stone. Then they spot it, they insert a special tool ("basket") to grab the stone and get it out. The procedure is usually pretty quick and has very minimal complications, but i guarentee you will fill so much better as soon as it is done. I would also contact a urologist to see if they can do any treatment while you are pregnant. KEEP DRINKING LOTS OF WATER! This will help move the stone along even though you may have pain.

[cathrine001]

[quote="meganallie"]I am 22 weeks pregnant and a week ago Friday I was in the ER and they released me about 12 hours later thinking it is kidney stones, though the ultrasound didn't show any (which is common for ultrasounds). I started with Tylenol with Codeine then Vicoden and neither of them are helping for the pain anymore.

I still haven't passed the stone and keep waking up in the middle of the night for pain. Last night I woke at 345am and the pain didn't go away until 10 am. I was vomiting and crying because it is so unbearable.

I just need to know if I wake up again with the pain today do I go back to the ER or wait it out? Because of my pregnancy they can't do a whole lot but I can't handle this pain for much longer. I'm not sleeping and I'm throwing up most everything I eat or drink today. Do I just wait for it to pass or go back to the ER and see what happens then? I feel like I'm wasting the time of the hospital staff but really cannot deal with it for much longer.

Also, is it normal to have a stone for 1 week 2 days and not pass it?

Thanks.[/quote]

I am a little concerned that you are taking narcotics while you are pregnant. :( I was up at 4:00 this morning for unbearable kidney pain. I have actually found some relief taking 1-2 Pyridium. HOWEVER, check with your obstetrician regarding drug complications.

At 22 weeks, you should be able to take something for nausea; ask your OB if there is anything you can take. Vomiting is not good for the baby, and can induce early labor.

In answer to your question: stones can remain in the kidneys for months -- maybe longer. You need to find a good urologist.

In the meantime, monitor your symptoms by keeping a journal; time the occurence, the length of the pain, intensity of the pain (on a scale of 1-10) presence of vomiting and nausea, location of the pain; any pus/protein or blood present in your urine (you can ask your doctor or ER for a hat to catch the urine and then strain through filter paper, If you find any stones, save them for analysis).

Last but not least, avoid anything that may be aggravating the kidneys: carbonated drinks (especially Coke, Dr. Pepper, any dark colored drink); regular tea; coffee; chocolate; foods with extra calcium added. Check the Web for more details regarding foods to avoid.

[Queen of Hubs]

Hi, I feel your pain. I went through the same thing with one of my pregnancys. By the way my daughter is fine and doing great. Please don't wait. Have your obgyn refer you to a urologist that has delt with a pregnant women before. I had mulitiple stent's and basket removal's proformed while I was pregnant and not pregnant. The biggest differance is that instead of being put under you actually stay awake. My doctor did this with a spinal instead. I think it is better to do something now then put the baby under the stress a full blockage may cause. I hope that this has helped and the best of luck to mom and baby.