Kidney Stones

[meemorosie]

The hardest thing for me about having the stones is a toss up between the stones themselves and the stent and the emotional stress and feeling of being alone. I'm only 29 woman and so far in the last 6 months I have had 9 lithotripsys on 4 stones (1 cm, 1.2cm, 5mm and 2mm), I've been stented twice (once for 3 months, once for a month). No one in my family has ever had them and can not relate to the physical pain and exhaustion, annoyance, disappointment and sheer frustration that I have felt. Going to the urologist is also hard on my ego because I always walk into a waiting room of OLDER MEN. I have yet to see a young woman like me, the women who I do see are older. Am I alone with this feeling? Can anyone else relate to this? Thank you!

[vlbeach]

Hi! I am 25 and have passed 5 kidney stones in the last year. I understand exactly how you feel. I am the youngest patient that my urologist & nephrologist have. It's very upsetting to be sitting in the doctor's offices and having all eyes on you because you are out of the normal. I am actually scheduled for my first lithotripsy on May 28th. I am a little nervous about it but am happy that something is being done! I am also the only one in my family to have kidney stones. It is very frustrating because I keep having to take time off of work for doctor's appointments or procedures and I am not getting any sympathy/understanding. Currently, I have no personal time and afraid that I am going to lose my job!

I have gone a lot of days of just being depressed and not getting out of bed because 1. I'm exhausted and emotionally drained 2.I have no desire to see ANOTHER DOCTOR to hear that they are stumped and don't know what to do next 3. I hate hearing "DRINK MORE WATER" when I am drinking so much water I feel like I am swimming!

I am sorry to hear what you are going through. But it is a relief that someone in my age group is having the same frustrations/questions that I do.

I really hope this get better!!

[writer71]

Hello,
I am a medical writer at the Los Angeles Times, and I am looking to talk with younger people who have suffered from chronic kidney stones. My name is Alan Zarembo and I can best be contacted at [moderator note: e-mail address has been removed].
Sincerely,
Alan

[meemorosie]

Oh my goodness, how nice it is to hear that I am not alone! Our stories are so very similiar! No one in my family has these stupid things and I have no time off of work. Thankfully, I have a great boss, but who knows, one day she might not be as supportive...how old were you when you had your first stone?

[vlbeach]

I had my first one at age 24. I had my first one February 2007 and have passed 5 more since then. How old were you when you had your first one?

[sunniegnt]

I am glad that there is someone else that I can finally relate to. I too am feeling the same reason. I have been quietly crying all evening to myself for this exact reason. Everyone just keeps saying, wow I have heard that is painful, but suck it up, and move on. I am 32 and started passing stones 3 years ago while pregnant with my first child. I just had my second child and passed 12 stones during that pregnancy, and the stones caused her to be born 5 weeks early, they also took me off work 9 weeks early. I get that at work too - wow I thought just older men get stones, maybe you need to eat better (hello, I am a walking salad bar and eat chicken, and drink my daily milk, water, and OJ). I am so tired of hearing eat better, what else do you want me to eat, or drink more water, my students tell their parents to buy me water because they see me drink so much they think its my favorite drink!
It is now getting in the way of my job,me being a good mom, and just a normal person. I feel awful that right now I am trying to decide between the pain I have been feeling for the last week along with the excessive blood in my urine or to keep nursing my 4 month old. I can't take any meds while nursing except tylenol. My dr is letting me put of the lithrotrpsy for a few more weeks until I ween her, but now we think a large stone is in my ureter and that is why I am having so much pain right now. I have no energy and am tired of being in pain. I would love to work out and get back in shape after this baby, but the pain and lack of energy is not allowing it so when I look in the mirror I get sad even more. I know people have it a lot worse off than me and i have a wonderful life otherwise, I just don't get it.
I am so glad I found this forum and hope that we can all offer each other a shoulder or ear.
Thank you,
-gh

[karmah777]

I am 35 years old with 4 kids. I found out I had stones after my 3rd child was born through an x-ray. I had lipotripsy twice about 5 years ago. Then I had my gall bladder removed after they found a huge stone in there. I have been in discomfort and pain for a while and just had a ct scan. I found out I have 8 stones. 5 in on kidney and 3 in another. 3 of them are 1cm. They are going to have to go in through my bladder, blast them, pull them out and then put stents in. I am a little worried about the stents. I have heard they are painful. I also am a owner of a business so it is crazy and stressful. I do not have time to deal with this. I also have endometriosis which is uncomfortable as well. Please let me know if anyone has had stents and what I should expect.
Thanks and God Bless.

[babygirl]

My baby had a urinary tract infection at 8 months and then again at 10 months, after different types of test they found she had a kidney stone about 1.3 cm, she was schedule for surgery and passed it the night before surgery on her own. It was a miracle, after she passed the stone she was a brand new baby, full of energy again! Its hard to imagine the pain she was going through.

[mbr]

My daughter - age 18 - just had her 2nd kidney stone pass while we were taking her up to college. We had to make a detour to an emergency room to get her some relief while she passed the stone. Since then, the clinic on campus did an ultra sound and determined that she has another kidney stone. As indicated, she is 18 and has had 2 in the past year and 4 months and now another one waiting. She has an appointment with a Urologist - but my question is - if they do any of the ultrasonic treatments to break this stone up - is there any risk to any other organs? My concern is that there could be risk to reporductive or other organs and especially with her being so young. Have any of you had any information given to you about the risks of the treatments for kidney stones? I would love to hear about that.

[robomo]

At least now, medical professionals check for kidney stones. When I was young, I was always told it was a UTI. Looking back, I know that's not true, but who knew?? I've been told be a urologist that you should pretty much have the mindset that once a kidney stone maker, always a kidney stone maker. All my siblings have them as it turns out too.

I've learned to live with mine and try to do the things that make them small and pass them before they get too big. I read everything and talked to different doctors, etc. I drink a LOT of water and quit drinking iced tea, etc. I work out which I think (could be a naive thought) in some ways, helps.

I've had lithotripsy and the procedure was not bad. Afterwards was pretty bad for about 24 hours while the stone remnants passed, but after that, there were no bad affects, etc. I get a CT scan once a year or every 18 months just to be in the know about my stones and their size, etc.

I currently do not have a uro as mine left town. I do not care to ever have to get another one. The one I had was a good doctor, but not very nice. If I ever have to get another uro, I will ask every single one whether they have ever had a kidney stone and the first one who says yes will get my business.