I started passing kidney stones on
December 31, 1999. Yep, new years eve.
Since then I have passed several hundred
stones(I have a real nice collection). I
have had seven lithotripsies so far. Ive
been through nine Urologists with all of
them acting really interested and wanting
to help me...... at first, then eventually
letting me know in so many words thats
theres nothing more they can do for me and
telling me to find another doctor. Ive
probably taken enough pain medication in
the last eight years to supply everyone in
the USA for a month....... at least. I
usually have about a 2 to 6 hour window
after I pass a stone before I start
passing another one. The average time it
takes me to pass a stone from the first
sharp pain to the stone actually shooting
out when I pee is between three and six
weeks. Some stones have taken me up to 10
weeks to pass. Needless to say how hard it
is for me to hold down a full-time job. My
last job I had to apply for FMLA so I
would not get fired from missing so many
days of work. Ive been on disability since
september 2006. I have not improved at all
since being on disability so have decided
to try a part time job. I have an
appointment on the 27th of this month at
the Vanderbilt Urology Center in
Nashville, Tennessee. Needless to say that
I'm in severe pain almost every minute of
my crappy life and see no relief in the
near future. I just had a falling out with
my latest Urologist and am hoping that
vanderbilt can help me. Ive been told by
several doctors in the past that I will
have this condition for the rest of my
life. I have actually contemplated taking
my own life on several occasions but do
not want to end up in hell, if there is
such a place. Sometimes I think I'm
already there.
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kfeldt
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 31 Dec 2007 Posts: 1
Like Circumstances Posted: 12-31-07 10:02am
I have a niece who has passed kidney
stones as you have for most of her life. I
think she is 40 now so it has been a
rather unpleasant life. She has of course
become addicted to pain meds and now
doctors will no longer prescribe them for
her. She is pretty pitiful. I dont condone
addiction, but in this circumstance, I can
just about understand it. Just thought you
might like to know that you are not in it
alone. Good luck and God Bless you in your
journey
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Glamorgirli
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 17 May 2005 Posts: 193 Location: Michigan
Posted: 01-07-08 19:35pm
My boyfriend, has the same issue. He
passed his first kidney stone with no
problem when he was 18, then about a year
ago he had to get a cystoscopy to blast
one out had a Ureter stint. Then a month
ago he had one traveling on each side at
the same time, and they did a
litheotripsy. then its about a month
later, and he has a 5mm stone that he just
got blasted today. He also passes little
ones all of the time. I wonder if there
are any underlining conditions or diseases
that is causing these stones. I feel so
bad for him, he has also missed so much
work. He's suppose to be seeing a Kidney
specialist this month, so I'm hoping they
come to a conclusion.
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^Serenity^
Moderator
Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Posts: 1383
Thanks: 133
Thanked:154
Posted: 01-08-08 09:30am
The first thing is to find out what type
of stones you are making.
There is medication that can slow down the
amount of stones a persons body makes. The
other thing is changes in diet such as
eliminating or decreasing your oxalate
intake.
Oxalate is found in many foods and drinks
such as coffee, teas, sodas, etc..
chocolate, sunflower seeds, fig newtons,
the list goes on and on.
There are categories for low, medium and
high oxalate foods, drinks even condiments
and fruits.
Another big culprit is sodium.
Then on the other hand there are people
like myself who have eliminated a lot of
this stuff from my diet and still produce
stones.
My son and husband also suffer from
kidney stones.
Nephrologist (kidney doctors) are your
best bet when dealing with so many stones,
you still need the urologist to remove the
kidney stones if you can not pass them but
the kidney doctor can help with
medications and dietary changes.
