Kidney Stones

[Frank Steffens]

This is my 18th (!!!) bout with 'em. Hopefully this one will pass without surgery (I've had the surgery three times already, twice on the left side, once on the right). The problem is, I have another hobby besides building models: Sweating. I sweat even if I think too hard. During the summer months, even though I drink more than a gallon of water a day, I sweat too much of it out. Genetics plays another part of it also. I get it from my father's side of the family. My dad and his brothers are all very handsome, in-shape men, with a propensity for developing stones. Of the three genetic traits listed there, I had to get the kidney stones.

Folks all I can tell you to avoid these nasty little buggers is to drink LOTS of water (especially if you live in a warm climate), avoid combinations of calcium and caffeine (or limit their intake), and especially avoid powdered iced tea in large quantities.

I wouldn't wish this pain on my worst enemy. Hopefully I'll get some nice goofy pills when I go to the doctor tomorrow to help with the pain.

[george 53]

Frank, my best freind had an attack some years back an when he called me to take him to the hospital, I had to carry him to the car, cuz he couldn't even walk! Just his description of the pain made me hurt! I've never had them an hope to God that I never do!.My buddy had to suffer for almost 2 days before he passed them, and I wouldn't wish somethin like that on my worst enemy( fortunatly, I don't have any enemys to wish it on!) Hope you get better, And they give you some GOOD meds!

[Jello]

Ouch! Stones drive me nuts and I finally had my gallbladder removed last year when the Dr saw all those stones in it. Had 2 kidney stones come out the hard way too and I thought geezzz, I'am kicking the bucket!

Like you, I sweat even while reading or sitting in a cool AC room...same as my dad, I have to change clothes 2-3 times a day cause of sweating.

Good luck and hopefully its not as painful but those goofy pills do help!

~ Jeff

[Raul_Perez]

Yeah...they're nasty little buggers...and they're not very friendly when they decide to "exit".

My doctor suggested that I drink a lot of water and Cran-Grape (not at the same time). It's a good thing that I like Cran-Grape.

William Shatner recently sold one of his stones for $75K. He got another $20K from the Boston Legal cast and used the combined money to buy a house for a family in need in the New Orleans area.

Later,

[Randy Kern]

Another member of the kidney stone club, too. Thirty years ago I had my only (and hopefully last) one. I never had pain like that, and luckily passed it at the hospital. Only the size of a BB yet!

[Harry P.]

I read somewhere where they can go in somehow and zap them to pieces with a laser. Don't remember the details, but that sounds like a better alternative than the "old fashioned" way!

[Berk765]

This is my 18th (!!!) bout with 'em. Hopefully this one will pass without surgery (I've had the surgery three times already, twice on the left side, once on the right). The problem is, I have another hobby besides building models: Sweating. I sweat even if I think too hard. During the summer months, even though I drink more than a gallon of water a day, I sweat too much of it out. Genetics plays another part of it also. I get it from my father's side of the family. My dad and his brothers are all very handsome, in-shape men, with a propensity for developing stones. Of the three genetic traits listed there, I had to get the kidney stones.

Folks all I can tell you to avoid these nasty little buggers is to drink LOTS of water (especially if you live in a warm climate), avoid combinations of calcium and caffeine (or limit their intake), and especially avoid powdered iced tea in large quantities.

I wouldn't wish this pain on my worst enemy. Hopefully I'll get some nice goofy pills when I go to the doctor tomorrow to help with the pain.

Thanks for telling me that.

[Jello]

I read somewhere where they can go in somehow and zap them to pieces with a laser. Don't remember the details, but that sounds like a better alternative than the "old fashioned" way!

They do have that option & its been around for 10 years but for some odd reason, it never gets used much..I suspect it has something to do with the insurance $$$....

~ Jeff

[ramonesblues]

Must be the season for them. I was in the hospital six weeks ago with one 6mm in size.when the doctor went in to remove it through a stent, he poked a hole in my kidney.After three surgeries he finally got it out. I had that stent in me for six miserable weeks. You can get pure cranberry juice at the health food stores. Its lots better than Cran Grape. I feel for you ,buddy.

[old low&slo]

its called lithotripsy . they knock you out and blast the stone till it breaks. its used to break up a stone that is too big to pass . but they can only hit it so many times or it will damage the kidney. I had it done once .

so I am another member of the kidney stone club. I have had a few. the only reason they could come up with for them was dehydration. apparently I can get dehydrated easily so I have been drinking a lot more water since then and yes I also inherited it from my father.

I was lucky when I had them I got a new best friend to help me through them. his name was Mr Percocet.lol

Edited August 12, 2008 by old low&slo

[Frank Steffens]

Whew! The stone passed this morning, about an hour before my doctor's appointment. I'm just glad I don't have to go through the surgery again. The worst part, for me at least, is the stent removal. They have to go up and retrieve it WHILE I'M AWAKE! Thankfully I won't have to endure that this time!

[FloridaBoy]

Frank,

I have only had one incident with stones, and when I passed them they were extremely tiny, compared to anyone else's on this thread I am sure, but I thought I was going to die, too!!!!! So, I feel for ya, guy.

Isn't there a treatment in which you submerge in a tank of water up to your chest, and they shoot some type of laser or xray through and it decomposes them?

Hang in there, Frank. There is a lot of empathy out there for you.

Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman

[george 53]

Well Frank, I'm sure glad for you that it's all over now. I don't even want to IMAGINE what it's like! Glad everything "came out" ok!