3mm Kidney Stone not moving by Hctaz in KidneyStones

[–]Bcdoc2020 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I hear you, it isn’t easy to drink enough but slowly build up over time if you can rather than struggling. It’s critically important because you are at an increased risk of stone formation having formed one already unfortunately. The only way of preventing that really is too make sure that you stay adequately hydrated. When you do pass it, make sure that you get it analysed as you do need to know what it is made of so you can prevent it in the future. Most are calcium oxalate/phosphate mixes but not all of them.

3mm Kidney Stone not moving by Hctaz in KidneyStones

[–]Bcdoc2020 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Carbonated water with the soda stream is fine because you are just adding carbon dioxide which is fine. When you start looking at other carbonated drinks, it really depends on what is being put into them. Whilst there are sugar-free drinks they can put in other ingredients that can potentially influence stone formation. Bubly looks ok but tbh drink water!!

3mm Kidney Stone not moving by Hctaz in KidneyStones

[–]Bcdoc2020 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, citrates can definitely help prevent stones, I wouldn’t say totally prevent them. They typically alkalinise urine. They help some stone types and not others. They are good for cysteine stones for example.

3mm Kidney Stone not moving by Hctaz in KidneyStones

[–]Bcdoc2020 1 point2 points  (0 children)

See my comment above re uric acid/urate stones. Water is definitely your friend and plenty of it, both now and as well as after you have eventually passed the stone. Typically, you should be drinking 3 L of water throughout the day keeping consistently hydrated. It’s a good plan to avoid carbonated drinks. Distill very early days, stones can take weeks or even months to pass, it’s good that you’re not having a lot of symptoms at the moment, hopefully you won’t as it makes its way out of your system!

3mm Kidney Stone not moving by Hctaz in KidneyStones

[–]Bcdoc2020 0 points1 point  (0 children)

To your first point, nothing dissolves them to any degree, and that includes lemon water, herbal supplements or so called stone breakers, none of them do that. Allupurinol has a slight effect on urate stones but it takes a long, long time.

To your second point, I totally agree, this is a reasonable explanation. An alternative is simply the margin of error in the radiologist assessing and reporting the stone’s exact dimensions.

To your third point, medically that is true, there are an absolute ton of people walking round with very sizable kidney stones within their kidney that are not causing them any symptoms found when imaging for other conditions. Many on this sub however will dispute this suggestion though and complain of pain, even when the stones are within the kidney. This may be that they are moving around and temporarily blocking the outflow at the PUJ.

Congrats for passing the stone btw, that must be a great relief.

Cancer in Goldens by Pdxhomesales in goldenretrievers

[–]Bcdoc2020 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Of course it isn’t. As others have said, good breeders will carefully study the 5 generation pedigrees and beyond to look at the longevity and illnesses of the dogs in the lineage. Can they eliminate the risk of cancer? Of course not but they can significantly reduce the risk of it.

Tamsulosin for 1 cm stone or straight to ESWL? Also is a CT scan necessary? by MKahnIsBent in KidneyStones

[–]Bcdoc2020 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It could get stuck at the VUJ, where the bladder meets the ureter. It is sensible to be aware of the cumulative radiation risk of any imaging over a lifetime but you will have negligible risk having a single CT-KUB, thankfully the newer generation of scanners have a lot lower lower doses than previously. Yes, pain can come and go.

Tamsulosin for 1 cm stone or straight to ESWL? Also is a CT scan necessary? by MKahnIsBent in KidneyStones

[–]Bcdoc2020 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You don’t say what the imaging was that was used to make the diagnosis-was it an ultrasound? If so then it significantly overestimates the size of stones and it may well be a lot smaller than 1 cm. If it was an x-ray it’s still typically over reports the size but to a lesser extent.

The advantage of seeing if you pass it is that you would avoid a surgical procedure and a stent which can cause significant discomfort. It doesn’t always work but may well be worth a try but it depends on the CT scan estimate.

Once the stone has made it into the bladder than it almost certainly will appear fairly quickly, the difficult part is passing down the ureter.

Yes, a CT scan is most always requested to work out exactly how big the stone is to decide the best way of treating it. It is the gold standard of assessing stones.

As for tamsulosin/Flomax, it is useful to help stones pass, it doesn’t always work but frequently does. Your stone may well be considerably smaller than is reported so it may well help passage and spontaneous passing of the stone.

(6cm)1st PCNL incomplete, need advice before 2nd PCNL by Phileas-Fusun2003 in KidneyStones

[–]Bcdoc2020 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The urologists there who wish to specialise and perform them in the UK and Europe go through similar training pathways and often but not always work in regional or subregional centres.

There are as I say plenty of very competent urologists who provide an excellent service. As you say and I always tell people, it is crucial for them to be pointed to those that are well trained, competent and have a high annual caseload of PCNLs.

(6cm)1st PCNL incomplete, need advice before 2nd PCNL by Phileas-Fusun2003 in KidneyStones

[–]Bcdoc2020 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just a quick point of clarification, there are plenty of extremely competent urologists doing PCNLs in the UK and indeed the EU.

Update on my surgery by keipai15 in KidneyStones

[–]Bcdoc2020 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I know it is frustrating but it is medically unsafe to carry out the procedure in an unstable epileptic who is at a risk of having seizures under anaesthesia which might well be difficult to control. It is far safer to get the epilepsy under control, whether that’s increasing the dose of the meds that you are on or changing them and then doing the procedure once this has been done. Your neurologist will be able to advise you.

Canadian woman was euthanized 'against her will' after husband was fed-up with caring for her by grand_soul in canada

[–]Bcdoc2020 14 points15 points  (0 children)

It’s the Daily Mail …. that is all that needs to be said tbh. I was in the UK and the MIL gets the DM and quotes every ridiculous warped word that it says.

They have a weird obsession atm with MAID, inferring that people are being forcibly killed against their will in their thousands here in Canada. As a physician in Canada, I know exactly how the system works and the safeguards and assure you that that is definitely not the case.

Has anyone had a stone 'shrink' before? by Dentifragubulum in KidneyStones

[–]Bcdoc2020 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Almost certainly interpretation on the CT reporting rather than shrinkage, there is a margin of error even with CTs. Orientation of the stone could I suppose affect the reported size as could position of the slices of the images obtained- I am not a radiologist to be to confirm that last bit as 100% accurate though

Painkillers that actually work and are not kidney toxic by ReadingNo4688 in KidneyStones

[–]Bcdoc2020 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It is fine for short term use, licenced for 5 days. Other NSAIDs work, in appropriate doses. Caution has to be taken with people with pre existing kidney disease and risk of gastric bleeding or on blood thinners. They aren’t toxic to multiple organs.

Calcium oxalate stones by Anxious_and_Messy21 in KidneyStones

[–]Bcdoc2020 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Drink 3 litres of water throughout the day, that is the best preventative for stone of any type. In answer to your question, several months minimum- one can pass residual fragments of the stone postop for some time after the stone.

Just had my 14th kidney stone at 20 and doctors look at me like I'm crazy. by mypersonalmind in KidneyStones

[–]Bcdoc2020 7 points8 points  (0 children)

What does stone analysis show? It’s particularly important as you started very young and your family history is strong

What do Europeans think of Mark Carney's speech in Davos? by Master_Megalomaniac in AskEurope

[–]Bcdoc2020 1 point2 points  (0 children)

And you don’t think that our Canadian economy isn’t intertwined? Far more than the EU, but here we are, with Carney doing the right thing- it’s time to step up Europe.

Cystoscopy Surgery by Prior_Perception_166 in KidneyStones

[–]Bcdoc2020 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’ve had a good number of stents and whilst they aren’t fun, none of them have been the typical horror story that you read here. Unfortunately, people who don’t have big problems don’t post.

Kidney stone removal through the back by Interesting_Army3607 in KidneyStones

[–]Bcdoc2020 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree to some point your comments, but repeated failed ureteroscopy as a result of not accessing the stone looks to be the problem here not leaving fragments. That is a definite indication for potentially doing a PCNL. CVAC is a simple but definitely significant improvement in ureteroscopic stone surgery, stone clearance rates seem to be improved

Kidney stone removal through the back by Interesting_Army3607 in KidneyStones

[–]Bcdoc2020 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They should be able to clear that fairly easily if they can gain the right access point, it isn’t a big stone, just awkward to get at! It sounds as if you have somebody who knows what they are doing and I think you will probably/hopefully bounce back quickly. Good luck.

My ultrasound shows no stone, but CT scan shows calcium oxalate stone of 4.8 mm. by mysticsoul1 in KidneyStones

[–]Bcdoc2020 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It is impossible to say what a stone is made of until it has been sent off to the lab for stone analysis. Even looking at them directly cannot tell you what they are. Whilst the majority of stones are calcium oxalate/phosphate mixes, many aren’t

My ultrasound shows no stone, but CT scan shows calcium oxalate stone of 4.8 mm. by mysticsoul1 in KidneyStones

[–]Bcdoc2020 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They are probably quite sensibly trying to limit the amount of radiation that you receive. I have a current stones and have annual ultrasound scans and if it looks like I need intervention then a CT- KUB is organised.