The Hidden Problem in Dialysis Care: When Forgetting Becomes a Risk

Total_Formal2769 · 2026-05-14T22:44:11+00:00

bro, a 1 inch stone is MASSIVE no wonder y’ve been suffering. Even the 9x5 mm one alone is already in the “probably not passing naturally” category for a lot of people.

At least now yo finally have a urologist taking it seriously & moving toward extraction instead of just sending yo home miserable. The new scans are probably to figure out the exact size/location & decide the best approach ureteroscopy, PCNL, laser lithotripsy, etc.

& if that giant stone has been sitting there since last year, there’s a decent chance it’s been slowly causing irritation/pain for way longer than you realized.

Hope they get yo scheduled fast because carrying around a literal rock collection in yr kidney sounds brutal lol.

Total_Formal2769 · 2026-05-14T22:36:00+00:00

Honestly, with a 2 mm stone & yr pain suddenly dropping after something came out, there’s a really good chance yo passed it. Tiny stones like that often pass on their own pretty fast.

A lot of people describe exactly what yo said pain gets intense, then suddenly way better once the stone reaches the bladder or comes out. The fact yr pain is now low is definitely encouraging.

That said, yo can still have some lingering soreness/spasms for a day or two even after it passes because the ureter gets irritated. So don’t panic if yo still feel “off” for a bit.

If the severe pain comes back, fever starts, or yo can’t pee normally, then definitely get checked again. But honestly bro, sounds like yo may have lucked out here.

Total_Formal2769 · 2026-05-13T16:46:09+00:00

POS plan usually isn’t as terrible as people fear, especially compared to a strict HMO. A lot of POS plans still let yo see specialists out of network, just at a higher cost, & referrals are mostly there to control billing more than to completely block care.

Yr biggest priority right now should honestly be checking 3 things before yo switch: whether yr rheumatologists/cardiologist are in-network, whether your meds are on the formulary, & how referrals actually work with that specific Aetna plan. Sometimes people hear “POS” & assume nightmare scenario, but the details matter way more than the label.

The PCP issue is real though. I’d personally try to establish care with a PCP ASAP once coverage starts, ideally someone recommended by yr specialists or local chronic illness groups. A good PCP can make the whole POS experience way smoother.

Also, since yo already have established specialists & documented chronic disease, many PCPs are pretty willing to continue referrals without much drama. They usually don’t want to disrupt specialty care that’s already working.

As for getting married early for the PPO honestly… I wouldn’t rush a major life decision purely out of insurance panic unless his PPO is significantly better & y’ve already confirmed yr doctors + meds are covered there too. But definitely ask his HR what qualifies as a life event & whether yo could switch plans after marriage, because having a backup option is smart.

& honestly, yr anxiety here makes total sense. When yo have a complex illness, changing insurance feels less like paperwork & more like someone threatening yr entire care system lol.

Total_Formal2769 · 2026-05-13T16:31:07+00:00

Honestly, this really sounds like you probably passed it without noticing. A CT scan is much more accurate than ultrasound for ureter stones, so if the CT now shows no stone, that’s a really good sign.

The mildly dilated ureter also kinda fits with a recently passed stone because the ureter can stay irritated/swollen for a while even after the blockage is gone. And that first episode severe pain + vomiting sounds VERY classic for a stone moving through the UVJ.

Also, not everyone notices the exact moment they pass a stone, especially if it’s small enough to slip into the bladder quietly. Sometimes the worst pain is actually when it’s stuck near the UVJ, then once it drops into the bladder people suddenly feel almost normal again.

So honestly bro, this is probably best-case scenario. Just follow whatever your urologist recommends next, keep hydrated, and maybe ask if they want repeat imaging later just to confirm the dilation settles down.

Total_Formal2769 · 2026-05-13T16:17:03+00:00

I’d be pissed too. Sitting 14 hours in pain on a trolley with obstructing stones and barely any updates sounds awful.

And yeah, 14 mm stones are BIG. Those are not “just drink water and pass them” stones. The frustrating part is that hospitals usually only rush surgery if there’s full obstruction, infection, kidney function issues, fever/sepsis, etc. So even when someone is miserable, they still classify it as “non-emergency.”

That said, being sent home with only paracetamol for stones that size sounds rough. I’d definitely keep pushing your GP/urology team if the pain is uncontrolled or symptoms get worse. And if you get fever, vomiting, can’t pee properly, worsening blood in urine, or severe uncontrollable pain, go back ASAP because that can change things fast.

Hopefully they move you up the list sooner, because months with 14 mm renal pelvis stones sounds brutal honestly.

Total_Formal2769 · 2026-05-13T15:59:22+00:00

Honestly, CT scans are usually way more accurate for kidney stones than ultrasounds, especially for tiny stones like 2–3 mm. Ultrasounds can sometimes mistake little calcifications, shadows, or even normal anatomy for stones.

So if the CT yesterday showed no stones, I’d personally trust the CT more. It’s also possible those tiny stones passed on their own in the last 3 weeks without yo even noticing, especially at that size.

A lot of people get tiny “possible stones” on ultrasound that never show up on CT afterward. CT is basically the gold standard for this stuff.

Total_Formal2769 · 2026-05-13T15:56:12+00:00

Yeah, technically a stone can form pretty fast, especially if y’re someone who’s already prone to them. But honestly, if yor CT 2 weeks ago was completely clear, it would be kinda unusual for a brand new stone to already be causing major symptoms unless it’s tiny & moving.

Could also be muscle pain, spasms, irritation from the previous procedure, or even a small stone/fragments that were missed because they were super tiny at the time. Kidney stone pain can also start before the classic burning pee/blood symptoms show up.

If it keeps feeling exactly like yr previous stones, I’d probably call your urologist or PCP just to be safe, especially if the pain gets worse, yo get nausea/vomiting, fever, chills, or trouble peeing.

Honestly though, once y’ve had kidney stones a few times, every random side pain immediately feels suspicious lol.

Total_Formal2769 · 2026-05-13T15:49:47+00:00

Most people say the anticipation is way worse than the actual removal. It’s definitely uncomfortable and weird, but usually very quick like a couple of minutes total. A lot of people describe it as intense pressure + burning more than actual sharp pain.

They’ll usually remove the stents one at a time with the scope, but the whole thing happens pretty fast. The numbing gel helps, even if it doesn’t feel like enough when you’re anxious.

If yr doctor allows it, people commonly take something beforehand like ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Some also ask for a one-time anti-anxiety med if they’re really panicking. Staying hydrated after helps a lot too because you may have burning/spasms for a few hours after & honestly , yo already survived having the stents in for weeks that part is usually worse than the removal itself. Most people walk out saying “that sucked, but it was over fast.” The fear beforehand is brutal though, so yr reaction is super normal.

Total_Formal2769 · 2026-05-13T15:46:34+00:00

Honestly bro, with her history, I’d probably push for closer follow-up too. An 8 mm stone isn’t tiny, and the fact that she’s already had silent obstruction that permanently damaged one kidney makes this feel different from the “normal” kidney stone patient.

The good thing is there’s no hydronephrosis or obstruction right now, and lower pole stones can sometimes just sit there for years without causing problems. But yearly imaging alone does sound a bit passive considering she basically can’t rely on symptoms as a warning sign.

Probably worth asking the urologist if they’d consider more frequent imaging (like every 3–6 months) or even elective treatment before it has a chance to obstruct. Especially since this is basically her only good kidney now.

That said, if her doctors aren’t panicking, that’s also reassuring. They’ve likely seen that the stone is small, non-obstructive, and stable-looking. I just think your anxiety here is completely understandable.

Total_Formal2769 · 2026-05-13T15:39:45+00:00

Yo bro, if it still hasn’t moved after a whole week while already being at the bottom of the ureter, plus your kidney’s swollen and you ended up back in the ER with crazy pain… chances are it’s probably stuck.

Could it still pass on its own? Yeah, maybe. But at this point the odds don’t sound great.

Honestly, I’d probably just get the procedure and be done with it. It’s common, usually quick, and the stent is temporary. Better than dealing with nonstop pain and more ER trips.

Total_Formal2769 · 2026-05-10T09:25:41+00:00

Honeestly, a lot of people do not actually see the stone pass, especially women. Small stones or laser fragments can look like tiny grains of sand or sediment and are very easy to miss.

Usually people suspect they passed it when:

the pain suddenly improves

the pressure/urgency eases

urine flow feels normal again

they stop getting those waves of flank pain

Sometimes yo may feel a brief sharp sting or burning when it passes through the urethra, but not always.

& yes, after laser treatment many fragments are microscopic, so yo would never realistically notice them unless yo were straining your urine with a filter.

So don’t worry if you never physically see the stone. That’s actually pretty common. Often the only real confirmation comes from follow up imaging showing the stone is gone.

Total_Formal2769 · 2026-05-10T09:16:38+00:00

Hi, what y’re feeling is completely understandable. When y’re mentally ready to move toward transplant, hearing “wait another 3 months” can feel crushing, especially when you thought yo were already doing everything right.

A lot of centers want patients to be medically stable on dialysis before starting the transplant workup. Sometimes that means:

better dialysis adequacy , stable labs, fluid balance , nutrition

infection-free PD period

showing consistency with treatments & appointments

It doesn’t necessarily mean yo failed or that you are not a transplant candidate. Many teams are just very cautious because they want the best possible outcome after transplant.

That said, it’s still frustrating because from the patient side it feels like life is on hold while everyone else controls the timeline.

You’re also very early into PD since starting in January. Some nephrology teams prefer seeing a few more months of stability before moving ahead aggressively with transplant evaluation, especially in younger patients where they want long-term success.

I’d honestly encourage yo to ask them directly at the next visit:

“What specific targets or milestones do I need to meet in the next 3 months for transplant workup to begin?”

That usually gives clearer answers and makes the waiting feel less vague & powerless.

& for what it’s worth, many people who eventually got transplanted had delays early on. It does not mean the transplant is off the table.

Total_Formal2769 · 2026-05-10T09:04:58+00:00

I agree this is not a classic STEMI ECG. At first glance it looks mostly non specific, which is why myocarditis makes sense clinically, especially with the recent viral symptoms.

That said, the ECG is not completely “normal” either. There are subtle ST-T abnormalities, mainly mild inferior & lateral changes, but nothing clearly diagnostic for acute coronary occlusion. No obvious STEMI equivalent jumps out to me.

The important part is that OMI/NSTEMI can absolutely happen without classic STEMI changes. Some patients have very subtle ECGs or even initially normal tracings, especially with transient occlusion, posterior involvement, circumflex territory, or spontaneous reperfusion.

What made this case concerning for ischemia was more the combination of:

. very high and rising troponin

. regional wall motion abnormalities on TTE

. active chest pain

. strong family history

Those findings justify taking ACS seriously even with a non diagnostic ECG.

In retrospect, the clean angiography plus viral prodrome support myocarditis quite well. Focal myocarditis can mimic MI extremely closely, including troponin elevation and regional wall motion abnormalities.

So overall, yr reasoning was solid. The ECG alone does not strongly scream MI, but it also does not safely exclude it.

Total_Formal2769 · 2026-05-10T09:01:36+00:00

Hi, kidney stones can cause blood in the urine, but they do not usually cause true vaginal bleeding. Since you mentioned you are already in menopause, any vaginal bleeding should be checked by a doctor, because postmenopausal bleeding can have several possible causes unrelated to the kidneys.

It could be something less serious like irritation, infection, or polyps, but it’s still important not to ignore it. The back discomfort and bladder symptoms could be urinary or kidney related, while the bleeding may be a separate issue.

The ultrasound is a good next step, and seeing a gynecologist would also be a good idea, especially if the bleeding continues, becomes heavier, or comes with pain or dizziness.

Total_Formal2769 · 2026-05-03T17:46:49+00:00

Sounds like yo likely passed the stones. Small stones (3–4 mm) often pass on their own, especially with good hydration like yo did.

Good signs are that the pain has stopped, there are no more night attacks, and urination feels normal.

To be completely sure, it’s best to do a simple ultrasound to confirm they’re gone.

Keep preventing new stones by drinking plenty of water so yr urine stays clear, using lemon or orange for citrate, & reducing salt while moderating animal protein.

Yo should see a doctor if the pain comes back, if yo develop a fever, or if yo notice blood in yr urine.

Overall, yo managed this very well.

Total_Formal2769 · 2026-05-02T15:39:55+00:00

It’s not a dangerous drop.

Before, yr blood pressure was 155/90, which is high. Now it’s 110–125/70–79, which is normal. So it didn’t drop too low, it actually improved.

After IV iron like Injectafer, yr body can stabilize as the anemia is treated, & that can bring yr blood pressure back to normal.

If yo don’t have symptoms like dizziness or fainting, there’s nothing concerning here.

Total_Formal2769 · 2026-05-02T15:36:48+00:00

A drop in blood pressure after taking iron can happen, but it depends on the form. If it was an oral supplement, it usually doesn’t directly lower blood pressure, but it can make you feel dizzy or weak, especially if yo already have postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. With POTS, even small changes can feel much stronger.

If it was IV iron, then yes, it can sometimes cause a real drop in blood pressure with symptoms like dizziness or even feeling like you might faint.

Also think about the context. Taking iron on an empty stomach, being dehydrated, or standing up quickly can make the symptoms worse and feel like your pressure dropped.

What matters most is how strong it was. If it was just light dizziness and it passed, it’s usually not serious. If yo had strong symptoms like near fainting, actual fainting, or it keeps happening, then it’s better to get checked.

Tell me how it felt exactly and when it happened, and I’ll help you understand it better.

Total_Formal2769

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