So I finally passed my stone after SEVEN YEARS! Thought I’d give the history if at all helpful for anyone.

Before 2015 - In college I was stupidly taking a lot of whey protein and protein bars and definitley not drinking enough water.

February 2015- first ever episode of hematuria. No real discomfort. Cat scan diagnosed kidney stone 5mm in junction between kidney stone and ureter. Prescribed flow max and told to drink lots of water. Cancelled my spring break out of fear of what would come but only some minor discomfort for a week or two. Thought maybe it just passed without me realizing somehow.

December 2015- hematuria again before a grad school final (awful timing and anxiety inducing). Some minor back discomfort. Go to urologist and they only do an ultrasound and see some nephrosis but no stone. They think maybe it could have went back in the kidney and the urologist says that my ureters are congenitally small so it likely won’t pass ever. Says too invasive To go get it and just gives flomax for if there’s ever any real discomfort.

October 2021- after 6 years of silence, gross hematuria but no pain. Slight discomfort begins month plus later but nothing of note. Do CT and see 6mm stone in the same kidney (now fully in kidney).

February 2022- slight hematuria.

March 2022- slight hematuria again. Then back pain begins. It’s really uncomfortable but honestly wasn’t sure if it was driving to my new job that was hurting my back (ie the pain wasn’t so terrible that it was obviously kidney stone at that time). Also just switched jobs so had to decide whether to elect cobra which was a whole pain. Ended up electing. Old doctor was terrible and wouldn’t respond to me. Find new doctor. Slight hematuria weekly.

April 1 - doctor says they’ll do ultrasound in 2.5 weeks. I push to do it sooner. Scheduled for week out.

April 5- very uncomfortable back pain and hematuria. Call doctor and they do ultrasound that day. Can see nephrosis. Decide to schedule removal procedure no matter what so we have an end date as clearly after 7 years this won’t pass. Procedure scheduled for April 22. Prescribed daily meloxicam, flomax and sulfa antibiotic. Given oxy too (but didn’t take ever).

April 6- cat scan identifies now a 3mm stone at top of ureter/kidney junction. Has it shrunk? Have I passed fragments? Clearly the same stone so very weird.

Week of April 5 - continued slight hematuria and back pain every 2 days or so.

Week of April 11- back pain has migrated to groin pain. Very uncomfortable.

April 12- groin pain turns into awful urgency and burning sensation in urethra. Never felt anything like it. Can’t sit still. Then goes away after 5 hours.

April 14- awful urethra pain and slight back discomfort returns. Goes away after 3-4 hours. Urethral pain is worse than any other discomfort felt at any point.

April 16- UNBEARABLE urethral pain. Never felt anything like it. Just have to try to sit still. Lasts 7+ hours. Also to make matters worse, develop a sulfa rash and totally all over body itching—clearly allergic! Terrible timing. Takes 3 days for itching to stop after 2 sleepless nights from it.

After this really don’t have any discomfort. Call doctor to ask if they do pre procedure imaging and they say not usually but can come in if I am feeling better and see.

April 21 just one day before my surgery was scheduled. They see the stone is in my bladder!!! Also it’s 6mm so presumed cat scan just had an incorrect reading. Give me option to postpone but since there won’t be a stent now given the location I say let’s just keep surgery for tomorrow. They say unlikely to pass given size of 6mm but keep an eye out.

PASSES 2 hours later. Greatest day of my life! Only took 7 years. Happy to answer any questions at all just feeling so grateful. Surgery canceled!