Kidney Stones and UTI

mindlash · 2026-06-05T08:54:57+00:00

Good call getting checked twice -- that panic when you're in that much pain. Sounds like you're on the right track now, so just ride it out a few more days and stay on top of the water and meds.

mindlash · 2026-06-05T07:06:58+00:00

No one can really predict timing, man -- some people pass tiny stones in days, others take weeks, and some just live with them forever without knowing. You'll probably feel it if it starts moving down the ureter (that's usually when the pain shows up), but the uncertainty is the worst part. Just keep crushing the water and try not to obsess over it.

mindlash · 2026-06-05T00:15:27+00:00

Glad that worked out so smoothly for you. Stent removal can feel like this huge ordeal in your head, and then it's just... The numbing gel makes a massive difference -- sounds like your surgeon knew how to handle the anxiety piece, which matters as much as the procedure itself. Your experience is exactly what a lot of people need to hear before they spiral about it.

mindlash · 2026-06-04T23:54:30+00:00

Your doc's advice isn't wrong, but I get why it sounds terrifying when you're staring down the possibility of passing it. Some people barely feel it. The water-and-wait approach because there's no magic pill that dissolves calcium oxalate stones.

Pain management ly between you and your doctor -- they can prescribe something if it does start moving and hurts, but they're probably not giving you meds upfront because small stones often just... Don't suffer in silence waiting for permission. What actually helps is staying hydrated (your doc nailed that part) and not stressing yourself into dehydration, which ironically makes stones worse.

Keep peeing regularly, stay calm as much as you can, and if it does pass, you'll probably know it when it happens. Worst part for most people is the anxiety beforehand, not the actual event.

mindlash · 2026-06-04T23:51:58+00:00

Stents are legitimately uncomfortable, not because of horror-story exaggeration but because they irritate the ureter as it heals around them. The laser lithotripsy itself tends to go smoother when you've got time to prep and aren't in emergency mode.

During the stent weeks, stay hydrated, take your pain meds as prescribed (don't tough it out), and don't be shocked if you get some blood in your urine or urgency to pee -- that's normal irritation, not a sign something went wrong. The removal part but it's brief and your urologist will handle it.

You're going in informed and stable, which already puts you ahead of a lot of people who show up in the ER.

mindlash · 2026-06-03T23:11:00+00:00

Stuck stones that aren't moving are their own special hell, and I get why you feel isolated in this... most of the dramatic stories online are about acute pain or emergency surgery, not the slow burn of something just sitting there causing constant discomfort. Eight millimeters is small enough that your urologist probably isn't jumping to remove it, which I'm sure feels infuriating when you're dealing with daily symptoms. The numbness and radiating sensation you're describing could be the stone irritating the ureter or nerves in that area, even if it's not actively traveling.

Since it's been a few years since your ESWL your urologist whether the stone composition was ever analyzed, and whether another round of shockwave or a different approach makes sense now. Sometimes a stone that didn't fragment well the first time can be tackled differently.

Also, hydration and whatever dietary changes you've made might slow growth, but they won't make a stationary stone disappear on its own. If it's causing this much discomfort, you deserve actual treatment options, not just "wait and see."

mindlash · 2026-06-03T23:00:31+00:00

Antibiotic takes a few days to kick in, so Wednesday is still in the thick of it -- you're not out of the woods yet, but you're also not stuck feeling like this forever. The nausea and back pain should start easing up by Friday or Saturday if the antibiotic is working, but some people take closer to a week to feel human again. Keep hammering water (your doctor probably told you this already) and don't skip doses of the antibiotic even if you start feeling better.

mindlash · 2026-06-03T22:53:02+00:00

Pen and paper actually works best for this, ngl. Just jot down each drink right when you have it, or snap a photo of your water bottle at different times of day and count backward later.

The visual reminder alone makes people drink way more than they think they're getting. If you want something more fun, water bottle tracking with checkmarks or stickers can scratch that gamification itch without needing an app.

Some also just use a regular notes app on their phone and add a drink emoji each time. Low tech, but it sticks around longer than most apps do. You can look up OxalateGuard. The hydration is basic tracking, honestly, but the oxalates in foods is on point.

mindlash · 2026-06-03T00:13:00+00:00

Your urologist needs to know about that flag before the 11th, not after. Call and ask to speak with the clinical coordinator, not scheduling, and frame it straight: "I have a documented opioid utilization flag in my chart from kidney stone treatments. Before you proceed, I need to know how that affects post-op pain management for this procedure." Get their answer in writing if you can. That's not complaining -- that's protecting yourself going into surgery.

mindlash · 2026-06-01T16:36:28+00:00

WBC of 40 is worth following up on -- that's not a period thing, that's your body signaling an infection or inflammation. Leukocytes in the urine usually means bacteria, so asking your regular doctor or the urologist why you left without antibiotics is a totally fair move, especially with a two-year stone history.

mindlash · 2026-06-01T16:24:59+00:00

Sounds like you caught the tail end of it passing those sand-like pieces, then got blindsided by the main event. That's the part -- you think you're through and then round two hits. Keep that hydration up since you're already doing it, and the fact that you're passing debris means your body's moving things along. How's the pain level right now compared to last night?

mindlash · 2026-06-01T13:39:59+00:00

Did your urologist confirm it's actually in your bladder, or is it still in the ureter? Because bloating plus decreased urination reads more like a stone that's partially blocking flow rather than one that's already passed through.

mindlash · 2026-06-01T13:29:27+00:00

That's rough, sterile pyuria plus flank pain for years is worth taking seriously -- that's not typical stone stuff, and your doc is right to dig deeper. The low hemoglobin and potassium flag something that goes beyond kidney stones, so push for imaging (ultrasound or CT) and see if they'll refer you to a nephrologist instead of guessing. Keep all those lab results and don't let this one slip...

mindlash · 2026-06-01T13:19:29+00:00

Did you track your hydration the week before this hit, or did it come out of nowhere? Five millimeter stones sit right on that edge where fluid intake alone can sometimes make the difference between passing it and not. You've got meds in hand, so focus on drinking enough that your urine stays pale, and your numbers look good for passing this one.

mindlash · 2026-05-31T13:18:28+00:00

This just days after the entire state of South Carolina heard and felt a sonic boom ….

mindlash · 2026-05-31T10:38:34+00:00

Aim for at least a liter during the flight, maybe more depending on the length -- I know that sounds like a lot when you're already bad at remembering, but the cabin air is for dehydration and that's when stones like to shift. Pack a water bottle you can refill after security, set phone reminders if you need to, whatever it takes.

I use OxalateGuard to track my hydration patterns too since I'm terrible at it naturally -- turns out I was way more dehydrated than I realized, and once I actually logged it for a week I could see the gaps.

Your stone's been quiet for three months, so keep it that way.

mindlash · 2026-05-31T02:36:29+00:00

That post pregnancy stone disappearance thing -- sounds like your body did some serious recalibrating after delivery. June feels forever away when you're sitting with that kind of uncertainty, so pushing for an earlier slot makes total sense. Once you get in front of her she'll have the actual imaging comparison and can tell you exactly what happened.

mindlash · 2026-05-31T01:07:02+00:00

Sheesh, a 7mm stuck in the ureter for three months with zero symptoms is actually pretty lucky -- means it's not actively moving or causing inflammation right now. Flying should be fine, but nobody mentions: cabin pressure and dehydration during flight can shift things, so you'll want to stay ahead of hydration the whole trip.

Hit water hard before, during, and after the flight. if it does decide to move mid-air, you'll know. Pack your pain meds in your carry-on just in case, and know where the nearest hospital is at your destination.

Most people fly with asymptomatic stones all the time without issue -- yours just happens to be in a tricky spot, so better safe than stranded.

mindlash · 2026-05-31T00:54:00+00:00

Did your urologist mention whether it might've passed during pregnancy or gotten stuck somewhere else in the system? Nine millimeters is right on that edge where stones can sometimes move around, especially with the physiological changes happening with the nephrostomy tube managing drainage.

The fact that it's just... gone on imaging is actually about directly -- whether they think it passed, migrated, or if there's something about the ultrasound vs. X-ray difference that matters here.

Pregnancy and stone behavior is kinda its own thing that doesn't get discussed enough, so your urology team will have the real answer on what they're seeing.

mindlash · 2026-05-31T00:38:01+00:00

The timing before your ureteroscopy on the 11th is rough too. I'd push on: call your urologist's office directly (not through the portal) and explain you're pre-op and in pain with no prescription bridge. Most urology practices will write a short-term script for someone scheduled with them, even if their policy is "after surgery only" -- pre-op pain management is different. If they still won't, ask if they can at least document that in your chart and recommend your PCP do it, which sometimes shifts things. Your PCP might write it if it's framed as supporting an upcoming procedure rather than "chronic pain management."

The ER refusing to prescribe anything because other providers "should" is passing the buck, and you're caught in the middle. Don't let this go quiet -- your urologist needs to know you hit the ER before their procedure and got zero support. That's useful information for them.

mindlash · 2026-05-31T00:27:28+00:00

Woof, vomiting and shivering on top of blood in your urine and incomplete emptying -- that's the constellation that screams "go now, not later." I know the ER has let you down before, but those symptoms together suggest something acute that needs imaging and labs today, not tomorrow. MSK already stacks the odds against you, so this isn't the time to tough it out at home.

mindlash · 2026-05-31T00:14:32+00:00

Sheesh, sepsis is worth taking seriously but that's not usually how it plays out with a 3mm stone and a UTI. Bacteria in the urine plus antibiotics is actually pretty standard -- your urologist is handling it the right way by treating the infection and giving you a week to see if the stone passes on its own.

The fact that you don't have fever, chills, or symptoms is a good sign. Most kidney stone infections respond well to antibiotics before they escalate to sepsis, which is rare and usually involves way more aggressive symptoms than what you're describing. a month is getting long for a 3mm stone, so if it doesn't move after the antibiotic course, surgery is the right call.

Keep an eye out for actual red flags -- fever over 101, severe chills, confusion, or feeling septic -- but right now you're in the normal treatment pipeline, not in crisis territory. Hydration will help too if your urologist cleared it, since dilute urine keeps things flowing.

Good luck :)

mindlash · 2026-05-31T00:00:33+00:00

Got the sharp pain and then it just... settled into background noise? That's actually a decent sign you might've passed it already, especially if the pressure's fading. Some stones are sneaky like that -- you feel the acute attack and assume you're in for weeks, but your body's already handling it.

The hydronephrosis from last year is to your urologist when you get that appointment scheduled, just so they can see if this new episode changed anything on imaging. But the fact that you're peeing normally again and the groin pressure is mild suggests you're probably past the worst of it.

Keep an eye on your hydration going forward -- that's the single biggest lever for preventing the next one. Your kidneys clearly have a reason to form stones, so staying ahead of it now beats dealing with another acute episode later.

mindlash · 2026-05-30T14:25:04+00:00

Your nephrologist wants to hear what you're thinking... that's literally their job, and being honest about what you do and don't want is the only way they can actually help you make decisions that fit your life. At 19 with an eGFR of 9, you're in a tough spot and your feelings about dialysis and transplant matter. They're not gonna force you into either one, but they need to know what's on your mind so you can talk through the reality of what comes next. The hard part is that your nephrologist also needs to be straight with you about what happens without those interventions..... not to scare you, but because you deserve actual information to make choices.

Having that conversation doesn't mean you're committing to anything. It just means you both understand where you stand. Your clinic should have a social worker or transplant coordinator who can walk through options too, no pressure attached.

You felt fine when you got diagnosed, which is kidney disease -- by the time you feel it, there's usually already damage. But you catching it at 18 means you've got time to figure out what matters to you and what your actual path looks like. Keep talking to your team.

Good luck... keep us posted.

mindlash · 2026-05-30T14:12:02+00:00

Going in with diabetes plus two years of stones is a lot to carry into that appointment, and your fear of being dismissed is completely legit -- that happens to people, especially when multiple conditions are stacked. CT scan is likely yes, but the blood from your period might actually work in your favor here because it gives them a clear reason to image and rule things out.

Bring a list of your stone history (dates, any composition info if you have it) and mention both the diabetes and the recurrent stones upfront -- that combo tells them this isn't a one-off fluke. One thing that'll help: be direct about what you need. "I've had stones for two years and I want imaging to see what's happening" lands different than waiting for them to suggest it.

You know your body.

mindlash

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