BS: Kidney stone

Subject: BS: Kidney stone
From: Divis Sweeney
Date: 22 Aug 06 - 01:35 PM

Just discharged from Hospital an hour ago after the most painful experience of my life. At 2.00am on Friday morning I was awoken with the most terrible pain in my stomach and passed out with the pain. Arrived in hospital and woke up with heart montior on me. After several scans they found a razor sharpe crystal stone in my kidney. They tried to get me to pass it and when that failed they went in. They were going to go in through back but it moved before operation and they had to go in through my penis and using a camera to site it, then go in with instrument to collect it and break it first. They took it out in two pieces. It ripped the hell out of me and been passing a lot of blood, a lot of blood and a lot of pain. I am dosed up with Morphine now. The doctors told me that people could avoid these calcium crystals if they took a few drops of lime or lemon juice in water three times a week. Please would everyone take this advice. I have never went through pain like it. Now home and resting.

Subject: RE: BS: Kidney stone
From: Wesley S
Date: 22 Aug 06 - 01:46 PM

Wow - rest easy and enjoy the morphine while you can. Take care.

Subject: RE: BS: Kidney stone
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 22 Aug 06 - 01:49 PM

I have seen someone go through that experience, not a pretty sight, you have my sincere sympathy mate.
Get better soon.
Giok

Subject: RE: BS: Kidney stone
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 22 Aug 06 - 01:55 PM

Ouch.

I feel your pain.

I got lucky. My first (and so far only) stone passed.

When the pain hit, as the song goes "I was afraid I was dying and I wished I was dead."

I now suck on a water bottle all the time and urinate every hour on the hour when feasible.

Got my fingers crossed for me and for you.

Subject: RE: BS: Kidney stone
From: bobad
Date: 22 Aug 06 - 02:15 PM

OUCH is right - brings to mind the old saying about "pissing razor blades"

Glad to hear the worst is over and you're on the mend.

Subject: RE: BS: Kidney stone
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 22 Aug 06 - 02:23 PM

I had one about twenty years ago -- and Tom (Curmudgeon) used to grow them (not the best hobby in the world). I lucked out -- major discomfort but more pressure than pain. The worst part was a octor who really wanted to take out my gall bladder instead. I could see the dollar signs in his eyes. Finally Tom's urologist came in and pointed out the kidney stone on the (what? x-ray? ultrasound? I had EVERYTHING), went in the next morning and popped it out. Gave me the "fair fat and forty" explanation. I know other women who have had them and have said it the pain makes the pain of childbirth seem almost non-existant.

My mother had one -- also when she was about 40. My father also used to grow them on a regular basis.

There are several different types of kidney stones as well as causes, but since Tom started taking garlic supplements (close to 20 years ago), he has only had a couple fairly minor episodes.

He can tell you more.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Kidney stone
From: robomatic
Date: 22 Aug 06 - 02:51 PM

Been there fifteen years ago. In my case it passed naturally and then a second one about three months later. No recurrence to date, and no idea why or what caused 'em. Just to let you know that they don't necessarily recur. Make a good recovery and come back to us scrappin'!

Subject: RE: BS: Kidney stone
From: LilyFestre
Date: 22 Aug 06 - 03:19 PM

YIKES! I'm glad they were able to take care of you so quickly....here's to an even quicker recovery!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Kidney stone
From: gnu
Date: 22 Aug 06 - 04:06 PM

Linn... please ask Tom to share the secret of the garlic with us. Thanks.

Subject: RE: BS: Kidney stone
From: Divis Sweeney
Date: 22 Aug 06 - 04:08 PM

Thanks friends, still very shaken by the whole affair. Please please drink lemon or lime juice in water as a defence against it.

Subject: RE: BS: Kidney stone
From: gnu
Date: 22 Aug 06 - 04:28 PM

I can imagine, Divis... especially waking up in hospital with a heart monitor attached.

Subject: RE: BS: Kidney stone
From: GUEST,mrdux (at the office)
Date: 22 Aug 06 - 04:32 PM

my deepest commiserations. i've had half a dozen over the last seventeen years. it's unquestionably the most painful thing i've ever experienced. the first one had me in the hospital for a long opiated weekend. (my nurse described it as "sort of like giving birth to a bowling ball. . . with a railroad spike in it.") at the end of which they had to go in after it. like with yours, my doctors didn't have to cut any new holes in my body to get it out. all the others passed, all were excrucicating, all but the last -- about four years ago -- required a trip to the emergency room for pain meds. the last one passed with the assistance of a handful of percodan and six liters of water which flushed the thing out overnight. damn! makes me shiver just thinking about it.

there are a bunch of difference causes and different chemistries to stones. mine were caused by a weird spongiform architecture in the plumbing of my kidneys; their composition was calcium oxalate. as far as prevention goes: i've tried lemon juice, lime juice, vinegar, garlic, avoiding dairy products (calcium), avoiding foods high in oxalates -- none of which seemed to make much difference for my particular stones. since the last one, i've been drinking large quantities of water and eating pretty much what i like and haven't had a recurrence. don't know why, but so far. . . so far. while i don't dismiss lemon juice or garlic or anything else that anyone has found helpful, i also recommend a substantial increase in consumption of plain old water.

take care.

michael

Subject: RE: BS: Kidney stone
From: Bill D
Date: 22 Aug 06 - 05:20 PM

Yep...sorry yours was so bad, Divas. Having it sharp and causing bleeding is very serious. Hope you are a LOT better soon.

Mine was BAD, but was passed with the pressure of the Barium solution used to locate it. While I was lying in a cubicle, waiting for diagnosis and pain meds, a doctor popped his head in and asked "What's wrong?"..."They, they...think it's a kidney stone!' I gasped between breaths. "Yep", he said..that's what it sounds like!" Then they put Dilaudid into an IV, *poof*, no more pain, and I happily counted ceiling tiles for 3 hours

I guess it's the closest men will ever come to childbirth.

Subject: RE: BS: Kidney stone
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 22 Aug 06 - 05:28 PM

Divis - having seen someone I care for in lots of pain recently my sympathies go not only to you but to your family. You know from experience that the hospital staff are the best and that your family and friends send all their wishes for a speedy recovery and NO recurrence.

On a slightly cruder and typical of me note I would say 'keep your pecker up' but it seems particualary inappropriate...;-)

Good luck and get well soon

Dave

Subject: RE: BS: Kidney stone
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 23 Aug 06 - 03:44 AM

Oh my, Divis - reading your post I think I went away well with my kidney stones. I was relieved of them in fortnight in hospital without a lot of pain.
Then the doctor told me in order to avoid kidney problems to flush them regularly with a lot of fluid. He especially recommended beer. How I love this man! (My wife unfortunately disagrees.)

Subject: RE: BS: Kidney stone
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 23 Aug 06 - 04:15 AM

Jasus Divis, when I read that I went straight for the lemon juice, get well soon and all my sympathy.

eric

Subject: RE: BS: Kidney stone
From: Divis Sweeney
Date: 23 Aug 06 - 07:18 AM

Christ not over yet, really bad night, lot of bleeding again. Spoke to doctor there. He said they may have to do a repair due to couple of nicks.

Subject: RE: BS: Kidney stone
From: Bert
Date: 23 Aug 06 - 09:45 AM

Sure is painful. I was rolling on the floor in agony and my room mate at the time rubbed some oil of oregano on my feet. The pain went away in about half an hour.

Subject: RE: BS: Kidney stone
From: Fibula Mattock
Date: 23 Aug 06 - 09:58 AM

ach, you poor thing Divis! I feel for you. I had a kidney stone while travelling round Mexico - I couldn't walk or breathe for the pain and ended up peeing blood too, so I sympathise, though yours sounds a lot worse. Hadn't heard the trick with the lemon juice but I'll be trying it. Touch wood, I haven't had one since, though I've been through plenty of urology checks (ultrasounds, dye tests, x-rays) as apparently I piss too much blood for someone of my tender age. I would've thought that pissing blood at any age was pretty too much!

Subject: RE: BS: Kidney stone
From: EBarnacle
Date: 23 Aug 06 - 09:59 AM

One of the bits of advice one of the Fellows in the Renal division passed me is to avoid oxalic veggies, such as kale, spinach and other very dark greens. It also helps avert gout. No total guarantees, though.

Subject: RE: BS: Kidney stone
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Aug 06 - 10:11 AM

But those dark green veggies are the ones that provide so many other necessary trace minerals and are the ones recommended to help prevent numerous forms of cancer. How about putting lemon juice on your dark green veggies? Maybe this is why I have a taste for vinegar on my spinach, something I learned from my father. Maybe this is a dietary practice passed down through time and we've lost the reason for WHY vinegar is good on it?

Thanks for the recommendations, everyone! A friend of mine was transported, howling on the way, to the hospital a number of years ago. Something I think she has tried very hard not to repeat!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Kidney stone
From: dianavan
Date: 23 Aug 06 - 02:53 PM

I had a kidney stone and thought I was having a heart attack. My urinalysis, however, discovered blood. I drank as much water as I could, as frequently as I could. It finally passed and I've never had that problem again.

Good luck on your recovery. Sorry you had to go through so much pain.

Subject: RE: BS: Kidney stone
From: Barry Finn
Date: 23 Aug 06 - 03:47 PM

"Sure is painful. I was rolling on the floor in agony and my room mate at the time rubbed some oil of oregano on my feet. The pain went away in about half an hour."

He,He,He. Come on Bert. The pain, as far as I've known, it always goes away after a bit of time. I don't think it was the oil of oregano.
I know it's painful, doubled me up 3 different stone times but please all this moaning over stones. It's like the news reporting on 2 little kittens getting kidnaped because they were lost & not reporting on the serial slayer running rampard down the road. Excuse me while I cough, I've really got a bad case of the sniffles.

OK, I'm sorry, I'm sorry that you're experiencing some pain, I'm sorry that you've got the stones, I'm sorry that we've all had bneen stoned once or twice but when I read this I thought that some one was in serious trouble & needed some serious comforting.

Ok, I'll shut up, maybe I just don't get it & didn't get enough sleep last nite. I'll go away.

Barry

Subject: RE: BS: Kidney stone
From: Divis Sweeney
Date: 23 Aug 06 - 04:18 PM

Glad someone can see the funny side of this. Sorry but I am yet to see it.

Subject: RE: BS: Kidney stone
From: Bert
Date: 23 Aug 06 - 04:40 PM

It could very easily have been a coincidence Barry. But I keep some on hand just in case.

Or maybe it was the cat who came and nuzzled my face to comfort me.

Subject: RE: BS: Kidney stone
From: gnu
Date: 23 Aug 06 - 07:46 PM

Divis... ya gotta laugh. Without humour, all there is is pissing and moaning.

Subject: RE: BS: Kidney stone
From: bobad
Date: 25 Aug 06 - 07:34 PM

How are you doing Divis?

Subject: RE: BS: Kidney stone
From: Divis Sweeney
Date: 25 Aug 06 - 07:56 PM

Hi bobad. Back home again, had to go back, bleeding would not stop. It was coming from a nick in a something or other piece of me. Feeling weak with blood loss and still sore, nice to get home again. Still passing water as if through a system of internal blades ! To be honest haven't got over the scare yet. Thanks for asking.

Subject: RE: BS: Kidney stone
From: bobad
Date: 25 Aug 06 - 08:09 PM

Here's hoping that the worst is over. BTW my granny always said that beer was good for cleaning out the kidneys - you may want to give that a try.

Subject: RE: BS: Kidney stone
From: Divis Sweeney
Date: 25 Aug 06 - 08:16 PM

Thanks bobad but this is one Irishman that doesn't drink !

Subject: RE: BS: Kidney stone
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 26 Aug 06 - 02:05 AM

hope you're soon feeling better DS!

thinking bout you now.


al

Subject: RE: BS: Kidney stone
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 26 Aug 06 - 05:16 AM

This is the tragedy of teetollers, when you get up in the morning, this is as good as you will feel all day.

But seriously now, get well soon Divis, all the best, eric

Subject: RE: BS: Kidney stone
From: Alison M
Date: 26 Aug 06 - 05:46 PM

I hope you feel better soon!

Subject: RE: BS: Kidney stone
From: Divis Sweeney
Date: 26 Aug 06 - 06:28 PM

Thanks Alison. Still weak as hell and sore. I see I am getting blamed on a few things on the Irish threads, Christ they know when to get the boot in don't they. Really I couldn't give a toss about what they are blaming me on, actually most of it went on when I was in hospital. Well they can have their fling I will not be responding. Not hard to work out who's behind it.
Best wishes
DS

Subject: RE: BS: Kidney stone
From: Barry Finn
Date: 27 Aug 06 - 03:50 AM

Sorry, Divis, that was pretty callous of me. I do hope that you'll be feeling better soon.
Barry