Lithotripsy and kidney stones

[Kahlua4me]

Hello. I am booked to have my first lot of lithotripsy in a few weeks time and feeling a bit anxious about it so hoping that you can share your stories and experience with me.

I only found out I had a kidney stone whilst having an ultrasound for something else so it was a complete surprise and so far I haven’t had any pain.

I am not too worried about the actual lithotripsy but I am about the pain involved in passing the stone afterwards! I spoke with the doctor this morning and he just said that it shouldn’t be too bad but if it you need to be in hospital...

Any advice or experience greatly appreciated 😊

Anyone?

Yes I had it! Had a kidney stone three years ago that was 1cm and god, I cannot say how agonising it was. For weeks on end

Anyway lithotripsy! Be aware that it's painful. Excruciatingly so as they dial it up. Starts off as a twanging elastic band feel and they gradually turn it up. As you probably know, it's to shatter the stone to make small enough pieces to pass. I couldn't take it after about twenty mins. So treatment stopped

Massive error on my part! It had only partially shattered the stone meaning it got stuck in my tube and caused something called a 'stone street.' The pain was just terrible - ended up in hospital and had to have my second lot of litho

This time however I gritted my teeth. I was literally HOWLING but I stayed for all the twangs - 1000 of them I believe and that did the trick. All the pieces passed within a day or two

So it works but just prepare for it to hurt. A lot. It won't finish you off or anything but please please be prepared. My best friend had a kidney stone last month. She was booked in for lithotripsy and was teasing me about how she wouldn't bail and I was just a total wuss. She bailed! Had to have it again a week later

So hold your nerve and get it done in one go. Any other questions just shout

Oh and no pain in passing fragments of stone. I only knew it had passed because it chinked into the bowl! The pain is all about the litho. It batters your kidney so you'll pass blood afterwards and feel a bit battered but it passes

CherryChapst1ck. Thank you so much for sharing your experience with me. Although your pain sounds truly awful I would rather know what to expect so I can be prepared before I get there.

The letter says to take paracetamol the night before and again in the morning and then they will give me something stronger before starting. Is that the same with you and your friend? Shame they won’t do it under anaesthetic!

My main fear was the pain in passing the fragments as the only info I have seen says that the treatment is like an elastic band pinging on your back! Better to know now that it’s more than that so I am glad you have told me.

Will probably be back asking more questions before hand so hope that’s okay.

Kahlua my DH had it done twice and while it's unpleasant he didn't find it agonising. He was given a painkiller/tranquilliser suppository which he tried to refuse but the nurse assured him that he would definitely need it. Stone shattered after 2 sessions and passed with no problems.

Ah thank you, that’s good to know.

I’ve had it done a few times. It was fine. Not how I’d like to spend my day but not agonising. I had to have a kidney stone lasered when I was 16 weeks pregnant. The after effects of that whilst being pregnant were horrible.

I had it two years ago, I was so nervous but honestly it's nothing to worry about!

Hit post too soon. Wasn't excruciating for me at all, I had cocodomol and diplofenac (as I had been taking for the renal colic anyway) and it was just like being flicked with an elastic band. Take headphones as it's boring.

Passing the stone was momentarily extremely painful but I'm talking seconds. I kept the biggest piece in a little bag and find it from time to time when cleaning out a drawer haha.

Ha ha, think I would keep a bit of stone too!

Did you need to take painkillers afterwards, until the bits had passed?

For me the renal colic stopped after that first session, my issue was the stone getting stuck in the tube between my bladder and kidney (ureta?! Sounds like urethra, brain has gone to bed it seems) and once broken up a bit that stopped.

I had been chucking back (or up ) the drugs including oral morph during the hospital stays and was fed up of the associated sickness or drowsiness from anti nausea meds so was keen to stop as soon as I could. But if I remember the day after lithotripsy everything was a bit sore, so no harm in taking something as needed.

The stone fragments didn't pass automatically the next wee, so would have been impossible to take pain relief in preparation. But it was a fleeting moment of pain for me and the rest passed without a flinch. It's worth keeping a jug or something near by so you can expect, like a really rubbish version of panning for gold . They took the first lot off to test but never heard anything back.

Glad yours in now sorted smoressmores. Do you mean that you were in hospital, on oramorph, before the lithotripsy? Sorry for asking but I think my brain is also asleep and I can’t figure it out!

Good to know that the pain was fleeting though as my main worry is being in pain afterwards. I haven’t had any pain so far and sonographer only found the stone whilst having an ultrasound for something else!

I've had it twice. It's certainly not agonising. Was just given paracetamol and a stronger painkiller just before. Didn't feel any pain passing after either. Good luck.

Thank you. It is reassuring to hear your experience and I am not too worried now...

I have my appointment booked for tomorrow morning and feeling a bit nervous now....

I've had it twice, I fell asleep the first session , it's a lot less painful than passing an actual stone

Thank you for your reply, fingers crossed I shall fall asleep too!

I've had it several times, it is uncomfortable but not painful. Described as someone flicking you with an elastic band for a while! Good luck with your appointment

Thank you. I think I am more worried about passing the bits of stone afterwards now.

Well I had my treatment yesterday and it was fine. A bit uncomfortable but not too bad, so I was very relieved.

However the pain today is immense! It hurts all down my left side and I have been sick twice. Is this usual? The staff were really good at the hospital but didn’t really say what to expect over the next few days...

Yes it's completely normal to have a lot of pain for a few days afterwards

Did they tell you how well they managed to destroy them. Most of mine went to powder hence I could pass the gravel easily. Maybe you're trying to pass bigger bits. Hopefully it'll ease up. One thing I remember taking was buscopan when I used to have kidney stones as it's a relaxant and stops everything contracting.

I will ask them about buscopan as that sounds like a good idea.

I was admitted into hospital yesterday afternoon as the pain was unbearable, far worse than I was expecting. Had an X-ray last night and there is 5mm fragment wedged in the tube which is causing the pain. Dr said the stone has broken up well apart from this piece, which is half the original stone!

Getting reviewed again in the morning and if no movement they will insert a stent to try to help it along.