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Is my kidney stone a ticking time bomb?

6 replies

123bumblebee123 · 13/07/2025 14:13

Recently had an MRI that identified I have a kidney stone. The MRI was for something else and just happened to find the kidney stone. I have no symptoms. However do I just now wait for terrible pain or should I be receiving treatment now before I get to that stage? It seems it will get bigger over time and will one day be a trip to A&E unless treated now?

OP posts:
anitarielleliphe · 13/07/2025 15:21

123bumblebee123 · 13/07/2025 14:13

Recently had an MRI that identified I have a kidney stone. The MRI was for something else and just happened to find the kidney stone. I have no symptoms. However do I just now wait for terrible pain or should I be receiving treatment now before I get to that stage? It seems it will get bigger over time and will one day be a trip to A&E unless treated now?

There are a lot of factors with kidney stones. Size is important, and often, if the size is too big to pass on your own, doctors will pre-emptively schedule treatment to resolve this so they do not lodge and create backup issues with the kidney, which can damage it, cause infection and even more serious issues.

I'm taking that the doctor was not concerned on the size then, if this did not occur. Certainly, if he/she was, then they would have recommended you see a urologist.

It also sounds like this is the first time you have had this issue, so it does not seem to be a repeated problem that you need to do some analysis to determine what type of stone it is. There are many types . .. some are calcium oxalate, which there are various theories of root cause . . . some are uric acid based . . . and others.

Generally speaking, no matter what type of stone, it would be well-advised to avoid substances and behavior that would "dehydrate" you . . . such as alcohol or just failing to drink enough water.

If you have anxiety about this situation, and it sounds like you do, contact or setup an appointment with your practitioner. Some will advise that you just drink a lot of water for a period of time to see if this can help move things along, especially if the size is small enough. It is possible to pass kidney stones on your own, and certainly there can be varying degrees of pain, but it is done. There are also other, less invasive procedures, that use radio-frequency waves to blast the stone into smaller pieces to make it easier to pass, and then finally, one can have them removed manually, but this does not typically require "cutting open" a person's kidney.

Littletreefrog · 13/07/2025 15:23

Presumably the Doctors who found it will arrange to do something about it if necessary. Some kidney stones pass through relatively painlessly. I have had them a few times and the Doctors suggested lots of water and lemon juice.

123bumblebee123 · 13/07/2025 21:40

GP referred me to hospital following a dodgy blood test. This involved seeing a nurse only and being sent for a full raft of blood tests and an abdominal MRI. Luckily nothing serious has been found and I am discharged from them. However they did find a “small non-obstructive” kidney stone in the mid kidney. GP hasn’t contacted me to follow up. I posted because I wasn’t sure if I should be proactive in trying to get rid of it before it is an issue. Or bumble along hoping it never is an issue. When non life threatening I know the NHS is more reactive than proactive. I have always drunk a lot of water (they tested for diabetes too and I don’t have that).

OP posts:
GG1986 · 13/07/2025 23:12

If its quite small then it may pass with no problems. I had one and it was the most painful thing I have ever experienced when it was on the move, I eventually passed it. Definitely follow up with the Dr's and find out what the next steps are.

anitarielleliphe · 14/07/2025 13:29

123bumblebee123 · 13/07/2025 21:40

GP referred me to hospital following a dodgy blood test. This involved seeing a nurse only and being sent for a full raft of blood tests and an abdominal MRI. Luckily nothing serious has been found and I am discharged from them. However they did find a “small non-obstructive” kidney stone in the mid kidney. GP hasn’t contacted me to follow up. I posted because I wasn’t sure if I should be proactive in trying to get rid of it before it is an issue. Or bumble along hoping it never is an issue. When non life threatening I know the NHS is more reactive than proactive. I have always drunk a lot of water (they tested for diabetes too and I don’t have that).

Without knowing the type of stone you have, there really is not a lot you can do "diet-wise." But if you have always been good at staying hydrated, then that is one plus on your side. Being a non-obstructive stone and mid-way through the kidney, it honestly could stay there quite awhile without causing problems. It is when they are large enough to be obstructive within the kidney preventing flow, or they are on the lead into the ureter that you must be concerned. Typically, the pain comes when they pass through the ureter, the thin piping system to your bladder.

Since you know which kidney contains the stone, and presumably they did a scan of both, you know that you have this one issue to keep and eye on. If you get pain in that kidney or lower, and this typically wraps around your side to your back, but not always, then you know to seek help.

Some people live with these types of stones for years without complaint.

123bumblebee123 · 14/07/2025 17:26

Thanks to all

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