Kidney Stones - Prep kit

[Uomo Senza Nome]

Disclaimer - If you get stones or get one I would suggest talking to your doctor about prepping to avoid a future ER trip. I bought my pretend medical license on line for a very low price and my advice is worth less than that. You might even die if you follow it.

This is a story with a suggestion for kit and care.

It's been an interesting week. On Monday I pulled a muscle in my lower back. On Tuesday I woke up and the pain was much worse and had spread, especially on my left side. I don't often go to the doctor but the increase in pain had me worried so I took off work for a few days and made and appointment with my PCM for Thursday, first available. First doctors appointment since Covid 2020.

Late Wednesday morning I'm laying on the floor of the living room yelling in pain at the 911 operator for an ambulance. The pain is running down my left side and I'm pretty sure I am going to die. I puke a few times, pee a tiny amount of what feels like glass and the ambulance shows up and carts me away. By the time I get to the hospital I am feeling much better, BP is back in the normal range and all that. They run some labs and push me out into the waiting room for six hours.

They wheel me back in and the doctor says my labs are back and I passed a likely medium sized stone. They run a scan and, yep, but there are likely no more. I told him I was good and didn't want any more. It was my first, and even though your first one is always special, it was enough to last me the rest of my life. But wait he tells me, I might get more anyway. And I don't want another ride in the truck, it was embarrassing enough the first time. So this is what we are going to do....

He suggested a change in diet. I take zinc to help with allergies and had switched to a different kind that was on sale. The new brand added Vitamin D.  It didn't occur to me that the extra Vitamin D in the supplement might be harmful. Too much calcium Vitamin D can contribute to the formation of calcium stones.

He then wrote three scripts but to only take one for now for a few days and save the others for any future stones should I get one. He suggested taking the Flomax for a couple of days until we are sure all the particles had passed.

Tamsulosin (Flomax) Is an alpha blocker. It works by relaxing the muscles in the prostate and bladder so that urine can flow easily. Often given for enlarged prostrates. This gives more room for the stone to pass even if you don't have prostrate issues.

The other scripts were as follows:

Ketorolac (Toradol) Is a medication used in the management and treatment of acute moderate to severe pain. It is in the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drug class. Works great on lower back and pain from Kidney Stones.

Ondansetron (Zofran) Is a Serotonin blocker, that reduces nausea and vomiting. Used often with patients undergoing chemo.

The idea being that if I get another onset I can take all three and hopefully pass any stones without laying on the living room floor screaming and puking and thinking I am going to die. I placed the scripts in a separate zip lock bag and have them ready to go as needed. Hopefully never needed.

Lots of things contribute to stone formation such as dehydration, being out of shape, over exercise and the following foods:

foods high in sodium, cola beverages, fast foods, Fructose, processed meats, certain supplements, black tea, chocolate, spinach, soy milk, almonds, cashews, soy beans.

I bold high lighted all the ones I often consume. However I am pretty sure it was the supplement since that is the only part of my diet that changed in the last 60 days. Food high in citric acid will help keep stones from forming and may help dissolve them. Might cut back on the sodium a little.



Natural Remedies:

Possible supplements to improve Urinary function and flow: A diet high in Vegetables, Saw palmetto, Beta-sitosterol, Pygeum, Rye grass pollen extract, Cranberry Juice (although this last one is linked more to UTIs)

Peppermint, Ginger and lemon all reduce nausea somewhat and are common items.

[Anianna]

Yes, it's important to know the risks of vitamin and mineral supplements.  A lot of people think they are just safe because we generally need them and a lot of vendors sell dosages that are too generally high for whatever reason.  Many have a safe upper limit beyond which they can cause damage, particularly for extended periods.  Ones that are fat soluble can especially be a problem like A, D, E, and K. 


Pain, nausea, and vaso vagal responses are in my wheelhouse.  Here's some tips to add to the ones you've already mentioned:

Another non-pharmaceutical means of taking the edge off nausea besides ginger (we keep ginger candies in our med kit) is pressure point wrist bands and newer electronic bands that work on a similar concept but with adjustable electrical stimulation instead of just stagnant pressure.  The pressure point wristbands were a lifesaver for me when I was pregnant.

OTC medications that can help with nausea are generally sold for motion sickness, but can be effective for general nausea control.  Dramamine is a common option that works for a lot of people, but there are others to try.

Toradol has a high risk of side effects and is recommended not to be used for more than five days.  I've only ever had it in the ER via IV for immediate pain.  Motrin is more commonly used for pain meds taken orally or prescribed for home use and, while the regular dosage is 400mg (2 x 200mg tablets every 4-6 hours), it can be doubled for short periods.  An 800mg Rx is what is commonly given to new mothers recovering from delivery and c-sections and is typically what I'm prescribed when I refuse opiate pain relievers and Vicodin (I have a codeine allergy that includes hydrocodone).   

Devil's Claw is also an option and I find it to be better on nerve pain than typical NSAIDs (especially sciatica) and that may be an option for this kind of pain, but it does come with the same general side effects of ibuprofen like Motrin and Advil and should not be taken for extended periods (just because it's natural doesn't mean it's perfectly safe, much like the vitamins).

There are also breathing techniques for pain that can take the edge off when you don't have other options or when your options just aren't enough.  It helps to learn and practice those in advance, especially since breathing can become difficult just from pain.  Also, if you take shallow breaths because of pain for an extended period, it can make you vulnerable to pneumonia and other lung infections, especially if your immune system is taking a hit from whatever is causing the pain.

Pain can induce a vaso vagal response that can result in syncope (fainting).  Nausea and vomiting are often part of the vaso vagal response and comes before syncope.  Laying on your back with your knees up and diaphragmatic breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth can help reduce vaso vagal symptoms, including nausea, and reduce the chance of syncope.  It also puts you on the ground so that if you do still suffer syncope, you won't get hurt from the fall.


I'm glad you got through that and are feeling better.  May you never suffer a kidney stone again.

[flybynight]

Disclaimer - If you get stones or get one I would suggest talking to your doctor about prepping to avoid a future ER trip. I bought my pretend medical license on line for a very low price and my advice is worth less than that. You might even die if you follow it.

This is a story with a suggestion for kit and care.

It's been an interesting week. On Monday I pulled a muscle in my lower back. On Tuesday I woke up and the pain was much worse and had spread, especially on my left side. I don't often go to the doctor but the increase in pain had me worried so I took off work for a few days and made and appointment with my PCM for Thursday, first available. First doctors appointment since Covid 2020.

Late Wednesday morning I'm laying on the floor of the living room yelling in pain at the 911 operator for an ambulance. The pain is running down my left side and I'm pretty sure I am going to die. I puke a few times, pee a tiny amount of what feels like glass and the ambulance shows up and carts me away. By the time I get to the hospital I am feeling much better, BP is back in the normal range and all that. They run some labs and push me out into the waiting room for six hours.

They wheel me back in and the doctor says my labs are back and I passed a likely medium sized stone. They run a scan and, yep, but there are likely no more. I told him I was good and didn't want any more. It was my first, and even though your first one is always special, it was enough to last me the rest of my life. But wait he tells me, I might get more anyway. And I don't want another ride in the truck, it was embarrassing enough the first time. So this is what we are going to do....

He suggested a change in diet. I take zinc to help with allergies and had switched to a different kind that was on sale. The new brand added Vitamin D.  It didn't occur to me that the extra Vitamin D in the supplement might be harmful. Too much calcium Vitamin D can contribute to the formation of calcium stones.

He then wrote three scripts but to only take one for now for a few days and save the others for any future stones should I get one. He suggested taking the Flomax for a couple of days until we are sure all the particles had passed.

Tamsulosin (Flomax) Is an alpha blocker. It works by relaxing the muscles in the prostate and bladder so that urine can flow easily. Often given for enlarged prostrates. This gives more room for the stone to pass even if you don't have prostrate issues.

The other scripts were as follows:

Ketorolac (Toradol) Is a medication used in the management and treatment of acute moderate to severe pain. It is in the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drug class. Works great on lower back and pain from Kidney Stones.

Ondansetron (Zofran) Is a Serotonin blocker, that reduces nausea and vomiting. Used often with patients undergoing chemo.

The idea being that if I get another onset I can take all three and hopefully pass any stones without laying on the living room floor screaming and puking and thinking I am going to die. I placed the scripts in a separate zip lock bag and have them ready to go as needed. Hopefully never needed.

Lots of things contribute to stone formation such as dehydration, being out of shape, over exercise and the following foods:

foods high in sodium, cola beverages, fast foods, Fructose, processed meats, certain supplements, black tea, chocolate, spinach, soy milk, almonds, cashews, soy beans.

I bold high lighted all the ones I often consume. However I am pretty sure it was the supplement since that is the only part of my diet that changed in the last 60 days. Food high in citric acid will help keep stones from forming and may help dissolve them. Might cut back on the sodium a little.



Natural Remedies:

Possible supplements to improve Urinary function and flow: A diet high in Vegetables, Saw palmetto, Beta-sitosterol, Pygeum, Rye grass pollen extract, Cranberry Juice (although this last one is linked more to UTIs)

Peppermint, Ginger and lemon all reduce nausea somewhat and are common items.

WTH. I thought you were tougher than that . Quit complaining and pass your stones like a man 
  Just kidding. I've never had kidney stones. What almost did me in was gallstones.  Ended up 16 days in ICU  after the wild siren truck ride to ER . Of which I don't remember anything of. Last I recall \was the EMT firemen showing up at the house. Didn't wake up til the following morning