Kidney Stones

I got back from another round of zapping (lithotrispy) today at the hospital. I remembered the bloke who usually zaps me is on his honeymoon at the moment (the last few days they're spending visiting Area 51) so I had some younger blokes doing it today. It hurt more than usual and I'd meant to take my Darth Vader stress ball for when they were doing it, sort of like biting down on a piece of wood like you see in films when someone's being flogged but I forgot it.

I mentioned my idea to the staff and they were keen on the idea so got me to fill out a suggestion form on their tablet suggesting it so they can order some. I was given some new advice today. When I got home to drink a litre of water then jump up and down which apparently is quite effective in dislodging the fragments but it hasn't worked. Yet.

I've built a little rig by attaching a paper coffee filter inside a coat hanger with clothes pegs so I can piss through that to collect any stones for later analysis.

edit: I'm drinking LOADS of green tea tonight to try and shift these stones. It's either 2 or 3 of them I learned today.
 
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A 11154 grams weight Giant Kidney Stone in a 50-Year-Old Mayan Gardener From the Yucatan Peninsula
Abstract:
Urolithiasis is a prevalent urological condition characterized by stone formation in the urinary tract, but stones weighing more than 100 g are rare. The Mayan and Mestizo populations in Yucatan have been identified as being at an increased risk of urolithiasis because of the coexistence of environmental, genetic, metabolic, and lifestyle risk factors.

The patient’s occupation may play a significant role in enhancing these factors. Here, we report the case of a Mayan gardener with a giant kidney stone weighing 1,154 g, one of the largest ever reported from Mexico.

Source: Méndez-Molina R, Avilés-Murguía FJ, Millet-Herrera JL, Hernández-Castro DA, Echeverria-Ortegon EJ, Basulto-Martínez M, Langmeyer J, Mendez-Dominguez N, Flores-Tapia JP. A Giant Kidney Stone in a 50-Year-Old Mayan Gardener From the Yucatan Peninsula: A Case Report. Cureus. 2023 Dec 5;15(12):e49994.
 

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I took a phone update today from the N&N hospital. I've been told I've got pelvic calcification which sounds scary but isn't. Perhaps I'm turning into a pint of milk? ..

'What does calcification in the pelvis mean?

Phleboliths are small, round lumps of calcium that form in a person's veins. They may show up as white spots on pelvic X-rays. Treatment may not be necessary unless they cause pain. These calcifications are common, particularly in the pelvis. They are not usually a cause for concern and are rarely painful.'

I'm not experiencing any pain or discomfort whatsoever (bonus), I've got enough painkillers that I've been giving them away to mates, I'm on blood thinners and steroids anyway so another mini stroke's unlikely. I think the trainee did a good job with my last treatment because I pee'd out what looked like a couple of stones not long afterwards so kudos to him. I'm to go for another CT scan in about 6 weeks time but it's all sounding very positive so far.
 
Steven said:
Brilliant. :)
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Thanks buddy and Frides :). Next time I talk to them on the phone, I'll ask them to thank the young brown skinned gentleman who did something different by giving me three bursts of double force blasts with my permission that lasted ten seconds each time in the middle of the regular blasts. He was grinning when he was double blasting me so I said to his supervisor "Look at him!. He's loving this! He's a sadist!" (only joking of course so we made a game of it with me saying stuff like "Go for it man!" and him asking me if it was bearable. I wimped out half way through his third double blasting (too painful) but it seems he did the job the legend.
 
I've just opened this letter from the hospital:

Dear Mr ******

I am pleased to let you know that the stone has passed from the right ureter. I think we just need to book a 12 month x-ray to make sure the stone in the left kidney has not got any bigger.

There was some diverticular change in the bowel (this is very common). You also had some hernias.

In the meantime I will book a routine appointment where we can have a chat about ways of reducing your ongoing stone risk.

With best wishes,
Yours sincerely

Mr (consultant)

Hernias is a new one for me but I haven't been in notable pain which I'm grateful for. I could hug that rookie who decided to do the triple blast manoeuvre on me after I gave him permission to try it.
 
Swifty said:
I've just opened this letter from the hospital:

Dear Mr ******

I am pleased to let you know that the stone has passed from the right ureter. I think we just need to book a 12 month x-ray to make sure the stone in the left kidney has not got any bigger.

There was some diverticular change in the bowel (this is very common). You also had some hernias.

In the meantime I will book a routine appointment where we can have a chat about ways of reducing your ongoing stone risk.

With best wishes,
Yours sincerely

Mr (consultant)

Hernias is a new one for me but I haven't been in notable pain which I'm grateful for. I could hug that rookie who decided to do the triple blast manoeuvre on me after I gave him permission to try it.
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Sounds a lot to take in in that letter Swifty, but they seem to be on the ball. Unfortunately apart from my first experience at a different (private) hospital subsequent experiences at the local hospital were pretty poor. Been free of these for a good few years now though (touch wood). How's the shoulder?
 
PeteS said:
Sounds a lot to take in in that letter Swifty, but they seem to be on the ball. Unfortunately apart from my first experience at a different (private) hospital subsequent experiences at the local hospital were pretty poor. Been free of these for a good few years now though (touch wood). How's the shoulder?
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My shoulder's 95% useable now thanks Pete. The speed with which the NHS gets kidney stone patients x-rayed, assessed, lithotripsyd, x-rayed again. assessed again, lithotripsy again, x-rayed again, etc etc has improved a lot in the last ten years. When I first had them, it took up to a year to get rid of them. My second experience was through a private hospital and the knock you out and push a cable up your dick then fit a stent then wait for nature to take it's course. I can scroll back now through this thread and compare how long it all took from start to finish this time.

I've got so many co drydamols now, I've been handing them out to older mates (with genuine pain problems) on request and if they're able to take codeine. I haven't needed them all the time plus you probably know they can make you constipated and give you unpleasant dreams so I've been stashing them. I gave a 10 strip to the woman who runs one our local shops last night and I've got another 100 to pick up this morning.
 
Yesterday I was half an hour from home and got the dreaded 'waves'/cramps in my stomach.

This time though, I was doubled up, sweating and felt sick.

It lasted 10-15 seconds, then I could walk for 5-10 minutes before the next bout.

Luckily I made it back just in time.


All they have given me is Zapain (which you're only supposed to take for three days anyway according to the packet). I wasn't asked any questions before being given these and no warnings etc though.

Don't get me wrong, I'll take zapain all day, but I'm sure the effectiveness will wear off quite soon and then there's the addiction side to it as well of course.

I'll phone 111 today and ask them what they think.

I really wish I could get a diagnosis so at least I know what it is - as it could be anything from ibs/gallstones/kidney stones/hernia/liver/pancreatitis.............
 
Had three bouts of this, @Floyd so can empathise.
Like you, my last one during COVID, came on just like that. I a dicky tummy where it was a bit crampy and then within minutes it just came on and I barely had time to say to the waife, "We need to get in the car!"

Hopefully, with the chemical help, you'll know nothing about it until they ping off the back of the toilet bowl!
 
Floyd said:
Not too bad yesterday cheers Myth, but it's always lurking, if you know what I mean.


Phoning 111 was pretty pointless really.
I'm none the wiser as to what to do now.

I'll try the old-school method later, and see if I can make an appointment for a phone call with a doctor.
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Phone calls are useless Floyd. You really need to change doctors, get a proper examination and then see specialists. I can't tell you how important this is.
 
PeteS said:
Phone calls are useless Floyd. You really need to change doctors, get a proper examination and then see specialists. I can't tell you how important this is.
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Well, you know what happened last time I booked an appointment. I sat there for nearly two hours to be told it was actually a phone call not a face to face (it wasn't and there was no missed call on my phone anyway).

When the doctor called that evening, (at my request, when leaving the surgery after a wasted afternoon) he just prescribed the zapain and that was about it.
He really didn't seem interested.
No questions asked and no sense of urgency at all (understatement of the year).
 
Ascalon said:
Had three bouts of this, @Floyd so can empathise.
Like you, my last one during COVID, came on just like that. I a dicky tummy where it was a bit crampy and then within minutes it just came on and I barely had time to say to the waife, "We need to get in the car!"

Hopefully, with the chemical help, you'll know nothing about it until they ping off the back of the toilet bowl!
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Yes, but you bikers are tough sods!

I really don't know if it is kidney stones, that's just one of a myriad of possibilities, which is the annoying part- not knowing.
Crohn's is another one.
 
Floyd said:
Yes, but you bikers are tough sods!

I really don't know if it is kidney stones, that's just one of a myriad of possibilities, which is the annoying part- not knowing.
Crohn's is another one.
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I hope it's all settling down a bit today. These things that recur at odd intervals can be very hard for doctors to diagnose if they don't get to you in the middle of an attack, so maybe you could call an ambulance next time? I mean, you might have to lie in an A&E department for hours but you might at least get some gas and air or something on the way in.
 
catseye said:
I hope it's all settling down a bit today. These things that recur at odd intervals can be very hard for doctors to diagnose if they don't get to you in the middle of an attack, so maybe you could call an ambulance next time? I mean, you might have to lie in an A&E department for hours but you might at least get some gas and air or something on the way in.
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Yes, I understand that stomach issues must be difficult to diagnose in a lot of cases, and I've given blood/sample tests which apparently say I am an amazingly fit human with no issues whatsoever.

It's a pity they didn't hear MrsF ask me why I was walking like Ozzy the other day.

But shouldn't I have at least been prodded here and there by now?

As for calling an ambulance, it has been tried here. It took 19 hours to arrive for one guy, who then had the absolute inconsideration to have died lying on the floor, before they turned up.

There's been quite a few similar cases over the last few years.
 
catseye said:
I hope it's all settling down a bit today. These things that recur at odd intervals can be very hard for doctors to diagnose if they don't get to you in the middle of an attack, so maybe you could call an ambulance next time? I mean, you might have to lie in an A&E department for hours but you might at least get some gas and air or something on the way in.
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I had recurring agonising pain that turned out to be from an umbilical hernia some years back. It was so bad I ended up in hospital once but nobody could find out what it was. They seemed to think I'd made it up.

As you say, if it comes and goes it's hard to demonstrate to a doctor.

Eventually I came across an article about Kurt Cobain and the mysterious undiagnosed abdominal condition which may have contributed to his depression and suicide. Thought 'I'm not getting like THAT!' and did some thorough googling which gave me the answer.
 
You know those old school paper filters some people still use in coffee machines?. You'll need some of those as well as a wire coat hanger. Attach the filter into the coat hanger and piss through that to collect any possible kidney stones you might pass so you can give them to the surgery for analysis in one of those little yellow top tubs. It helps to write your details on the tub's label before you do all of this and have your rig and tub in the bathroom ready. Because there's different types of stones.

I've still got my home made rig and clothes pegs weren't strong enough to hold the volume of piss as I was doing sometimes so tape might be a better idea.

I was X-rayed yesterday to see what's happening now with my stones. I got to see a different perspective of the window/blast shield I'd cleaned the week before in the same room to see any spots I've missed and blagged a bravery award X-ray sticker for myself which I lied about and said it was for my Godson. That's instead getting stuck onto my favourite stickered lamp post.
 
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Imagination, stress, irritable bowel, allergy all seem to be trotted out if nothing can be found by the first test or examination. Doubtless they do account for a lot of problems but they should still be trying a basic physical examination as a starting point.

A&E is probably the best way to get that if you've a day to spare. I think some A&E departments are getting quite stroppy with GPs when people turn up there because they can't get an initial assessment at the GPs.
 
Tunn11 said:
Imagination, stress, irritable bowel, allergy all seem to be trotted out if nothing can be found by the first test or examination. Doubtless they do account for a lot of problems but they should still be trying a basic physical examination as a starting point.

A&E is probably the best way to get that if you've a day to spare. I think some A&E departments are getting quite stroppy with GPs when people turn up there because they can't get an initial assessment at the GPs.
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Quite rightly they should get stroppy, but sudden, severe abdominal pain is something that I would regard as an emergency.

My daughter had recurring abdominal pains that would bring her life to a standstill for several hours, then pass as though it had never been. On the last occasion she drove herself to hospital, was admitted, and had her appendix out. It seemed she'd had a grumbling appendix for some years - I always had my doubts as to whether appendices COULD 'grumble' but hers was removed and assessed as being 'diseased'.
 
Tunn11 said:
Imagination, stress, irritable bowel, allergy all seem to be trotted out if nothing can be found by the first test or examination. Doubtless they do account for a lot of problems but they should still be trying a basic physical examination as a starting point.

A&E is probably the best way to get that if you've a day to spare. I think some A&E departments are getting quite stroppy with GPs when people turn up there because they can't get an initial assessment at the GPs.
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Yes, IBS seems to be the predominant blanket title for the vast list beneath it.
 
Got an appointment with a nurse tomorrow.

The sister I just spoke to assured me that a) I will be booked in this time and b) that it will be at the correct surgery.

Both her and a woman I spoke to earlier asked me why I had phoned 111 yesterday.
I said that whenever I fill in the e-consult form, it always ends up saying we cannot help you, please phone 111 (or words to that effect).

Just got to find something to take a sample in now.
I'll use one of MrsF's perfume botles.

To be quite honest, I think it'll improve the smell.

Yves Saint Floyd- just what every woman wants for Christmas.
Top notes of cheap red wine, middle notes of houmous and base notes of codeine/paracetamol.
 
Floyd said:
Got an appointment with a nurse tomorrow.

The sister I just spoke to assured me that a) I will be booked in this time and b) that it will be at the correct surgery.

Both her and a woman I spoke to earlier asked me why I had phoned 111 yesterday.
I said that whenever I fill in the e-consult form, it always ends up saying we cannot help you, please phone 111 (or words to that effect).

Just got to find something to take a sample in now.
I'll use one of MrsF's perfume botles.

To be quite honest, I think it'll improve the smell.

Yves Saint Floyd- just what every woman wants for Christmas.
Top notes of cheap red wine, middle notes of houmous and base notes of codeine/paracetamol.
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You can ask at the surgery for a sample bottle. A pharmacy might even help you.
 
Floyd said:
Got an appointment with a nurse tomorrow.

The sister I just spoke to assured me that a) I will be booked in this time and b) that it will be at the correct surgery.

Both her and a woman I spoke to earlier asked me why I had phoned 111 yesterday.
I said that whenever I fill in the e-consult form, it always ends up saying we cannot help you, please phone 111 (or words to that effect).

Just got to find something to take a sample in now.
I'll use one of MrsF's perfume botles.

To be quite honest, I think it'll improve the smell.

Yves Saint Floyd- just what every woman wants for Christmas.
Top notes of cheap red wine, middle notes of houmous and base notes of codeine/paracetamol.
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I absolutely refuse to have an AI consultation - how can anyone be diagnosed without a doctor (not a nurse) seeing you and at least listening to you and checking your vital organs? I guess the next step might be shoving a camera into you in places where a camera should really not go. Good luck and don't get fobbed off.
 
PeteS said:
I absolutely refuse to have an AI consultation - how can anyone be diagnosed without a doctor (not a nurse) seeing you and at least listening to you and checking your vital organs?
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That's what the Sister couldn't understand either - why I haven't been physically checked by now.
I'm not sure why it's a nurse I'm seeing and not a doctor though, but there you go.
 
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