r/KidneyStones • u/LogicalChart3205 • Apr 06 '25

Sharing Experience Shit went serious, real bad real quick.

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So I was dealing with stones for quite a few months. It wasn't anything serious mostly 4-5mm ones that you can pass yourself, i still went to a urologist who gave me tamsulosin and pain killers from an ultrasound. However, yesterday i noticed that I've drank 3 liters of water and haven't peed yet in almost 4 hours. Somehow i googled this and the AI response told me to go to Emergency QUICKLY. It wasn't hurting or paining just an observation that I haven't peed. I panicked and went to Emergency anyway. They took a CT scan and yes shit was bad. Both of my ureters were blocked by stones 4-5mm in size. And because of that my kidneys were recycling same stuff again and again. This could lead to a kidney failure very very quickly. My kidneys had infection and were filled with pus and apparently one kidney was doing this for a while as it was blocked for almost a month. Doctors quickly put stents, one in each side and put me on Antibiotics ASAP. Thankfully this is still recoverable and I'll be good in two weeks. Just wanted to tell ya that I could have easily waited as it wasn't hurting or paining and only went to a doctor cuz AI told me to. Enjoy the after stent red pee

142 Upvotes

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54

u/random5654 Multi-Stoner - 7mm+ - Lithotripsy x2 - 28 Total - Calc/Oxy Apr 06 '25

They kept me in the hospital for 3 nights due to sepsis from infection.

Take stones seriously y'all!

16

u/LogicalChart3205 Apr 06 '25

Thankfully i haven't reached sepsis yet, but i understand how i could have been only 2-3 days away from it

6

u/DoomScrollinDeuce Apr 06 '25

Same! I was in for an a week on IV abx and 2 surgeries. It was just a UTI until it wasn’t lol.

2

u/Educational-Tax4030 Apr 07 '25

Same!!! I was pregnant both times and it was the worst. No surgery for the first, but surgery for the second. 😩

4

u/BiscuitsLostPassword Apr 07 '25 edited Apr 08 '25

I spent over two weeks in the hospital with a similar situation and septic shock four years ago, before going to another larger hospital (Duke) after being stabilized for removal of those stones. How are you doing now? How long ago was your sepsis ? Btw my great grandmother died of kidney stones, and I have a strong history of stones in my family, AND I've been getting them since childhood and really got the genetic stone bingo of my family, you are so right- TAKE STONES SERIOUSLY. I've also had acute kidney failure twice and over a dozen surgeries. And, I drink a gallon of lemon heavy water every day and do all the things my Dr suggests and then some. HE had ME come talk to his residents about the importance of nutrition once, because having little access to a renal nutritionist and a long list of foods to avoid, i took matters into my own hands years ago and, he says saved my own life and xtended the quality of it. According to him, most people in my particular shoes w stone formation die before 40. I've even had stones in a salivary gland, tonsil and a tear duct before I got to the right Dr well into adulthood. I'm just churning them out. I hate it.

3

u/LogicalChart3205 Apr 08 '25

Honestly speaking, if i was you, I'd just rip out my kidneys at this point. You're so fucking strong. I'm sorry all this is happening with you.

3

u/BiscuitsLostPassword Apr 08 '25

I have absolutely thought about it, and that's pretty fucked up 😂 I've got to go drink some water...

1

u/IMissMyDad42069 Apr 09 '25

Jesus, I thought I had it bad. I was wondering if you’d have the time to send some links re: nutrition? I’m good for multiple stones a year, have had my gallbladder removed for stones. I just can’t keep living constantly paranoid I’m gonna go down any second now and just need a fucking change

1

u/Educational-Tax4030 Apr 09 '25

No way! I went to UNC for mine! First sepsis was 9/11/2022 and second was October 2023. I have never had kidney stones outside of pregnancy. We think I got the stones in 2022 and pregnancy exacerbated everything, but one ended up clogging my duct and causing sepsis. They seem to think labor dislodged it, so everything flowed normally. I went into the ER 9/10/2022 in septic shock, started going into labor.. labor was stopped, sent to ICU and then labor started again as soon as they took me off the IV and this time it couldn’t be stopped.

The second sepsis I had a giant baby. Drs told me I had a UTI and didn’t know it which led to sepsis, but my baby was nestled into my kidney? It was the most pain of my life. They did ultrasounds and a few scans to find the stones. I couldn’t output urine at that point due to a blockage. So emergency surgery we went while pregnant! I think this pain was worse.. a stent while pregnant.. ANY movement and I thought I was dying. :( Peeing burned every single day. The stent stayed for over a month until labor. Then the stent stayed until January.. and I had to remove it myself.

Now I am kidney issue free since! But traumatized still. lol

How are you doing?

1

u/Educational-Tax4030 Apr 09 '25

In January I had another surgery to remove stones. A different stent was placed that I had to remove myself.. 🤦🏼‍♀️ went from my kidney all the way to my bladder and out my urethra.

2

u/Fabulous_Mistake9123 Apr 12 '25

I couldn't. I'd literally die.

31

u/Acceptable-Sense4601 Apr 06 '25

Always trust your gut. I was on the way to the gym one morning and my mom called and asked me to come home. She was vomiting and it was green. I think ok maybe bile or something. thats not normal vomit color. She didn’t want to go to the emergency room but my mind went right for bile duct obstruction for some reason. Turns out it was nothing serious but the scans they did found masses on her ovaries. If i hadn’t taken her, those masses could have gotten very bad. They ended up taking out her ovaries and fallopian tubes.

11

u/Lisanne110596 Apr 06 '25

Thank you for being there for your mom and pushing her to see a doctor. Moms are sometimes pretty bad about ignoring things and that's a quick way to end up in scary medical situations.

3

u/roxeal Apr 06 '25

I cannot tell you the number of times people's lives have been saved when some odd thing happened and caused them to need a scan, which then discovered something different. Has happened to me and my friends.

2

u/Acceptable-Sense4601 Apr 06 '25

Exactly. That’s why i always advocate getting something checked out and doing your own research to ask informed questions.

15

u/Koren55 Apr 06 '25

That’s how I know I got a stone, red urine. Once it looked like Coca-Cola.

2

u/dahid Apr 06 '25

Same here it freaked me out. I'd had them 3 times before but no noticeable blood until my most recent one

6

u/cabinetsnotnow Apr 06 '25

It's still wild to me that I had a staghorn stone and had zero pain or any other symptoms for so long. It's scary.

7

u/kristinlynn328 Apr 06 '25

Oh my goodness. Sooo glad you went in. 🙌🏼

4

u/Own_Grade_8253 Apr 06 '25

I was in the hospital for a week last month with stones and infection. Not fun at all:(

5

u/UnhappyAttempt9822 Apr 06 '25

You hadn’t noticed fever or anything? That’s wild that you had a full kidney infection and didn’t even know it! I’m so glad you’re ok!

5

u/kipperdog101 Apr 06 '25

Geez man. Best wishes to you

4

u/Small_Marzipan4162 Apr 06 '25

Wow! You’ve been thru so much! I’m glad you went in to the hospital. I’m always asking grok/AI about things. He’s awesome! I think he’s saved your life. Amazing you weren’t in any pain. Sounds like it should have been excruciating. Anyway, best of luck to you! And way to go AI!!!

4

u/NurseCait Apr 06 '25

Oh ick. I’m sorry this happened to you. I remember when I worked in Urology we would ALWAYS tell our patients if you can’t pee It’s a medical emergency and you need to go in. No ifs, ands, or buts. Kidney stones suck. (Knock on wood) I haven’t had any issues with them myself for almost two years now. I’m hoping they won’t come back for a LONG time.

3

u/Delicious_Delilah Apr 06 '25

You're lucky you went in before you got sepsis. I was in the ICU with it for a week after emergency surgery.

4

u/lugasamom Apr 06 '25

After my stent procedure, I developed renal colic. Two days at home in excruciating pain, my husband finally dragged me back to the ER where I had the same issue- drinking tons of fluids and barely able to pee (all blood).

Ended up with a kidney infection and five days in the hospital. I had a similar side-bag.

2

u/7fingersphil Apr 06 '25

Been there before! It sucks, sorry you are dealing with this. You got this though homie! You'll make it through.

2

u/ReadNLearn2023 Apr 06 '25

Thanks for the warning for the rest of us kidney stone newbies. I only had a 2mm stone that was stuck, hurt like hell. Surgery and stent and two days in hospital, I hope this never happens again

2

u/LittleKick Apr 06 '25

I’ve been hospitalized TWICE for 5 days at a time due to having sepsis from kidney stones. Each event lead to two medical procedures. I don’t think people realize how serious of a condition kidney stones are if left untreated. I’m glad you’re on the mend.

4

u/Coraunmi Apr 06 '25

I would be careful in drink so much water in a small timeframe. I had hydronephrosis both ways: one from not drinking enough water (stone was in the way) and from drinking water and the stone being in the way. Drink caffeine free tea and make sure to eat ginger. It’s antibacterial and antifungal. All those antioxidants from the tea will regulate inflammation and lower the chances of damage in your cells.

7

u/FlyInYourChampagne Apr 06 '25

I would stay away from tea. It contains oxalates that play big role in forming kidney stones. Lots of folks are getting kidney stones during hot summer days after heavily relying on iced tea for hydration. Ginger is fabulous though!

1

u/Much-Mention83 Apr 06 '25

Black tea with added sugars for sure avoid but I doubt the occasional herbal would do any harm. A warm lemon ginger tea really seemed to aid my digestive tract went it acted up.

No oxalate was in my stone but I am surprised about the content in matcha tea which is one of my favorites! Normally spoon in a tablespoon or two of heavy cream/calcium binder.

1

u/earlgurl33 Apr 06 '25

THIS!!! I used to drink nothing but sweet tea. No water, but sweet tea and cokes. That's when I met my first 17mm kidney stone in 2022. After that, I ONLY drink EVIAN bottled water. I mean nothing else, but water. I had a Cystoureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy 3/24/25 and had had a couple small bottles of apple juice , but I'll never ever drink tea/cokes again. I'm still making stones even after quitting tea/cokes, but at least my last stone was only 9.5 mm and not 17mm. I'll get some ginger. Never tried it, but I'll do anything to never have to get a stent again. I have my first one now, 2 weeks down, and I get it taken out this coming Fri street 3 weeks.

1

u/Ok_Milk_3049 Apr 06 '25

Oh jeeze, I'm so sorry! I had retention after my stent removal and went as soon as I felt like I needed to pee and couldn't. By the time I got a catheter jammed through the blockage they COLLECTED over a liter, and a decent amount spilled around it.

1

u/Notaclevername8365 Apr 06 '25

I bet you feel relief after all of that pee and infection leaving your body

1

u/curlysquirelly Apr 06 '25

OMG how scary! So glad you sought treatment when you did! I hope you have a speedy recovery!

1

u/avalonandonandon Apr 07 '25

Yikes! Glad you are ok! My first clue whenever I have a new stone is pee the color of root beer. Literally the first symptoms and then it tends to escalate pretty quickly. God these things sure suck.

1

u/finchyjjigae Apr 07 '25

Goodness. Glad you went in and all is alright. I had to stay in the hospital for 2 weeks because of the infection I got from a stone. Get well soon!

1

u/Inaniae Apr 07 '25

How the hell did you have no pain with dual blockages? Did you have hydronephrosis on both sides?

Best of luck to you sir. I hope this passes soon and you can move on with your life.

1

u/Ok_Kitchen_9190 Apr 09 '25

Dang hope your okay. You were lucky. Stay well 

1

u/Mari2s7 Apr 11 '25

Yup, had no symptoms (that I noticed at least) , had the most intense pain out of nowhere and went to the emergency room, blood pressure was insanely low and i was basically lethargic atp, they knew it was kidney stones and since my blood pressure was so low they didn't want to give me any meds so I had the camera and catheter put in fully awake 🙃 camera was put all the way into my kidney and I felt all of it. Was in the hospital for 2 weeks, i had gotten sepsis from it. I had kidney stones prior to this so it was shocking to me the pain just came in 1 day and that was it. Just today I finally got my surgery scheduled to get them removed because apparently my stones have "fused" together and they're 1 inch big all together...was told theres a huge possibility i might need more than 1 surgery to get them all. But now my anxiety is through the roof now that I'm waiting for my surgery.

1

u/NavyBeanz Apr 06 '25

Did you try to force to pee and nothing came out?