Kidney Stones - Solution

I've been told this by both my Kidney stone specialist and my endocrinologist...

I have a kidney stone pattern that is consistent with people who have crohn's disease, stones are calcium oxalate.  I have very high urine oxalate values along with very low citrate values.  The fix is to increase citrate.  Kidney doctor prescribed potassium citrate, endocrinologist said to take calcium citrate with meals, 500mg Ca as calcium citrate.  Makes sense to me and have gone from a stone every week or two to maybe 2 in the past 2 months.  A very good improvement that is expected to only get better.  Endocrinologist says there's no reason why I should not be able to get rid of them completely after maybe 6 months or so after the ones that have formed already get flushed out...  I suffered for many years and it's such an obvious fix, as it turns out.

Now this pattern will not be the same for everyone, but again, as I was told it is typical for malabsorption issues due to Crohn's.  If you want to know for sure find yourself someone to order a litholink test, 2, 24 hour urine samples where they test for many things and can tell you what type of stones you're prone to and how to fix it!  Upset that It took so long for me to take matters into my own hands and find a specialist or two!  My GI, who is a Crohn's expert suggested that I not drink grapefruit, really, lame.  She should know better. 

As an aside, I am also calcium deficient and was D deficient.  Have been taking 10,000 D3 daily for awhile and continue to monitor vitamiin status.  D helps with absorption of calcium from the intestines.  So while I was getting all the stones, the calcium was actually coming from my bones as evidenced by a high PTH also, bad news for my bones.  Hopefully the D andd Ca supplementation is going to turn that around along with the kidney stone issue.  Dietary Ca does not = increased kidney stones.  There is usually a metabolic reason that can be determined!

Kim

Kim, I have suffered with Kidney stones due to Crohns too. So painful....I started taking potassium in pretty high doses because when I have really bad D I'm not absorbing the nutrients I need too. Like Sniper, I also have Diabetes with my Crohns and it can all be a challenge on some days. Between you and your Dr. I'm sure you'll figure things out! Good Luck:)

I have not had this problem for awhile, but I use to have a real problem..I do believe it is caused by the absorption factor caused by CD..I was running dehydrated frequently at the time as well. I had had scared tissue build up that had to be addressed by a urologist. I had frequent UTI's, which I still have problems in that area. It was like the inflammation factor attacked my urinary tract right along with my bowels. I was experiencing gall stones at the same time.
Cindy

mtgman said...
i've had 8 or so over the past few years. i was prescribed the potassium horse pills and never took them. i've had a bunch of docs tell me to drink beer or lemonade- they both help to dissolve the calcium...i don't drink either of them due to my gut but haven't had a stone in a while (knock on wood!)

   The lemonade should work if an increase in citrate works for you.  I had tried that myself previously too.  Though straight lemon juice, not lemonade!  Don't know why beer would work, but I stay away from it, too much sugar for me.  The potassium citrate I have is liquid, dilute and drink.  Yep, it's acidic.  They also make crystals.

My doc also mentioned the lemonade thing. I don't drink lemonade because of the sugar and artificial sweetners, but I did start squeezing fresh lemon slices in my water. Could be coincidence but since I started having lemon everyday in my water I haven't had one since, knock on wood because I don't miss them!!