KIDNEY STONE SURGERY

Glad the surgery went well! Hopefully the next few days fly by and you can get rid of the pita. Does it hurt a lot? Diclofenac is an NSAID so if you are sensitive to them be careful with how much you take.

Worst nausea I got in hospital post-surgery came from Lovenox, an anti-clotting drug. Within 10 minutes of injection I would start heaving then puke even water alone. Hospital wouldn't discharge me 'til I agreed to RN's instruction on injecting myself at home, which they wanted me to do for 3 weeks! Shortly after return home I phoned my gastro to ask whether I could avoid that junk; gastro just replied "The most important thing you can do is to keep about and moving!" TG, that saved me. Then I just had to cope with a local pharmacy which kept phoning to ask why I didn't pick up my 3-week supply of that blasted drug! *** So Michele-- find out what anesthesia or anything else you might have gotten during the procedure-- to list it in the future when you update medical or dental history under "allergies" or "drug reactions". We UCers need to be proactive for our own defense from side effects whenever possible. / Old Hat

When you have a stent, does it feel like a UTI? That's what it feels like to me. It's very uncomfortable.

Michelejc

Yes a stent does feel sorta like a UTI. I had my stent for 7 to 8 days after my procedure/surgery.

Stent removal.... Take notice of timeframe when your pain pills kick in. Save at least 1 of your strongest, best pain pills for stent removal. Time taking of pill so it will be working when stent is being removed.

For me, I took the pain pill 1 hour before the time I was scheduled to see the urologist for stent removal in his office. By the time I saw him it was at the 2 hour mark. He did not give me anything for stent removal. (When I asked he said I wouldn't need anything because the removal is so quick...but a friend told me what I am telling you...and I'm glad she did....but I'm sorta wimpy. I did need that extra help during and after the stent removal.) They put a pad under your bottom, (you will release some liquid when they remove stent so don't be surprised.) they deflate a valve that holds the stent in place, (you will feel an immediate reduction in pressure right then and it feels much better) and if your urologist is like mine, they will remove the stent almost simultaneously. It wasn't too too bad...and it was over very quickly. After my removal there was a little tenderness there and some swelling... Sorta like it was irritated from having the stent there in the first place.... BUT Tylenol and Extra Strength Excedrine made it better. That irritation lasted about 3 days after removal.

I did take those little brown UTI pain relief pills right after I got to my car after the stent removal....and every 4 to 6 hours for about 3 days. My doctor did not tell me to do that--the friend did. I think those helped a bunch. I could not pee after stent removal if I did not take the brown pills. I went from taking them every 4 to 6 hours to 6 to 8... Then 8 to 10... I increased the time between the brown UTI pills and it all gradually got better.

Please let me know how it goes or if you have any questions.

Clo

I'll be getting the stent out today. I'll keep you posted!

Pain is much less now....

Glad to read you are feeling better, it will take a few days for things to settle down.

Feeling better this morning. Just a bit of pressure when I pee. Thanks for all your support!

Is it normal to feel a little pressure when peeing, almost like a slight UTI? Other than that, pain is gone.

Glad you're feeling improvement though it's gradual to-date. I think you've been through a lot, Michele, so take good care and hang in there. The bladder & ureter are sensitive tissue in general and overall, our mucosa tends to thin as we move into middle age and older life health conditions. I wish the thinning had a safe Rx supplement for speedy reversal because I could sleep solidly for 8 or more hours in my younger years w/o having to visit the throne room to empty out peepee. / Old Hat

Last night the pain came back. I used a heating pad which helped.

I will be getting some potassium citrate.

Michelejc,

On the pain that returned--Was it in the back or kidney area or did it feel like your urethra was uncomfortable? (Sorta like a burning or a smaller stent or string was irritating it? )

For some reason that stent like feeling returns to me when I do not take 4 Stone stoppers daily, when I am passing small pieces of stone, or when I start developing them again.

Remember you just had those stones lasered.... There could be very small pieces that you are continuing to pass. While they might not have the same "feel" as the larger ones you may still experience some slight symptoms. My sister passed small pieces for about 2 weeks or more after her procedure. She filtered her urine and saved the pieces for her urologist. I think it was so they could determine if she had pain or irritation that there had been something there that caused it and was passed. Her pain and irritation gradually decreased as she passed the smaller particles left over from where the laser broke up her stones.

In regards to the type of citrate... My urologist didn't analyze my stones and I use the Stone stoppers to help not get any more. (For some reason that stuff really does help me ) My sister had her stones analyzed and they were very specific about which one she used because the chemicals can affect stones and people differently.

I just know regular potassium really gives me a hard time. I develop mouth sores.

I hope you feel better soon.

Clo