Sitting in the ER at midnight

[jlm]

So I've been having different issues off and on and I had this suspicion that I might have kidney stones. After spending the weekend vomiting today this pain set in. Sure enough! Just went to the washroom for the 15th time at the ER and passed like 4 small looking stones. Seriously. This is all I need right now when I start a new job on Wednesday! Luckily the pain has majorly subsided. But it's still lingering. Can the ER even do anything for kidney stones?

 

[nogutsnoglory]

Ugh I'm so sorry about your pain. I don't know much about kidney stones but know they are incredibly painful. Hopefully you passed them all.

I'm sure the ER can help with a pain killer and maybe something to help ease out any remaining stones like a laxative.

 

[jlm]

Thanks! I took some morphine knowing I'll be here for a while anyway. I'm thinking this has been going on for a while. I've noticed little things after going to the washroom and there's been blood in my urine. Go me for not pushing the issue. I've passed other stones without pain. But today wow. I've been through a good share of blockages. And I honestly can't tell you what was worse. Blockages at least is a spasming pain. This was constant since supper time. Also love how there are people to talk to so late on here

 

[nogutsnoglory]

There is always the chat room on here too. Sometimes just hang out there for a while and someone will pop in.

I need to get some sleep. Tomorrow I have to battle with the insurance co.

 

[jlm]

Goodnight! That's one thing that's nice. I'm in Canada so I don't have to worry about insurance. That would just be awful on top of everything else.

 

[Zebediah]

So you might have learned all this already since it's been a few hours, but whatever:

I'm a regular kidney stoner, and I am frequently in the ER due to it. They usually won't do a lot aside from pain control and imaging unless stones are causing such ridiculous problems that they need to be immediately surgically removed. Urologists can generally do ESWL to destroy stones before they could potentially cause problems, but not in an emergency setting. They could maybe do some surgical procedures if it's bad enough, but they usually will not, in my experience, unless it would be really dangerous to wait--like if you only have one working kidney or have a bilateral obstruction. Canada may be different, though.

I had a large stone get stuck in my right ureter in late December, and it had to be surgically removed via ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy. They wouldn't do the surgery at the hospital, so I had to wait for three days for my urologist to do it. Three days with that constant pain was totally unbearable. I ate nothing but pain pills. I remember phoning the on-call urologist about a day into it and essentially begging them for mercy... lol. Generally the other kidney will start to relieve the pressure from the one that's having problems, but I had major hydronephrosis during most of the wait. No fun. I get stones several times a month and sometimes even several times a week.

They can give you a medication (tamsulosin) that dilates the ureters so that anything stuck will usually be able to pass more easily. I find I usually leave the ER with that and an opiate prescription if I go in with stones, and sometimes antibiotics since urinary tract infections, including pyelonephritis, become a risk in the context of nephrolithiasis.

Hopefully you already passed what was in you. The lingering pain might just be from your ureters being harassed by the stones you passed. I hope things get better; stones freaking suck! I think it's the worst pain imaginable, but I guess I haven't experienced everything. Unfortunately stones are more common in people with Crohn's, but hopefully it doesn't become a major issue for you.

 

[shamrock15]

Pretty thorough post from zebediah. You can also check into modifying your diet a little to reduce the frequency of the stones. Don't remember exactly what to swap out, but it shouldn't pose too much of a challenge. Just noticed TPN on your list - not sure how that factors into stone formation...

 

[Zebediah]

Pretty thorough post from zebediah. You can also check into modifying your diet a little to reduce the frequency of the stones. Don't remember exactly what to swap out, but it shouldn't pose too much of a challenge. Just noticed TPN on your list - not sure how that factors into stone formation...

It depends on what the stones are made out of, but the majority of stones are due to excess oxalate, and I think this is generally the case in the context of Crohn's. Some examples of foods high in oxalate to avoid would be tea, nuts, dark leafy greens like spinach and kale, etc... it's Google-able. I don't know a whole lot about it either, and it kind of depends on the person. I also have no idea how TPN would factor into this, but I guess there's that information if it could still be useful.

Also, I actually logged back in because I thought it would be mildly amusing to let all of you know that I went to sleep not long after posting in this thread, but was awoken a few hours later by renal colic. I am currently giving myself the preliminary period where I try to sit through it before caving and going to the ER myself, but I can't keep down any pain pills, so it's not looking good. Oh, kidney stones. You and your sense of humour.

At least we can suffer together, jlm. You start a new job on Wednesday, and I'm flying across the country on Wednesday. Kidney stones know no mercy.

 

[jlm]

Thanks for all the info! I actually ended up passing them in the ER so talked with te nurse and se pretty much said there was nothing they could do now. So I'm going to follow up with my family doc. I have better pain meds on hand then they can give me anyway so if it happens again I'll take them right away. My diet doesn't. Really add up to much besides tpn. I'll talk to them and see of they can I investigate more. It was just awful. And I've been some pretty good blockages. This pain it escalated very quickly, stayed with me, then once I passed them it was like I won the lottery. I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy lol.

 

[Lisa]

I have had kidney stones in the past - and see a urologist once a year to check for any new ones...my Dr advised me to drink REAL lemonade - as that will help keep stones from forming - also staying hydrated is important to flush out the kidneys....