Kidney Stones

[Mac2016]

Hi All,

Has anyone on the board had to have kidney stone surgery? I am going in in a few weeks to have it done. It seems the stone is so big, they have to go in through my back. A few months back they tried to go in through my penis....it was unsuccessful. Now, this. It's a two day surgery process. First day, they have to place a guide wire from the back to the kidney....next day, the big surgery...they're going to blast the stone through the kidney and pull out the pieces.

This came about when I started meds. I had a nagging backache. My creatinine level was high and I had white blood cells in my urine.  I later had an ultrasound and here I am. Kidney stone.  They think it's because of dehydration. I don't drink enough water. I probably still don't. I don't have time to spend every 30 minutes in the john. A person should be drinking 3.5 liters of water a day according to my doc.....I'd drown!!

I am wondering if anyone has experienced the surgery and what I'm looking at for recovery and pain.

Thanks,

Robbie

[Wade]

Yes  !!!   
I actually passed one last week . Typical sharp pains in my lower back, blood
in my urine, then burning as it worked its way to its final destination.
It took about two days . I have had three so far, the first being the largest and the worst. It literally made a noise when it finally passed and hit the toilet !  I was told by my doc some are more prone than others , calcium is a big culprit.

You must have one big f....r , I have not heard of that surgery before, I truly
feel for you. Don't want to make it any worse but they look like sand burrs
when under a magnifying glass .  Keep us posted and good Luck !
Best , Wade

[Mac2016]

Thanks Wade!

Yeah, this has been an ordeal to say the least. Hopefully, my creatinine levels will go back to normal, along with the white blood cells in the urine. The stone is literally blocking my kidney. Even though it's caused loads of anxiety.....I'm looking forward to having it taken care of.

Thanks again for your kind response!

Take care,

Robbie

[Wade]

Hey Robbie,
I can tell you once I passed the stone it was like it was never there , the pain was completely gone. Did end up with a UTI the first time , other than that all was well.
I'm sure your numbers will go back to normal once this is over.
You Take Care also, and Keep us posted, Wade

[Mac2016]

Hey Wade,

Just heard from my doc's office! My pre-op has been scheduled for next week. Reality is setting in. The surgery is scheduled for the week after. It gives me less than two weeks to stress about it. Looking forward to having the numbers get back to normal. It's preventing my CD4 numbers from going up, the viral load is like 56. If it doesn't help. I'll have to go on a PI to make the bug behave.

Thanks for your message!! I appreciate it!

Robbie

[harleymc]

Good luck Mac.

I'm sure you are going to feel a lot better afterwards. Stay in the moment and don't stress about the future. I know , easy to say and harder to do, but well worth the effort.

[AF1]

Best of luck with your surgery!

I've had 3 kidney stones, the first two were the worst and I ended up in the hospital due to the amount of blood I lost before they passed - a 3 day process for me.  The last one was bad but at least it finally passed at home.  I need to tell my doc if I lose much blood with them......and head to the ER if it continues too long.

They say they are among the most painful things a man has, saying its comparable to delivering a baby.

[Mac2016]

Thanks to you all!!  You are all so wonderful to share. I feel a hell of a lot better knowing I have you as a sounding board. I have a week and a half to go before the surgery and they're keeping me overnight. I'm full of anxiety and and can't wait until it's over and done!

Please know how appreciative I am getting your responses.

Thanks again,

Robbie

[Mac2016]

I'M BACK!!!!

Ok, so, last week went in for my kidney stone surgery. Everything was going fine. I was discharged on Friday (last week), and starting feeling better on Monday. The huge stone was out of me...YAY!! Then, Tuesday, I felt like I got hit by a truck and my fever was rising, I couldn't walk without severe pain. I went back to the ER with a fever of 102.2.

I was admitted after the doc couldn't get a catheter up my dick...worse than torture btw. Anyway, I spent 16 hours in an examining room in the ER, before a room was ready for me. I was exhausted.

After bags and bags of IV fluids and IV antibiotics (I lost count), as well as them taking tubes and tubes of blood.....AND hourly heparin shots....I was released this past Friday.

I'm still looking at a cystoscopy stent removal in a couple of weeks. They say it takes a minute....Hopefully, it won't be a repeat of the catheter experience.....OUCH!!

I'll let you know!!

[Wade]

Hey Mac ,
Sorry I missed this , Hope you're doing better !
Don't worry taking something out is always easier than putting it in....
Keep us posted , Wade

[Mac2016]

Hey Wade,

THANKS!!  I hope you're right. This has been an ordeal to say the least. I'll be glad when everything gets back to normal again.  Whatever that is!! Ha Ha!!

Thanks again,

Robbie

[Blessings2u]

Hey Mack! My thoughts and prayers are with you as you recuperate from surgery. Do you think the stones developed due to not drinking enough water? I just had a conversation with my son who was recently diagnosed HIV positive (last month) about the importance of drinking water. I wish you well. Isn't this a great place for information.

[Mac2016]

Thanks Blessings!  I appreciate your post! YES!! I was told that I don't drink enough water during the course of a day. My fault really. Plus, I had a habit of downing LOTS of Tums. The stone was calcium formed. The stone was blocking the kidney and the kidney started growing around it. If the stone got bigger, I could've lost a kidney. I'm very lucky.

I am very grateful for this site. It allays a lot of my fears. My heart goes out to all of my brothers and sisters when they are plagued by problems. It's a wonderful place of support. What a great resource.

Thanks,

Robbie