Just as it’s titled, my situation has been a nightmare.

I self referred to a urologist in May of this year for what I thought was recurrent UTIs. He scheduled me for an ultrasound and a cystoscopy (in office) for July, “Just in case there’s something pathological” since the testing showed that I wasn’t having a UTI. Fast forward to the first of July and the ultrasound showed bilateral Hydronephrosis and the cystoscopy showed a normal bladder, but he could tell that something was outside the bladder putting pressure on it. Then scheduled for a CT scan on July 30th. That scan revealed a 2cm and 1cm kidney stone at the upj of my left kidney. The doctor scheduled me for an emergent cysto, with laser lithotripsy and bilateral stent placement the next morning (was Sat August 1st). The stents were where the nightmare truly began! Follow up appointment were delayed and I didn’t see the doctor for two weeks. At this appointment I was informed that he didn’t think my left kidney was functioning and I might need a nephrectomy (WHAT? Immediate shock!) and he removed the stent from the left ureter. Ordered a Mag3 scan to check bilateral function of the kidneys. The scan showed that I had only 30% function on the left (right was 70%). Then follow up for the scan (I’m freaking miserable with the stent still on the right!) and he removes the right stent, and wants another Mag3 scan to see how both sides do without stents. Sweet relief, and it was the first week of September. Next scan was done three weeks later and left function decreased to 20%. Soooo, he scheduled a stent to be placed in the left kidney to try to preserve the function of that kidney, for now. That was done on October 9th.

The stent he placed can remain for up to a year. The next intervention will have to be reconstructive surgery on my ureters (the whole problem to begin with, apparently). BUT, I’m hoping the stent from the devil buys me some time because in August my husband was diagnosed with Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and began chemo for that. I will try to persevere to get him through his 18 weeks of treatments that I pray lead to a cure.

One other thing to add to the mix: we are at about the halfway point of building a house, which has been a good distraction, in a way.

I just felt the need to rant for a minute and I feel better for it already. But yes, the stent is evil!!

I went to get a cat scan with contrast for my gallbladder. They found a 4mm Kidney Stone. The doctor did not prescribe me anything and I didn't think much of it. Today I finally realized that this stone is bigger than the one that landed me at the hospital a few years back.

Has anyone with a 4mm experience no pain? Is there a way to avoid getting sharp pain?

I just don't want to be at work, sitting at my cubical over 20 floors up, and then need an ambulance for the pain (before we thought my appendix burst, but it was a 3.5 mm kidney stone). Luckily my prior stone happened during the pandemic. I am currently hybrid and I am freaking out of it passing while I am at the office.

My other concern is that it is a holiday month where I usually go out to pumpkin patches, bar crawls etc. I don't want to halt my life, but I am genuinely concerned of severe screaming pain as before, but this time in a public setting.

The 4mm stone is currently sitting in my kidney. These things can start moving at any time, so I am desperate for any advise

I saw this procedure called CVAC and a dr close to me does it. Ive had laser lithotripsy 4 times. I currently have multiple stones in my kidney up to 8mm. Has anyone had this procedure done and how was your experience with it? Also how is the recovery compared to laser lithotripsy?

For a whole month or two I was going lazy on drinking water and I found out. First pain episode in my right kidney was almost one year ago, it was so painful and intense that I was on the ground lying down screaming, sweating and throwing up. This lasted for an hour and I remember me sleeping on the bathroom floor after that. I Woke up later with no pain just some weird itchy feeling on my penis tip for no long time. I did not go to the doctor and I just bought an ibuprofen pack just in case that deadly pain comes back. That pain I had was like someone is squeezing my guts very hard, pain was in my lower right abdomen. as my brother told me it’s just an IBS attack which is he used to get. I just increased my fluid intake just in case it’s a stone.

I had no symptoms at all for almost one year, until 2 months ago, august heat in my country is no joke. I got sweaty in a busy work day and bam! Similar pain again but this time in waves and not as bad as the first time but it was persistent for three days and peeing amount was low. I gave up and went to the doctor this time, done an ultrasound and the report said mild dilated right renal sinus and proximal part of right ureter.
Stone was not found so doctor suggested a CT scan which I couldn’t afford.

After 3 days the pain was gone on its own and I could pee normally, I knew the obstruction was relieved but this kept recurring every now and then for 2 months. In last stages the pain was relived when i believe the stone reached my bladder then for a couple of days felt pain when it was in my urethra each time I peed i felt pain in my penis tip in the last drops of my pee. Pee was Intermittent in that stage.

Today I peed normally and on the last drops i noticed the pee line twitched a little bit and if i did not look at the toilet I wouldn’t know that I did pass it.

I might measure the it later and update this. I hope you never experience the pain and keep drinking water guys!

Had my ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy a couple hours ago.

Feel like I got roto-rootered with a drain snake, but the worst part by far is the stent. It hurts as much as the stones did!

At least I only have to keep it in for 5 days :-/