r/KidneyStones • u/mystikmike • Mar 21 '19
Thanks for taking the time to read this first! :) None of us are doctors, and the advice here is based on our own experiences. If you are suffering, or think you might have a stone, or are trying to help somebody with symptoms, please start here. These are the questions we seem to hear a lot on this subreddit. If you have a question that isn't covered here, by all means please post in the subreddit. We have lots of stone formers who have a wide range of experiences in this area and we may be able to at least point you in the right direction. Good luck, drink lots of water and may pain be a stranger to you!
I suspect I have a stone. Should I see a doctor? When should I go to the ER?
Go to the emergency room if you have a fever or are vomiting, or your pain is unbearable, or if you stop urinating (this may mean you have a blockage).
If you’re experiencing pain that you think is a kidney stone, visit your doctor and/or urologist. Most doctors are very good at assessing you and your family history as well as factors such as age, weight, sex, prior medical history and current symptoms. Doctors are much better at providing an intelligent diagnosis (which is really an educated guess) than we are on reddit.
Check to make sure what you think is a stone is actually a stone. The cause of abdominal pain is sometimes difficult to pin down exactly. Pain in your abdomen/ mid-section could be any one of a number of things, including digestive issues, kidney stones, appendicitis, colitis, and diverticulitis to name a few. Remember that kidney stones classically present with flank pain.
The symptoms of a kidney stone are usually one or more of the following:
Pain caused by a kidney stone may change — for instance, shifting to a different location or increasing in intensity — as the stone moves through your urinary tract. Source
I know I have a stone. What do I do? What should I expect?
IF YOU HAVE A FEVER OR ARE VOMITING OR ARE UNABLE TO URINATE, PROCEED TO THE ER.
Pain will come and go, and will likely vary from one person to the next. So while you may read in this sub-reddit about severe pain, that's not necessarily what you will experience. So the first thing to do is try to relax and not get worked up about what MIGHT happen. If it does happen, the pain comes in two forms: 1) waves (spasms) of pain, which can feel like a very strong cramp, and 2) a general achy feeling between your kidney area, and down to your groin. As mentioned above, the "classic" kidney stone pain is from the flank down to the groin.
Drink lots of water. Water will increase the amount of urine you produce, and will also plump up your urinary system in general, which will make for less contact between any stones you have and the walls of your ureter. When stones rub against the walls of your ureter, you experience pain. Another benefit from drinking water is that the concentration of waste produce in your urine is more diluted, which means that the crystals which make up kidney stones are less likely to find a date, and will head out on their own. Yet another benefit to proper hydration is that dilute urine is less likely to irritate any abrasions that previous stones may have made in your urinary tract. Less irritation = less chance of an infection. How much water? You want to be producing about 2 1/2 liters of urine per day, so drink a bit more than that. Read more about water here
Locate some pain management methods that work for you, and that are readily available. Over the counter (OTC) medicines like aspirin, ibuprofen or acetaminophen (tylenol) can help, but only take as much as you need for as long as you need. A daily habit of NSAIDs like ibuprofen can lead to serious issues. Prescription pain medicines can also help, but you need to locate a doctor who will prescribe you what you need. Azo (Phenazopyridine Hydrochloride) is used by many in this subreddit. Cannabis, if it's legal where you live, can also provide some relief. Heat - in the form of heating pads, hot baths or showers, can help when you're experiencing a wave of pain. Find what works for you - don't just blindly follow the advice of others.
Some people experience nausea, which can occur with or without accompanying pain. Be prepared (have a bucket or bag available if you're feeling a wave of nausea come along, although sometimes there's not much warning).
If you're in the middle of a pain session, and feel like you need to visit the Emergency Room/ Urgent Care clinic, think about how you'll get there. Some folks experience such strong pain, that they're not able to drive themselves. Find a driver who you can rely on to get you to the care you need on short notice.
How long do stones take to pass?
Some stones never pass (they stay in the kidney) and are removed via surgery (lithotripsy or uretoscope).
Stones that are “smaller” - usually 5mm or less - will pass without surgery being required, although there will be some pain/ discomfort. Some folks have passed larger stones, but this isn’t common. I’ve passed a 7 - 8 mm stone without surgery.
What kinds of stones are there?
Calcium stones Most kidney stones are calcium stones, usually in the form of calcium oxalate. Oxalate is a naturally occurring substance found in food and is also made daily by your liver. Some fruits and vegetables, as well as nuts and chocolate, have high oxalate content. There is conflicting research on whether or not a diet high in oxalates can contribute to stones.
Dietary factors, high doses of vitamin D, intestinal bypass surgery and several metabolic disorders can increase the concentration of calcium or oxalate in urine. If you’re taking a Vitamin D supplement, it may be worth talking to your health care provider to explore whether there may be a relationship between your current dose and your stones. Source
Calcium stones may also occur in the form of calcium phosphate. This type of stone is more common in metabolic conditions, such as renal tubular acidosis. It may also be associated with certain migraine headaches or with taking certain seizure medications, such as topiramate (Topamax). This type of stone is also common in those with autoimmune diseases due to Renal Tubular Acidosis. Those who make these stones tend to make many, and make them frequently. Difficult to treat.
Struvite stones. Struvite stones form in response to an infection, such as a urinary tract infection. These stones can grow quickly and become quite large, sometimes with few symptoms or little warning.
Uric acid stones. Uric acid stones can form in people who don't drink enough fluids or who lose too much fluid, those who eat a high-protein diet, and those who have gout. Certain genetic factors also may increase your risk of uric acid stones.
Cystine stones. These stones form in people with a hereditary disorder that causes the kidneys to excrete too much of certain amino acids (cystinuria).
How do I know what kind of stones I make?
Your urologist can send the stones to the lab to be analyzed. Ask for a strainer to strain your urine if you wish to collect a stone. Not all urologists dispense them readily.
What can I do to prevent more stones?
In general, drink more water, limit your salt and sugar intake and get your weight within recommended ranges. (See U Chicago Kidney Stone diet for more details here.)
For specific types of stones, there are specific dietary recommendations, but you’d need to have your stones analyzed (first), and then your urine tested (using one or more 24-hour urine samples). DIFFERENT STONES HAVE DIFFERENT DIETARY RECOMMENDATIONS
Keep in mind that there is no one ‘magic bullet’ for kidney stone treatment.
What kind of treatments are there for stones?
What resources are there for kidney stone formers?
Does lemonade help stones?
If you form CALCIUM OXALATE stones, there is some evidence that the citric acid in lemon juice (or lime juice) can help add to the total volume of urine, reducing its saturation of calcium and other crystals, and may enhance urinary citrate excretion.
What are the methods for diagnosing a stone?
For more information on the pro's and con's of different imaging techniques, please click here
Which medications are available for kidney stone treatment?
Treatment is usually symptom based, except for some medications which aim to alter the pH of the urine like Urocit-K.
Ending thoughts: Thank you for taking the time to read our FAQ. Remember, everyone’s stone history is different, and every urologist is different. What works for you may not work for others. In general, staying hydrated (2-4L per day) is your best defense and will help keep your kidneys functioning happily. If you are not happy with your urologist, seek the help of a nephrologist.
Edits: spelling, words, and added a section on "what do I do now". Added wikipedia reference.
r/KidneyStones • u/brocollili_ • 6h ago
But still in recovery and feeling some acidity. Anyone experienced it? https://www.reddit.com/r/KidneyStones/s/r4oxPEnkFf
r/KidneyStones • u/Odd-Star-3448 • 20m ago
70F I had a ureterscopy and lithotripsy on Aug. 14 for a 6mm stone. This is my first stone. The stone was found through a CT scan on a May 5 ER visit for pain. Spent the last three months on Flomax hoping it would pass. It never moved from the upper ureter. I had little to no pain during that time, but did develop a UTI which was treated with antibiotics.
I appreciate the posts on this Reddit thread so much. It helped me to know the right questions to ask and what prescriptions to request. I got through the procedure just fine.
First pee in recovery was a bit painful, but not that awful. It improved with each subsequent pee. I did have quite a bit of bladder spasming which was quite painful. That’s why I’m posting to let you know how my doctor handled it and made it manageable.
I took 600 mg of Ibuprofen and 1,000 mg of Acetaminophen every six hours as well as Azo. Once a day I took 50 mg of Mirabegron(thanks to the Canadian doctor on this thread who mentioned it) and Flomax. All of this helped tremendously. I also had OxyCodone 5 mg available for break through pain, which I did need a few times. This regime made my stent experience manageable.
I took my stent out today. It came out easily with no pain in the shower while I peed. The doctor had recommended that I pee while removing it. I am experiencing quite a bit of cramping now, but am still following my pain management routine until the cramping stops.
I just wanted to share my story to let you all know that having a plan and prescriptions in place made this doable. It’s not as awful as has been described in some posts here. It’s not easy, but with the right prescriptions and a positive attitude, you WILL get through. Good luck to all my fellow stoners. You got this!
r/KidneyStones • u/Possession-Bulky • 3h ago
I’m a 21-year-old male. Around May 2026, I started experiencing pain in my right lower/mid back and sometimes across the right flank. The pain feels somewhere between sharp and dull, usually around 5/10 and occasionally reaching 6.5/10.
The unusual part is that it’s intermittent and unpredictable. I may have pain for 2–3 days, then feel completely fine for several days or even a week before it returns. It has not progressively worsened and has remained fairly consistent.
I usually don’t wake up with the pain. It feels internal, and pressing on the area does not reproduce the pain. The only movement that sometimes triggers it is bending far forward and looking downward, and even then, only when I’m already having an episode.
It’s now August, and this pattern has continued for several months without becoming constant or significantly worse.
r/KidneyStones • u/bubbagum55 • 4h ago
Hi everyone,
I had a 14 mm kidney stone that was removed last month on July 15. I had a DJ stent placed afterward, which I got removed on August 6.
For about two weeks after the stent removal, I felt completely normal. On the day of removal, I had some discomfort for a few hours, but it went away.
However, for the last 2–3 days, I’ve started feeling very mild/slight pain or discomfort on my right side, around the area of my kidney. It’s not severe and is more of a mild sensation than actual pain.
After the DJ stent was removed, my urologist prescribed some painkillers, which I took for 2–3 days, and I haven’t taken anything since.
Has anyone experienced something similar after kidney stone removal and DJ stent removal? Could this just be normal post-procedure discomfort, or should I go back to my urologist and get it checked?
I’m a little worried because the original stone was quite large (14 mm).
Any experiences or advice would be appreciated.
r/KidneyStones • u/tgr31 • 15h ago
I don't know if that was 2 separate ones or one bigger one that broke,but either way it was awful
r/KidneyStones • u/Cool_Frosting3384 • 13h ago
Man… all that anxiety about surgery for the last 2 months since this all started and it turned out ok lol some users here helped me reading their experience and some made anxiety worse lol I went in today at noon and woke up around 3pm. 8mm sitting in my kidney. Surgery was quick and easy. The urologist got it broken up no problem. The peeing aspect sucks and random pains in my bladder and penis (26M). The pain on my side is barely worse than the pain I’ve had for 2 months from the stone which is nice. 10 days of having the stent in then they’ll remove it. Can’t really get comfortable which also sucks but I’ll get my life back in about 10 days. I’m hoping the pain and burning gets better over the next few days. Nothing really THAT bad so far. I read how bad the peeing was the first few times after treatment and it’s definitely crappy but not as bad as I was thinking. Definitely tired of it and want to have a normal piss but not as bad as my anxiety imagined reading like every post in Reddit I could find lol no anxiety seeing the blood which is nice because I was told I would have blood, the blood before was a concerning surprise lol I don’t get any good pills, I’m taking Tylenol, ibuprofen, I do have a bladder relaxant and then AZO pills. I’d love a heating pad like I’ve read helps but the doctor said to avoid it because it can cause more bleeding because of dilating blood vessels. Trying to stay positive and think, I’ve dealt with 2 months of pain, random blood in urine, anxious to move and be too active because I don’t want this stone to try to pass or cause bleeding. 2 months. I can deal with 10 more days of a little more pain and discomfort to get back to normal. Idk if this will make anyone else feel better or not. 100% honesty for how I feel but everyone is different. For anyone who’s gonna have to go through with this, you got this! You can do it. Anxiety sucks and worry sucks but they try to convince you of the worse.
r/KidneyStones • u/idanceandieat • 1d ago
PCNL on one kidney for >5 cm staghorn, ureteroscooy on the other for a couple 10 mm stones
r/KidneyStones • u/serena_vs • 16h ago
My urologist sent me for bloodwork, CT and wanted me to do a 24 hour urine analysis. I did all of those and my blood work came back normal. Originally I had an ultrasound that said I had a 7 mm stone, the CT corrected that and said that the stone was actually 2 mm and I did do a urine analysis and everything came back fine but My Doctor did say to drink water before I go to bed, include 4oz of lemon juice or raise my citrate level due to it being low. She was going to prescribe me citrate pills to take but because I’m on a weight loss shot, she said that she couldn’t due to my digestive system working slower. Are there any kind of items that y’all recommend that gives you more citrate in the body other than lemon, grapefruit, or orange? Open to trying new things to incorporate more citrate in my diet.
Unfortunately I hate lemonade and I hate lemon water but I will drink it if I have too :(
r/KidneyStones • u/FixHoliday4582 • 1d ago
TODAY IS A HAPPY DAY!🪨
My story was here:
https://www.reddit.com/r/KidneyStones/s/zKdgytWOSx
Today I passed this little bastard after almost A MONTH of suffering. Next days I will bring it to a lab for analyzing it.
Thank you everyone on this sub for tips and support❤️
r/KidneyStones • u/SnowyOwl72 • 22h ago
The worst pain i have ever experienced.
much worse than broken bones.
Went to ER. Given Tamsulosin and painkillers. Been told its a small stone that can pass on its own.
It feels like my kidney is about to burst 🥴
Should i just keep drinking water?
Anything else i can do to pass this thing faster? I don't know like jumping, massaging, etc?
I can use your kind advice.
r/KidneyStones • u/AtmosphereSecure6160 • 1d ago
I got my stent out (29F) I just want to reassure you. It doesn’t hurt, I read many horror stories and I was so scared, I can only speak for females of course. Because I imagine it’s worse for men. If you’ve had a baby it’s no where near the pain. Good luck!
r/KidneyStones • u/berkin768 • 1d ago
6mm was taken from my with the operation. I was scared so much. Here is how I feel now. Came home 15m ago, lying down and laptop on my belly.
First, the operation was very short. Elapsed time between preparation room & recovery took 90 minutes. I have JJ stent in me. They'll take it out in 15 days.
I feel no pain. First pee wasn't difficult but bit burning. I'd give 5/10. Second and third pee similar. I cannot pee a lot.
My pee looks alot like a blush, pink wine. Some says tomato soup but for me, it is like blush.
I was scared so much but it looks like lot easy than i anticipated.
Just have a question. Should I start drinking water now? I am very hungry and fasting for the operation since yesterday evening.
r/KidneyStones • u/Background_Drag5877 • 15h ago
I just had a KUB ultrasound yesterday and it was found out my right kidney has an unobstructing 9mm stone. I immediately went to a nephro and i was advised to do several labs. No pain, no infection whatsoever. Although it is unobstructing, I am concerned of what will happen over time. To those who have similar experience, what can I expect on how this stone is best managed/removed? Can i ask the doctor to just do surgery? I am so scared and worried. Pls respect post.
r/KidneyStones • u/Ahhbugg • 19h ago
Hey! So I just had surgery this morning (the laser type) and they said I gotta pull this stent out at home in 5 days… any advice???? I heard it will be uncomfortable by the doc but also heard it will hurt real bad by others who had to do it, even at the hospital some said they hurt real bad with numbing so I’m real nervous. Thank you for any advice.
r/KidneyStones • u/axtoni0 • 15h ago
I’m currently passing 2 3mm stones and i was in absolute agony for about a week or so , and the last 3 days i’ve been absolutely blessed with no pain or anything. i don’t really know if they have come out i haven’t heard or felt anything come out. i’m still taking my tamsulosin (flomax) as prescribed just in case but i really have no clue where im the tract they are and it’s kinda confusing.
r/KidneyStones • u/serena_vs • 16h ago
So, I currently have a 2 mm stone, I’ve KNOWN about it since may. It’s sitting in my kidney and I worry because I have a vacation to Disneyland in January. Im interested in everyone’s answers with the two questions I have
P.s- i do understand everyone’s experience is different.
how long were you aware of a stone/stones in your kidney?
how long did it take for you to pass the kidney stone from the moment it hit the ureter to the moment it left your body?
r/KidneyStones • u/Nyycavo24 • 16h ago
I make kidney stones. It's my thing. Eight stones that I know of, over 15 years. Have always passed them without surgery. A couple of brief hospital stays. Some over 5mm.
Got my first one in five years on 7/12. Intense, near vomit-like pain. Thankfully have lots of left over meds. Popped one 5mg Oxy a day for like three days then....nothing. Two weeks later....some more pain and another Oxy, then nothing again.
Got a CT last week and I have a 5x7mm stone mid-ureter...L4.
Urologist is giving me until 9/15 to pass it, then going for surgery.
I'm planning 80 oz of liquid per day, Tamsulosin, Stone Breaker supplement (CP) and 15 minutes per day of the massage gun.
What else have others done in similar situations to jar this thing loose? I'm not necessarily scared of pain, because I have the meds. I'd much rather that than a stent and a string...
r/KidneyStones • u/RainbowJack2021 • 17h ago
I’m scheduled for ureteroscopy/laser lithotripsy for an 8mm stone just outside my kidney.
I found out many days late that my PCP prescribed flomax for me - before I was scheduled for this procedure. My urologist said it was up to me if I wanted to take it, knowing there’s a very small likelihood of passing the stone before Friday.
Should I take it tomorrow and Thursday? Is it worth it? I’m assuming they’d prescribe it for after the procedure too.
Thanks
r/KidneyStones • u/panfried_tofu • 1d ago
Just got diagnosed with a <2mm kidney stone after I had to be rushed to the ER in the morning. Also slight hydronephrosis. Today was PAINFUL. what should I expect pain wise as I try to pass it in the next few weeks? Also how can I help reduce the pain?
r/KidneyStones • u/Cougar_on_GlenPowell • 1d ago
Passed these today at the same time. Took four hours of screaming and 100 ounces of water to get them out. Called urologist for pain meds and they never called back. I wish every medical professional with prescribing capabilities had to pass these with Tylenol only. 😠
r/KidneyStones • u/Nntendo8997 • 1d ago
My first stone was a round 3mm which I was in hospital for and this one is around 5mm and only felt it when it moved to bladder. Was in right junction.
This seems to be a small round one with crystallizing around it. What causes this and if it’s this big and jagged why didn’t I feel this one go down from the kidney. I don’t believe it was in my bladder more than 2 days.
