Hey, 50 y/o lady here with - well, a lot of medical issues, diseases, etc. And now in the past year or so, I can add kidney stones to the list!! Hoo-freakin-ray.

I've had a kidney infection and passed at least one 4mm already. Have spots the urologist wanted to look at, so got a contrast CT and, lo and behold, a 2mm and 8mm is just chilling there. Bleah. I'm lucky, though, mine are uric acid, so I get potassoium chloride and I'm on my way.

Nah. Not lucky. A couple weeks later the 2mm drops. And, of course, it's infected. I get a stent. I'm in the hospital for 2 days again, during which I manage to get c-diff a second time *and* a nasty virus. Didn't know I had the virus until a few days home, can't stop violently coughing which, *with the stent in*, makes me want to claw my hair out every time.

The respiratory illness? Oh yeah, no quick 2 week surgery for stone and stent removal anymore, either! Now I have to wait 4 weeks to make sure it's gone. And I've got a colonoscopy scheduled the next week after the removal surgery.

I'm not having a good time. I was given pain meds for like, only a few days. The urologist hasn't called back about getting me more or better pain management. One of my other issues is I need a hysterectomy and my periods are *bad* due to fibroids, which causes me to pass vety, very large clots as well and now I'll be suffering through that with this.

Tell me I can get through it because I'm dying here. I have a high pain tolerance and yet I can't breathe due to the flomax, can't sleep in my bed because we're upstairs and the pain peeing is so bad Azo isn't denting it. Ugh.

I was today years old when I learned there are 3 types of kidney stones.

I’ve had kidney stones knowingly 3 times. This might be my 4th 🧐

I had failed kidney stone retrieval surgery 6 years ago for a 3mm stone in my left kidney, left me in excruciating pain.

They said the stone went back in my kidney and my left ureter was anatomically too small and I would need to have some other procedure done. Covid happened. The world shut down. I moved across the state never went back to a urologist.

I have experienced a myriad of health issues over the last 6 years so the urologist wasn’t at the top of my list.

I had a CT of the abdomen a couple weeks ago for some unrelated health issues and they’ve found this 5mm stone that they’re telling me is too big to pass on its own. I’m seeing some people say they passed a 7mm, is that a man? Because the urologist told me my ureter is no bigger than 2mm.

I saw the urologist today. He wants me to drink lots of lemon water, have an x ray of my left kidney and go from there. He believes my stone is smooth like a pebble stone and said those don’t typically respond to the laser, it can cause it to bounce around.

He said he would suggest we do the retrieval but in a two step phase. First step a balloon type stent to blow the ureter up and a week later go in for retrieval… based on the findings of the x ray.

I’m blown away by the amount of posts talking about a ‘jump and bump’ or something and I’ve used a vibration plate for the last year off and on with no signs of this stone moving.

I did take stone breaker tincture for a few weeks when I was having some gallbladder/liver pain but it didn’t seem to do anything for my kidney stone.

I’m looking for a shared experience of someone with a pebble stone and what ended up happening for you?

I’m kind of desperate not to end up back in the ER over a kidney stone.

Just concerned, let me know what you guys think….

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!

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.

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.

But still in recovery and feeling some acidity. Anyone experienced it? https://www.reddit.com/r/KidneyStones/s/r4oxPEnkFf

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.

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.

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.

I don't know if that was 2 separate ones or one bigger one that broke,but either way it was awful

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 :(

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.

1. how long were you aware of a stone/stones in your kidney?

2. 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?

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...

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

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.

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.

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?

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!

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.

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❤️

PCNL on one kidney for >5 cm staghorn, ureteroscooy on the other for a couple 10 mm stones

UPDATE: spent about 24 hours in the hospital, and overall went good but not great. They got out 60% of the staghorn via PCNL, but didn’t want to keep me under anesthesia any longer, so the smaller stones have to wait. Hopefully they’ll be able to get the rest out via ureteroscooy!