more stones and stents - Kidney Disorders Message Board

otksaunt · 09-05-2008, 06:31 PM

Hello. I had a stone and stent placement in June and it was the worst week of my life. The stent was the culprit. I'll take the stone pain anyday--just spare me the stent.

I'm not so lucky. I have another 8mm stone in my ureter and I have to have the procedure where they go up and blast it with a laser. But the worst, the very worst is that I probably have to have another stent.

Here's my question. I told the urologist I wanted to avoid a stent. He said we might be able to avoid it if he keeps me in the hospital overnight and "leaving" something in. I'm not sure what terms he used. Does anyone know what he could be referring to? Maybe a catheter? I wish I would have asked him to repeat what he said about possibly avoiding the stent by admitting me overnight, but I was already crying from the news of another stone.

My other question I wish I would have asked him: WHY do I need a stent? Why can't we do this without a stent? Does anyone know why stents are routinely used? It seems they should be used for the very worst cases where someone is facing serious kidney damage. I'm not sure I fit that category.

Thanks for any info you can provide. I'm sick and tired of these kidney stone issues. I am having my gallbladder out soon, but that doesn't worry me because there's a light at the end of the tunnel. With the Kstones, it seems like it's an ongoing process.

Shannon

jacmax36 · 09-05-2008, 07:22 PM

the stent is for opening the tube to alow the stones to pass easyer and the sumthing is the pieces of the stone most likely if not then yes it might be the cathitor and call his office they will explane it to you

supereen · 09-12-2008, 02:15 PM

GET THE STENT. Believe me! And tell your doctor you'd like to try something different than the last one you used. Stents come in all different sizes and material. My 1st stent experience was awful too!!! I was supposed to keep it in for 4 weeks, after 5 days I begged my doctor to take it out, I was so miserable. He did - and I wound up in the ER the next day with a total blockage and had to have emergency surgery. A few weeks later I went for litho #2. This time the doctor gave me a different stent and prescribed me Urelle, which helps bladder spasms. It was a much, much more positive experience! Like night and day.

Your doctor is probably referring to a urethral catheter, which is what was put in me when I had the surgrey. You will still likely pass stones though. Even after 2 days of having it in me, when I went home, I wound up in some pain and passed a handful of gravel.

nomorestones · 09-19-2008, 05:10 PM

I just had a lithrotripsy procedure (my second one in two years), and for the first time I had to have a stent inserted five days before the procedure. I am in the process of passing the stones and still have the stent in. It the most uncomfortable thing I have ever experienced and cannot wait to get it taken out.

I do not know if this is normal, but I have been experiencing a lot of pain in my left thigh...very sore at times and sometimes quite numb. Can anyone tell me if this is a normal side effect of the stent?

I have an appointment in a week to see my Urologist to do an x-ray to see if I have passed the stone completely and then hopefully get the stent taken out. It will be the happiest day of my life when I finally get this thing taken out.