Kidney Stones!

[ariannasmom]

Okay, this is a question about me, hope no one minds. I am going in a for a lithotripsy tomorrow but I'm just a little confused. I have had a burning pain in my back on the right side for 3 years. I had a CT scan done and they found small stones in both my kidneys. I have been reading threads about kidney stones and how people are in severe pain. I am in pain on and off all day but nothing to where I have to go to the ER. I would say my pain level is about a 7 at it's worst. I'm just wondering if this back pain is really from the kidney stones? I think I read that if they are still in the kidney you usually don't get any pain, just when you are passing them. So could I have some stuck somewhere that the CT didn't pick up? I'm just so scared that I will go through all this and still have the back pain because it's something else. I really can't take this pain. Sorry, I hope all that made sense. Also, for those of you who have had the lithotripsy, do you experience any pain afterwards? Did they have to put you under general anethestia to perform the procedure? At first the dr. told me local now they are doing genderal?? Thanks!!!

[TazziRN, RN]

I've been told by pts who have had litho done that they feel bruised afterward.

Other than that, we can't tell you anything. We can't give medical advice or diagnose here, per the TOS.

[Christie RN2006]

My dad has a major issue with kidney stones... he has had them multiple times and they finally figured out with him it is diet related. He had some rather large kidney stones one time and they tried stents, but it didn't work. He ended up having to have lithotripsy done. He said he felt sore/bruised after it was all done and over with. According to my dad, from his personal experience with it, you would probably be more comfortable having it done under general anesthesia because he said that he was pretty uncomfortable while the procedure was being done.

[jsully13]

From my experience in the PACU, our lithotripsy patients usually have the procedure done under MAC (monitored anesthesia care). I don't know how much you know about anesthesia, but with MAC the anesthesia provider usually uses meds like fentanyl, versed, and propofol. The patient remains responsive and maintains their own airway but doesn't remember a whole lot of the procedure. MAC provides more comfort than local anesthesia, and you avoid the risks of general anesthesia.

Hope this helps!

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

I've had all four of my laser lithotripsies done under a general, and actually the worst part of the whole experience was having stents in my ureters for a week post-op (they do this to keep them open after the 'insult' of surgical intervention). Still, it was better than having the stones in there, and they give you good pain medication if you need it.

Many people don't have any trouble at all; I guess my ureters are on the twitchy side---they don't want those stents in there, and they do their best to reject them!

Sorry about your stone problem..........it's no fun, I know.