OK...two months ago I had a stroke (I'm doing pretty good with recovery from that). Now my old nemeses raises it's head again...a damn kidney stone! The last bout with a stone was over 7 years ago when I was recuperating from a artificial hip rebuild...I passed it after a trip to the ER...

Long story short...about 5 weeks ago I started having a twinge of pain in my left kidney area when I would bend over (nothing like the pain of a full blown attack of stone induced kidney colic, but enough for me to see my primary care doc. The urine sample showed blood in my urine, which led to a visit to a urologist, which led to a CT scan with contrast, which led to my visit today to review the results. The CT showed an 11MM stone in my kidney (closer to a .45 rather than a .40 )...

So now I am scheduled for having it broken up by lithotripsy Friday the 28th...I have to be off Plavix (prescribed for my carotid artery stent installed after my stroke...actually being off the Plavix worries me more than the lithotripsy, which I have had once before)...

As an aside, the urologist also did a cystoscope of my bladder just to be sure I didn't have issues there, not really a pleasant experience, but all was well with that

Damn...growing old ain't for the faint of heart...but it beats the alternative...just makes me wonder what will happen next?

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So now I am scheduled for having it broken up by lithotripsy Friday the 28th...I have to be off Plavix (prescribed for my carotid artery stent installed after my stroke...actually being off the Plavix worries me more than the lithotripsy, which I have had once before)

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I am guessing the doc figures that your chances of having uncontrolled bleeding after lithotripsy is greater than having a stroke. It is pretty standard procedure to do that before an invasive procedure.

Good luck with your procedure! I work on lithotripters, we have the latest and greatest out there, the Dornier Delta 3. We have a slew of them in Tennessee too!

I hate kidney stones! I hope that your procedure goes smoothly! Wishing you a speedy recovery and little pain!

ARman

quote:

Originally posted by Bisleyblackhawk:

the urologist also did a cystoscope of my bladder

Is that the thing where they shove a camera up your pee-pee? I had that about a year ago. Not very much fun.

Anyway, best wishes for a good outcome!

Damn Son!

Get better soon!

Tommydogg, I remember looking up the history of the invention of the Dornier shock-wave lithotripsy machine. Fascinating!

Bisleyblackhawk: shock-wave therapy can have interesting and sometimes positive consequences. After the remnants of my ESWL-blasted stone clogged up my ureter, the urologist went in to retrieve the little shards. He did that, but also spotted something looking much like a sea creature waving in the pee. Turned out it was bladder cancer, found quite accidentally, before I ever had any symptoms. I consider it a real blessing.

Get well soon.

I'm in the same boat. Woke up with pink eye Saturday and was procrastinating going to Urgent Care. Went to take a leak, and suddenly I urgently wanted to be in Urgent Care. I think I passed my first ever kidney stone Sat and a few small ones Sun, saw my urologist Monday, feeling bettr today, scheduled for a CT Scan Thurs, and a cystoscope on Monday. People look at my red eyes and feel sorry for me, and all the while I'm thinking my eyes look as bad as my urethra feels.

I too had a dissected carotid artery that led to a stroke...they put me on Warfin because my brain doc liked the fact that a shot of Vitamin K will reverse the blood thinning immediately, you might want to ask them about it after taking you off the Plavix.

I didn’t get the stent like you did, but I do get stones, I had to quit drinking Coke or dark fluids (besides coffee) and I drink water and lemonade now to try an prevent them.

Wishing you the best with this newest issue.

I have frequent flyer miles with TN Valley Urology Clev. Seems like increased activity always seems to shake some loose. Potassium Citrate has seriously reduced the number of stones as well as size. Stones are not to be trifled with. I’ve lost a kidney as a result. Hope it all comes out quickly and without more serious incident.

How did the litho go? I hope it went well!

I have gotten so good at passing them, I can now shoot flies out of the air like flack guns.

quote:

Originally posted by Mars_Attacks:
I have gotten so good at passing them, I can now shoot flies out of the air like flack guns.

I'm going to have to pass that one on!