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Kidney Stones, Blood In Stool, Taken Hydrocodone, History Of Kidney Stone Surgery. Due To Medication?
Question: Hi, I'm currently going through kidney stones. (I've had them 2 times before, 1 required surgery). My doctor prescribed hydrocodone for pain and told me to drink large amounts of gatorade. I only took one pill about 6 hours ago and had pizza for supper, and have drank about 4 20oz bottles of red gatorade today.
However, I recently had what looked like blood in my stool, and I was concerned if the medicine caused it and I should stop taking it, if it was caused by so much gatorade, or if it's normal with kidney stones. Thanks for your help! and please let me know if I need to contact my doctor about this.
However, I recently had what looked like blood in my stool, and I was concerned if the medicine caused it and I should stop taking it, if it was caused by so much gatorade, or if it's normal with kidney stones. Thanks for your help! and please let me know if I need to contact my doctor about this.
Hi,
Thanks for the query.
It is highly not recommended to take so much Gatorade because it has lot of salt, phosphate and also lemon juice which is acidic. The high salt and acidic environment predispose to formation of stones and also high chance of urinary infection symptoms.
It is always recommended to drink plenty of plain water. This is the best treatment to get relief from symptoms of stone and Potassium citrate or Potrate-MB6 syrup, around 2 tsp for 3 times a day preferably after meal. This will help to maintain alkaline urine and help remove urinary stones.
You need more investigations like X-ray Kidney Ureter Bladder (KUB) to look for radio-opaque calcium stones and if stones not seen in X-ray you may need to do Ultrasound for radiolucent and/or CT scan. Also urine tests to exclude infection needs to be done.
Proper therapy includes alkalinisation of urine, treatment of urinary infection, pain killers and plenty of plain water. If stone is big, it can be removed by surgical therapy but if usually less than 6mm and not hard stone it can be removed by just medical therapy as described.
Blood in urine can be due to stone damaging the wall of ureter and/or infection. It will subside soon. If it increases you need to consult your Urologist.
I hope I have answered your query. I will be available to answer your follow up queries.
Regards,
Thanks for the query.
It is highly not recommended to take so much Gatorade because it has lot of salt, phosphate and also lemon juice which is acidic. The high salt and acidic environment predispose to formation of stones and also high chance of urinary infection symptoms.
It is always recommended to drink plenty of plain water. This is the best treatment to get relief from symptoms of stone and Potassium citrate or Potrate-MB6 syrup, around 2 tsp for 3 times a day preferably after meal. This will help to maintain alkaline urine and help remove urinary stones.
You need more investigations like X-ray Kidney Ureter Bladder (KUB) to look for radio-opaque calcium stones and if stones not seen in X-ray you may need to do Ultrasound for radiolucent and/or CT scan. Also urine tests to exclude infection needs to be done.
Proper therapy includes alkalinisation of urine, treatment of urinary infection, pain killers and plenty of plain water. If stone is big, it can be removed by surgical therapy but if usually less than 6mm and not hard stone it can be removed by just medical therapy as described.
Blood in urine can be due to stone damaging the wall of ureter and/or infection. It will subside soon. If it increases you need to consult your Urologist.
I hope I have answered your query. I will be available to answer your follow up queries.
Regards,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Hi,
Thanks for the thorough answer- I'll switch to water. My main problem is that the blood was not in my urine like it usually is... instead it was in my stool, which is why I became concerned. I've never seen it before while having kidney stones. It was mostly a bright red / light red color (I'm 100% sure it didn't come from my urine).
Could this be a problem with the hydrocodone that I took? And whether or not I should stop taking it (I've taken 1 pill so far)? Or could it be caused by all the gatorade that I drank?
Thanks for your help!
Thanks for the thorough answer- I'll switch to water. My main problem is that the blood was not in my urine like it usually is... instead it was in my stool, which is why I became concerned. I've never seen it before while having kidney stones. It was mostly a bright red / light red color (I'm 100% sure it didn't come from my urine).
Could this be a problem with the hydrocodone that I took? And whether or not I should stop taking it (I've taken 1 pill so far)? Or could it be caused by all the gatorade that I drank?
Thanks for your help!
Hi
Fresh red blood in stool is suggestive of lower intestinal tract bleeding. Most commonly it is due to haemorrhoids. Stool softening with my earlier suggestion of good water intake will help reduce bleeding to some extent. It can also be due to polyps or ulcer as among other conditions causing bleeding in the stools.
Ibuprofen can cause upper gastrointestinal bleeding which will cause black tarry stools. Hydrocodone will not cause bleeding in stools but can cause constipation and stool impaction and bleeding from the already formed hemorrhoids or fissures.
Do eat food XXXXXXX in fresh fruits and XXXXXXX leafy vegetables. Drink plenty of water especially since you are on Ibuprofen which can cause kidney problems especially if less hydration exists.
Do consult a Surgeon to get a complete checkup to rule out haemorrhoids and other possible causes of bleeding in stools. According to the cause, the treatment will be tailored.
Wishing you good health.
Fresh red blood in stool is suggestive of lower intestinal tract bleeding. Most commonly it is due to haemorrhoids. Stool softening with my earlier suggestion of good water intake will help reduce bleeding to some extent. It can also be due to polyps or ulcer as among other conditions causing bleeding in the stools.
Ibuprofen can cause upper gastrointestinal bleeding which will cause black tarry stools. Hydrocodone will not cause bleeding in stools but can cause constipation and stool impaction and bleeding from the already formed hemorrhoids or fissures.
Do eat food XXXXXXX in fresh fruits and XXXXXXX leafy vegetables. Drink plenty of water especially since you are on Ibuprofen which can cause kidney problems especially if less hydration exists.
Do consult a Surgeon to get a complete checkup to rule out haemorrhoids and other possible causes of bleeding in stools. According to the cause, the treatment will be tailored.
Wishing you good health.
Note: For further queries related to kidney problems and comprehensive renal care, talk to a Nephrologist. Click here to Book a Consultation.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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