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Suggest Treatment For Kidney Stones

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Posted on Wed, 7 Jun 2017
Question: i have a question. i am a hypochondriac and feel like i may have kidney stones. i want to go get them checked however, i want to know that if i got them and theyre small and in place and not causing any harm, will they still be able to do something about it? basically, even if theyre small and can pass through my urine, i dont want to be a sitting duck and wait for the pain. i want to get it checked and if there is anything even if they're small, will they be able to do anything about it by me asking to have them removed? i want them removed even if theyre smaller bc i want to avoid the pain of just letting them pass.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Information

Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX

I can understand your concern, and I recommend going in to be seen. In an urgent care or at your doctor's, they can get an X-ray that can show the size of the stone, if present, and can measure the stone too. Then they can tell whether it is too big to pass or small enough to pass with increased hydration. If the latter is the case, they can give you pain medication to help. They can also give you an anti anxiety medication which might help you. They will also be able to see what part of the urinary tract the stone is in.

But we don't know for sure that you have a kidney stone, unless you have a history of having these and the symptoms are identical? What symptoms are you having and for how long? Where is your pain located? Sometimes pain is not from a stone but from infection in the genitourinary tract (bladder, kidney, prostate) or from ureteral colic or other causes.


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (7 minutes later)
I went to a primary doctor and he said I have no symptoms however I want to know if they're still in there waiting to come out over time. if they are I want to be able to check and get rid of them now before passing them and having the pain despite them being small. is there any way I can get something done or is there a method to getting rid of them without the pain before the pain arises? I personally don't want to sit around, feel the pain, and then have to wait in a room until I get called on and then get the medication. even if they're small, is there something they can do to prevent the pain or me waiting around to pass it? will they do eswl or some other thing despite the size?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (12 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Thoughts on this

Detailed Answer:
If you doctor says you don't have symptoms consistent with kidney stones, why do you think you have kidney stones?

What symptoms are you having?

You say you want to know if they are still in there. Did you have stones before?

I understand that you are worried, but I need more information about what has happened and what you are dealing with that makes you think there are stones inside in the first place.

And no, if the stones are small and there is no infection or other complicating features, there isn't anything they will give you to help them pass other than pain medication. The trick is to drink a lot of water. If stones are small enough they don't always cause a lot of pain. Sometimes we fine "urinary gravel" in urine specimens without a person knowing that it had been there.

But please answer my questions and then I can help more.
Brief Answer:
Only way to know is with imaging.

Detailed Answer:
If it is large, there are a variety of treatments available (lithotripsy, surgery), but if it is small, the standard treatment is hydration.

But the only way to know if you have stones at all is an X-ray or other imaging. So if you are having pain, do go in. Information of what is going on will help relieve your worry.

And no, there is nothing they can give you if the stones are small except pain medication.

But why worry about kidney stones if you are not sure that you have them? Go in to get a urinalysis and X-ray.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (26 minutes later)
i went to a clinic next to my home and he checked me and said no signs or symptoms. no pain, blood, discomfort, ect. i never had stones before. I originally went because I have lower back pain but he said that wasn't my kidneys however, what I fear is being caught off guard and passing a small Stone and it being excruciating pain. what I want to know is there anythimg me or the doctor can do to prevent me just sitting around waiting for it to pass and cause pain if we do find one? can they do anything now so I don't have to go through hell later? even of its a 4 or 5 mm and can pass naturally. i have no symptoms but the doctor said they could still be in there just not loose and the only way to tell is through a ct scan or xray. I'm trying to find a way where I can get it checked and if I have something despite the size we can do something about it so I don't go to pain later.
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Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :1991

Answered : 3134 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Kidney Stones

Brief Answer: Information Detailed Answer: Hello XXXXXXX I can understand your concern, and I recommend going in to be seen. In an urgent care or at your doctor's, they can get an X-ray that can show the size of the stone, if present, and can measure the stone too. Then they can tell whether it is too big to pass or small enough to pass with increased hydration. If the latter is the case, they can give you pain medication to help. They can also give you an anti anxiety medication which might help you. They will also be able to see what part of the urinary tract the stone is in. But we don't know for sure that you have a kidney stone, unless you have a history of having these and the symptoms are identical? What symptoms are you having and for how long? Where is your pain located? Sometimes pain is not from a stone but from infection in the genitourinary tract (bladder, kidney, prostate) or from ureteral colic or other causes.