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Experiences with kidney stone removal using lithotripsy?

NoSugarBabe

NoSugarBabe

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hi

I am about to have surgery for a large kidney stone removal using lithotripsy (this is not invasive). I wondered what people's experiences are afterwards so I can be aware and not panic if it happens to me.

Thanks for any information.
 
NoSugarBabe said:
Hi

I am about to have surgery for a large kidney stone removal using lithotripsy (this is not invasive). I wondered what people's experiences are afterwards so I can be aware and not panic if it happens to me.

Thanks for any information.
Click to expand...
Welcome to the forum
It is not something that I have seen anybody mention but it is a non invasive procedure which used to be used for gall stones but now it is more common to remove the gall bladder due to problems caused by the fragments but with a kidney stone the bit should be excreted via urine, I suppose there may be some discomfort as there would be if small stones were being passed.
I'm sure you will be given pain relief if needed and advised on what to expect. Is it just a day procedure?
You should take advise from your diabetic nurse about how to handle your insulin as that will depend on what preparation for your procedure is eg fasting or eating normally and your aftercare.
 
I have had multiple lithotripsy sessions for kidney stones in the past - 2004 to 2008-ish - and I found that the sessions:
a) were somewhat uncomfortable, verging on slightly painful
b) were almost entirely ineffective (because 'my' stones were too hard to break down to dust/gravel)
c) passing the minimal resultant dust/gravel in urine was also slightly painful

Of course there may have been significant developments since I had these treatments, and as always your experience could well be different from mine. [By the way, I would not describe lithotripsy as "surgery" because, as you say, it is non-invasive.]

I also had a percutaneous nephrolithotomy [yes!] for one particularly recalcitrant stone.

Since then they have been entirely dormant, although seen to be present on the various scans since then.

As to advice? I wouldn't worry about the process, but if paracetamol / ibuprofen is suggested before the sessions, take it (if you tolerate such painkillers).
I would be surprised if the lithotripsy treatment had any great effect on your blood sugar readings.
I'm sure you'll be fine!
 
John Gray said:
percutaneous nephrolithotomy [yes!] for one particularly recalcitrant stone.
Click to expand...

​

Thanks for your helpful reply. Sorry to hear you had such a bad experience.
My BGs are OK at the moment - yay! - but it took years to get to this "well controlled" state. And I don't want anything (e.g. kidney stones) to make my BGs roil back to where they were for years.
I've been diagnosed diabetic for about 15 years, and this is the first stone I'm aware of. What I am worried about at the moment is that diabetics are apparently 60% more likely to get kidney stones. So it's something that I might need to keep an eye out i.e. it might recur - something else, that is! ha-ha! ,-)
So I wondered if other diabetics might know what I am going through. And what I should expect.

How did you know litho had failed?
How many attempts did they try on each stone?
How long did it take until they put you onto the Nephrolithotomy?
Also did you get any nasty side effects like vomiting (how long did it go on for)?
I know it was a long time ago but all shared experience is information.
 
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Your questions answered, to the best of my remembrance.

How did you know litho had failed?
This was over a period of five or so years! New stones formed over that period, so it wasn't a static environment.
As I remember it, I reported that there was little noticeable gravel passed in urine, and they did scans and found the stones were still largely present.

How many attempts did they try on each stone?
They didn't attack each stone individually, but as a group. I suppose at least three goes were had on each stone, on average. How many treatments you have will obviously depend on how hard are your own kidney stones.

How long did it take until they put you onto the Nephrolithotomy?
The nephrolithotomy was only for a single large stone that they thought was partially blocking, or could block, the flow of urine. This was a result of determining that further lithotripsy sessions would not 'roll that stone away'.

Also did you get any nasty side effects like vomiting (how long did it go on for)?
There were no side effects from the actual lithotripsy sessions apart from the minor pain of having one's back bashed for about half an hour! Analgesics largely removed that pain, which was simply a healing process.
After the nephrolithotomy, I was chucked out of hospital too early, and had to be readmitted for another night after I felt very unwell, and vomited when driving on the way back to the hospital (having first opened the car door, since you ask!).

In summary, I found the treatment for kidney stones was not really anything to worry about. Mine have gone dormant for much of the time since 2008, fortunately, and my status as "a kidney-stone former" seems to have alleviated.
I hope your treatment experience will be more successful!
 
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