Recognize Early Symptoms of Kidney Stones

For me, it started in May of 2009 as an ache in my back that wouldn't go away. I began looking on Google images at pictures of human back anatomy, and I noticed the pain was coming from near where the kidneys are. I called my Dr. since I have a family history of kidney issues. His partner asked me to show him where the pain was coming from. He said it was muscle pain from back strain. I told him I thought it was my kidney since I have a family history. He informed me that my urine and bloodwork were normal. He gave a prescription for Lortab and sent me on my way.

Two weeks later, I developed a UTI. I had horrible urgency and frequency. I was in extreme discomfort with things getting worse by the day. Another trip to the Dr's office, a prescription for Cipro was written for me. A week later, my urgency was still there, so she called in Levaquin. After finishing that, I still had urgency! By this time, it had been 3 more weeks, and I saw another Dr. He told me it was due to my age. Frustrated, I pretty much figured I was just being oversensitive. I was having pains in the middle of the night that felt like unescapable pressure on the right side of my abdomen. Nothing would take the pain away. I figured I ate some bad food and just rode out the pain until I could fall asleep again an hour later.

After going for months with not knowing the cause of my pain and discomfort, my husband took me to the ER. That Dr. immediately questioned my motive for being there as well. He had me in tears! My husband was very firm and stood up for me. The Dr. unwillingly ordered a urine sample and a CT scan, which revealed multiple kidney stones in my left kidney, right kidney and urinary bladder. My urine had blood in it and white blood cells. I was referred to a urologist, and sent home with instructions to drink lots of water. I followed the orders and gave birth the following night to a 4.4 mm Calcium Oxylate kidney stone. The urologist sent me for an IVP xray, and then arranged for ESWL Lithotripsy to break up a 6 mm kidney stone lodged in my left kidney.

I had my surgery a week ago, which left a small welt on my back, and was successful as far as I can tell. I started passing stone fragments the next day, and saved them in a ziploc bag. I will go for my follow-up xray in a few days. I will have to do a 24 hour urine sample to investigate the chemistry of my urine. This will help determine what vitamins and minerals I have too much of, or a deficiency of. My brother has been getting kidney stones for 20 years, and he warned me that whenver he starts feeling back pain, he floods his system with as much water as he can possibly stand. He usually will pass a stone within 24 to 48 hours after that.

I am trying to be good and stay away from my favorite foods that contain high amounts of oxylate - such as chocolate (no success there since I am a chocoholic), tea, peanut butter, spinach, nuts, and a lot more foods that I enjoy.

If you start feeling a dull or achey pain in your mid back that won't go away, start drinking lots of water and go see your doctor. If you experience excruciating pain that radiates from your back to your abdomen with no relief, then you should go to the Emergency Room. Kidney damage can result from ignoring your symptoms.