Kid with Kidney Stone

Parent Cafe
1

My 17 year old daughter has a 8mm kidney stone. We found this out last week when she experienced bad pain in her lower left abdomen and then threw up (I thought the vomiting was odd for pain in a distant area), so I took her to the ER where a CT confirmed the presence of a kidney stone.

I took her to a follow up appt to a urologist yesterday who strongly suggested she get extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) but that it wasn’t an urgent matter. He says that an 8mm stone will never pass by itself. When he called later in the pm after the results of an additional regular X-ray that showed the stone was bigger than he thought (up 2mm from the 6mm CT estimate), he told me we should get it done ASAP, either this Friday or next Friday.

She is scheduled for her hopefully final SAT this Saturday after studying all summer for it. Because of that, combined with the fact that she’s been taking Ibuprofen for the pain, (can cause bleeding complications with the procedure - I found this out during research, the Dr. didn’t warn us about that), I opted to schedule the procedure for next Friday.

She starts school on Sept 4, three days after the procedure. When I was doing research on the recovery time, I found a table that stated 3 days for recovery, with return back to work (school) in 8 days. I told the Dr. the school start date during the appt yesterday and he didn’t mention anything about an 8 day period of non-activity.

I’m just wondering if any of you have had experience with the procedure and the recovery time, especially for a fit, healthy, young person? I’m worried about her missing five days of school.

Also, she’s had intermittent pain and a bit of nausea (close to vomiting but not quite) and I also worry about her dealing with that for another nine days. It hasn’t been very severe, but she’s opted to take four of the 15 percocets the ER gave her (in 6 days) and I’m limiting her to just tylenol for moderate pain from now on. I’ve read that the pain is normal and to be expected?

Also, I can’t find an answer to this question - How does the body adapt to having a kidney stone block the passage of urine in one kidney? Hers is somewhere in her ureter. Does the other kidney do double duty? I read that it normally takes 45 days to pass a stone as large as hers, so I’m assuming that the other kidney takes over during that time. If not, I can’t imagine the blocking of urine in one kidney is good for a person.

I’d really appreciate some BTDT opinions and input.

Thanks!

2

Oh no! I’m so sorry for your daughter! Is she going to be able to get through the SAT OK? I had much smaller stones and it was very painful. Mine passed on their own but it was a really sucky, painful, time.

Hopefully someone will be able to answer your questions and I hope your daughter feels better soon!

3

Thank you! It’s been six days since she went to the ER and she’s gone for long periods with no pain, had intermittent bouts with moderate pain, and four episodes of pain bad enough for me to give her the percocet. So I’m hoping the SAT will be during a period of no or minor pain. Her doctor says her activities are not restricted and that she can even go to basketball practice. Worst case scenario is pain bad enough on Saturday that will require her to cancel the test and reschedule in Oct. This will be her third sitting and she was hoping it would be her last, but we’ll just have to wait and see what happens.

4

I’m so sorry to read this; I’ve read that kidney stone pain can be very severe. How is she managing with just the Tylenol? If is isn’t managing the pain well enough but you want to avoid Percocet, ask the Dr. about how else to reduce pain. Taking the SAT while distracted by pain can’t go well.

5

I’ve had three bouts of kidney stones. Pain from a kidney stone can be terrible (its the worst pain I’ve personally experienced) and yes it can come with nausea. I’ve never had the procedure you’re talking about but if it were me, I would want the procedure done and over as soon as possible. I’d reschedule the SAT, although I understand the frustration of prepping and needing to geth that done. I can’t imagine dealing with kidney stone pain during the SAT.

6

I am so sorry to hear. I am an adult who has experienced 3 stones. The first a 5mm passed naturally and was extremely painful. Not to alarm you but painful to the point that I was not able to function much less take an exam. Given the 8mm size you mention my understanding is that over 6mm they typically won’t vacate “unassisted”.

That leads me to the two others I have experienced. I both cases they were large and resolved by Lithotrypsy. The procedure and recovery was no big deal. Arrive at hospital 7am home by noon. In both cases I was able to work my office job the next day with minor discomfort. I only needed otc pain meds for a day or two. Really not a big deal just soreness.

In all cases I was advised to resolve them asap out of concern that once they start to move a variety of complications can arise.

Please pm if I can provide any other insight. Once again wishing you and your daughter all the best.

7

Another who has experienced 3 kidney stones and I agree with above opinion on dealing with this immediately and SAT later. Good luck to her. I hope she never has to deal with another one:)

8

It has been quite awhile since my kidney stone experience, but the pain was intense and excruciating and made childbirth seem painless by comparison. I went to the hospital where they put a stent in (it was also in my ureter) with the hope that the stone would pass through. It didn’t and the stent was very uncomfortable. I did have the lithotripsy and don’t recall any issues afterward, except for a dull pain where the kidney is.

I can’t imagine “hoping” that your daughter will be able to take the SAT painlessly. I would definitely reschedule the SAT and have the procedure as soon as possible.

9

No SAT test is worth enduring kidney pain for an extra week. While I have not had stones, a kidney abscess made me absolutely lifeless. Kidney pain is the worst, and I am a toughie when it comes to pain.

I highly recommend going with the treatment ASAP. If she stays off Advil for 2 days, she most likely will be fine, but do call the doc’s office and discuss this. It is mostly blood thinners and Advil taken in large doses daily that are of the major concern.

10

Like I said, she’s been taking ibuprofen (3 tablets) in the last few days and from what I’ve read online, most surgeons restrict ibuprofen at least one week before surgery and some up to three weeks. The procedure can cause a lot of bruising and even a little internal bleeding so I’m actually more worried about that re having the procedure in two days than delaying it. I can’t believe the Doc never mentioned that to me.

Does anyone having any input about that? I know I should be asking the Dr. these questions, and I probably will since you all are convincing me that she should have the procedure on Friday but, while I’m on the phone, did you all have this restriction?

11

Have the ESWL procedure done immediately. Don’t wait for complications to arise.

Teach your daughter to drink more water so that kidney stones don’t form.

P.S. A common saying is that passing a kidney stone can be more painful than childbirth.

12

OK, just left a message with the procedure scheduler. Hopefully they can schedule her for this Friday.

13

They called and said that there were never any openings for Friday anyway (it was the Dr. who suggested this Friday or next Friday without checking with the scheduler). So she is being moved up to this Tuesday instead of next Friday. Yesterday, the Dr. told me that procedures could only be scheduled on Fridays - I don’t know what was up with that. Maybe another Dr. does Tuesday procedures?

She’s going in to the office on Friday for her pre-procedure instructions, so if there are any concerns, I can talk to him then and the scheduler told me they also have a Dr. on call 24/7.

Thanks for all your input! And yes, she is drinking lots more water and much less Dr. Pepper. She hasn’t had any pain at all today with no medication so hopefully she can hang in there.

14

I’m sure we all wish her well as she awaits the procedure!

15

I had lithotripsy and don’t remember a warning about ibuprophen. Sometimes, the warnings are really about mega doses. Ask the doc office, a nurse will know. I did have to have a fresh CT scan a few days before. (Hugely annoying, as they told me this on Fri at 4pm, for a Monday procedure.)

I had no bruising, was fine quickly. The reason you push it up is that 8mm is huge. (The measurements are not as precise, btw, as we’d like) If she had pictures or an ultrasound before, they can sometimes tell that it’s not in a position where it is ready to block the ureter. But afaiac, you don’t know if it will move. Keep an eye on her symptoms and temperature.

I’m in a position now where, when I recognize the twinges, Ibu will usually knock it out. But frankly, @LeastComplicated, I have a standing supply of hydrocodone because the pain can be that bad. (10 tablets, 1 taken in two years.) And my largest is only 3 or 4mm.

Please do not encourage her to be brave. This can be the worst. In my initial experience, Tylenol didn’t work, Ibu did. Other times, Tylonol did. It’s very YMMV.

Imo, when the doc said she can have activities, even practice, he means with attention to any pains before or during. It’s not carte blanche.

Diet can affect stones. The only way to truly find out what kind of stone (thus, how to adapt the diet, it’s a lot more than restricting soda) is to capture a stone. Lithotripsy will likely destroy the stone so no piece large enough can be used. Ask about that. Make sure you know any and all post-procedure instructions.

Best wishes.

ps. Most stones are oxolate. Sometimes, the diet recommendations/foods to avoid are based on that. The issue is, if you have a different sort, the diet lines are different. You might benefit from a relationship with a nutritionist.

16

Oh, I’m glad they can get her in soon!

DH just found out he has that same size stone! They didn’t have the same sense of urgency with him, though. They’re trying to figure out the best way to get rid of the stone, considering his bleeding disorder. I wish they could wait until next March when he goes on Medicare!

17

Regretable pro tip Toradol helped with my pain more than opioids.

In terms of OTC pain killers I was specifically warned to exclusively use Tylenol based on possible bleeding. I was required to have a Pre procedure EKG and bloodwork based on use of general anesthesia.

No idea of this is standard but an FYI.

18

My DIL had a large kidney stone (10 mm, IIRC) in the ureter at age 22 and was nauseous and in considerable pain. Don’t wait any longer than possible. She was dx’d on a Saturday and had a procedure to remove it Monday night. Was still uncomfortable for a few days afterwards, but nothing like pre-procedure.

The analysis of her stone indicated that she needed to quit drinking tea. She’s English. This was truly traumatic for her.

19

Yeah, you try the easy OTCs first.

The first procedure I had was surgical. The immediate post op was not easy. I remember it.

My internist says the issue with Ibu is heavy and prolonged use, not occasional. Who knows? I generally avoid what I can, but kidney stones are awful.

20

Best of luck and lots of hugs to the poor kiddo (and her family). Hope the procedure will be quick and uneventful.