Okay...I'd like to say I would NEVER wish a kidney stone on my worst enemy

[kanrok]

DAMN those bastards hurt! Mine started Tuesday morning. I toughed it out 'till about 4:00 and started dropping Vicodins like Rush Limbaugh on a bender. They helped for about a half-hour at a time, through Wednesday. I even managed to crawl into work, but had to go home and lay around all day and night. Thursday morning, the little bastard was moving from the kidney to the ureter and I couldn't take it any longer...onto the acute care center. They gave me morphine, and it was ...interesting, but didn't exactly kill the pain. A CT scan showed a 4 mm calcaneus at the junction between the kidney and the ureter. Who knows where the little fucker is now. Spent Thursday until Friday afternoon in the hospital waiting for the prick to pass...but NOOOOOO...not yet. No pain since this morning...but there it sits...waiting to strike again...PRAY FOR ME!!!

[LynzM]

1. I have heard stories....

From women who have had them, and experienced natural childbirth. Some have said the stones are worse, because of the type of pain and level of unpredictability. :hug: for you and I hope it is out soon.

[kanrok]

3. I tried to tell my wife that, but thought better

At least she's sympathetic.

[huskerlaw]

4. It's absolutely true.

I've had numerous people who have experienced both say that the kidney stone is WAY worse. Mostly because contractions predictable peaks and valleys. The peaks hurt like hell, but you pretty well know when they're going to end. The kidney stone pain, on the other hand, is like a contraction peak that lasts for hours on end. Plus, there's no payoff at the end.

[kanrok]

7. But you do give birth

to a FREAKING 4MM CALCIUM DEPOSIT!!! I'm printing this response and putting it on my wife's pillow. I'm sure she'll hit me...but the truth is the truth.

[huskerlaw]

9. wait until you see it!

You will understand why it hurt so freaking bad. It's tiny, but it's jagged as all hell. Ugh.

I would think that for guys its even worse. Your plumbing is a bit more complex...

[kanrok]

10. I don't know if it's more complex

just...er...longer?

[huskerlaw]

2. OUCH!

Good luck and I hope you pass it soon. I've had 5 kidney stones and I know, they're absolutely NO fun. In fact, they hurt like a bitch.

You'll probably know when it passes...as it moves down the ureter it feels different. Perhaps TMI, but it will feel like you need to pee really bad, then when you go to do it...OUCH and not much comes out. Keep drinking water, I think it builds pressure that pushes it out. Anyway, eventually you'll actually be able to go like normal and the obnoxious "gotta pee" feeling will go away.

And yeah, there are VERY few people I would wish a kidney stone on. Bush and his cronies, perhaps. But only if they don't get any drugs and I get to watch. :evilgrin:

I hope you feel better soon!

[kanrok]

5. Five? Damn...your a stud...er...studette

I'm taking a huge chance tonight drinking a glass of wine. If the pain comes...no Vicodin. Not that it helps. Thanks for the encouragement.

[huskerlaw]

6. hahaha

hardly studly, we don't have much of a choice, do we? Unfortunately, I have become something of an expert. ;)

[kanrok]

8. Sorry to hear it

May I offer you some cranberry juice?

[yellowdogintexas]

11. I'll take the natural childbirth over the kidney stone any day of the week

I had a kidney stone that took nearly two months and 4 colic attacks before it passed. It was horrible; each attack was different, depending on where the little monster was.

The worst of the pain was the renal colic caused when the thing blocked the ureter. That pain was so fierce it made me throw up repeatedly.

Contractions are a whole other matter. And the baby's head isn't all sharp and angular.

Damn stones.

AFter I had that thing, I carried my bottle of Vicodin with me at all times for about 2 years, just in case I had another attack.

[hippywife]

12. I feel your pain!

I've had them about a dozen times in the past 20 years. Had to be hospitalized 4-5 times because of them. I currently have a 1/2" stone in my left kidney that I am scheduled to have an outpatient lithotrispy for in a couple of weeks. No way that bugger is passing on its own!

No pain meds seem to work except the serious intravenous ones they give you at the hospital. The last one I passed, the doc gave me Lortab with instructions for one every 6 hours. Yeah, right! I ended up taking 2 every two hours.

Hope it all works out well for you. I know it ain't no fun. :(

[purr]

13. My ex was telling me about his kidney stones...

I am so sorry you're going through this.. he pops vicodins like candy when he gets one back.

I got gallstones but not kidney - you have my sympathy!!

[DainBramaged]

14. I had to have one removed, as big as a gumball

And the entire surgical procedure with the hospital and gas passer etc was $11,400 in 2003 and I didn't have health insurance. Then I understood what the pain of birth was.

Take a guess how they removed it, and I couldn't afford the ultrasonic tank.

[Angry Girl]

15. Check out these site and the herbs they mention

Gold Coin Grass, also known as Jin qian cao in Chinese or Lysimachia christinae in Latin. Google and compare prices to purchase.
http://www.sensiblehealth.com/gallstone.html

There is also a Chinese formula called Lidan that acts similarly.

Kidney Stone Tea
http://www.mothernature.com/Library/Bookshelf/Books/15/49.cfm

Herbs and Supplements for kidney stones
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/ConsLookups/Uses/kidneystones.html

Chanca piedra- great kidney stone herb dissolver - Google and compare prices to purchase.
http://www.rain-tree.com/chanca.htm
http://www.bayouherbs.com/chancapiedra.html
http://www.wholeworldbotanicals.com/herbal_breakstone.html

Kidney cleanse
http://www.falconblanco.com/health/cleansing/kidney.html
http://www.curezone.com/cleanse/kidney/default.asp

[DainBramaged]

16. herbs, tonight is the night for herbs

[dannofoot]

17. 4mm? That's a big'un...

...I've been in the hospital about half a dozen times with stones...sometimes for days, sometimes just until they get enough morphine in me to stop me from tearing off my eyelids.

If it's outta the kidney, you're probably in luck...it may be another day or so, but it's likely to pass...and when it does:

The clouds part, rays of light from heaven shine upon you as you look at that nasty little pebble in the toilet; a chorus of angels sings in joyous tongues that only you understand, and you have nothing but love for all of creation.

And you still have a nearly full scrip of Vicodin!