Kidney Stones

[rockinrobin]

About a week and a half ago I went to the ER having the worst pain I ever had. They did a CT scan and found I have a 3mm kidney stone in the upper part of the ureter tube. They told me it should pass on its own drinking plenty of fluid. I have no insurance so I don't want to go to a urologist. I have been straining my urine but all I have found is very small white things. They are soft so I thought they may be skin or toilet paper. I am really not sure what to be looking for. Could the stone have broken up that much? Would the pieces be hard or soft? I haven't had any pain in a week. I have asked around and been told three different things: First, maybe I passed it and didn't realize it. Second, it broke up so small I did not notice it. And three, It hasn't passed or I would have felt it. Thank you for any guidance you can give me.

[steveprichard]

Believe me, "I feel your pain!"

When my 6 mm stone, that was stuck in the kidney, was broken up by lithotripsy, it finally completely passed 5 days later and came out looking and feeling just like sand from the beach. Had I not been using a screen strainer for those several days, I would not have noticed the 10 to 20 very small particles. Like I say, they were like beach sand. Some white, some tan, some brown, but all were hard. But I could tell when the last ones passed because the pain was instantly gone. Thank God.

The severe pain you felt was the ureter tube trying to push the stone down to the bladder, much like a snake pushes food down its body. There's also pain if the stone is blocking urine flow away from the kidney and the kidney gets overloaded with urine.

My guess is you passed yours without noticing. If it were still in the ureter, you'd know. If you aren't feeling any pain, I would just continue drinking lots of water and pray you don't get another one.

I also have no insurance and went through a nightmare. I posted my ordeal a few weeks ago, so check it out if you want to.

[rockinrobin]

Thank you! That gives me a little relieve being I just got the ER bill for over $2000. I really didn't want to have to go in for another scan.

[TJSharky]

Although this post is rather old, I just want to pass on my experience. Yes, a stone can break up on it's own. I had one that did just that. Like the other person said, it will pass looking and feeling like sand. If you were not straining every void, it's possible it broke up and passed.