We previously went over how to place a ureteral stent. In today’s post, we go over the steps of removing a stent. Ureteral stents are removed using two basic methods:
1) By pulling on a stent string, if the string was left in place.
2) Placing a camera into the bladder (cystoscopy) to directly see and grab the stent with a small grasping device.
Removing a stent with a string left in place:
In some cases, your urologist will leave a string attached to one end of a ureteral stent. The stent string is a long piece of thread that will start from the stent and drape out the urethra, where it is visible at the urethral meatus (where urine comes out). A diagram and photos of a stent with a string attached are shown below.
To remove the stent, the visible string is firmly held and steady continuous pulling is applied until the entire stent comes out. The curls at the end of ureteral stent are flexible, so the stent should uncurl and come out easily.
What’s the advantage of leaving a string?
- The stent can be removed without performing cystoscopy.
- Patients can remove their own stent without waiting for an appointment or having to come to the office.
- Stents can’t be “forgotten” when a string is attached. When no string is left attached, a patient may forget or not realize that a stent was left in place. Over time, these forgotten stents can form large stones on them, making removal very difficult.
What’s the disadvantage of a string?
- The string can get snagged on clothing or be pulled on accidentally, resulting in a ureteral stent being removed earlier than it was supposed to. This seems to more commonly occur with female patients.
- The string can be a minor annoyance.
- Some patients prefer not to have to remove their stents themselves at home using the string. They however can usually come to the office where the staff can perform this for them.
Removing a stent by performing cystoscopy (with video below):
When no string or only a portion of the string is left attached, your urologist will need to use a camera to enter your bladder through your urethra. He or she can then see the stent and use an instrument to securely grasp it and remove it. The process is usually quick and occurs in the clinic. It takes only a minute or so in most cases.
Steps in removing a ureteral stent with cystoscopy
- Use a cystoscope to enter the bladder. (A cystoscope is a camera that can be placed into the bladder).
- Identify the stent.
- Use a grasper to securely grab the stent.
- Remove the cystoscope, grasper, and the secured stent as one unit.
The video at the bottom of the page demonstrates all these steps.
How uncomfortable is stent removal using a cystoscope?
For the majority of patients, stent removal is not as uncomfortable as they expected. We often have patients react in surprise when they learn that the stent has been already been removed and the procedure is done.
Unfortunately, some patients do experience discomfort with stent removal, more commonly in men because of their longer urethra. This can be due to discomfort from the cystoscope itself or from the sensation of the stent being removed. While most patients do not feel the stent actually sliding when removed from the kidney, some do experience an uncomfortable sensation with this.
Is there anything that can be done to make it more comfortable?
- Lidocaine jelly placed into the urethra at the beginning of the procedure will help to numb the area but will not completely take away sensation.
- In men, and also occasionally in women, increased discomfort is related to tightening of the urethral sphincter as the scope is passed into the bladder. Trying to relax, take a deep breath, and not “clench” down during the cystoscopy process can sometimes make the process less uncomfortable.
- Anticipation and perception also seem to play a role: Researchers have found that patients who watch their own cystoscopy procedure on a video screen experienced less discomfort than those that did not.
Video of ureteral stent removal in a male patient.
Pain after stent removal:
In most patients, stent removal is a relief as their stent discomfort goes away. However, in some patients, severe pain may occur for several hours. This is thought to be due to spasms of the ureter or swelling and temporary blockage developing after the stent comes out.
Not enough is known about this phenomenon but one recent study suggests it may occur in as many as half of patients. In the study, patients given a single dose of rofecoxib did not experience this pain while those given placebo developed it in 55% of cases. Rofecoxib went by the brand name Vioxx and is no longer available in the U.S. as it was withdrawn by the manufacturer. The authors of the study report they now use naproxen as an alternative. You can read more about the study in our post “Severe pain after stent removal: How often does it occur and can anything prevent it?”
If you are thinking about trying naproxen, be sure to read the manufacturer’s warnings as some patients should not take the medication and check with your doctor first to make sure it’s okay in your situation.
30 yr old female. After a month of on and off again pain and lotd of blood in urine doc relized, I had a stone stuck in my urinary track. Had surgery where stone was removed, it was 4mm. One of the edges of stone was stuck in my urinary track. There was damage and a stent was placed. The first 4-5 days after surgery were very painful for me. Only relief I found was with pain killers and laying on my back seemed to ease up on the pain some. Urinating was very painful!!! After those 4-5 days the pain eased up alot and was able to somewhat get back to normal but still taking many many bathroom breaks! I had what seemed like alot of blood passing but was normal. One
week after surgery, today went to have stent removed. Was concerned about the pain! Doctor put a long qtip in tract to numb, didnt hurt. Then he pushed a camara in, was a burning sensation, then he pulled stent slowly out, again a burning sensation but not ad bad as I expected. The whole process only took about a minute. My stent did not have a string to pull, the camara had something on it to grab hold of stent. It was uncomfortable for a few mintues after words but after peeing felt alot better. The bleeding has already slowed down alot. I feel relief now the stent is out and no longer burns to pee. I can move freely now without the concern of pain. This was my first kidney stone but have another stone in kidney on other side. Now i am waiting on test results to figure out whats causing them. Good Luck to others and try not to scare yourself with ppls horror stories. I was so nervous going in to have stent removed and it wasnt so bad and now feel relief and glad its over. Everything I went through was worth getting that stone out that was causing so much pain and sickness to me.
drink more water atleast 6 glasses to prevent this in future.
I’m a 22 year old female and I had my stone removed yesterday and have my stent in until tomorrow morning. I struggled last night with my body severely rejecting the stent. I couldn’t go to work because I feel this constant squeezing pressure in my ureter. I’m so scared that the stent removal is going to be so painful since having the stent in is painful. Please give me the peace of mind that the stent removal will be better than the stent actually being in there!?
Hi everyone,
I am a 47 year old male living in the UK.
I was taken into Hospital on New Years Eve with a stone in each kidney (5mm and 10mm). I had an emergency operation on New Years Day with a stent put in each kidney. When I woke up I felt OK, but after returning home from Hospital I felt very weak and was passing blood and blood clots, with a constant urge to urinate (this continued).
My treatment plan was lithotripsy on the larger stone and then a uteroscopy to remove the smaller one. Lithotripsy, which took 6 weeks, is fine but the detritus causes a dragging feeling in my bladder.
The uteroscopy after 8 weeks under a “General” removed the smaller stone and the Consultant also removed the detritus from the larger stone before replacing one of the stents.
The final removal of the stent was unpleasant; it stings when the instrument is inserted and there is pain as the scope finds the stent, I felt nothing as the stent was removed (It probably takes a minute) – Afterwards there was bleeding and stinging on urination for 36 hours.
In all I was unable to work for 3 months due to the effect of the stents/lithotripsy and I am fit and have a high pain threshold – I still wake up at night now expecting to feel terrible and it is a fantastic feeling to feel OK.
I wish positive thoughts to all of you who are suffering pain and discomfort, I felt privileged that I only had a kidney stone problem as I shared a Hospital Ward with cancer patients who were far braver than I was
I am a 36 years old male from Libya and living in Canada. I had my stent removed today. and it went absolutely great. After the urologist put the numbing gel in my penis, the
Thanks to Dr. Liam Hickey
Fredericton, New Brunswick
canada
I am a healthy 71 y.o. And I am dealing with my 4th or 5th kidney stone over 35-40 years. I passed all but the last one and just had a laser procedure yesterday and a stent was placed that I am going to remove tomorrow. The last time I had the same thing and when I removed it, I hardly felt anything other than the relief of it being out. I take flomax already daily and I would think that helps some. I think the last time, I had one pain episode shortly after removal that made me get concerned that there was still a stone present, but later a clot came out while urinating and that was all. I am looking forward to getting this thing out and have no fear of any pain in doing so. I hate having to deal with this stuff but it isn’t cancer or some serious issue and feel fortunate to have these modern technologies available.
I am a 49 years old male from India. I had my stent removed yesterday (a stent that was totally bearable for the 2 weeks I’ve had it), and it went absolutely great. After the urologist put the numbing gel in my penis, the procedure lasted about 45 seconds. He went in, passed the prostate got into the bladder and found the stent. After that, he inserted the grabber into the cystoscope and in a matter of 5-7 seconds, the stent was out. I didn’t even feel the stent leaving my kidney. No pain at all during the procedure. The feeling i get knowing that my stent is out is well worth the 45 seconds of uncomfortable feeling. It has now been closed.
Thanks to Dr. Rajiv Goel, my Urologist at Columbia Asia Hospital, Palam Vihar, Gurgaon, Haryana (India).
I just a PCNL a few weeks ago. Today I had the laser to remove two 6mm stones. Of course I am left with a stent and a tether that are supposed to become my new best friends for a few days, but I tell ya, I don’t like it. It is not as uncomfortable or painful as I thought it would be. I just hate the constant little burn and having to go “pee” feeling. My throat hurts worse than the pains/discomfort down south. I just dread the removal. From what I am reading on here it wont be too bad if I take a couple pain pills first. Did anyone else’s Dr. give them Flomax to help dilate the ureter?
Yes, and I think it doesn’t work. I’ve had this stent in me for over a month now and it’s very bothersome. In two weeks the doctors are gonna take it out. A 15mm stone found on March 4, stent placed on March 5, soundwave surgery on March 28, x-ray on April 10, and stent removal on April 25. I feel like pulling it out myself but no string was left attached.
I am a 25 female from the UK I only have one kidney (right) I was born with just the one. I had no problems until about 9 months ago when I started getting kidney infections and generally feeling horrible. My consultant then decided to put a stent in on the 13th of Feb 2013. I had this done whilst put to sleep and numerous kidney stones were found and lasered which was not shown on scans/x-rays. For the first week I was in agonising pain and from then till now I have had discomfort and pain, like the desperate feeling of needing to pee ALL the time. I am now in hospital for what feels like the 100th time, im worried about the removal of the stent which will be the end of this month as I dont think im going to be asleep this time? Im also worried that I will go back to having the same problems I did before the stent was put in? All in all (not wanting to scare anybody) this has been the worst experience of my life maybe it is due to me only having one kidney, who knows?
I always read bad comments and horrible experiences on these kind of sites, and I want people to know that it is not always the case. I am a 20 years old male and I am 5’2/105 pounds. Let’s just say that I am not a big body. I had my stent removed a few hours ago (a stent that was totally bearable for the 3 weeks I’ve had it), and it went absolutely great. After the urologist put the numbing gel in my penis, the procedure lasted about 45 seconds. He went in, passed the prostate (relax and it won’t hurt) got into the bladder and found the stent. After that, he inserted the grabber into the cystoscope (it doesn’t hurt since the cystoscope is already in your bladder) and, in a matter of 5-7 seconds, the stent was out. I didn’t even feel the stent leaving my kidney. No pain at all during the procedure. Can I say that it is pleasant? No, of course not. But the feeling you get knowing that your stent is out is well worth the 45 seconds of uncomfortable feeling. It has now been close to three hours and still no pain (I took a Naproxen 10 minutes before the procedure).
For anxious people like me that always need to read experiences on websites and that get even more anxious because all there is are horror stories : relax! It can go just fine, as it did for me. It is over in a matter of seconds and, in my case, doesn’t hurt.
Cheers!
43 y.o. male – I had a 8x9x12 mm kidney stone removed with a laser on 2/5/12 and had quite a bit of discomfort for a couple of days after the procedure. A stent was inserted, with the strings hanging out, and was quite uncomfortable for me. The frequent urgency to urinate and some uncomfortable cramps just prior to urinating lasted for about 4 days. I was not a fan of the strings hanging out and cut them down to about 8″ and found it better to not have them taped off anywhere.
After one week, I removed the stent myself and was pleasantly surprised to not incur much pain. It was slightly uncomfortable, but slow steady pull had it out in about 10 seconds. It was not nearly as painful as peeing was the first couple of days after the surger. I took 3 Percocet one hour prior to pulling it out, then a shot of whiskey a half hour later. No blood followed after it was out, and I am so happy this is over with! Good luck to anyone who has to go through this.
I’m a 29 y.o male and, also had to deal with the string. It was thanks to your advise, Craig, that helped to ease the anxiety of pulling out the darned thing. I had two Percocet, and sat in a warm bath with some calming music (I like the blues) and like you said, within a few seconds, it was out with little discomfort.
I had my sent removed 4 days ago by pulling string method thisbosbthe second stent removal in about a month and i can tell you the first one was no where nearthis bad. while they were pulling it out it got stuck 2 times. needless to say i was raising hell. but the pain after is unbearable. while your passing blood sometimes blood clots form and literally act as kidney stones. ive been in and out of the hospital since then because of this and since they are not stones nothing can be done cause it was causes by the trauma of the surgery to remove the stones. i hope this doesn’t happen to anyone else
EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT. I have a very high tolerance for pain – Ive had kidney stones 4 times. I just had a 7mm stone removed via ureteroscopy and stent removed 2 days ago via cystoscopy. I am trying trying to scare anyone, but FOR ME, the pain of removal was HORRENDOUS. He kept saying he was so sorry and the stent was “in a bad place” so he literally had to dig around for it. It was awful!!!!!!! How could they torture me like that?? Ive had the stents with the string and it feels weird but nothing compared to cystoscopy. When I asked him why he didnt attach a string this time he said its because (especially in women) we tend to leak urine. I DONT CARE, I WILL WEAR A DIAPER!!!!! I never ever EVER want to feel that pain again. If you having a cystoscopy with NO anesthesia or numbing (the lubricant was NOT numbing) I suggest asking what your options are. Maybe they can give you a valium or injectible pain med. OR if you are going in for ureteroscopy and need a stent or you know you may need a stent, ask for him I took a hydrocodone and 2 motrin about 20 mins before and it did nothing. Good Luck.
My daughter is having her stent removes in about an hour. I am glad she didn’t read this stuff before heading to the doctor! She has an 8 mm stone in her right kidney, which developed during her pregnancy. She went into the hospital right before Thanksgiving, with horrible pain. It was discovered that she had this stone, and that it was blocking the flow of urine to the bladder. The stent was inserted and she has had it in since then. Her discomfort has been great, but she dealt with it well. The baby was born on Jan. 15, 3 1/2 weeks early. The urologist wanted to wait 4 weeks for her to recover from delivery before doing the lithotripsy procedure. Unfortunately, last week, she started having unbearable pain again. They did a urine culture, and she had developed a staph infection in the stent, so they have to get the stent out – BEFORE the stone has been “blasted”. She was told originally, that the stent would remain in until all the pieces of stone had passed. I am praying that things go well for her today, and that she does not have more pain from all of this…. So worried about the presence of staph in her kidney.
I just had the cystoscope, and let me tell you I curled up and cried like a baby after. And I’m 39 yo male who is usually pretty tough. I had 15mm stone broke up as he was putting stint in. The post op was horrible for a week. The pain and blood in urination wass terrible, but kidney felt better. Then this today to remove stint, like it started all over.
So it all started with a a medium size stone three months ago. Its the second one I have had but the first with a stent. They put the stent in me around beginning of November. It was horrible. I had no life , I now know where every bathroom is in my city. I felt like a prisoner in my own home. I even had to stop working. They did lipotripsy surgery to break up the stone on December 31, what a great New Years Eve for me. They said it was successful and that the stone was broke up. Yesterday January 23, they took the stent out. I was put under a general. When I woke up I felt no pain. I kept expecting to since I had read so much about it on here and other web sites. I went home and took a percocet since I read there was a study that made the procedure pain free if you took a percocet right before the procedure. I couldn’t do that since I was being put under.I feel so much better now I can’t even begin to tell you. Even if there is some pain after its nothing compared to the stent being in. I think the reason people feel pain they compare to the stone is because doctors take the stent out to soon and there is still stone fragments that get stuck in the ureter. Make sure they leave enough time for them to be gone. Mine stayed in three weeks after lipotripsy and I also have x rays. My doctor also told me that if he saw any stones he would put in another one. Thank goodness he didn’t have to. I just want to get on with my life now. I hope this helps someone
I had 4mm stone in my left kidney, I went to emergency and they gave me to use Tamsulosin tablets for 2 weeks and my operation was booked in one month ,during this 2 weeks I had pain every 3 or 4 days but I kept using tablets and drink lemonade and stone melted, but I didn’t know that stone melted I still had little pain because stone damaged my ureter. .After one month I told them that I have no big pain but still operation went on under general anesthesia ,they didn’t find nothing they told me stone melted but they put ureteral stent for 2 weeks ,after 2 weeks in matter of minutes they removed stent no pain at all .after coming home same day after few hours pain started, to be honest it was unbearable pain I used painkillers after few hours pain stoped and since than no any other problem .
I was going crazy reading in internet different comments how bad is operation and stent ,people exaggerate pain .
Had 8mm Kidney stone that was giving me trouble, went to ER, urologist said I need a stint the have blasted in 2 weeks, I wish i had done some research or the Dr. would have told me what to expect, I might have looked for other options, I have have the stint in for a month, cant really leave home, very uncomfortabe. have sensation of constant urination and great pain when I do uninate, any constant movement causes pain, I live on perks lately and hate it. Im am calling Dr. tomorrow and demand this unconfortable thing be removed….My suggestion is do your research, i wish i did
I was found to have an 18mm (yes, the size & dimensions of a big buckeye) in my right kidney. Admitted to hospital x 5 days for pain control & to treat a flaming urinary tract infection w/ IV antibiotics. I had laser lithotripsy w/ stent placement on day 5 which was 12/17/12. I went back for a KUB (abdominal xray) on 12/24/12 with hopes of having stent removal on 12/28/12. Instead, I met w/ my urologist who told me only have of the stone was blasted w/ the first treatment due to the enormous size of the stone. I had my 2nd laser lithotripsy on 12/31/12 and my KUB done yesterday (1/8/13)…I see my urologist today for a hopeful stent removal. I’ve had it in since 12/17 and today is 1/9/. With my last surgery back a few yrs ago I had strings but w/ this one I have none. I’m a little anxious about removal of this especially since it’s been in for so long. It’s been quite uncomfortable for nearly a month now so I’m looking forward to having it gone & going back to a normal life but very anxious about removal!!! Think I will take a small pain pill beforehand to help w/ the discomfort!
You can imagine how my holidays have been especially being the mommy of 3 young girls & wife & not working for a month, etc…Say a prayer & good thots that this thing is removed TODAY! What’s funny is, I didn’t start passing stones til 2 days ago which would have been a week since my last litho! I’m passing them like I’m a gravel pit!!!!
I will let you all know what happens later on………
Well I had my kidney stone laser, on 12/20/12 do not see the doctor before surgery, no one explain the procedure to me at all, after the surgery the nurse gave the postoperative instructions, paper in there said that I have a stem but nothing else, only to make an appointment, today is 01/09/13 I went to my general doctor and I explain to him what I had down, and that I am worse with pain my flank and my growing are unbearable sometimes, I only got 30 pill 5/325 oxycodone, did not do anything for my pain, pain is worse that before , the general doctor called the urologist and they rush an appointment for next week, I guess they forgot about me, the said to remove the stem?. No one told me that I had to go under anesthesia again to take that stem off.
So I am here twisting in pain had to buy pain killers to make more bearable
Lucky you- I got 20 Tylenol with codeine after getting this stupid jj stent- feel about 1/2 dead with two dogs jumping up and down on me- trying to keep up with house work and not slicing my wrists!
I agree pain is WORSE than before- nobody bother to tell you about that- ready to pull this thing out on my own .
always request that your doctor use the laser to bust up the stones its faster and painless they will give you the gas to knock you out dont let them send you home with the stone still in your kidney because you will sufure for days untill you have the stome removed also go to the emergicy room /you may have to waite for hours like i did but thats the way it is there they will give you painr kille threw an iv and also after throwing up and not eating for days the doctors will feed you there iv
I have had a 7 mm kidney stone that caused an obstruction and urinary sepsis. The stone was placed up into the kidney and a stent was placed. I have had nausea and vomitting; and can not return to work since I get faint on my feet and feel best in bed. The Dr wanted to me to wear the stent 3 months; but later changed his mind to 2 weeks. I have had the stent in since December 13; the machine that does the lithoplasty comes up every two weeks; so because of the holiday it will not come up until January 18th. I expect that it will have to be in another two weeks after the stone is busted up. My Dr said that some people do not wear stents well…and I am one of them.
Had stent removed 1-9-13. Absolutely no problem. No pain. Little discomfort. The procedure lasted all of three or four minutes at the most. Dropped a hydrocondone one hour before appointment based on the recommendation of the triage nurse in the urologist’s office. That relaxed me, but in retrospect, wasn’t really necessary. The nurse who worked with my urologist in the room where they took out my stent lined my urethra, the inner lining of the penis, with linocaine before the procedure, which numbed my nerves inside the penis. Now that the stent is removed, I feel great again.
After a few months with a stent (two actually) I’ve decided to share my story, to enlighten and shed some light on this awful process to others. I am a 26 year old male with no prior medical conditions. This is/was my first time having any medical procedures done.
After months of on and off pain in my left flank, I was finally told by my urologist that I had a stricture in my ureter which would cause my kidney to balloon up with fluid as I couldn’t process it at a normal speed.
I recieved my first stent on October 30th in anticipation for my surgery (robotically assisted laproscopic pyleloplasty.) The next few days were full of flank and groin pain, as well as plenty of blood in my urine. The doctor prescribed me with vicodin to help with the pain. Much to my dismay, they did very little to help. Everyday tasks were very painful and even just standing up and sitting down caused immense pain.
After the first week, the pain subsided some, and I was at least able to get around, and even go out and run errands and visit with friends. I simply had to be careful with my bodily movements, including walking. A blood clot that I was unable to pass landed me in the ER a few weeks into having the stent. I was prescribed Pyridium and Oxybutinin by the ER doctor. Both of which are absolute godsends, and I recommend that you ask for both if you have to recieve a stent. The pyridium worked wonders to dull the pain that came with urination, and the oxybutinin helped with the constant urge to urinate.
After a month, I went into surgery (november 26th) and was released a few days later, with a prescription for percoset (since the vicodin did little to help) for pain. The first week was a little rough, with lots of abdomen pain and immense pain accompanying urination. Lots of rest and caution with daily tasks helped a lot (and still taking the oxybutinin as well.)
Two weeks after surgery I landed in the ER once again, due to the worst pain I have ever felt. Unlike the previous pain, this was a very sharp pain in my urethra and tenderness in the shaft/head of my penis, which came from another blood clot that I was unable to pass. The doctors assured me that I did not have an infection, or any other post-op complications, and it was just “normal” stent discomfort. He refilled my percosets and oxybutinin as well as giving a prescription for Flomax.
It has been three weeks since this ER visit, and my pain is just as bad as the day I went to the hospital. The pain meds were no longer able to dull the pain, due to the sharp stabbing/burning nature of it. Definately the worst pain I have ever felt in my life, even worse than my initial condition or the surgery itself. Lots of lost sleep and the inability to stand/walk made quality of life rather poor. After countless calls to my doctor and his refusal to give me any more pain meds, or even the amazing pyridium, I convinced them to allow my stent to come out a week early.
My stent comes out in two days (december 27th,) and I cannot wait. I’m still losing lots of sleep, and the only thing I can do to help with the pain is using a heating pad or soaking in a hot bath. Although I was told I can take advil/motrin for pain, I tend to avoid them, as they usually lead to more bleeding and pain. I’ve gotten used to being in constant pain now, and it’s bearable, but barely. I still have some oxybutinin which I take daily to help with the bladder spasms and constant urge to urinate. I’ll post again after the stent comes out to let you all know how it goes, and how quickly I start to feel better.
In conclusion, a ureteral stent is absolutely awful, yet necessary. They will inform you to expect pain/discomfort/blood but not to what extent. Perhaps I’m just unlucky, as I have been told it greatly varies from person to person. Be sure to ask for Pyridium and Oxybutinin, they are absolutely wonderful and work better as a pair than any pain med. Drinking plenty of water helps with the pain somewhat, but obviously leads to more frequent urination which in turn causes more pain…Patience and will power are needed to get through the day, and I wish the best to anyone who has to endure a ureteral stent for any duration of time.
Thanks for sharing your story. I’m a 42 year old very energetic mom that has been devastated by an error with my hysterectomy surgery were my doctor damaged my right ureter. I have had a stint in now for several weeks and experience the same symptoms you describe. Constant pain, tired, blood in my urine, etc. The frustrstion is feeling helpless and I want th nightmare to end. Im a mom and a corporate executive, I have no time to deal with being down like this. I’m anxious to hear how you feel after the stent removal…I’m looking for hope and this nightmare to end so I can be my old self.
I also had a doc mess up my hysterectomy and put a hole in my left ureter. I currently have had a stent in place now for six weeks and it finally comes out this thursday. My urologist is nice enough to sedate for the removal considering all the pain i have had. Im nervous but excited to hopefully get back to work and feel somewhat normal agin. god bless to all who have endured the pain from a stent.
I, too, had my ureter damaged from my hysterectomy. Actually, it was sewn completely shut. Two weeks after my hysterectomy (and so much kidney pain) I have a stent placed. I am so uncomfortable. I feel like I can feel it in my bladder. I get sharp cramps in my pelvic region. It almost feels like something is going to fall out of me. I want this nightmare over!
Without question the draw thread procedure for stent removal is the simplest and least invasive. I was told the stent should remain in place for around 7 days and that I could return to the hospital where my surgery had taken place to have it removed. Because of the Christmas break the stent would either have to come out a little early or stay in two or three days longer. The nurse who would perform the removal explained to me that it was possible to remove the stent myself. I decided after 6 days of painful urination that on the 7th I would, as it were, take matters into my own hands. Being male, the thread had been taped around the shaft of the penis and I had reinforced it with extra tape as the original tape had loosened over time. I had some Tylenol 3s left which I was prescribed for discomfort after the surgery. I took two and about 45 minutes later when I was sure they had kicked in, stood in the shower (water not running) and using hand over hand in one fairly continuous movement pulled the thread straight down. The tube came out with little resistance or pain (the T3s may have helped there). It was about a foot long and much narrower than I had imagined. I showered and subsequently was able to urinate without the stabbing like pain I felt while the stent was in place. Two hours later and I have relatively no pain during urination and no blood in the urine. Anyone considering kidney stone removal should request that the doctor, unless he has good cause otherwise, make this option available to you.
This was so helpful. Thank you so much. My Christmas is brightened due to less anxiety in anticipation of my self-removal of my stent on the 26th… Thanks again! Bless you!
I had the cytoscopy, stent placement and lithoscopy on the 19th for my 1.5 cm stone. I have been dealing with the pain from this stone since August (4 months now, because I was pregnant) since the stone was too big to even block the ureter I managed to get away with not having a stent before. Since having the baby and getting the okay from my OB, I saw the urologist days later. I was thankful to have my procedure to quickly however the pain from the stent has been UNBEARABLE! I went from being pregnant and taking NO medication to being on large amounts of painkillers and it not helping the pain. I told my urologist multiple times I was nursing my newborn yet he still prescribed me unsafe painkillers and told me to pump. Now, 4 days after the procedure (the prescription THEY gave me was only 3 days worth) I have been taking 800 mg of ibuprofen instead and it actually curbs the pain. I also had macrobid to prevent infection from pregnancy left over and I started taking that, now I no longer fill the toilet with blood every time I urinate. This whole situation has me furious, I had to stop nursing, self medicate AND self educate for this process… And I STILL have to get this stent out, which sounds horrifying. All I can say is good luck to anyone who has to deal with this… I will be drinking copious amounts of water for the REST of my life.
I can’t believe how uncomfortable the stent can be. I had surgery on December 13th to remove the stone. The Dr. ended up pulling out my 6mm stone in a little mesh basket and inserted a stent afterward. I remember how painful it was to pee the first couple of times, but I never really had any relief from the sharp pain in my kidney every time I went to the bathroom. Plus, I had this terrible dull ache in my bladder. About 3 days later, I developed a fever and had come down with a urinary tract infection and was prescribed antibiotics at that time. Don’t know wy I wasn’t given them right after my procedure. Heard that bladder infections were quite common. I also passed a good amount of blood every time I went to the bathroom. I called the office on two different ocassions to make sure that this was normal and was told both times it. was. Had no idea this was going to be as hard as it was.
My stent was scheduled to come out this afternoon and after reading this website and also talking to someone who had a stent, I was a nervous wreck in anticipation of the pain to remove it. I told the Doctor I was scared and he reassured me it would be fine. The nurse inserted numbing cream and the Doctor came in and got into positon and asked me to check out a poster on the wall and when I did, he pulled the string very fast. I didn’t really feel a thing, only the sensation of something passing through, but no pain at all. I couldn’t believe how easy the removal was. Maybe pulling really fast is the answer. Anyway, I feel SO much better. It is amazing how uncomfortable those things are and I really wasn’t prepared at all for all the different pains and aches I had while it was in there. Glad this episode is over!
I’m a male and have been dealing with a stent for two miserable weeks. Had a 5mm stone that wasn’t passing and was to have the procedure with the laser to go up in there and bust it up. Had general anesthesia and had the procedure. Woke up and was told that the dr. had gotten 1/2 of the stone but wasn’t able to get all of it and part of it had gone back up into the kidney? He left a stent in and I got an appointment to have the remainder of the stone crushed thru Lithotripsy 1 week later. The stent was misery for me and I never stopped bleeding and the pain was miserable for that entire week. Finally had the lithotripsy and then was given an appt to have the stent removed in two weeks. I had hoped to get it out quickly but they were saying two weeks. The stent continued to cause me misery and I was having to take strong pain medicine constantly just to deal with it. I wasn’t able to work most of the time and I was very frustrated to be in so much pain and to have to wait 2 weeks when I couldn’t see a need to have it in that long. Finally I called the office and told them I could not deal with the stent for 2 more weeks and it had to come out. I was told that I could get it out in 3 days and they made me an office appointment. I had thought i’d be put to sleep and couldn’t understand how they could possible remove it with me awake. It sounded horrible and I started researching and found this site. Still I was terrified and knew that was going to have to be one of the worst things I was ever going to endure. When I got to the office and they called me back. The girl remarked that I was one of the few brave ones to be getting it removed without anesthesia. I then told her I was not given a choice. She told me that most had it done under general anesthesia and especially the men. I was upset that I wasn’t informed that I had a choice and now I was there ready to try and do it with nothing. They then told me it only takes a minute or two and it’s over and so I got up my nerve and told them i’d do it. I wanted it out so bad I figured a couple of minutes of pain would be worth it I got up on a table that had the leg stirrups and put each leg in the stirrup and then the assistant put some kind of deadening gel into the penis. Just having this done was not comfortable at all and i knew he was only going in an inch or two deep. After about 10 mins the doc came in and told me that everybody was different and for some people it wasn’t so bad but others weren’t able to stand it and if it got to bad to just tell him and he’d stop. Well I was nervous but I wanted this thing out very bad. They turned the overhead light off and had a a monitor next to the table I was lying on that showed what the camera was seeing as it went in. This is what he was to use to find the stent. He pushed the instrument in and it hurt..a very uncomfortable feeling mainly and he then continued pushing it in deeper and it hurt more and more. To me just a really bad feeling I hope to never feel again. Finally it hurt so bad that I let out a fairly loud moan and he said. ok.. i’m in the bladder now.. Still the pain was bad and the pain was mainly concentrated about 2-3 inches deep inside the penis. Evidently that is where the nerves mainly are. I laid there as he tried to find the end of the stent but he was having trouble grabbing it. I had no idea how it was going to feel when he did grab it and pull but I was at my limit of pain with him searching for it. Finally I could not take it anymore and told them I couldn’t do it. He immediately stoppped and pulled it out. I actually I had to sit there for about 5 minutes to try and recover from what had just happened. I had gone thru it all for nothing. When I went to the bathroom there was quite a lot of blood. I now will have the procedure done in 6 days with anesthesia. Some people say it wasn’t so bad but for me it was that bad. It was probably the worst medical procedure i’ve ever endured or tried to endure. I will never ever make the mistake letting them do this again without putting put under. It sounded horrible and it turned out to be horrible. It’s now been 6.5 hours and i’m still hurting from the procedure. I guess for some people it’s not as sensitive as it is for others but for me it was very very sensitive. I know have to endure the stent for another week but i’ll never go thru that again.
I think the major difference in the removal is the way they take it out. They had to go in and “hunt” for yours. That sounds a painful in itself. Mine had a string attached to it that was hanging outside my mody. He just had to pull it and out it came. Wonder why they all don’t do this method.
I feel your pain.I also had a 5mm stone that had to be removed and a stent put in.The worst part of the whole ordeal was that i am in pain management for a unrelated back injury.The pain from my stone was way worse than my back pain so the pain meds i am already on was not touching the pain i was going through.The messed up part was that the DR treating me for my stone could not wright me a script for a stronger pain med,Instead i was told that i had to make an appointment with my pain mang dr.this ment another co pay to another DR,and my insurance co gets billed by two DR s .That’
s not all ,to see the pain management DR you might sit there for 6 or 8 hrs.NO JOKE.This is not what you want to do after just having sugery that morning.Hope you feel better now.
Sorry for the misspelling before! I’m very upset and in pain.
They have not removed my stent after the kidney stone BLAST ater 10 days and I can’t believe the bills I’m receiving in the mail every day.! I don’t trust this Drs. who I think took advantage when I got into the hospital.
I was supposed to have some Doctor”S and talked to me after the next day I was admitted into ER and moved into a bedroom. Next day after my pain was managed with morphine a Dr. came into my room and told me I was lucky he was there since everybody was leaving for the day since next day was Thanksgiving. He even told me at this was like I to won the LOTTO! Didn’t have any other option and couldn’t understand why they were not doing it that day since I was already in the hospital!
This Dr. told me that he will put an stent from my kidney to my blader (never explain anything about what an stent was) in ten minutes , rigth now and I could go home! and next week I will have the stone blasted and the stent removed! Another Dr. came into my room after him and he pushed him out of the room and telling him that he got it!
I was never told was going to have to SLEEP full anestesia or the pain was going to probably experience or anything! When I wake up I was in terrible pain and the Dr. didn’t leave instructions! Teh nurse were trying to contact him. Finally, I ‘m not even sure how longer took I was given another shot of morphine and released 4 or 5 hours later!
I went to the post op and complete the paperwork and they have a form where you have to sign you received the “The Notice of Privacy Practices” I signed and when I returning the documentation the front desk lady ignore my request of this Privacy Practices and asked to sign a paper ithout telling me what it was. When I asker again for this policy she got an actitued and some other person there stater to look for in a file cabinet. I told her not to worry and to return to me the page that I already signed and will scrath my signature on the form of such policy! Sudenly they found one ! I forgot to look what was signing while this was happening and no copy was provided. They aske me to sit and wait to be call. When I was call asked the Nurse what document as the one I signed and she had in her hand and responded That I agree to that my insurance information is accurate! I told her understand that part but the $1,500 and some I was seen that moment from far while she was holding it on her hand, what was that about. She told me thet was what it was my balance until then! Didn’t ocurr me to ask for the copy thinking will get one when I leave but when I leave I was tired and upset with the notice have to kee the stent for another week.. I forgot the copy! and the Dr. was not the same that put the stant. He was in vacations!
I went next week and the Dr.’s and told me that I will have remove the stent since I have no more stone and ligthly took me from my arm and took me to another office and let me there.
I found out that I have to go back to the hospital next Tuesdy to have the stent removed! Today is Sunday.. and I was there this past Friday. I’m still in apin, I can’t do nothing and I’m scare! and furios!
Today i have got relief from 17 mm stone which was stick up into the upper ureter.Dr Talavlikar amol at ratna momorial hospital ,senapati bapat road pune.thanks to Dr,kashypi Dr.phansalkar .
Ureteroscopic Stone Removal
Although some stones in the ureters can be treated with ESWL, ureteroscopy may be needed for mid- and lower-ureter stones. No incision is made in this procedure. Instead, the surgeon passes a small fiberoptic instrument called a ureteroscope through the urethra and bladder into the ureter. The surgeon then locates the stone and either removes it with a cage-like device or shatters it with a special instrument that produces a form of shock wave. A small tube or stent may be left in the ureter for a few days to help urine flow. Before fiber optics made ureteroscopy possible, physicians used a similar “blind basket” extraction method. .billed amount Rs 57,558/-
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Finally on the mend two weeks after uretoscopy/laser litho. Having the stents removed have brought tremendous relief. I did get put under for the two minute procedure since the first attempt was such an excruciating experience. The doc said my bladder was “pristine” this time, whether that is because I was so hydrated or the antibiotic or a combination, who knows? I received a dose of ketorolac in the OR to help with spasms later and I took a pyridium as soon as I left the hospital. I am feeling 100% better after two weeks of hell. My heart breaks for everyone who is at the beginning. I have had a couple minor twinges in my kidneys, I assume this is to be expected? Also, this is my third episode with stones and I have never gone in for an X-ray or scan to make sure they are gone. Is that necessary? Does anyone know? My next appt is to go over results of my 48 urine collection to find out what my body is producing that may be causing them to begin with.