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.
Since I came to this site so many times to see what to expect before getting mine removed I felt compelled to share my experience as well…
I was hoping for a numbing solution or something, but no. It wasn’t too painful though, and for girls who’ve had a pelvic exam, it’s essentially the same feeling. He put the catheter in, and then a solution which made it feel cold, then a pinch, and it was done! It was just really uncomfortable, the worst part was the pinch when the stent actually came out, and then discomfort in that area after. I went to the bathroom, and it still burned like it has been, but *nothing* like after the stent placement. Fortunately I still had pain pills from the procedure of getting it put in, so I took one, laid down for a bit, and I’m already feeling better! I immediately felt relief in my kidney/ureter/bladder after it was removed, so now there’s nowhere to go but up!!
Good luck to you!!! 🙂
hey my name is tina i go to have my stent took out tomorrow and i am honestly scared to dealth bc im gonna have it done in the office, can anyone tell me how painful this is? thanks
I got my stent removed just 2hours ago.let people not be confused for process and pain.process is for 10 mins max and definitely it leaves a minor pain during the extraction process,as it is quite common for any post surgical case.let one never say that it’s completely pain less,but for sure is not as painful as apprehensions.onething is very positive that after stent removal u feel like an ALIEN is thrown out from ur body n feel relieved.So,guys no worries without any worries in mind n wrong perceptions,pls gear up for the removal process n lead a healthy life,god bless!
I have already shared my detailed story in the “about ureteral stent” section, so I will just share the last two removals. Three years ago, I had double stents put in after laser litho. My urologist removed the stents in the office. Uncomfortable-yes. I drove myself there and I drove myself home. An hour later I was doubled over in so much pain I could barely speak. My husband took me to the ER because we had no idea what was happening. Even IV pain meds barely touched this pain. This time we were prepared for a an easy time of removal and pain later. Nope. Dr tried repeatedly to flush the area out and grab the stent, but there was too much mucous to see and the pain was so intense he finally had to stop. Tomorrow they will put me under and remove them. So, my biggest complaint after my experiences and reading everything on this site, is why the lack of information to the patient?!?!?! I only just found this website, and I wish I would have found it two weeks ago. It would have saved me a lot of pain and fear! I didn’t know what was happening EVERY time something new pops up. But looking through here, nothing that had happened to me is uncommon. So why do patients never know what is possible? This is my third stone episode. It’s different every time. If it is your first time, don’t freak yourself out, it will not help you mentally. BUT…do not be afraid to speak up. I know pain, I have a high tolerance. In this day and age, there is no reason for a person to have to suffer like this without a valid medical reason. I pushed for stronger pain meds. When this is over, my Dr will get a letter regarding the way his nurse treated me when I was in a bad way. Have your doctor go over as many things as possible BEFORE you are doubled over in pain.
I’m not even sure my insurance will pay for the OR tomorrow. That may be a fight for me as well. The way I see it, the dr tried and failed so I shouldn’t have to go through that again. When/if I have to do this again, I will look into other options. Do I HAVE to have stents, can they take them out under sedation the first time without going through this? I
I am so incredibly thankful for this website and all the info here!!
I believe their priority is to get the DEAL $. They do not care about the patient and they say It’s so easy, 10 minutes only! and you can go home today!!!
They do not not explain that it is easy for them (but that is their jobs! who cares?? ) They do not take the time to explain to the ptient they Pro or Cons, and worse if you go through ER they do wathever they want and nobody to control them! hat about the BILLs they star to send you and call you one day after surgery. Unfortunatelay I didn’t have insurance and they take advantage!
Almost same thing happened to me only I have refused for the stent to b removed in office with no meds or anything I think it is ridiculous at how we are treated by doctors and nurses mayb they should hav it riped out their p hole then tell me how they feel bout it I hav a right to my body my health care and its me paying them to do a job not the other way around
I had a stent fitted 5wks ago after having kidney stones removed, i was in agony my gp told me twice i had an infection & was given antibiotics twice, i got in touch with my consultant he took the stent out yesterday i cant believe how well i felt when they removed the stent, i found it very uncomfortable when they removed it
On Oct 19th I went in to surgery for my 20mm kidney stone. The doctor lasered the stone and put in a stent. I notice a lot of you got really strong pain medication, this doctor gave me vicodine. His instructions were 1 pill every six hours not to exceed 4 pills per day. This was on a Friday and by the time Monday rolled around half the bottle was gone. Last week the doctor had me go in for an ex-ray to see how my kidney is doing and if the stent is ready to be removed. That was a week ago and I still haven’t heard from him. He did tell me that he will sedate me when the time comes to pull out the stent, which doesn’t have a string hanging out. I plan to take pain medication and valuim before I go to this appointment. Is it just me or all Uroligist rude and standoffish. He’s the third Uroligist I’ve been to and they are all the same. Thank God he isn’t my primary doctor! But one thing is for sure, if he doesn’t sedate me when he goes in after that stent and I feel pain, everyone in the waiting room will hear/feel my pain when I start screeming!
It is uncomfortable when it is been removed, but you wont be screaming as they go in to take it out.. I had one removed 7 hours ago and it was relative simple and just a bit uncomfortable is all
I agree they have a God complex or something I’m very upset at how I have been treated I’m having my stent removed in the Hospital under general anesthesia because I have that right and I had to fight with the dr to get it done there we are in control not them it’s my pain not theirs I just don’t understand why doctors that take the oath to do no harm with want to put people under so much emotional stress and torture they are getting paid either way if we can have babies in this day and age with very little to no pain and its a natural process why can’t we have procedures done that are by no means natural with no pain I just don’t get it they much really like to see people hurt
Today I went for stent removal. my urologist injected jelly into the urethra, and then cystoscope. it took around 2 minutes to grab the stent and to pull it out with NO PAIN . The only thing I felt that something is sliding out from urethra.
But after the removal of stent when I went for my first urine some blood clots and 3-4 drops of blood came out at the end of stream.
the overall of my experience of removal of Stent is pain less. and you can go back to your office work just after 1 hr of the removal.
Does anyone know what, if any complications would come up as far as stent removal goes if stones have formed on and around the stent? I’m 30 weeks pregnant, and after a switching urologists due to nothing bing done about my constant pain and infection an discomfort, the new Dr. actually decided to see what was really going on. Turns out tha tI have stones formed on the stent in both my kidney and my bladder, it is much worse in the kidney. I’m still waiting to hear back from him, as he wanted to talk to a few other drs to get a good plan together on how to proceed, given my pregnancy.
Follow on post from my first one. Just got back from having my double j stent and nephrostomy tubes removed, hardly felt anything which was a relief, but when the doctor put the nuclear tracer through, he saw that it wasnt passing through and that I had formed some fibrosis in the ureter, so had to have a new double j stent put in. Even with numbing gel, I went through the roof with pain. I have to keep this stent in for another month, if it works then hopefully all will be well, if not, it will be more surgery.
Five weeks ago I went for a pyeloplasty which wasnt too successful, in that I developed a fistula and ended up almost drowning in my own urine internally for four days, so had to have a nephrostomy as well. After that horrific incident, I am now due to have both removed tomorrow and am absolutely petrified. This is my only kidney and I am so frightened that the stent and nephrostomy tube will damage the renal pelvis leaving another fistula behind. I have read so much about the agonising pain regarding the withdrawal of the stent that I am worried sick.
I’m facing an unfortunately familiar future in the next two weeks, bilateral kidney stones, with a good chance of ESWL on the right kidney and laser litho on the left. This will leave me with two stents, more than likely, as it has happened in the past. I’m veteran of both the string and the non-string stent removal and yes, I have, once, pulled the string myself at the end of my week of recovery. That was an interesting shower, but relatively painless.
For any stent removal, string, or cystoscope, I have a 3 step process that helps minimize pain and discomfort prior to, during and after the procedure: (1) pyridium to help reduce irritation in the urinary tract, (2) vicodin to help with pain management and (3) flomax to reduce the kidney colic (spasms) I used to get when the stent was removed. I’ve read through the stories on this site and wish I would have found this site 7-8 years ago, when stent removal almost always meant an afternoon of shear pain when my kidneys would spasm after it was out, and likely another trip to the ER. When I expressed my concerns to my urologist after one such episode, Flomax was discussed as a possible solution. Whew! It has been a godsend. This has worked for the last 3 or 4 stent removals. I’d suggest discussing it as a possible preventative measure with your medical professional, as it may not always be appropriate for your situation, but it’s an avenue to certainly explore. Hope this helps.
Here is an update on my second stent.
Oct 4th they removed the first stent and placed a second stent in. I was put to sleep for this procedure. The first stent had alot of scar tissue around it and it was difficult to get the second stent in, but they were successful. The second stent was a larger stent this time. After coming home I was not able to urinate and they put in a catheter OMG!!!!! I had to wear it home with a urine bag for the entire weekend. I hate to complain, but “REALLY”? I was counting the hours till Monday rolled around where they were able to remove it. Urologist says sometimes the anestesia will put your bladder to sleep were it would not function after a few days. Then three days later I was in the ER for severe abdominal pain, a raging urinary tract infection and to top it off a yeast infection (because of the antibionics I was taking). The antibionics were not working for the urinary tract infection at all so they put me back on CIPRO. The constipation was from taking the pain medication. I recommend you taking Miralax – IT WORKS. They also gave me morphine for pain and something for gas and nauseous. The stent is still causing me allot of discomfort. Pain in my back where my kidneys are, vaginal pain and I can not hold my urine too long or the stent will back up and cause a great deal of pain. Bottle line I need to be near a restroom or I will be in allot of trouble. I urinate all through the night and if I do not drink water, I get nauseous. The percocet is not working so they have sent me to a Pain Management Doctor. My next procedure is not until the end of November and I have to do something between now and then. The Pain Management Doctor has me on Fentanyl Transdermal Patch (change it every 3 days) along with the percocet for pain. I have temperary nerve damage because of the stent which is pressing on two nears along with inflammation in the stent area. I also take AZO Standard – for urinary pain relief. It turns your urine a crazy bright yellow/orange color but it works if you have burning while urinating. Oxybutynin (DITROPAN) helps with the bladder spasm and that works as well. So far things are calming down a bit for me but I have to hold on till my next procedure in hopes that they will remove the second stent and everything has healed. I am not pain free, but its better now. I will keep you posted. I must say – I love this site because I am able to share what I am going through. Also reading everyone’s stories has been a true blessing and to know that I am not along.
I had my stent removed this afternoon. A few hours later began experiencing severe pain in my right kidney. I still cannot find comfortable position to lay down in. I had some Vicodin left over from my ureteroscopy and I have taken one but the pain persists. How long can I expect to feel this bad?
I had the stent for 7 month and had it removed 3 days ago.
Pain was excruciating , string dropped into bladder and doc needed to go deeper to grab it :o( .
Ffortunately he got it out in 2 minutes.
Blood in urine after that and unbearable burning sensation which lasted fortunately only 16-18 hours .
The worse thing was that I had to drink a lot of fluids to clear the blood and blood clots which made me empty my bladder frequently and put me repeatedly through this torturing burning ordeal !
Here is how the procedure went for me this morning, after giving one cipro pill for infection, putting the gown on, I lay on the table, a very comforting female nurse wipes my penis down with some kind of iodine, then she inserted my entrance with some kind of numbing fluid using a smooth plastic syringe, the doctor comes in and starts to insert the camera into the entrance as I watch the show on the video screen, I feel most of the sensation as the camera enters the Bladder, around this time my eyes start to water, I don’t know, perhaps out of fear or perhaps out of me being so grateful of the care that was giving to me, also perhaps I am a wimp and the little troubling sensation I was feeling was freaking me out, A little cloudy the doctor says as the camera seemed to search for the stent and perhaps got a little lost in my bladder, turn the cable a little that way the doc says to the nurse, oh, there it is, as I watch the grabber grab the stent end and zoop, out it came, just like that, the nurse shows me the temporary body part that saved me from all the past pain, The doctor said, John, you never had a stone in you, it was a scab of some kind,
( Hydronephrosis ) as he called it, I go for a cat scan next month to make sure all is clean sailing,
I went to visit a dieing friend in WPB Florida, I ended upmyself in the ER with a passed stone, as they said, sent on 5 hour drive home with pain releivers, it was a very interesting ride, ended up in another ER, I guess I had blood clots in the Kidney, as this ER said, lots of pain, but great care in the hospital, I have a stent inside my body for two weeks now, it has become a part of me, it will be comming out tomorrow morning, I expect all to go well, but it makes me a little nervous thinking how it will come out.
First let me say that I feel so blessed to have found this site as it has been very helpful and informative. I went in last Wednesday for what I thought would be a stone removel and it ended up being a tumor on the wall of the bladder. The good news is that it was caught very early, the doctor got all of it and no additional treatments, such as chemo or radiation are needed. I have a stent from the bladder to the kidney since the tumor was close to the ureter opening and he was concerned it might close or narrow as the tissue grows back. I go in about 3 weeks from now to have it removed.
It really doesn’t bother me but I will be glad to get it out. The dang catheter was the most painful thing I’ve ever experienced and I have passed one previous stone. This site is a real blessing for those of us that haven’t been around the block as many times when it comes to these issues because of the true insight others are sharing.
I know that I plan on making some real changes including diet (staying away from too much fried food, cokes, etc) and a little exercice plus lots and lots of water. Thanks again for this site and all the contributors.
I had several kidney stones removed (or pulled out at the doctor said..). The largest one was 9mm and had been blocking. He later old my son that he was pretty sure I am stone free now. Before the surgery the doctor told me that I could remove the stent myself “in a few days.” I neglected to ask him how many days is a few days. I left the state and came back home today. The surgery was 4pm Friday. Can I reasonably expect to pull this thing out on Monday? The sooner the better because there doesn’t seem any way I can tolerate this thing any longer than that. Maybe Tuesday but beyond that I’m not sure. Many advice would be greatly appreciated. A few days sounds like 3 days to me.
The doctor did reach me and mentioned Monday or Tuesday. But he told me it was not “for the faint of heart.” He said one smooth motion, hold your breath and count to 15. I will do that but I think I will take 2 Percocet 30 minutes before.
I had a stent removed on Wednesday and it was a fairly easy process, but 20 minutes after, I was experiencing pain that was out of this world and non-stop vomiting that landed me in the ED getting fluids, zofran and morphine. These so called spasm have me crying and curled into a ball in terrible pain. The pain medicine oxycodone makes my stomach cramp and makes me nauseated on top of what im dealing with. How can these terrible kidney spasms be eased?
Severe pain occurring after stent removal has not been well studied but one recent publication suggests that it may occur in half (55%) of patients. In a study by Tadros and colleagues, patients having their stents removed were either given placebo or a single 50mg dose of the NSAID rofecoxib (brand name Vioxx) 15 minutes before their stent removal procedure. 6 of the 11 patients (55%) given placebo developed severe pain after their stent removal while none of the 10 patients given rofecoxib developed pain. While this was a small study, it currently is the only evidence available on how often this phenomenon occurs. It further suggests that a single dose of a NSAID (non steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) may be very effective at preventing this painful event. Further research will be needed to confirm the findings.
You should know that rofecoxib was withdrawn from the US market in 2004 due to concerns about cardiovascular side effects so it is no longer available. The authors report that they now use 220mg naproxen instead. While this information comes too late to help you, hopefully if you ever need a stent again you can discuss this option with your urologist.
REFERENCE: Tadros NN, Bland L, Legg E, Olyaei A, Conlin MJ. “A single dose of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) prevents severe pain after ureteric stent removal: a prospective, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial”. BJU International, 2012.
had my stint removed 9/26/12.was easy no pain..But afterwords,lots of pressure.and mild pain.Next day a little sick nausea.how long does this last
Within the last two months I found out I have a large kidney stone on my left kidney. The size is 20mm, huge! The urologist suggested removing my kidney. They ran a test and my left kidney is only fuctioning at 15%. I want to try and save what is left so the urologist suggested a cystoscope with a laser to break the stone up with a stint to help the kidney drain. He has warned me that the stent will be painful. We can only hope that the kidney will regain more fuction after the stone is removed. I am scared to death to have this done.
This is the worst part: I went to the Dr in 2005 with a back injury. She ordered a CT Scan. The person that read the scan noted that I have a small kidney stone in my left kidney. The doctor never said anything about it to me. Between 2005 – 2012 I went to the ER four or five times with sever pain in my side and my stomach. The ER doctor never ordered w-rays, ct scan, nothing. They gave me Cipro and Norco and sent me home.
My urologist believes this is the same stone that was seen in 2005. I have had this stone for seven years and I am mad as hell that no one thought to look just a little further….maybe I would have more kidney fuction if this stone was taken care of a few years ago….
Hi Lily – That is the exact same thing that happened to my husband. The stone is much smaller (7.5 mm) but his kidney function was at 5%. They just placed the stent and he is really suffering. We may be making a trip to the ER shortly as he has been throwing up and getting the chills. His temperature is slowly rising and I fear a massive infection. The doctor said the stone (which is stuck) has been there “a very long time.” My husband has been to doctors repeatedly with back and stomach problems. He’s been given muscle relaxers, dietary advice, sent for upper endoscopy, colonoscopy, sonogram of stomach and gallbladder, yet no one thought to rule out kidney stones. The last doctor told him he had IBS. I was pretty mad because I knew that wasn’t what was wrong. It was a trip to the ER from excruciating pain that finally led to the diagnosis.
I guess now days you have to be your own advacate when you go see a doctor. There really is no reason that so many of us have to suffer like this. My left kidney fuction is 15% the doctor told me lots of people live with only one kidney. That must mean there are a lot of usless doctors out there not doing their jobs. Best wishes to your husband, it takes time to get back to normal and feel like you can enjoy life.
I have a stent in a week now. Pain when urinating , pressure and urgency when not sitting,pain and spasms.over this!!!!! Stent comes out Thursday,in doctor office and I am nervous bc last one I had removed I was out. Will I have complications after its out or during? I am sorry bt that space is very small to be “digging” for a stent
i too have had a stent in for 2 weeks now and are due to have it removed on tuesday and i too are suffering the same symptoms as you describe exactly the same still no better after 2 weeks i am also very worried about been awake to have the stent removed can anyone say that its not painful please im not a whimp ive had lots of painful things done but as this area is already in pain i am dreading it 🙁
Stent- I’m on my second stent. Last one was for 2 weeks and it drove me nuts. Pain plus – the removal was a sinch. I wated the tv while he put a scope in and grabbed it. One Two THree. NOW I have another stent in for 4 weeks – and I don’t feel it as much – they said it’s larger and synthetic I think. It comes out finally on Oct. 4th (been in since 9-5) one month. I do feel pain once in a while in lower stomach area above groin -but otherwise this one feels much better than the last. I had kidney stones the first time- in May 2012- emergency blasting – then developed a stricture (scar tissue closing up the area where urine passes) had to have laser cut through the scar tissue (out patient) and that was severly worse than kidney stone pain for 5 plus days. While taking strong pain pills. Hopefully when this stent is removed – the stricture will NOT keep growing back. My life has changed 100% in 4 mos.From the most active person to slow down person.
Hi just had my stent removed today, had it in for 2 wks ,it took about 2 mins to remove.A bit painful and a lot of pressure, but it wasnt really bad walked of out the room OK…now on my couch taking pain meds. Good luck and try not to worry because its really not worth it.
Well. I’ve never had a kidney stone, but I felt this was worth sharing.
I went in on Aug 1st for a Laparoscopic Hysterectomy (In/Out Surgery) and woke up and was unable to urinate. They kept me in the hosptal overnight because I was unable to urinate. The next morning I still had the same problem so they did a in/out catheter which I would not advise done while you are awoke. (It was very painful). They released me anyway. I was sent home with Antibionitics, Motrin 600, Tylenol #3 and DITROPAN XL for bladder spasm. This was on a Saturday. The pain just got worse and worse. I was going to go to the ER but luckly I found some Vicodine from a previous surgery and I started taking them. I was taking the Vicodine around the clock. By Monday I called my doctor and he wanted to see me right away. I could not have gotten to his office fast enough. He decided to do a C-Scan and urine test and blood work. I was in so much pain. I felt like urine had gotten in my stomach because I felt sick to my stomach. I had thrown up several times. The next day my doctor informed me that while doing the hysterectomy my urethral was injured. He also referred me to a Urologist which I saw the following day. I took another C-Scan for more pictures. By the time I got to the Urologist Office I was wheeled in by a wheel chair. I was in no shape to walk. I was in so much pain I could not even think straight. The Vicodine stopped working. I cried for him to give me oxycodone and he did. The Urologist informed me that he needed to place a stent in my urethral the following day. The pain was so unbareable. I was nausea all the time, I had major pain in my left side of my back, I felt like I had to urinate all the time and nothing would come out when I tried to go, I felt like I had a bladder infection.
They scheduled me for the stent placement the following day at a hospital and they put me to sleep (thank god!!!!!). I went home later that evening and as the days went on, there were additional issues added to the ones I already had prior to having the stent placed.
There was a constant pain where the stent was placed, I had blood in my urine, was having spasms in my bladder, major pressure after I urinated, I could not tell when I needed to urinate which caused me to leak (sorry to be so detailed), I tried to urinate and could not go most of the times. Sometimes it would take me over 1 hour to finally urinate.
It is five weeks later and the pain has improved as well. After two hours of any activity, blood would return in my urine and the pain would return. I am off of the heavy meds, but I still take Motrin 600 and over the counter Tylenol. I’ve been taking Tylenol PM at night to at least get some rest, because I wake up in the middle of the night at least twice the urinate.
I am scheduled for a Cystoscopy on October 4th at a hospital, in hopes that my urethral has healed and my doctor can remove the stent. The Urologist will be putting me to sleep for this procedure.
After reading all of the stories about everyone eles Cystoscopy procedure, I feel alittle uneasy, but I will keep it moving and be positive.
I will update you on the procedure after I’ve had it.
I has a similar situation. Went for abdominal hystorectomy on 10/1/12. The left uretor was nicked and the right one cut during the surgery. I am furtunate that the doctor discovered this befor closing me up. He called in a urologist and stents were instered into both uretors. They sent me off to recovery with an abdominal drain on my right side so the urine flowing into my abdominal area could be drained. Once in recovery they dicovered the right stent fell out. I was awake at this point. They took me back into the OR and insterted another stent. I was in the hospital 4 nights instead of one but have been home recoevering sinces. I am scheduled 11/19/12 to go back to the hospital to have the stents removed. They are a bit uncomfortable and today I had very sharp pain in my back on both sides. They kind that takes your breath away. I’m not sure what caused that but I am looking forward to having them removed and trying to get back to “normal”.
How have you been since yours were removed?
hey i have been reading everyones post about stent removal being painful in some cases and having it removed in your doctors office etc well i have had a stent inserted since feb 14 i had a urinary tract infection that caused my left kidney to become infected so thats my reason for the stent and i have to have it removed every 3 months or so. so thursday im going back in to have it removed once again. i did have some weird feelings while having the stent such as not being able to hold my urine and if i did hold it for a split second it cause me to be in such pain but other then that i have had a smooth go with the stent and i have never been awake while its being removed i have been asleep throughout insertion of the stent as well as removal of the stent with minimal discomfort after anesthia wore off was givin cipro and oxycodene for pain there was a mild burning sensation but it was unbearable and didnt last for about the first 2 days or so
i meant to say the pain wasnt unbearable and the burning sensation only lasted about 2 Days tops with lil to no blood in the urine
Last week I went to the emergency room with horrible pain on the left side of my back i have had a few kidney stones before so i knew thats what it was but for some reason it was much worse and oxycodone wasnt touching the pain they did a ct scan and i had a 7mm kidney stone that was blocking my ureter which was causing me to be sick from the toxins building up i had the cystoscopy and they pushed the kidney stone back into my kidney and put the stent in and im scheduled for litho but now exactly a week later i have severe pain in my left side and back, i have had discomfort from the stent but this is unbearable. whats wrong? should i go to the er?
I can’t beleive what happened to you today. I was found to have a 6mm left lower uteral kidney atone last Thursday and I was told I would be seeing urologist today. He would do a cystoscopy and let me know what he would be doing. I got to his office, across at 8:45AM and was in surgery at 10:30AM. He didn’t make me wait and I wasn’t having much pain, it was just aggravating having to go to the pot all the time.
They put in a stent and I am fine, no pain what so ever. No pain pills. I get it out next Thursday.
I guess I am lucky or have a GREAT DR.
JO
Hey everyone! Got my 9-week-old stent out this afternoon (finally and thankfully!). It wasn’t too bad, actually; seriously just felt almost like a Pap smear procedure. He couldn’t wrestle the damned stent out on the first try and had to go back in and do it again, which worked (thank God!). I’m just curious; is it normal to pass clots after the procedure and bleed a bit with that? I’ve gone to the bathroom three times since the procedure, this last time though, when I went to the bathroom I passed a larger clot than I have since the stent was put in and there was quite a bit of blood. It didn’t hurt or anything, but I wasn’t sure if it’s normal. It would make sense, considering something was just all up in me pulling stuff out, I just need reassurances that I’m not the only one! lol! Anyone have an experience like this before??