Even though different people respond to stents in different ways, I suspect anyone who’s ever lived with a ureteral stent remembers the experience. I have had two, and both were, indeed, memorable.
Prior to undergoing a pyeloplasty, (a surgical procedure to correct a urinary tract obstruction) I was informed that a stent would be in place for about seven weeks. I also recall being told, or perhaps reading, that such stents cause “discomfort” in some patients. In my mind the term “discomfort” equates to nothing more than an annoyance or a nuisance, so going into the surgery I was not overly concerned. For the first couple of days following surgery, perhaps because of post-surgical pain killers, it seemed the stent would be absolutely no problem. I could hardly feel it. “This will be a piece of cake,” I thought.
Then, shortly after going home, I became increasingly aware that some apparently sharp object was attempting to drill a hole through the wall of my bladder. In fact, the image of a shish-kabob skewer came to mind. At the same time, there was the sensation that something was tugging on my right kidney, trying to pull it down from its usual location. It was difficult to find comfortable positions…and it felt as though gravity was becoming my worst enemy. Urination was frequent and painful, and my urine continued to be bloody for the entire seven weeks. Involuntary tears came to my eyes and waves of nausea were common. Finally, I discovered that sitting in a recliner and tipping it back approximately half way seemed to relieve the worst of the pain, and that allowed me to get a little sleep at night.
After seven long weeks, I welcomed the removal of that first stent. A generous application of lidocaine made the procedure entirely tolerable, and I watched on the monitor as the stent was grabbed and the upper curly-cue began its descent down through the ureter. Once I was free of the stent, the relief I felt far surpassed the minor discomfort associated with its removal.
About a month later, I accepted a second stent with guarded optimism. This one was placed following lithotripsy for a 1+ cm stone in my left kidney. It seemed logical to me, since this ureter was not compromised or swollen, that this stent should not hurt nearly as much as the first. Unfortunately, I was wrong about that. Once again, the same familiar painful and distressing physical sensations returned. And once again I sought relief in the recliner. The stent allowed stone fragments to pass, but I was elated to be rid of it after only three weeks.
The second stent experience left me with a new determination to do everything I could to prevent future stone formation. If making a few adjustments, such as drinking much more water each day, can prevent new stones and another stent placement sometime down the road, then I was ready to change old habits. Accepting the inevitability of new stones, then treating them as they become problematic, is no longer acceptable. My new plan is to be well-informed and pro-active and do all I can to discourage new stone formation. In fact, it’s the vivid memory of previous painful stents that continues to be the most powerful motivator. In a way, then, those stents are still serving a most valuable purpose, and I should remain grateful for them.
Editors note: Bonnie writes about her experiences as a stone patient in her posts. If you have experiences as a patient you would like to share, feel free to add a comment or send her an email at: ask@kidneystoners.org
As I am a doctor I thought I might share my experience of having kidney stones and two stents; the first to prepare the kidney for laser, the second to rest the kidney and ureter following the trauma. The second stent came out yesterday and provided instant relief from the discomfort of the stent, although I still have some loin pain probably attributable to the trauma of three urological procedures over two weeks, that is bruising and swelling in the ureter and the junction of the ureter and the kidney. I found a small dose of NSAID helpful in managing this. My urologist removed the stent for me..I would not recommend self removal unless your access to a urologist is problematic. For a lot of people access to a urologist is delayed for too long as these blogs suggest and self removal seems easier than waiting for an inordinate length of time. I admire people who do it themselves but I am not one of these. I am now prepared to do it for my patients if the urologist gives me the go ahead in order to spare them a long wait. I think it is part of the caring role and I was grateful that my urologist here in Australia was so obliging and sensitive to this. Apparently stents have been a game changer, at least for urologists, in the treatment of stones but it is hard not to see it as somewhat barbaric. Research is now aimed at improving stent tolerability. I wish that a lot of research money could be directed into making patient’s lives more comfortable but I doubt that stents are ever going to be a good experience.
For me, with a 13 mm oxalate stone and two smaller ones successfully treated, the future is now about plenty of fluids in the hot environment that I live in and some dietary awareness about salt, oxalates and the like. All in all, a very humbling experience.
My experience with the stent is quite different…1st of all I feel it in my bladder…but it seems to be rubbing on something…possibly my prostate that is making my personal time with my fiancee better than I have ever experienced before….part of me doesn’t want the stent out….funny how each of us have a different experience no matter how much one sided an experience looks…I have a 7mm stone still in that will be treated with shock wave therapy…wish me luck…in the meantime I will be very busy 😉
Ice packs between my legs and held to my right side, and curling over rolled, hard pillow. The heating bad when it started getting a little better.
First, thanks to all who posted before me. Very informative.
This was my first kidney stone. A nasty little sucker, only 4mm, but what a headache. It first flared up on a long drive after Christmas with a dull ache and some blood in the urine. Saw my primary care doctor and she said I probably passed a small stone. Two weeks later I was treated with a repeat. A couple days after that, the stone moved and then the REAL pain hit…hard. Ambulance ride, emergency room, oh joy.
Once they got the pain under control I got 2 percocets and was sent home. An hour later the pain went through the roof again. Percocet didn’t do a thing, so back into the ER. They were nice enough to have cleaned my ER room from earlier and I got assigned the same room. This time they wanted to keep me overnight, but no available rooms, so a 30-minute transfer to another hospital.
CT scan revealed the stone had entered my ureter. Best thing was to try to flush it out with constant IV bags. I ended up staying in the hospital for 3 days. At that point, we finally got the pain under control with oxycodone and I went home. A few days later on a Monday I finally saw a urologist. He suggested LOTS of water to try to pass the thing, keep taking the oxycodone, and because my pain was very bad he would schedule a uteroscopy on Thursday. OK. Hopefully wont’ come to that.
Needless to say, the stone ended up being stuck so it was a good thing the surgery was scheduled. A whole 15 minutes of surgery, stone completely removed, stent put in. I woke up in recovery, like everyone else here after a uteroscopy, needing to urinate but I just couldn’t do it lying down with the nurse next to me. When they moved me to the recovery chair was when it felt right so I went into the bathroom (door somewhat ajar with the nurse outside) and had the most frightening/painful/bloody experience of my life. In retrospect, it was probably a good thing they didn’t tell me that was going to happen because the apprehension and anxiety probably would have made it worse.
Over the next 7 days of having the stent I agree with just about everyone – the stent is worse than the stone. Huge pain every time I urinated with occasional blood. The burning sensation thankfully only lasted about 24 hours. I couldn’t wait to get this stent out of me. Once again, thank you oxycodone for keeping the pain from killing me.
Finally the week was over and I went to have the stent removed. I think because I knew a bit about what was going to happen during the cytoscopy I made myself a little too nervous. It was somewhat painful and extremely weird but the Doc got the stent out in just under a minute. With all my muscles tensed up the entire time I was a little sore. Then the bathroom trip. I knew what was coming. Burning sensation, but, no bladder or kidney pain!
It’s now been about 6 hours from the stent removal and I’m happy to report I almost feel normal. For everyone dreading the aftermath, well, everyone is different. For me, getting the stent out has been just fine so far. The first urination at the doctor’s office was bad but not horrible, probably because of the lidocaine. The next one at home I was almost crying. Subsequent bathroom trips, better each time. No constant feeling like having to go and no constant ache. I’m looking forward to my first night of half-decent sleep in a long time.
This is my 3rd stone. I am 55 and 1st stone was in left kidney, when I was in early 40’s. Was very uncomfortable, but didn’t require anything more than high dosage Ibuprofen (800mgs.) After lithotripsy, everything was fine, and passed a lot of “sand”. My 2nd stone was in my right kidney this last summer. Again, not horrible pain, but needed to have it crushed, as it was stubbornly lodged in right kidney. After lithotripsy, only a portion was blasted off, leaving some of it still in kidney. After a week, the pain subsided and I was pretty much back to my normal self. Well, said all that to tell you this: I am presently typing this at 2am. with horrendous right kidney pain, after having the stent removed earlier yesterday! This 3rd stone was a bad one, since it was “obstructing” the ureter. My urologist lasered the stone while I was under general anesthesia. Both before and after procedure, I was in a lot of pain, and I kept vomitting, due to pain killers I was given while hospitalized 3 days. A stent was placed in me to help kidney drain properly. Had it in 3 weeks, with minor discomfort (pokes, frequent urination, blood in urine, cramping, and the likes). The removal of stent was okay… although my kidney felt “sore” afterwards. Well, I will never have one of those put inside of me again with the pain I am now experiencing!!! Much worse than the kidney stone pain! I took hydrocodone and 800mg’s Ibuprofen about 2 hours ago… barely touching the pain that I’m experiencing. Am praying that ureter and kidney will heal quickly. NO MORE STENTS for this old gal… my 1st and LAST experience with a stent!
Hello
I am a 48year old female who last week had a 7mm stone removed by laser and basket . I also had a stent placed to allow for the fragments of remaining stone to pass. My first round with a kidney stone was 24 years ago. That stone passed on its own leaving only scars on my memory from the extreme pain.
I have a long history of bowel obstructions most secondary to adhesions. My biggest concern is my pain and need of pain pills. I am only having cramps similar to menstrual symptoms most constant. Spasm pain when I pee which is more than usually do with slight burning too. I think I have everything under control but the cramps . The Advil helps but not enough so I take hydrocodone and it helps but i am worried that it will impair my digestive system. I took a strong laxative so also cramping from that. Trying to figure out how to get through next week at work. I get the stent out on thurs. Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated.
My urologist prescribed Milk of Magnesia since so many other laxatives cause cramping. Milk of Magnesia is the best laxative I’ve been on. (I am 55). I, too, had “menstral type cramps” while stent was in. Now that it is out the menstral cramping has gone away after 2 days. I will tell you, that after having the stent removed, my kidney went ballistic on me and I was in more pain than with the kidney stone… I took hydrocodone, but it didn’t even touch the pain, so I went on this website, and saw that others had the same problem after having the stent removed. They suggested Ibuprofen in large dose. So, after getting over fear of messing things up even worse, I went ahead and took 800 mgs. of Ibuprofen on top of the Hydrocodone, and had a heating pad on top of my side while I tried to get over the horrendous pain. IT WORKED!!! Finally got some sleep (about 6 hours). I am currently 2 days after having stent removed, and am taking it easy by just drinking a lot of water, ate a light breakfast, lying down, sitting and watching You Tube, and generally taking a “sick day” for much needed rest. I am on an antibiotic to help ureter stay infection free. Hope this helps you 🙂
Rather stones and stent. Any advise for pain caused by stent
Thanks for the tips. My stent has only been in for 5 days and it is driving me nuts. Stent is worse than stone. Next time I will wait it out before getting a stent.
The longest I have had a stent was one week and that is a week from hell I never want to repeat. I had been having sever back pain for a few months before it became unbearable and forced me to the ER. Found out a stone had been blocking my left kidney for quite a while. Due to an infection I had to have a stent to drain the kidney before I could go in for a ESWL. Worst week ever. Hurt way more than the stone. Basically cried everytime I went to the bathroom! Awkward. Didn’t go to work or class. Once I had the ESWL and the stent removed I felt amazing! I never want to go through that again!
I was so glad to find this blog and comments on this topic!
I am a 31 yea old female.had my first stone when I was 23 or 24. Some apparently I have tiny internal organs, the stone just stayed put. I had a ureteroscopy (basket) to take it out and that’s where my relationship with my hospitals urology group began.
Long story short, I was constantly getting UTIs, then when I peed, I felt like it just wasn’t emptying. Then nausea began and severe back pain. Which led to the diagnosis of UPJ in 2009 when I had my pylplasy and first stent. I had it in for 5 weeks and it was the worst time of my life. I took 3 weeks off from work but went back with stent still in and was crying every day.
I had a second surgery on December 26, 2012- an endopylotemy with a stent. I’ve been taking norco, pyridium 3 times a day, and Detrol LA once a day(which is a drug I found on these posts that u should make your doc give you a script for!). I have 2 more weeks until it gets taken out. I am covered at work under our FMLA – thank god.
Anytime I walk for more than 5 minute, I’m an uncomfortable mess and just want to be in the bathroom because of all the stent poking. The best thing to do is to drink water, REST (my only comfortable position is legs up and on my chaise), take your meds, avoid long periods of working or walking. And for the first week and a half – A HEATING PAD WAS THE MOST ESSENTIAL! I don’t think I could gone through the first hellish week without a super hot hearing pad wrapped around my abdomen and side. Trust me on that one- you will thank me!
ye ive had mine in for about six mouths now and still getting the ppain and im only 20 got kidney problums and just found out i just got a kidney stone john
I had a ureterscopy with laser lithotripsy yesterday. Took them 3.5 hours. Large (14mm) hard stone. Turns out it was spiky and blocking my kidney. I thought the past few months of pain was the worst thing ever but this stent is really tough. I just started on something for the bladder spasms but the constant sensation of having to go and the pain in my kidney when I go is bringing me to tears. Pain killers are pretty useless but I’m taking them anyway.
I’m trying to figure out the most comfortable way to rest- any suggestions? I do know whenever I stand up I have to go to the bathroom!
Thanks all.
I am an ER nurse and have had MANY encounters with patients coming in with kidney stones. Never did I think I would have the joys of experiencing one of my own. I had an 8mm stone removed 2 weeks ago via cystoscopy and then had a stent placed for a week. I did have some discomfort while the stent was in (burning with urination and flank pain intermittently), but the pain upon removing it was far worse. The urologist said it was the hardest removal she had ever done. I guess I was really swollen and I am very petite to begin with. On top of that I got a urinary tract infection that I assume was the cause of the majority of the extraction pain. About 8 hours after the stent was removed I had excruciating flank pain but before returning to the ER, decided to phone the urologist on-call. He said usually this pain is due to inflamation and that my ureter was basically so constricted that it was causing pain and pressure in my kidney. The stent was the only thing keeping it open. He told me to take 2 Lortabs (hydrocodone with tylenol) and 800mg motrin as well as the flomax I had been prescribed. Then I waited it out (didn’t want to add to my thousands of dollars I’d already given this pesky stone by returning to the ER) and finally the pain subsided. Since then I have been essentially pain free. Yay! I don’t think my experience is typical, but in case you have post stent removal pain, try pain meds and if that doesn’t help you may have to have the stent replaced 🙁 Needless to say, I have a lot more sympathy for my stone patients! Warm blankets and pain meds for everyone!
I had gone in for laser surgery to remove a 9mm kidney stone (apparently the Doctor could not get to the stone, so he placed a stent – both kidneys to re-align the urinary tubes to give hime easier access to the stones- and made an appointment for me to return in 6 to 8 weeks).
When I came out of recovery, and the pain killers started to wear off, I felt very uncomfortable. The sensation of sometyhing sharp against the wall of my bladder and the constant feeling of urination was and is painful. My urine continues to be bloody.
I feel miserable, missed some family funtions, don’t feel like going out etc. I go back in a few weeks to have the stone lasered. Unfortunately, I will have another pair of stents inserted for a further 3 weeks.
I can’t wait to get these things out of my body and get back to a normal life. In future, I will do whatever it takes not to have any more of these monstrosities placed inside me.
I currently have a stent in… It’s been a week and I have 2 more to go.
I have to agree, it is awful.. Cure is worse then the problem. I may need another placed and I really don’t want it. I’m contemplating just leaving the stone in the kidney. Did you have to take pain meds the whole time this was in? I keep hoping as time goes on it will get better.
I had a 6mm stone in May and only passed a 2mm part that broke off. I had another ER visit in August for the same stone that never moved. This Wed, just had it lasered and a stent put in. I am so miserable from the stent and can only echo the negative feelings listed. Part of it is my fault because I waited over 6 months to get into the MD. There was a lot of scar tissue/overgrowth around the stone so they literally had to cut it out. The MD reluctantly put in a stent with a string, then left for a conference. I was going to pull it today, but am now afraid after reading some of your comments of these being left in for 3 weeks. One thing for sure, I will be making some lifestyle changes as the pain and post-op discomfort REALLY SUCKS. The stent is worse than the stone.
i have had kidney stones for a while and in july i had astent placed ,it is the worst pain ever i cannot controll my bladder im in consant pain i feel sick constantly ,i have had to stop working as ican no longer cope because of the pain and lack of sleep ive gone from being active to a couch potato nothing easies the pain im finally having it out in 3 weeks .and will never ever have another put in again child birth was so easy to this so any one having one think twice xx
foe, after 8 of them and now im passing num 9. n its not fun, i will beg my doc not to put a stent in. i cant take it. they are horrible. i have passed a 7mm stone, it really hurt but i passed it. so after one is crushed well to sand, passing it is no prob. the stent just makes you feel horrible ad it sux coming out. so i say unless it has to be placed cause of damage or severe swelling, you really dont need it.
They can now grow a new ureta from your own cells. Can do bladders as well now.
Perhaps K.Bailey could investigate this new and exciting option ??
I am sitting in the hospital ward as I write this. This is my second stones “attack” in two months. Due to some awful doctoring from a locum, they tried to flush an 8mm stone through a 5mm ureta, without giving me anything to first dilate the ureta. The stone had two fearsome (medieval) barbs on it and it ripped the ureta to within a fraction of a rupture. The stent completely changed my entire physical functioning, I went from a healthy, happy chap to a disaster area within 2 days.
me to, i felt horrible.i cant explain it. my whole body got weak and i was pale,just felt sick on top of feeling the stent, n it hurt. ill beg doc tomoro not to put one in.
Omg how awful.
Thanks for all your posts. I am a 33yo type 1 diabetic who recently found out I have a 3-4mm stone in my right distal ureter. The urologist was trying to allow time for the stone to pass and has given me 3 weeks- with no results. I go back this week for a ct, and if the stone is still there they will need to do a ureteroscopy for stone removal with stent placement. After googling ureteral stent experiences- I AM ENTIRELY FREAKED OUT to say the least….not a single half way positive thing came up when reviewing peoples experiences. The thing is, is that I have only occassional light pain- I am concerned about trading the little pain i have now—for excruitiating pain. However, being that I am diabetic and the stone can eventually lead to kidney damage, I understand the urgency to get it out. Was hoping you all could provide some advise/support for a FREAKED out patient
I had sound wave luthro 17 months ago but no stent was placed. Now I am have similiar pain, not nearly as bad, as my previous 4cm stone caused. Is this normal??
bro, u probably have another stone. see a urologist
Hello as I am laying here i my bed at the hospital, I decided to do some reading on Kidney stones, as to find some things about stents, I am going in anytime for a stent to be put in. I am not looking forward to the pain that you all have had!! I shall write bak after the percedrure…. thanx
I found the stent to be super uncomfortable however, the bladder spasm I had after it was removed was Way worse then the stones, or the stent’
Hello Leann,
In a recent medical exam they discovered I had blood in my urine. They scheduled several tests to check for the reason of this. I ended up having an outpatient cystoscopy in which they placed a stent in the left ureter. All tests came out fine and I apparently just have very small ureters. The first night was HORRIBLE, Once I had enough of the pain killers in me I was able to rest for a few hours. The remaining part of the week was tolerable but I could not wait until the following week for it’s removal. Well, here I am 1 week post removal and I am still quite uncomfortable. I was not warned that I could experience this discomfort for this long. The constant feeling of having to urinate, the bladder spasms, the bloating, constipation, and just plain not wanting to leave the house is getting old!!!! I called my urologist and asked if this is normal and he informed me that it could be a few weeks before the swollen ureter could go back to normal after the stent had been in there. WOW, all this for a little blood in my urine which turned out to be nothing anyway!!!! I am losing patience on this matter for sure. Thanks for letting me vent…it helped!!!!
Tammy
I have had two stents. I did not like either experience. I had 3 surgeries in an 8 week span two summers ago and I call it my summer from HE–. The woman who helped me in the taking out of the first stent was very kind and gentle. The second one I thought I was being torn apart. I just couldn’t believe anyone could be that mean.
I had wanted to go to a convention the day I got out of the hospital. Those stents were so painful sitting hurt. Walking hurt. there was not comfortable position for me to be in. I feel for anyone who must wear these continuously
I have another serious health issue on top of the kidney stones so I was also concerned about that.
I have had stents several times after ureterscopy with laser lithotripsy. I have varied experiences. Sometimes the stent is excruciating and I bleed the whole time it is in. Other times it gives me twinges when I move in different positions. When I have a stent, I try not to lift, stretch, bend or do anything other than minimal walking. If I start to have blood in my urine, I know have overdone it, and I cut back on my activity.
Every stent causes painful, frequent urination. I use pyridium when I have a stent and it helps some with the discomfort.
Having had two ureteroscopies for stuck larger stones, and having passed several smaller stones without medical intervention, the worst thing to deal with in all of the above was the stent, in my opinion. Realize it was necessary but it was worse than the stones 🙂
As I can concur, having a stent is worse to me than most kidney stones I have passed. Unfortunately, I will never have my stent removed (except for the every 6 mos. cystoscopy/stent change out). I have cystinuria and lost my right kidney at age 7, at that time I was found to have this in my left kidney. Due to multiple cystoscopies, lithotripsies and (2) percutaneous nephrolithotimies (probably close to 100 stones) I am now left with a stricture in my ureter and hydronephrosis which my only way of not having kidney failure is to wear a stent. Due to my condition, there is not much hope of anything else. I have to deal with this daily, the excruciating pain, bladder spasms, blood in urine, urinating about every hour, burning and so on, along with sleepless nights, no way to truly get comfortable but I just take the pain meds as prescribed and bladder spasm pills and drink lots and lots of water. I have read where people get these stents and experience exactly what I experience (and I truly feel for them) but the good thing is they get it out and I never will. Thank you for sharing your story, I only wish mine would have your outcome! I would love to have my quality of life back, whatever that was, I’m not sure I know because this disease has pretty much been a lifelong event.
man read your part of the story wish you a good health man.i my self had a stent week and a half back for a 1.2 cm stone ,dr had written in his report that stone broken into smaller pieces but after a week of bloody urine now i have infection in urine but no blood .some time have little pain .the stent is to remain there for some time . as am in army so in coming days it might give me problem.i wish and pray that Allah help me along with you all
I feel for you and personally I could not accept a stent full time. There must be a surgical option to remove the stricture or even replace the ureter with either an artificial tube or other tube from within the body (blood vessel?). I’ve definitely heard of surgical options to replace destroyed ureters so options do exist (they may be no better than the stent option for all I know).