All about ureteral stents

I had surgery this morning to remove a 2cm stone. They were only able to get 50% of it and will be going back in on Wednesday to try to remove the rest. They put a stent in andit is killing me right now even with pain meds. I have tried a heating pad as well. Anyother suggestions? I don’t know if I can deal with this til Wednesday.

I’m 26 and just endured my first kidney stone. I was driving to school Wednesday 8/27/14 and began having pain in my left side/back. I thought I had slept wrong or hurt a muscle so I continued to school. During class the pain became unreal and I got nauseous. I went right to walk-in care where I was given Toradol, had a CT, and then was originally told to take Flomax, Iburpofen, and Cipro and try to pass it. My case was reviewed the same day by the urologist who said I had a 6.4mm stone that was almost to my bladder and needed to be broken up because the chances of it passing were not that great. So Thursday I had the procedure where he broke up the stone and placed a stent. So I am drinking tons of water, still taking Cipro, Flomax, and Ibuprofen as needed, and I am very nervous because I need to return to school Tuesday and there will be times where I won’t be able to make it to a bathroom for over an hour. Also, I don’t know if this stent removal will hurt and/or if I will be totally unable to function the day I get it removed, so I will have to work the removal around my school schedule!! (Isn’t that sad?? I had a cyst that needed to be drained a few months ago and had to put it off for 3-4 days because of school!!)
To anyone who has had a stent, especially females…what can I expect when its removed?? Lots of pain? Some pain? Will I be ok to function the rest of my day??
Also, to anyone that has had stents, should I avoid a lot of activity while I have it? Should I sleep a certain way? Should I keep my eyes peeled for any symptoms that may mean bad news? The doctors post-op weren’t much help.
Thanks in advance! Any info/insight is appreciated.

i just had 6mm stone removed and stent put in till the phenazopyridine which numbs bladder i would of died yesterday in pain i asked urologist for it.Best to help i can urinate and not cry also on hydromophone 2mg ,noproxen sodium 500 mg im in pain but can function pretty well but still bad discomfort but all the above is helping me cope with pain . spent 3 days in hospital on hydromophone iv 2mg every 4 hours please if your having bladder pain ask for phenazopyridine it numbs and does take away pain im writing this to help others it turns urine orange but well worth it ..I get alot of stones had 3 in last 4 months i feel bad now but things getting better so hope this may help others it worth to ask and get bladder spasm phenazopyridine comes 100 or 200 mg pills

Had blood coming in the urine and after a CT was diagnosed with a stone in the right kidney upper polar. My Urologist did a ureteroscopy under GA but could not remove the stone. Had EWSL done in three days and have been asked to come for a review in two weeks when the Urologist will decide about the removal of the st e by. I am now living with the uncomfortable nagging pain and the urge to urinate every hour, having to drink lot of water to make the urinating less painful. The bladder almost always feels full and the nightmare of having to go through one more procedure for the stent removal is real. Unable to sleep for more than a couple of hours in the night and having to get up to pee is driving me crazy at work. Just hoping that am able to put all this behind me once the stent is removed. Wishing everyone a speedy recovery.

Had partially obstructed/collapse utter to right kidney. Had 3 issues with kidney stones in a 20 year span. GP Ordered CT scan showing the utter was more obstructed now causing hydronephros (kidney retaining fluid). Refereed to urologist who after looking at CT scan referred me to urological surgeon. Had robotic surgery to install stent on 7/22/14 and after 3 days in the hospital went home and a day or two later the urine cleared up (no blood) and all was pretty much back to normal. Then about 4 days ago this constant urge of a full bladder started and is drinking me crazy. Could not go out socially for dinner or other events and causing distractions at work. Finally just showed up in my urologist office (one who did the surgery) and pleaded to have stent removed as it had been 4 weeks since it was installed. They agreed to move my removal procedure up a week from 9/04/14 to this Thursday 8/28/14. Had to leave work early today as I could not focus because on the anxious feeling to go pee. For the last two nights I had to go to sleep in a recliner chair as it was the only way to get comfortable. Eventually I would wake up and make it to bed for a few hours. I just wish Thursday would hurry up and get here. Apparently that is the day of the week the doctor has set aside for this procedure like Tuesdays is his surgery day.

I had 11 mm x 9mm stone in the left kidney and went through ESWL to break it into up. Had a stent inserted and the procedure went well. Had lots of blood coming out with urine during the first day but eventually cleared up. There is a discomfort on the left side of the kidney where the stent is but not as bad taking pain killers to manage the pain. Will have the stent removed in three weeks time.

I went to the hospital on July 16 2014 with horrible pain on my right side. they did an ultra sound the following morning and seen a stone lodged in the ureter. But because I was pregnant they weren’t going to do anything so I was sent home. But the pain became worse the next day so I went back in to the hospital and the doc sent me to a larger hospital to see a urologist. he decided to put in a nephrostomy tube. I healed from the surgery (which was horrible and painful because they could not put me to sleep) but I was pain free!!! I hated the tube and it was a pain to carry around with me but I wasn’t in pain! Then I received horrible news that I had lost the baby. At the same time my landlord is selling my house and I need to move out! So I contact the urologist and had them see me right away so I could have the stone and tube removed so I could get back to work and heal after this sad ordeal. On August 21/14 they removed the stone and put a stent in and I’m in pain!!!! I wish I had the tube back in!! I refuse to drink anything because I don’t want to urinate, it hurts so bad I cry and scream when I do urinate and I have to have it in for 6weeks! Someone please help ! How do I stop the pain? Will it go away? And can I have a bath to relax? After this whole horrible ordeal I just want it to be over!!!!

I had a kidney stone that was 1.4 cm in size. My urologist and I decided we would do the least invasive procedure ESWL- the shock wave treatment to blast the stone into smaller pieces so I can pass them in the urine. The problem was he could not see the stone very well so was not able to use the highest level to blast it. Instead of 1 huge stone, I now have 3 smaller ones and lots of gravel like stones passing which hurt terribly. The pain was like labor pains when I had my kids. I had to go to the ER and was given morphine before I finally got some relief. The following day, my urologist recommend I get a stent so the smaller stones can pass easier. Now they are passing with no pain but the stent causes me to feel like I have to urinate. I go to the bathroom every 30-60 min, or so it seems. Although I have medicine to help control the urge to pee, it doesn’t work 100%. I have to wear the stent for 3-4 wks then the urologist will go ahead and take out the 3 small stones in a more invasive procedure and also take the stent out. In hindsight, I would have skipped the shock wave treatment and should have just had him take the 1 big stone out even though the procedure was invasive. Good luck to all.

I had a kidney stone that was 1.4 cm in size. My urologist and I decided we would do the least invasive procedure ESWL- the shock wave treatment to blast the stone into smaller pieces so I can pass them in the urine. The problem was he could not see the stone very well so was not able to use the highest level to blast it. Instead of 1 huge stone, I now have 3 smaller ones and lots of gravel like stones passing which hurt terribly. The pain was like labor pains when I had my kids. I had to go to the ER and was given morphine before I finally got some relief. The following day, my urologist recommend I get a stent so the smaller stones can pass easier. Now they are passing with no pain but the stent causes me to feel like I have to urinate. I go to the bathroom every 30-60 min, or so it seems. Although I have medicine to help control the urge to pee, it doesn’t work 100%. I have to wear the stent for 3-4 wks then the urologist will go ahead and take out the 3 small stones in a more invasive procedure and also take the stent out. In hindsight, I would have skipped the shock wave treatment and should have just had him take the 1 big stone out even though the procedure was invasive. At least I am being treated and I know that within a month, I will be stone free. So my recommendation is this: if your stone is as big as mine was, skip the ESWL—save your self the pain of having the stones pass, and also the inconvenience and irritation of having a stent. I ended up going to the OR for the first procedure, then to the ER that night until 3 am, then back to the OR again the following day for the stent procedure. Good luck to all.

please someone help me. I must have a kidney stent in for three months. Does it hurt and cramp everyday? I do not mind the burning when urinating, but the cramps are bad all day. When does it get better? Please I am desperate. Love, Andrea

I have been dealing with kidney stones for a little over 20 years now and the pain from most have been unbearable, however I have always been able to pass them eventually.
I recently started seeing a urologist about this problem, because for years I haven’t had insurance and have always had to go to ER when the pain got too much to bear on my own. Upon seeing the urologist in May ’14, they found that I have stones in the right (4.4.mm) and left (1.1cm) ureters and I wasn’t able to get back in for follow up until July ’14 for the results and he immediately made arrangements to start surgical procedure, but wasn’t scheduled for the surgery till August 20,’14 and then they rescheduled for Sept.’14. The stone refused to wait that long and I ended up in the ER on Sunday at 2am. where they ran another CT scan only to find that the stone on the left side had not moved. They quickly admitted me to the hospital and whisked me off to surgery ours later where they used the scope and was unsuccessful in blasting it and also tried to dissolve it which proved useless, as well. The doctors basically said the stone was impacted in my ureter and there was alot of irritation and swelling surrounding it. Monday morning I was back in surgery where the doctor used CT scans to perform a Nephostomy or in layman terms inserted a tube directly into my kidney which allowed the urine to drain into a bag strapped to my thigh. Tuesday went by and things seemed to be getting somewhat better other than the soreness in my back. Wednesday came and the sent me back into special procedure and inserted a stent while I was wide awake and nothing for pain until the procedure was done. I was furious after I got back in my room and realized just how uncomfortable I was with this stent, because it is driving me crazy. I am at home now and though I still have port in my back it’s closed off and I am able to urinate on my own. I return on Thursday Aug. 23, ’14 for them to attempt removal again and I hope it is successful or I could end up wearing the “pee bag” on my leg for awhile and I am cool with that , but stent has to go. I have never felt so miserable in my life, running back and forth to bathroom and hardly producing anything, waking up in the middle of the night, the sticky feeling in my abdomen and just the overall thing has me grouchy and intolerable right now. I sympathize with anyone that has had to go through this or that will ever have to have this experience.

Just had a stent put in 3 days after finding a 7mm stone a month of misdiagnosed trips to the hospital. 2 days a go strong blood flow when urinating 24hrs after stent placement , incredible back pain when urinating almost unbearable. Found taking a deep breath before urinating and holding until finished helps control, relieve the pain. Tryed doing normal house jobs today to have bleeding return after being clear for 24hrs……dam it. I’m sure i can feel the stent which is uncomfortable, a scratching sensation in my left abdomen. Still cant handle wanting to pee every 1/2hr but i need that fluid coming in and getting out the kidney flowing again. Has any one else developed or found techniques to handle the symptoms of kidney stones and insertion of a stent. Thanks Dean

I had one of the worst cases of endometriosis in the country and had many surgeries in the past (about 12 in 15 yrs from age 18-30), but nothing for ten years now. I have been having stomach, pelvic and back pain for the last year which worsened very badly a month ago along with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. My dr took one look at me when I was taking my daughter for her appointment to see him and he sent me for an immediate abdominal CT scan. If you are having trouble getting a diagnosis, that is a good test for finding the problems. They found a ureter decompressed and one kidney enlarged, full of fluid, and dilated. I was referred to a urologist. Another suggestion: if you are getting a referral make sure it is to a urologist who performs surgery, and in fact if you can look them up in advance and find a good one covered under your plan, go to your doctor with a name. A good urologist is not always easy to find. I had quite a delay from dealing with a urologist who was really no more than a nurse practitioner who took my history and ordered a renal scan. She said I could just live with the problem if I wanted because my kidney was draining ok. It was like trying to pull teeth getting her to talk about the ureter stricture which my family physician and GI as well as the radiology doctor all said needed attention immediately and said the renal scan is not always the best test for findind the problem compared to the CT. Finally after pain was worsening she said I could go for a pylegram test (acting like it was my choice and I could say no). She had a terrible bedside manner and was not direct and honest with me, treating me like I was just being dramatic or something (despite the CT scan). 3 of my drs all said I had no choice, I needed something done quickly or I could have kidney damage so I told her I needed to do something. That’s when she finally admits that isn’t even qualified to do the procedures, and told me she just takes history and looks after you at the office. Anyway, I am going tomorrow for a pylegram but it seems they also intend to place a stent, although she said “they might have to place a stent” it is ordered as a stent placement and pyelogram. I appreciate all the comments from all of you who shared your experiences. Thank you for helping me understand what I can expect when the doctor I was seeing didn’t really take the time for that. So I am prepared for the possible complications and will be able to recognize infection because of you good folks. Thanks again.

Nine years ago I had classic kidney stone symptoms – flank pain more severe that any pain I had ever experienced (in my short 20 year life) that felt like a giant drill boring a hole right through my torso. I saw my GP, he said it was “constipation” and to take a laxative. I knew this wasn’t my problem and sought additional help. In all, I saw 7 doctors through walk-ins, ER and even specialists; had numerous tests yet no one could figure out what was causing the pain. I was left without a diagnosis and without any form of pain management – this went on and off for roughly 6 weeks.

On and off since then I periodically had “twinges” of discomfort which I knew was related to the pain I had previously – and was kidney related.

This past June I had a serve pain attack which was far too familiar – it was the same as 9 years ago. I drove myself to the ER shortly after midnight and waited in triage for 3 hours. After expressing concern numerous times about the pain I was experiencing and the number of time I was sick to my stomach (7), they assured me I was “next to get in”. I eventually passed out in the waiting area and never was called (nor did anyone tend to me while unconscious). When I came to, I felt the pain was subsiding and checked myself out to go home and get much needed rest (as everyone who suffers from stones knows it’s an all-encompassing “draining” ordeal).

I saw my *new* GP two days following. She felt it was “ovulation pain” and dismissed it rather quickly. I insisted on a urine test at minimum. She returned and said she was “far more interested now” because there was tons of blood in my urine (which I had complained to her about 6 months prior! She sent me for tests and discovered a 7mm stone and told me she wouldn’t refer me as it wasn’t 1cm in size and felt that I could pass it on my own. While she was on vacation I had a (wonderful) associate physician take note and refer me to a specialist the first day. The same day as she referred me, I spoke to the surgeon on the phone and he ordered I report for surgery the next day.

I had ureteroscopy with laser, but things were too inflamed as the stone had been sitting in my ureter for over a year and the surgeon didn’t want to risk permanent injury (which is appreciated as I’m only 30yrs old)! I’ve had a stent in for a month and returning for ureteroscopy #2 this week, and can’t wait! I want the stent out and I want to get on with my life! It was ok at first (the worst part was the residual pain from the catheter). But as the month progressed I found things to be more and more bothersome with little response to pain meds. There are some days I can barely stand. I don’t know if it in fact is more bothersome now or if it’s my tolerance is reduced.

If the inflammation hasn’t been resolved, they said they would leave it again for another month and go back for attempt #3, so I’m really hoping for good results because I don’t know how I’d manage another month. I sympathize immensely with those who have stents for months or even years!!!

Hi again. So I rang my doctor to ask if there was anything that they could prescribe for the constant urge to pee and it turns out that I have a UTI! It’s now day 4 of the antibiotics and the constant urge to pee has gone! I am sleeping and do not need to rush to the toilet every five minutes. I can also walk better knowing now that I am not going to have an accident! The symptoms of the stent are now bearable as well, vaginal spasming which is painful but more welcome than the peeing!!! I just wanted to suggest that the urgent peeing that we all seem to experience could well be a UTI and it might be worth seeing your GP. Take care guys x

Hi again, so I rang the doctor’s to see if I could get some medication for the constant urge to pee and it turns out that I have a UTI! It’s day 4 now of the antibiotics and they seem to be working! I’m sleeping better and am now experiencing only slight spasming in my genital area which are a breeze compared with peeing all the time! I just wanted to suggest that a UTI is possible and can be confused with stent side effects. I feel so much better and am so glad I rang my doctor. Take care x

I just got a 4.5mm kidney stone removed a couple of days ago. Due to the fact that I have multiple stones still in both of my kidneys the doctor stated it was best to leave the Stent in my ureter till I come back in a month to remove the rest of the stones. So far everything the doctor advised me of effects were correct about the Stent. I honestly don’t feel too much pain in my back or my vaginal area, but I do have some blood in the urine and slight discomfort. I feel the urgency to urine very frequently and I’m trying to drink as much water as my body wants me too. Thank god procedure went well and pain is bearable, now to go back and do this all over again.

I had my first experience with kidney stones this week. While traveling to Dallas to celebrate my 20th wedding anniversary, well we celebrate right in the ER where they discovered I had 6 mm stone lodged in the right ureter. It felt like I was dying and I’ve birth to two beautiful children. After traveling back to my home state, my urologist scheduled surgery immediately, the kidney stone was broken down for removal and placed uteral stent in place for a week befor it can be removed. Experiencing pain while urinating and still bleeding. I’m staying medicated round the clock to keep pain away!

Thank you for your comments on the stones. Born with a deformed kidney and only to find out after my second child about this. Since I was small I had pains that no one could find. Then the operation, after fixing the kidney, they removed loads of stones, some asbig as a marble. Now a few years later 9 stones in the left (deformed) kidney and 3 in the left one, the ones in the left “huge” it had time to grow for 5 years. And the kideny is blocked, Dr inserted the stent, yes what is worse the pain of the block or the stones or the stent ?? I thought it will not be a big deal. WRONG !! Difficulty in walking, sitting, going to the loo every few minutes, pain in the back, pain in the front feeling like someone stabing you, feels like labour but worse. Walking to much then it is bloody, Eating – no when the tummy is full it is painfull. In two weeks this stent will be out, and Dr will remove the stones, and no stent for me ever ever again. But still thankfull for the he help. STRONGS EVERYONE

I will pray for you, Bill D.

I feel for all of you people as I have had the worst experience of my life. One yr ago I thought I was having prostate problems. Blood started to show up in my ursine. After a CT scan discovered a small growth in my lower left ureter tube. I was told they were going to take a biopsy of it through a uretal scope. Instead they lasier blasted it and put a stent from my kidney to my bladder. For a solid week afterwards, every time I uranates not only did it burn like fire but blood and chunks of meat would come out of me like a water hose with air in it. It made such a mess I had to sit to urinate. They replaced the stent three mths later and I’ve been bleeding the whole time. Tomorrow, they are going to do it for the third time this yr! Wish me luck!

Hi,ive been suffering for years with kidney stones,which have all been lazered away except for one very large one.As its actually “stuck”,my surgeon decided a few years ago to leave it alone as its too large to break down and wont cause me any problems.A few months ago,i got that familiar pain again,returned to hospital,had xrays,and discover I now have a new kidney stone also.The prob now is there is no function in my right kidney and I got an appointment for removal on the 16th june,2014.I was nervous about the surgery but finally decided to just go aheadand have it done,and th hospital cancelled 2 weeks before.Im now waiting for another appointment but im very nervous about getting the op.

Had a ureteral stent fitted a week because of swollen kidney not a stone, I am getting horrendous indigestion felt like I was having heart attack, has anyone else had this side effect also having the back pain

Greetings, Only me, no a lot more besides. My 10mm stone was removed on the 24 June 14. I did not know that a stent had been ‘fitted’ until the 8 July. I had been told that the removal of the stone was routine and that I would be okay for work after 3 or 4 days. Still not back due to the pain when peeing, blood in the urine and cramps in the kidney. Urine sample show lots of small fragments floating about.

I was diagnosed with cancer after going to the ER with what I thought could be a kidney stone. After having test done, the doctor saw a mass that was wrapped around my ureter tube. Further test revealed a reoccurance of endometrial cancer. A stent was put into the ureter tube due to the mass causing blockage. I did not do well with the stent. I suffered with terrible pain. The pain I felt was in the vagina. I also have had severe issues with vaginal mesh. Since 2004, I have had 2 surgeries using the mesh. The mesh eroded into the vagina and bladder. I have had 4 surgeries trying the remove the mesh. I still have problems with the mesh. In addition to all of this, I have a rectocele (prolapse of rectal wall into vagina). With all of the combined issues, I suffer with terrible pain. I am constantly on pain meds. This has limited my daily activities tremendously. I am going to have to have this stent replaced, again, due to the pain it is causing.