Ureteroscopy

Had a uteroscopy yesterday, to remove what was supposed to be a 9×6 kidney stone, supposedly stuck at the entrance to my duplicate left ureter. They found no stone. Commented that they did not know what happened, and that I must have passed this large stone. Hard to imagine I would not have noticed.
Last night, and today, significant pain, inability to urinate any significant amount. Throwing Tylenol and heat at it, with little relief. Cannot get doc to call me back. 50 miles from the nearest urgent care facility and two hours from the hospital where I had this performed.
Any advice welcome.

Have you had your parathyroid checked? I just found out that I have Primary Hyperparathyroidism and it can be the cause of many health issues including kidney stones. My Endocrinologist just diagnosed me.

I have had kidney stones for about 15 years but no pain. I feel them on my right side but evidently pass them most of the time. My first one was a toilet full of blood. No pain. Had them removed from bladder. About 15 minute removal. Left , went tout to eat breakfast . Didn’t miss work except that day. Had the lithotripsy once when done in water, I was asleep. 2 years ago I felt I had them but ignored them thinking they will pass but got to not being able to urinate. Went to ER had scan and had over 20. No pain. The urology group was booked for 4 weeks so they found one doctor that could do in 6 days on a Friday. I went to out patient to complete papers on Wednesday and felt a little pressure down low. Went in on Friday at 7:AM and he got to me at 7:PM. Was back in room in about 10 minutes with my dtr laughing. Ask what wrong, said I had none to remove. Had passed on Wednesday while getting me ready for Friday.. The dr. Said I had a large stone in kidney that was throwing off pieces . Wanted to do lithorptsy then but I didn’t. I go this Friday to get it out. Not very big anymore. We need more urologist in this area. Have about 6 or 7 but not enough.

I had a Stent removed on 03/20/18 after 2 wks, but still continue with kidney pain/spasms. How long does this go on? Had laser litho for 16 mm on 03/08 with some sand remaining in upper pole of kidney

Why is there no accurate info on recovery time for ureterscopy for stone in upper pole of kidney with Stent placement. Stone was 16mm. MD office NOT helpful.

I have a 8mm on my left side , i go in for surgery on Tuesday the 6th there going to be doing the lazer blast , i am not completely convinced that that is the correct procedure. I have had several stones in the past i am 66 years old . I feel that all that is going to do is Leed to more treatments. I think that they should go up in there and completely remove it ,i know i am not the doctor but i have had one removed about 16 years a go and worked just fine . This seems to me that the DR . Is just looking for a way to make more money . Any opinions on my thoughts. Dan ..

My wife had a blockage last nov 22-no void for 2 days–went to emergency — catheter took care of blockage–ct scan showed stones in kidney and badder. Dr scheduled surgery. Has had catheter ever since–no blockage–never any pain. NOT EVEN WITH BLOCKAGE. I am 100% caretaker-caregiver. Getting along fine with catheter with nurses change monthly. Surgery delayed due to fever with cold and now urine infection. After reading above reports, maybe should forget surgery and continue with catheter. She will be 87 April 3. I am 89 May 1.At our age, should we risk full anesthesia and pain and suffering from all this and the stint? Help me decide!

I have had this surgery twice – second time much easier than the first, possibly because of a smaller stone. Here are some tips: for any burning pain or bladder pain, start taking Azo (otc) unless the doctor has given another prescription (pyridium). I did not know to take anything the first time and was not prescribed anything for the burning/bladder spasms which can be awful. After the first surgery I had the stent removed at the office (no string), for the second surgery I removed it at home. At home was much less painful, although a little scary. I ended up taking a double dose of pain medication and then removing in the shower. A heating pad really helps with back/kidney pain. I have had three stones this year so I am definitely looking to figure out the cause so as to not have to suffer through again.

I would like to share my experience with my stones. I have a 10mm stone in my left Kidney and a 14mm in my right. I have had these for around a decade now. I have not had a ounce of pain with the larger right stone and historically with my left I have had sporadic stabs of bearable pain. However during the last three months or so I have been having a intense really dull pressure pain in the left, with mild Hydronephrosis and nausea. My GP (general practitioner/ Doctor for those in north America) referred me to my Urologist who I saw Friday of last week 19 Jan and he took blood, checked my Prostate(I had blood in my urine) and arranged for me to have a KUB CT, which is booked for the 3rd feb and has placed me on the waiting list for a Ureteroscopy/fragmentation/stent insertion depending on the CT scan results. Previously i have had my fair share of procedures, including a emergency Bowel resection for severe perforated Diverticulitis (i have never felt pain like it) and was really very unwell, but i have to admit i am very nervous about my possible forthcoming surgery.

I had a large stone in January 2015, After 2 stent insertions -one pre op to keep urine flowing, and one post op for a week to give my body healing time. When I met with the on call urologist, he said what’s barbaric is lithotripsy, and he refuses to put his patients through such unnecessary pain. So he lasered the stone in my kidney, scooped out the sand and it was amazing! About 18 months ago in June 2017, the pain was back with a vengeance. The urologist that was on call that time said he doesn’t treat female patients and if I drank at least 2 litres of water per day, the stones he saw would be fine. That’s a load of BS. Early
October 2017, after doing much research on means, methods, statistics and patient feedback, I found the #1 top urologist in my Province (yes I’m Canadian). I saw the urologist on Oct. 19th, had a CT done a few days later and before October 20th I was in his office looking at the SIX stones in my right kidney. On October 31 I had a date scheduled for surgery to remove 4 of the 6 stones and would go under general anesthesia each time, November 7th to put stent put in and laser 4 stones taking the sand out too, then on November 28th to change stent and remove the other 2 stones. Then on Dec 5, check healing and remove the stent. My urologist (after I was under anesthesia) decided to laser and remove ALL SIX stones at once. I was under general anesthesia longer (145 minutes instead of 55-65 minutes) and the recovery is more painful, BUT, this means on November, 28th, I’m getting the stent out, and need nothing else done. Removal of the stent will mean no general anesthesia, no intubation, just some twilight sedation. I’m so grateful to have the top urologist, and grateful I live in Canada where I won’t get a bill or invoice for ANYTHING including pain medication in currently using.
❄️❄️ Something interesting, informative and helpful I was told by my urologist as well as many nurses and doctors is to use a soft ice pack in a towel or pillowcase on your kidney is much better than heat. I didn’t believe it at first, but OMG it works like a miracle! Try it!!❄️❄️

⭐TO THOSE WHO SAY THEY ARE ONLY DOING THINGS THE “NATURAL WAY” AND WOULD NEVER GO THROUGH ALL THIS INVASIVE PROCEDURES AND MEDICATION: I LAUGH OUT LOUD AT YOU. WAIT UNTIL YOU HAVE THIS EXTREME PAIN, AND YOU CANT PEE, AND ITS STARTING TO POISON YOUR BODY. JUST WAIT HAHAHA⭐

I had it done last year. 8mm stone stuck in ureter. Pain was unbearable. Opioids were useless although Toradol helped. Saw urologist who said I could wait for it to pass although “it wouldn’t pass in a month of Sundays on its own”. Not sure what that meant. But he said I was lucky. He only did surgery on Friday and was booked up but he had a cacellation for the following Friday. Went in with excruciating pain willing to do anything for pain to subside. Anaesthesiologist put mask on, said “have a good snooze”, next thing I knew I woke up in recovery (btw those people who say they wake up when put under are full of sh*t). Had real need to pee despite doctor emptying blatter and peed a ton of blood. Eventually went home pain pretty much gone, kept peeing blood but a bit less every time and then finally peed out a huge clot and pain completely subsided. 7 days after procedure went to get stent removed and doctor said I should have just removed it myself (yeah right). No issues since. Overall experience was rough but not as bad as others here. I think the key is to make sure you get a urologist who is confident and knows what he’s doing.

BTW went for follow-up and he said two keys to not getting stones again are drinking 4 glasses of water a day and avoiding oxalate – especially spinach which has 10x as much oxalate as Rhubarb which is next on the list. Nuts, tea, potato chips, beets and bran is also high. Bottom line except for lettuce and broccoli if it’s a dark green vegetable avoid it. Apparently oxalate blocks minerals that are needed to avoid stones.

I never had kidney stones my whole life. Dec 2016 doc said my calcium vit d level was way too low. Gave me 50,000 mg once a week Vit D pills. Took for 2 months. Then on March 2017 I got my first kidney stone, intense pain, puking up yellow bile, couldn’t eat, sleep, just sat in chair hunched over for 2 days. Had bloody urine too which is what made me see urologist. Cat scan showed cyst on kidney, kidney stone in left kidney and another one stuck in ureter tube.?SP. Passed that stone in May. In the meantime, I had torn meniscus and had to have surgery July 17 2017. Passed two stones in grocery store bathroom day before surgery 7/16/17! Stones were long and size of rice and were calcium related. Two weeks ago got another kidney stone attack but not critical, no puking, just medium pain. Called urologist and I am having catscan done tomorrow 10/6/17 to see where stone is and how many more???? All these statements are making me very scared. I pray this stone is small and can pass on its own. Oh, and I have had bloody urine 4 out of 8 times a day peeing. That has been going on for over a month. The stone must be tearing me up! God bless us all!

this is why i am glad i live in Canada. i married a canadian. around july i got a a kidney stone. it took a bit for appointments but I finally got in. they lasered it and put in a stent. while i was waiting for surgery i got pain pills for the pain which was horrible. I paid nothing. I really feel sorry for all you folks that have to pay so damn much for medical, thats just so wrong. If i was still in the states i would have never been able to afford anything.

I had a rock as the Dr. described it since it was measured in cm. He said most are measuresd in mm. I had through the back surgery Friday and will get the tube removed in the morning. Very sore. Surgeon said it was about size of a quarter. In Hospital four days

I have 12mm kidney stone. And I want to remove by laser operation. Please advise
1. What is the cost of operation.
2. And for how many days I need to stay in hospital?

I went into hospital on the 27th of June with excruciating pain in my left kidney I was urinanating blod, vomiting and drifting in and out of consciousness. I had morphine and was put on a drip I then had a ct scan which revealed a 10mm stone blocking my tube and the liquid in my kidney had become poisonous. They said I’d have to have it removed throughout my back. The next day I went for surgery when I woke up the explained the stone had moved so they’d be able to do the laser treatment. They had put a stent in to widen my tube.(I’m 5ft and weigh 8st) I was in agony I’m still in pain often now but not as much. I’m still urinating blood most days I’ve had the poxy stent in for 9 WEEKS!!! I go in for my operation tomorrow, but I think I may have a water infection. Hopefully they’ll still be able to do the procedure.

Oh I forgot to say while I was in they found out I had E. coli. I’m going to my doctors in a couple of hours to check for the infection.
Who ever suggested the heat pack I’ve got one on it now it feels fantastic

Had the procedure today at Dartmouth Hitchcock in NH, and have to say many of these comments caused me more concern than necessary. Sure my throat is a bit sore as can happen with General Anesthesia, yes there is cranberry juice colored urine and some aching and twinging in my kidney. For those of you reading, you can have milder post-surgical experiences than experienced by some of the unfortunate folks here. My stone was 7mm x 5mm, which is why this procedure was necessary, as a stone this size could never pass on its own. I have had a stent in since July 20 as the stone appeared on a business trip and was blocking the passage of urine. I unfortunately became septic, so I had to wait until all infection was gone before scheduling the surgery to remove it. I was hospitalized for the sepsis in Charlotte NC as I had mentioned earlier, was on a business trip. Just want ppl to know. It everyone is unfortunate enough to have terrible pain, we are all built different I guess.

sir this method remove my stone but after 7 days blood clot comes in my urine

i terrible pain in my left back/flank area and had some nausea and vomiting in Feb. I passed it off as a stomach virus. Then about 3 days later, i could feel the pain migrating around my left side and down. I knew it was a stone. I started taking OTC Cytrex and drowning myself in Cranberry juice. On March 8, my urine was looking bloody and I felt like I had a 5 pound bag of flour sitting on top of my bladder. I can tolerate pain usually well and I never take narcotic pain killers. I don’t believe in it and ppl get hooked on narcotics and then move to heroin as a drug of choice. I’ve been using a natural supplement for chronic degenerative arthritis and herniated disk pain and it’s helping that.. When my urine turned bloody, I went to the urgent care clinic. I told the doctor I thought I was passing a kidney stone. I felt like I had to urinate 100 times a day and when I went to the BR, I would only dribble. I can feel my bladder going into spasms. That was what was so uncomfortable. The problem with a urinary blockage is the urine sits and stagnates. So I had a UTI. That doctor started me on Cipro for 5d and gave a sample of a bladder analgesic that turns your urine blue. I felt good for a few days, then right before my regular visit to my internal med MD, it flared up again, pain, nausea, vomiting, urinary frequency and urgency and 5 pounds sitting on top of my bladder. My internal med doc started me on Macrobid because I had staph bacteria showing up in my urine. I felt good for several days and started peeing buckets rather than dribbling. Then after the Sunday after Mother’s Day, I got sick in church, severe left flank pain where you have to grab your back. Felt like I had to pee buckets. I went running to the BR at church, could only dribble and the pain was unbearable in my back. I was recliner ridden all day Sunday. A heating pad to my back greatly relieved the pain and my husband had some Toradol on hand for the times he passed stones. I took 1 Toradol, got a little relief. The Toradol helped my arthritis pain. I took one more Toradol before going to bed, slept good and felt refreshed when I woke up on Monday. I got an apptment the next day with a urologist. He ordered a CAT scan which revealed a 9x5x5mm stone sitting at the UVJ, it stuck on top of my bladder. He said it can’t be blasted when it’s that low and recommends a cystoscopy to remove. I have a high deductible health plan. This will be costly and I already had to pay out of pocket for the CAT scan which was 1383$. The doctor started me on Flomax and I am light headed. I thought it was my imagination. I walked 3 miles at the track in the heat until I found out you shouldn’t be in the heat whle on Flomax. I haven’t seen any signs of a stone in my urine. I’m straining my urine every time I urinate, but not when I’m away from home. I guess it’s possible I could pass it in a public restroom without knowing since I don’t carry that strainer with me. I’m not in any pain right now. The CT scan also revealed a tiny lesion on one of my ovaries that I have to get checked out on Friday by ultrasound. The ultrasound has to be done transvaginal to see the ovaries. That’s going to be uncomfortable with a kidney stone causing pressure on my bladder. Can a stone 9x5x5 mm pass. the doctor says know. I don’t agree. If it traveled from my kidney down to my bladder, whey wouldn’t it travel the rest of the way down and out. Once they get in the bladder, most stones can flush out the rest of the way. The urethra where urine exits the bladder is bigger than the ureters that connect the kidney to the bladder . I read that the avg price of a cystoscope is $350-$3500. The surgeon said his bill would be approx $1000, that doesn’t include OP facility charges, and I’ll also be getting a bill from the radiologist that read the CAT scan. Kidney stones can bankrupt a person. There’s got to be a way to prevent them. I live in the kidney stone belt of the South. hard water causes them. Are there any agencies like the kidney foundation that can help ppl with the bills?

I’ve recently completed this ordeal and have been thinking about leaving comments regarding my experience. I want you to keep in mind that this is a personal experience—it may very well vary depending on the person, gender, age, etc.
Let me begin by saying that I had a kidney stone incident about 3 years ago. I experienced terrible pain in my right flank for about a week and was hospitalized but nothing ever came of it. I don’t believe I passed it but the pain lay dormant for a few years. My doctor told me this is not uncommon but I digress.
In October of 2016, I started to notice my urine was getting dark and I felt very fatigued. I started going for X-rays and such and in November, they found that I had an 8.5 mm stone bouncing around in my right kidney. At some point, in December, it started to move into my ureter. The pain was excruciating once again so another round at the hospital and meds calmed it down. A few more attacks over the next few months and in February, I finally went for Lithotripsy shockwave therapy to try to break the stone up. It was only mildly successful but this experience was hardly a difficult one. I was put out and woke up an hour or so later in some mild discomfort but definitely manageable. Urinating hurt/burned for about two days. On my follow up visit, my specialist told me that he only managed to break a piece of it off and reduced the stone to about 6.5 mm. He wanted to try some other methods before resorting to a ureteroscopy and so we tried some other methods but in April I had another massive attack and was done with this thing. I went back in and told him to absolutely schedule me for surgery so as to remove this thing that was destroying my life.
On Thursday, May 18, I finally went in for my ureteroscopy, nervous as all hell and not looking forward to it but with the knowledge that little else could be done to get rid of this constant pain and worry in my flank. Getting put under was an experience in and of itself—the way it is portrayed in TV and movie is quite accurate—you actually feel and hear and see everything slow to a crawl and then—OUT.
I started to come out of it about an hour later in recover. My throat was killing me (breathing tube inserted must have scraped my insides), my mouth was VERY dry and it was incredibly hard to swallow. I remember having an immense need to urinate and the pain and burning was incredible. I told the nurse that I needed to pee or I would just piss the bed. She finally got a container for me to use and I pissed straight out blood. It was so disturbing but it did feel good to urinate though the pain and burning was next level. I was still in some shock so I remember breathing heavy and trying to get my surrounding.
I had a stent put in as well so I had this thread hanging from my penis which every movement with it further brought on more burning and pain. Eventually, I was moved to another recovery room where I was given some juice (I can’t even describe how good it was to have some fluid down my throat—I was so parched). I urinated a few more times and was finally told I could go home.
The next 3-4 days were horrendous. The amount of blood in my urine was very disturbing but even more so, the pain and burning was incredible. I almost broke into tears a few times because I was punching the wall in my bathroom so hard I thought I was going to break my hand. The drugs helped a bit but also constipated me which brought on another problem. It was absolutely hellish. After about 3 days, the pain started to subside but that stent was still causing me all kinds of grief.
I finally had the stent removed yesterday (5 days after the procedure), which was another crazy experience. It felt like it would never end coming out—I felt like one of those magician props where the handkerchief continues to come out of a sleeve…funny now, but not so funny at the time. The good news is after about 10-20 seconds, that is over. It was almost instant relief though the rest of the day, I had kidney and bladder spasms which a little more pain med took care of.
It is now the day after stent removal and I feel much better. I’m so happy I got this thing taken out but what an experience. My heart goes out to anyone who has to go through this. I did so much research on the net (though there really isn’t that much out there) but doing it first hand was another thing entirely.
Good luck!

I had a ureteroscopy on Friday, May 5th – in both kidneys since I had 4 stones in one, 5 in the other. I was unconscious during the entire procedure, but awoke to discover I had a catheter that would be in me for three days, which was quite uncomfortable. I think it was because I have enlarged prostate problems, so Dr. thought it would help me urinate better, which it did. I had no pain whatsoever after the procedure. On Monday, May 8th, the catheter and ureter stents were removed. I felt great – but driving home from the removal, I felt a pain in my back (right kidney) area. It got so bad that when I reached my driveway I got out of my car and vomited. I had the oxycodone pills the Dr. had prescribed, still unopened on my table. I got one and pain slowly subsided after 45 mins. I contacted the Dr. – he said it was a typical post-stent removal spasm. I needed a mix of oxy and Ibuprofen the next few days. It is now May 15th – that pain is basically gone – but ten days after the procedure I still have lots of blood in my urine, which concerns me. Also, it still hurts a bit to urinate, thought probably due to my prostate. While the procedure went smoothly, the aftermath has been more than I expected.

I’ve got to have this done soon, I am now really nervous as whilst the kidney stone pain has been excruciating, it seems it gets worse with the procedure from people’s experience ?

I am 19 years old and I have just had this done on Friday 28th April, I had this to remove stones that trapped in my bladder passage I still have 6mm stones stuck in my kidney that will need further treatment. 2 years ago when I was 17 I had keyhole surgery to remove a kidney stone from my kidney called a staghorn calculus I had a stent placed in afterwards. The stent caused me numerous amount of pain and luckily this time I requested not to have one in and the surgeon didn’t need to put one in. I feel really poorly from this I am stuck in bed as I just have pain in my right side kidney and going to the toilet is so painful! I hope this is normal for a while? I am scared to go to the toilet! Does anyone know of any good painkillers or remedies that make you feel better? I am on ciprofloxacin antibiotics and I have just been given ibuprofen but these defiantly didn’t help my pain!

I had this ureteroscopy done in Feb of 2017 for a three mm stone that was causing quite a lot of back. My lower back still hurts off on and the leg does too. Maybe they hit a nerve when they put the in I don’t know.

This is a painful barbaric procedure. This so call small scope is inserted into your Urethra [hole you pee out]….Ohhh didn’t realize well, take a look at that so called ‘small’ camera. Surgery went seemingly well, then at home take Motrin, call Dr oh well thats why we gave you Oxicodone in case the pain intensified. Take the Oxi and Motrin. Every time you urinate its burning / painful and you go a great deal because of the stint. Three days with the stint and they lead you to believe it will all be over on day 3…Frig no! The stint comes out…they describe a small tube that allows the Ureter and surgical area to heal….they forget to tell you about the small coils holding it in place. Now with NO ANESTHESIA they place the scope back in your already tender urethra and remove the stint…as the coil uncoils and stint removed it creates further irritation. This ‘Irritation’ subsides in a day or so…. Well they omit telling you about the SEVERE cramping and pain like a horse has kicked your kidney that causes nausea and vomiting. Pain like you never had in life, Doctor just take the Motrin. Nausea, pain take Motrin now you vomit and that continues for hours until you end up in the ER……. Incision vs this torture…..INCISION!