Sarah*H
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,012 
|
Post by Sarah*H on Apr 9, 2016 18:31:29 GMT
The doctor thinks DH has a kidney stone. It started with a backache yesterday afternoon, progressively getting worse all day. I suspected a kidney infection based on where it hurt. It got worse all night, to the point where he is now having a hard time standing upright and periodically actually crumples to the ground after a painful spasm. He went to our regular doctor's office walk-in hours this morning and the doctor on call said the pain is little bit lower than he would expect for a kidney infection so he guesses it's a stone and he doesn't know how long it might take to pass. That was the sum total of his medical advice. He prescribed Aleve and sent DH home with instructions to come back if he gets a fever.
He's now at home, curled up in a chair and basically immobile. So neither of us having previous experience with a kidney stone, does this all sound normal? I shouldn't be freaking out and taking him to the hospital to make sure that's actually what is wrong with him?
|
|
J u l e e
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,531
Location: Cincinnati
Jun 28, 2014 2:50:47 GMT
|
Post by J u l e e on Apr 9, 2016 18:35:15 GMT
That sounds normal. I could barely watch my husband be so uncomfortable when he had one. I imagine it's what he felt being with me while I was in labor. He's not around to ask, but I think he was given more than just Aleve.
|
|
|
|
Post by scrapmaven on Apr 9, 2016 18:48:28 GMT
Did the doctor give your dh anything for the pain and a sieve to catch the stone? I'm sorry that your dh is miserable and wish him quick resolution.
|
|
scorpeao
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,521
Location: NorCal USA
Jun 25, 2014 21:04:54 GMT
|
Post by scorpeao on Apr 9, 2016 18:53:41 GMT
I've never heard of being prescribed Aleve for a kidney stone. When my mom gets them she gets Percocet or morphine at the hospital and then is sent home with Vicodin.
|
|
|
|
Post by mellyw on Apr 9, 2016 18:56:04 GMT
Yes, it's normal. My choices were be put in the Hospital doped up, or go home & see if it passed on it's own. Saying that, I was living overseas with the military & lived literally across the street from the ER, so I could get there quick.
Doesn't sound like he can, but exercise helps a lot. I swear I walked most of Tokyo for 2 days straight. And drink fluids. I know that sounds horrible because he'll be up urinating, but it helps flush it out.
If he gets worse, please, please, please take him to the E.R. They can get stuck & cause some serious damage. Just because he went to your regular Doctor, that's not the end all, be all, you know? And they really should have given him a sieve to use when he urinated to try & catch the stone.
I'm sorry, Sarah, they are miserable things to have. It would be hard to see my loved one go thru what I went thru.
|
|
katybee
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,448
|
Post by katybee on Apr 9, 2016 19:12:47 GMT
They can do bloodwork to determine if it is actually a kidney stone. Also – He needs a hell of a lot more than Aleve. Was this your regular doctor? If his pain is that bad, I would make a little trip to the ER to get some real drugs.
|
|
|
|
Post by anniefb on Apr 9, 2016 19:12:56 GMT
No advice, but hope the stone passes quickly and your DH feels better soon.
|
|
|
|
Post by chlerbie on Apr 9, 2016 19:18:13 GMT
Wow...not sure, but when I had one, I went to the emergency room and I had an ultrasound and they found that mine was much too big to pass. I ended up staying overnight with a morphine drip and had surgery the next day to have a stent put in, and then waited a month to actually have the stone removed.
|
|
|
|
Post by lumo on Apr 9, 2016 19:44:51 GMT
The times I've gone to the ER with stones, they put me on an iv drip of Dilaudid to give me some immediate relief, and they've sent me home with something way stronger than Aleve, usually hydrocodone or oxycodone.
I've been through it several times...I'd get him to the ER. Hope he's feeling better soon.
|
|
|
|
Post by jemmls4 on Apr 9, 2016 20:29:48 GMT
My two kidney stones were more really fast onset of horrible pain for about 30 min. And then the pain would go away. Then come back again a few hours later for a bit and then leave again.
First one was in evening and I went to Prompt CAre. Doctor gave me Vicodin for the pain and I was glad to have it. The pain was so bad at one point that I vomited. That stone was huge and I had to have lithotripsy because it would NOT budge.
Second one was a horrible super-fast out of nowhere pain while I was at work. It actually took my breath away. I decided to pack up and go to prompt care. As I was packing up pain vanished so I called urologist instead and got pain meds, x-ray and UA. Of course it was a Friday so I didn't see doc until the next week. I was able to pass that one. It was freaking huge.
I hope your DH gets relief soon. I've got a high tolerance for pain, but I was really glad to have some strong stuff to take because it was not fun.
|
|
|
|
Post by psoccer on Apr 9, 2016 20:33:17 GMT
I was told to take aleve when I had kidney stones. I was also given a sieve and 10 pills of OxyContin I was told that the Aleve relaxes the muscles to help the stone pass. It took 21 days but I was only in dire pain the first day, then it was moderate discomfort until the end. That's when I broke down and took the heavy stuff and it passed within hours. I am so sorry for your husband. I was throwing up and sweaty heavily the first day so I went to the doctors. They gave me an I.v. cocktail
|
|
theshyone
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,422
|
Post by theshyone on Apr 9, 2016 21:01:45 GMT
I went to ER twice, then refused to leave the third time, they "monitored" me to indulge me, by the time they got around to doing a investigate look see, because after all it "couldn't" be a kidney stone, the dang kidney stone had rotted through my ureter tube and I needed the investigative surgery to switch immediately to fix her, she is in bad shape STAT, surgery, they can and do get stuck with severe consequences. The next day I had a sudden cardiac arrest. Just to further complicate things. I can literally say a kidney stone pain killed me.
|
|
|
|
Post by cindyupnorth on Apr 9, 2016 21:56:43 GMT
WTH?? why in the world aren't these dr's doing diagnostic testing?? like CT,US or bloodwork? I had a kidney stone for over 3 months. It sucked. Aleve helped. At one point after surgery I ended up in the ER on a diludid IV. Tell him to drink lots of lemonade, heating pad, and aleve. He should call his dr for stronger med's if needed. and more testing to see where the hell the stone IS, and if it can pass on it's own!!
|
|
|
|
Post by hollymolly on Apr 9, 2016 22:12:36 GMT
Either go to the ER or call a urologist. He needs an ultrasound or xray at minimum to see where it is and if it's small enough to pass without intervention.
|
|
|
|
Post by jesq on Apr 9, 2016 23:55:25 GMT
I can't believe they didn't do some kind of testing to make sure it is a stone. I've had two and both times they did either an xray or something else, both to determine that it was a stone, and to evaluate the size, to know if I could pass it on my own. Plus, before even being certain that it was a stone, I was given strong painkillers.
|
|
AmandaA
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,502
|
Post by AmandaA on Apr 10, 2016 0:14:46 GMT
The symptoms sound normal for a kidney stone... The medical treatment does not (or at least not for a person who isn't already known to have a stone). DH has had so many that I have lost count and needed surgery for all but one. There is no lab test to diagnose a stone, although a urinalysis might show blood but that isn't conclusive for a diagnosis. A simple X-ray is a starting place, but there are various other tests that might be indicated to determine size, location, and likelihood hood of being passable. Based on our past experiences... they hurt when they move which can be intermittent over hours, days, or longer. But if they get stuck they can cause urine to back up and damage the kidney- not good! And if they get stuck too low they cannot do lithotripsy and it is a much more invasive surgery. Hydration and *adequate* pain relief are reasonable approaches IF you know it is a stone and know it is a small one than CAN be passed. I wouldn't settle until all of that is done. And as said above- you need to catch the stone if possible. It can be analyzed and help determine if there are a way to minimize risk of future stones.
|
|
|
|
Post by snowsilver on Apr 10, 2016 0:27:15 GMT
I am home only a couple weeks from the hospital from a kidney stone. I absolutely cannot believe they cavalierly gave him Aleve and told him to go home. From the pain you describe, he is in bad shape. I have had a number of kidney stones over the years, all of them small enough to pass on their own until the last and I was NEVER given anything less powerful than hydrocodone. The last one was so horrible that hydrocodone wouldn't touch it and I finally caved and went to ER. A CT scan showed that my stone was so large it was obstructing and I was given dilaudid and kept overnight so that a stent could be put in the next morning.
Honestly, in my opinion any doctor who sends a kidney stone sufferer home with Aleve must never have experienced that kind of pain himself. Your husband is really, really suffering! I don't know what his pain threshold is, but mine is pretty high and I can tell you it was horrible. If his is small enough to pass (and even those cause intense, almost unbearable pain) a hydrocodone will be enough--but I cannot imagine that Aleve would do the job. The urologist at the hospital told me that there is no pain medicine that can be given to take by mouth that will work on the big stones. You HAVE to go to the hospital for an IV injection. I hope your DH feels better soon and believe me, he has my sympathy.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 1, 2024 2:19:06 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2016 0:33:00 GMT
DH suffers from Kidney Stones and has attacks maybe once a year or so. When he has gone to the er then do an ultra sound, put him on an iv to help flush them out or start them to flush, and gets a morphine shot. He usually leaves with percoset (sp). He is told to drink lots of water and they give him a filter thing so he can catch the stones and he is referred to a urologist. The urologist then tests to see what kind of stone and what is causing it to produce.
My husband is not a whiny pants man who takes meds all the time, so when he says he is in pain, it is bad.
I hope your dh is feeling better soon.
|
|
|
|
Post by penny on Apr 10, 2016 1:05:25 GMT
I get stones, and completely normal...
If he starts and fever or becomes unable to pass urine, he needs to be seen... If he is unable to manage pain at home, he needs to speak to his doctor... Kidney stone pain is understood to be painful and no one will think he's drug seeking...
For me, I prefer to alternate between Aleve and Tylenol than to take an oxy or Percocet... Aleve and Tylenol can safely be taken together, and actually boost each other's effectiveness... Follow the dosing schedule/maximums for each medication - you won't be taking the both at the same time all the time...
Aleve also acts as an anti-inflammatory so it helps both reduce the pain by reducing the sensitivity that comes with swelling of the pipes, and reducing the swelling helps the stone pass faster...
Make sure he's still taking in fluids... I have the hardest time drinking when I have a stone, but it makes a difference so I'll take small sips, chew on ice, have soup for breakfast - anything to keep fluids up...
If he does need something more, a shot of Toridol in the bum is a wonder!!! I will turn down morphine and other bad-ass sounding drugs and ask for Toridol... It's anti-inflammatory properties make the difference... It's great for stones...
ETA - if he wants to try catching it, have him pee into a coffee strainer... Pop it on an old yogurt container, disposable whatever, and the coffee strainer will catch it... It's nice to see what's caused all the pain - badge of honour thing I suppose, plus the docs sometimes like to analyze them...
|
|
|
|
Post by mommythree on Apr 10, 2016 1:07:45 GMT
i agree with the above posters,my hubby and two daughters, unfortunately suffer from kidney stones, they can cause horrendous pain, and aleve wont touch it. my daughter was vomiting because it was the body's response for the pain she was in, as per the e.r. doc. we have been to the e.r 6 times with all of them. and they all received i.v. pain meds....mainly dilaudid, and sent home with percocet and a strainer until the pain and stone had passed. hope your husband doesnt have to suffer too much longer.
|
|
|
|
Post by mags243 on Apr 10, 2016 1:44:35 GMT
The first time I went to the ER I was given morphine there but sent home with Tylenol. Nope. Next day went to my PCP and he prescribed Percocet. Tylenol helps with the mild pain, but I would definitely want something stronger just in case. Make sure he drinks tons of water!! I've heard beer helps, but be careful w lemonade in case it's a uric acid stone. Mine are oxalates, so dietary changes have really helped. Good luck!
|
|
ctlover1
Shy Member
Posts: 16
|
Post by ctlover1 on Apr 10, 2016 2:38:52 GMT
I had a very large kidney stone. They did some type of x-ray and I was told to go home and drink plenty of water. I wasn't given anything at all for pain but I was given strainers to catch the stone. It looked like a gravel when I finally passed it. They said that I would never have been able to pass it if I hadn't just had a baby five weeks earlier and 'everything was still enlarged'.
DH had a teeny, tiny kidney stone. He was given a cat scan, blood tests, and a multitude of other tests. He was given iv pain medicine and then sent home with narcotic pain relievers. A few days later he was put to sleep and the dr. went in and 'grabbed' the stone. It was about the size of the point on a straight pen.
You'll never tell me that men don't get better care than women.
|
|
StephDRebel
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,691
Location: Ohio
|
Post by StephDRebel on Apr 10, 2016 4:28:52 GMT
Yep. It's miserable. My dh just went back to work after being out for 5 month with insane kidney stones. This year has been miserable.
|
|
anniebygaslight
Drama Llama
I'd love a cup of tea. #1966
Posts: 7,402
Location: Third Rock from the sun.
Jun 28, 2014 14:08:19 GMT
|
Post by anniebygaslight on Apr 10, 2016 6:40:01 GMT
The doctor thinks DH has a kidney stone. It started with a backache yesterday afternoon, progressively getting worse all day. I suspected a kidney infection based on where it hurt. It got worse all night, to the point where he is now having a hard time standing upright and periodically actually crumples to the ground after a painful spasm. He went to our regular doctor's office walk-in hours this morning and the doctor on call said the pain is little bit lower than he would expect for a kidney infection so he guesses it's a stone and he doesn't know how long it might take to pass. That was the sum total of his medical advice. He prescribed Aleve and sent DH home with instructions to come back if he gets a fever. He's now at home, curled up in a chair and basically immobile. So neither of us having previous experience with a kidney stone, does this all sound normal? I shouldn't be freaking out and taking him to the hospital to make sure that's actually what is wrong with him? OH gets them around every 4 years. He rolls about on the floor, grey, sweating and screaming in agony. I had to call an ambulance in one occasion. it takes a few days to get over the attack, and he has to pee through a tea strainer to catch the offending stone. I keep one especially for the purpose. Hope your OH is feeling a little better. |
|
|
|
Post by mikklynn on Apr 10, 2016 12:24:19 GMT
I don't think your DH's doctor did enough to diagnose him. I'm sure it's not this, but just as an example, my FIL had a similar situation...doctor sent him home saying it was a kidney stone. FIL had a chiropractor appointment the next day. The chiropractor did an x-ray and discovered FIL had an aortic aneurysm.
Without any tests, how do they know it's a kidney stone?
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 1, 2024 2:19:06 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2016 12:28:02 GMT
I don't think your DH's doctor did enough to diagnose him. I'm sure it's not this, but just as an example, my FIL had a similar situation...doctor sent him home saying it was a kidney stone. FIL had a chiropractor appointment the next day. The chiropractor did an x-ray and discovered FIL had an aortic aneurysm. Without any tests, how do they know it's a kidney stone? Holy cow, I hope he gave the Dr. a piece of his mind. Thanks goodness for the chiropractor. |
|
|
|
Post by mikklynn on Apr 10, 2016 12:36:48 GMT
I don't think your DH's doctor did enough to diagnose him. I'm sure it's not this, but just as an example, my FIL had a similar situation...doctor sent him home saying it was a kidney stone. FIL had a chiropractor appointment the next day. The chiropractor did an x-ray and discovered FIL had an aortic aneurysm. Without any tests, how do they know it's a kidney stone? Holy cow, I hope he gave the Dr. a piece of his mind. Thanks goodness for the chiropractor. Thank God for the chiropractor, for sure! No, he loved that doctor. The rest of the family thought he was a quack. He did other stuff, too, not just the kidney stone. He saw DH's brother's MIL as well. She went in with severe knee pain. He told her she was old, buy a cane!!! Two of her daughters are nurses, so they took her to an orthopedic specialist and she needed surgery. She walked without a cane just fine. |
|
moodyblue
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,248
Location: Western Illinois
Site Supporter
Jun 26, 2014 21:07:23 GMT
|
Post by moodyblue on Apr 10, 2016 12:37:35 GMT
My concern is that there was no test done to determine if he has a kidney stone or not, especially if he's never had one before. And even if he does, with no X-Ray, ultrasound or CT, how do they know what size it is and if it can pass on its own?
I've passed three, tiny ones, the first two within hours of the start of the attack; the third one, many years later, passed within a couple days. My friend had her first attack and was found to have many stones, in both kidneys, a lot of which were too large to pass. No way to know without some kind of testing.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 1, 2024 2:19:06 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2016 12:47:59 GMT
Holy cow, I hope he gave the Dr. a piece of his mind. Thanks goodness for the chiropractor. Thank God for the chiropractor, for sure! No, he loved that doctor. The rest of the family thought he was a quack. He did other stuff, too, not just the kidney stone. He saw DH's brother's MIL as well. She went in with severe knee pain. He told her she was old, buy a cane!!! Two of her daughters are nurses, so they took her to an orthopedic specialist and she needed surgery. She walked without a cane just fine.  |
|
Sarah*H
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,012
|
Post by Sarah*H on Apr 10, 2016 20:53:45 GMT
Thanks for all of the responses. He is still in pain today but it's no longer acute and he can function. I've read him enough responses from this thread that he knows he wasn't properly diagnosed so if he's still hurting tomorrow, he plans to go to the ER. He's traveling later this week and he's concerned about it getting worse again or something bad happening when he's so far from home.
|
|
