Kidney Stones & Lithotripsy
I was wondering if anyone here has had kidney stones? If so, were u treated with lithotripsy? Was it painful before/during/after the treatment, & how did it affect your M.E., both immediately after the procedure & in the long-term?
I'm going into hospital on the 9th Jan for lithotripsy treatment to "blast" away my SIX kidney stones (four on the right side & two on the left side), & I was hoping that someone here might have had the procedure done in the past & be willing to share their experience with me, good or bad.
I've been told by my Dr that it will be extremely painful for me to pass the broken up stones ("the worst pain a body can have"), especially because I have multiple newly healed micro fractures in the bottom of my spine (due to v severe Osteoporosis). I'm not 1 of those ppl that freaks out when they're told exactly how painful/awful something is going to be tho, so pls do be honest - I prefer to know the truth.... Forewarned is forearmed, & all that!
However, altho I've had many different procedures done over the yrs, I'm now more nervous about having things done, since a surgical procedure went seriously wrong last yr & I ended up unconscious, on a life-support machine, & in hospital for a total of four AWFUL months. So I'm sure u can understand my apprehension & need for some knowledge/first-hand experiences!
I'll be having the treatment done as an inpatient (perhaps for 3 or 4 days), as I'll need to be closely monitored afterwards. Plus, there's a small chance that I'll need to have actual surgery if they can't break up the stones small enough for me to pass them, or if they can't see the stones on an ultrasound scan.
A few questions....
I know the treatment takes approx 60mins, but is that per stone, or altogether?
Did u have a local anaesthetic, a sedative, or both?
Were u "aware" during the procedure, & just how painful was it, during & afterwards?
How long was it before u saw the benefits of the lithotripsy? (ie. fewer urine/kidney infections, & less back/stomach pain, etc).
We're hoping that some of my severe back pain - which we thought was just due to my spinal micro fractures - might go after I've had the lithotripsy done... With any luck!
Sorry this is so long! Well done if you've managed to make it thru to the end of this essay, & thanx in advance for any replies, I really appreciate it :)
Ooh, & Happy New Year, Everyone!
I really hope that 2007 is a better yr for all of us *everything crossed* :)
X-posted to various LJ communities.
I'm going into hospital on the 9th Jan for lithotripsy treatment to "blast" away my SIX kidney stones (four on the right side & two on the left side), & I was hoping that someone here might have had the procedure done in the past & be willing to share their experience with me, good or bad.
I've been told by my Dr that it will be extremely painful for me to pass the broken up stones ("the worst pain a body can have"), especially because I have multiple newly healed micro fractures in the bottom of my spine (due to v severe Osteoporosis). I'm not 1 of those ppl that freaks out when they're told exactly how painful/awful something is going to be tho, so pls do be honest - I prefer to know the truth.... Forewarned is forearmed, & all that!
However, altho I've had many different procedures done over the yrs, I'm now more nervous about having things done, since a surgical procedure went seriously wrong last yr & I ended up unconscious, on a life-support machine, & in hospital for a total of four AWFUL months. So I'm sure u can understand my apprehension & need for some knowledge/first-hand experiences!
I'll be having the treatment done as an inpatient (perhaps for 3 or 4 days), as I'll need to be closely monitored afterwards. Plus, there's a small chance that I'll need to have actual surgery if they can't break up the stones small enough for me to pass them, or if they can't see the stones on an ultrasound scan.
A few questions....
I know the treatment takes approx 60mins, but is that per stone, or altogether?
Did u have a local anaesthetic, a sedative, or both?
Were u "aware" during the procedure, & just how painful was it, during & afterwards?
How long was it before u saw the benefits of the lithotripsy? (ie. fewer urine/kidney infections, & less back/stomach pain, etc).
We're hoping that some of my severe back pain - which we thought was just due to my spinal micro fractures - might go after I've had the lithotripsy done... With any luck!
Sorry this is so long! Well done if you've managed to make it thru to the end of this essay, & thanx in advance for any replies, I really appreciate it :)
Ooh, & Happy New Year, Everyone!
I really hope that 2007 is a better yr for all of us *everything crossed* :)
X-posted to various LJ communities.