Have any of you had a lithotripsy?
Aug 07, 2010
in
Kidney Stone Treatment
My boyfriend has kidneys full of stones and has been recommended for a lithotripsy, however, he has a lot of other medical issues – he has Cystic Fibrosis – and we are nervous about the side effects: among his issues he has had pulmonary hypertension in the past and we dont want to risk hypertension or renal failure. But passing stones is terrible for him too and we dont know what to do.
So, are there any healthcare providers out there who would like to weigh in? Also, I’d love to hear back from someone who has had a lithotripsy about their experience.
As a side note – we cant modify his diet to avoid stones, its too important to keep his diet up to deal with his CF
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20 comments
Matthew on August 7, 2010 at 7:02 am
I’ve had lithotripsy done 4 times in the past. The procedure is easy and isn’t that painful. I get at least 1 kidney stone a year on average and have never had any side effects from lithotripsy. I don’t have Cystic Fibrosis or pulmonary hypertension so I’m not sure how that will affect him.
I’ve been put under with general anesthesia and with spinal anesthesia and it was much better to be put under with general. I prefer to wake up and have it over with, otherwise you can’t move your legs for a couple hours.
I saw other people comment on being placed in water for the procedure, but I don’t think that is common any more. I had my first lithotripsy done when I was 5 and they put me in water then, but now they put you on top of a water bag right on a table so your not in water anymore.
Your side is sore when you wake up (feels like you got punched in the side a bunch), but compared to kidney stone pain its not bad at all. You just want to lay in bed for a couple days afterward. The worst part of the procedure is if the doctor puts a stint in place afterward because you have to go back at some point to get it removed and that’s worse then the lithotripsy in my opinion. So the last time I asked the doctor not to put a stint in if he didn’t have to, and thankfully he didn’t put one in. It’s great you want to support your boyfriend through this.
ಌMemsterಌ on August 7, 2010 at 7:02 am
I had kidney stones last year and it was the worst, most painful experience of my life. I have genuine compassion for what he is going through. The doctors mentioned doing lithotripsy for me but put in a stent instead. As I understand it, what lithotripsy does is it is strong waves that break up the stones so they are smaller and easier to pass. I think he has to get in a waist-deep pool of water and they do it underwater. I think it can be a little painful, but I am not sure. If his stones aren’t too big, they can do a surgery where they insert a kidney/bladder stent to assist in him passing them. However, his may be too large, thus, the docs are recommending lithotripsy.
I had stones once before and I was told of a home remedy that could help. Have him drink straight lemon juice mixed with a little olive oil. You can’t really taste the olive oil… it just tastes like greasy lemon juice… YUK! I know it sounds nasty, but it is bearable to drink. The acid from the lemons helps break down the stones and the oil acts as a natural lubricant to help the stones pass. This remedy didn’t work too well for me this last time, but the first time… it worked! I also had prayer which certainly didn’t hurt either.
Have him drink TONS and TONS of water to help flush those evil stones out of there! And they are evil… he would probably agree! They are so painful and make you feel miserable. The more water and urination he can get, the better. Best wishes to you both.
harpkilian on August 7, 2010 at 7:02 am
I’m a recovery room nurse who has taken care of many patients who have had shock wave lithotripsy. They do very well. It is a minor procedure, and the patient goes home afterwards. His CF and pulmonary hypertension make him a poor candidate for general anesthesia, but the procedure can be done with spinal anesthesia to lower the risk. I’m not sure what you mean by the side effects. I am not aware of any side effects of lithotripsy other than decreased size of the stones. I have had kidney stones myself and have never had pain like that. I hope he is able to get some relief. Untreated, they can cause serious damage to the kidneys and put him into a situation where he will have to have an even more invasive surgery. Discuss your concerns with the urologist.
Gloria A on August 7, 2010 at 7:02 am
Risk for diabetes was related to the intensity of the treatment and quantity of the shock waves administered; hypertension was related to treatment of stones in both kidneys.
Shock wave lithotripsy uses shock waves to break up an impassable kidney stone into smaller, sandlike pieces which can be passed spontaneously, usually within a month. The patient and the lithotriptor that emits the shock waves are placed in a water bath. Water allows easier conduction of the shock waves through the patient’s tissue and precise focus on the kidney stone.
One of home remedy for kidney stone is parsley, take a bunch of parsley and boil it and drink like a tea, is one of the best remedy for at leas a $1.00 that disolve all the kidney stone.
ESWL for some reason. Laser lithotripsy carries a slightly greater risk of complications than extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.
Risks Lithotripsy is generally safe. However, as with any medical procedure, complications can occur. Those related to lithotripsy include:
Pieces of stone are left in the body. You may need more treatments.Bleeding around the kidney which, in rare cases, may require a blood transfusion.Damage to the kidney tissue or nearby structures in the stomach area may occur from ESWL. Some patients are at greater risk than others.Blockage of urine flow from the kidney due to pieces of stone. If this causes severe pain or blockage of the kidney, a tube may be placed through your back and into the kidney to keep the kidney drained until all the fragments pass out. Sometimes, a thin mesh tube called a stent is placed into the body (from the kidney to the bladder) before ESWL to prevent this from happening. A stent is usually put in the body after laser lithotripsy.Signs of infection or blockage may include:
Strong need to urinateToo much blood in the urineExtreme painContact your health care provider if you have any of these symptoms.
Whether or not ESWL causes or leads to the development of high blood pressure and diabetes remains controversial. You may want to ask your doctor about this before having the procedure.
Expectations after surgery How well a person does depends on the number, size, and location of the stones. However, lithotripsy completely removes stones in most patients who have the procedure.
XxhitboyxX on August 7, 2010 at 7:02 am
Yes
Dana on August 7, 2010 at 7:02 am
I did long ago in oakland ca. I was awake now I here the put you to sleep. As it is important to not move. For me you were to move one finger if the pain got to great, and they were to pause for a minute or so. it was like a electric shock or burn deep inside you.it was ok except is was over and over again as the broke it it about time number 10 i was wagging my finger. my stone was to large to pass, that’s why they decide to do it. The skilled person will do their best to protect the area around the stone, after all it is alrweakenedakend. I was glad i had it the scary part was that first pee after it was done, I almost fainted from seeing. It beats passing a stone by 1000 miles. hurray for demerol ( sp?)
middle eastern barbie on August 7, 2010 at 7:02 am
my dad did
raindrop on August 7, 2010 at 7:02 am
No
luceyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy on August 7, 2010 at 7:02 am
he isnt good4 u
YEahhhhh on August 7, 2010 at 7:02 am
ask doctors
set on full "auto" on August 7, 2010 at 7:02 am
…It’s like sitting in a big tub of water and and sound waves are aimed at the stones… it’s a great want to treat the stones… the sound waves pulverize the stones and they come out in the normal passing of urine…
(at bit noisy) but it beats being cut-open and going thru all that surgical crap !
Addison Lillian on August 7, 2010 at 7:02 am
no i dont
JRG on August 7, 2010 at 7:02 am
Know I have not but, check the link below. It does sound like a common procedure . You will be fine. My best of luck to you.
jrg
Jake on August 7, 2010 at 7:02 am
yes
JES2 on August 7, 2010 at 7:02 am
First, there is still some discussion on why kidney stones form. One argument is that the kidneys lose their ability to dissolve the excess minerals in your urine. They state that it has nothing to do with the diet. The other argument is that the diet is what causes a high amount of minerals in your urine and the kidneys are not able to process all of these minerals.
In either case, they clump together and you end up with stones.
The drawback on lithotripsy (ESWL) is that it does not always break apart all of the stones on the first pass. It sometimes will have to repeated. It can cause organ bruising and you might see blood in the urine. Still, I think that is better than the older invasive procedures.
You might want to read up on Uriflow. I know of one person that did use that method. It uses substances that break apart kidney stones. I would probably try this method before I tried the ESWL, but that is my own opinion. I would recommend reading more and seeing doctors that are knowledgeable about both choices.
I still believe that stones are being created for a reason. Have you tested the water that your boyfriend is drinking? Also, check and see if his diet has any foods high in oxalate, and also if he is getting enough calcium.
Drinking more RO (reverse osmosis) water will definitely help.
Simeon on August 7, 2010 at 7:02 am
troll
gangadharan nair on August 7, 2010 at 7:02 am
Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is the non-invasive treatment of kidney stones (urinary calculosis) and biliary calculi (stones in the gallbladder or in the liver) using an acoustic pulse.
It is estimated that more than one million patients are treated annually with ESWL in the USA alone.
Ellen Cai on August 7, 2010 at 7:02 am
no
BURBUR on August 7, 2010 at 7:02 am
Lithotripsy basically means stone crushing… It uses shick waves to break up the stones.
Lithotripsy would be the safest option because it is not as invasive as just going in and removing them surgically. As for his cystic fibrosis this should be unaffected by the luthotripsy.
Always tell your doctor or nurse:
•If you are or could be pregnant
•What drugs you are taking, even drugs, supplements, or herbs you bought without a prescription
During the days before the surgery:
•You may be asked to stop taking aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), warfarin (Coumadin), and any other drugs that make it hard for your blood to clot. Ask your doctor when to stop taking them.
•Ask your doctor which drugs you should still take on the day of the surgery.
On the day of your procedure:
•You will usually be asked not to drink or eat anything for several hours before the procedure.
•Take the drugs your doctor told you to take with a small sip of water.
•Your doctor or nurse will tell you when to arrive at the hospital.
My boyfriend once hapiecesrge kidney stone and they used lithotripsy to break it down into much much smaller peices.
You can actually get very very sick if you leave kidney stones untreated. My boyfriend developed a blood infection where his boy was swarming with bacteria because of the stone. However, it was clearly developing for a wile and he had no idea he had a kidney stone. His ony symptom was a fever from the blood infection.
Lithotripsy is generally safe. Ask your doctor about these possible complications.
•Pieces of stone are left in your body. You may need more treatments.
•Bleeding around your kidney may require a blood transfusion.
•Your kidneys may not work as well, or they may stop working, after the procedure.
•You may get ulcers in your stomach or small intestine.
•Pieces of the stone may block urine flow from your kidney. This may cause severe pain or damage to your kidney.
•Kidney infection may occuprocedureyou have further questions I would advise consulting two doctors who prefor the precedure. Second opionions are always informative.
Sorry about the spelling in a rush. goodluck
Joseph Michael T on August 7, 2010 at 7:02 am
I had 1 ESWL before, only because the stone was bigger than 5 mm. Now the doctor just prescribes me ACALKA everytime a stone becomes present. But I don’t know the side effects of that if you have other medical issues.Every time after I finish the prescription of Acalka the ultrasound comes out clear.