AskMe following on kidney stones

October 11, 2005 6:31 PM

FollowUpFilter: A few weeks back, I mentioned in AskMe that I was diagnosed with a few rather large kidney stones, and many people in the thread gave me some very useful information, and mentioned that the first course of treatment would be lithotripsy, which it was. From there, the plot thickens. [MI]
posted by jonmc to MetaFilter-Related at 6:31 PM (61 comments total)

After a day of sheer bliss chugging magnesium citrate, I underwent the procedure, which I was informed afterwords did not work. The doctor urged us to try again. I was starting to feel skeptical, so I went in search of a second opinion. Long story short, I finagled an appointment with a urologist at a very prestigious university hospital in Upper Manhattan, where after X-rays I was informed that I was "lucky," that the procedure hadn't worked since my stones are so big that the resulting fragments would've caused pain bad enough to send me to the emergency room. The doctor elaborated that lithotripsy is often entusiastically recommended because doctors recieve referral fees. My current doctor has told me that my best option is Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy and I'm scheduled for Nov. 4. So things are progessing, but I'm not out of the woods yet, and it's been a bizarre ride.
posted by jonmc at 6:36 PM on October 11, 2005

Good luck with your surgery and here's to a speedy recovery.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 6:44 PM on October 11, 2005

Thanks, matt. I'm just hoping that the plot dosen't keep thickening. At this rate it'll be plot porridge, soon.
posted by jonmc at 6:47 PM on October 11, 2005

Get better soon, jonmc!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 7:00 PM on October 11, 2005 [1 favorite]

I always thought you had really big stones, jon.

Good luck!
posted by yhbc at 7:11 PM on October 11, 2005

Wow. I had always thought "kickbacks" were antiquated bullshit, or myth, kinda like payola. That really sucks.

FWIW, I can't see how the next procedure can be anything but success and I bet you'll be up and around pretty quickly. One of my doc colleagues just had a stent put in in order to aid passage, but of course then had to return to get the stent removed. This way you'll be done with them.

Oh, and kudos maximus to you for getting a second opinion.
posted by docpops at 7:28 PM on October 11, 2005

best of luck to you
posted by caddis at 7:32 PM on October 11, 2005

I hope it works jon. If not, you know what's next:


posted by mr_crash_davis at 7:39 PM on October 11, 2005

Best wishes, hang in there.
posted by fold_and_mutilate at 7:40 PM on October 11, 2005

Jon, I did have extrocoporeal litho 2 years ago (twice)..and it worked great...and my stones were larger than your (then).

The recent time, the guy who suggested it...would have recieved no kickback. We all think 'our doc' is one of the 'top' in the country...I actually got referred to one of the 'top guys'..and it turned out that (for stones) he really was. My current kidney stones are gone....but they went in my existing hole I say that (again), because I'm not sure what sounds worse - what they did, or what they're going to do for you.

Warning. My recent stent removal was fairly traumatic - I ended up cramping up and almost going back to the hospital. I would have had this laproscopic surgery (that you're having)...except they would have likely hit my lung.

My ride with it has been really bizzare as well. Remember, get percocet (or other opiate) if you can stomach them. It will certainly aid your comfort.
posted by filmgeek at 7:41 PM on October 11, 2005

Oh, and sometimes it's nice to bitch to someone whose been through it. Feel free to drop a ilne.
posted by filmgeek at 7:44 PM on October 11, 2005

Percocet, red wine, warm bath. You still hurt, but you don't care that you hurt.
posted by klangklangston at 7:44 PM on October 11, 2005

Best wishes, hang in there.

Thanks, foldy. You're a doctor, right? I'd be interested in what you think of all the nutty shit surrounding what I've been told is a fairly routine medical problem. NTM, the procedures themselves (magnesium citrate excepted, that was the gastrointestinal equivalent of the Log Flume ride at Disneyland) were no big deal, but the paperwork and red tape were unbelievable, especially when you have to schlep around Queens without a car and with nasty ass back pain, and miss work. I have a decent medical plan (but a shitty dental plan, but that's a whole other story), and this might sound strange coming from me, but socialized medicine is starting to look awful good right about now.
posted by jonmc at 7:46 PM on October 11, 2005

Best wishes jonmc.
posted by marxchivist at 7:47 PM on October 11, 2005

good luck, sir.
posted by shmegegge at 7:52 PM on October 11, 2005

Well, jonmc, you have all my sympathy. I've produced small kidney stones in regular intervals for about 10 or 15 years, did the litho once (worked pretty well) and been under heavy pain medication a lot of times in order to give the buggers time to get out on their own. So I know the pain and discomfort you may be under. Best wishes, hope your procedure goes well.

klangklangston writes "red wine"

Nope, at least not without a lot of water on the side - anything that dehydrates the body will facilitate the formation of new stones. Not good under this circumstances.
posted by nkyad at 8:04 PM on October 11, 2005

Dammit jonmc, it couldn't happen to a worse fellow. I hope you get the shit taken care of and come out of it with enough Percocet to be "moderate" and level-headed for a week without trying. You'd make a lousy curmudgeon anyway.

My parents hated magnesium citrate when they had to use it. I tried it once and thought it was very effective for three whole days.
posted by davy at 8:29 PM on October 11, 2005

Yeah if you have a condition that MIGHT become painful without much warning, you can whine and get some pretty sick prescriptions written pre-emptively. Be sure to frame the request in terms of: "I'd hate to have to page you on a Sunday." :)

Get well, Jon.
posted by scarabic at 9:21 PM on October 11, 2005

The AskMe thread is still open, why didn't you follow up there? Welcome to the jonmc show.

I hope you recover soon, man.
posted by geekyguy at 10:04 PM on October 11, 2005

a sympathetic yeecccch regarding the magnesium citrate, and a big ol' get well hug regarding the rest of it. Feel better, sweet Flannel Man.
posted by scody at 10:32 PM on October 11, 2005

From one recent hospital patient to another, here's hoping you get healthy soon, jonmc.
posted by Rothko at 11:03 PM on October 11, 2005

Damn. No fun. My deepest sympathy.

There's a great Buddhist phrase: This too shall pass. Clinging to that phrase in my mind like a life raft has pulled me through many of my own nasty and yet not actually unbearable moments. Dental surgery, for example. YMMV, as they say.

Godspeed.
posted by gompa at 1:03 AM on October 12, 2005

^^^^ hysterical for all the wrong reasons.
posted by shmegegge at 1:47 AM on October 12, 2005

This too shall pass

or maybe not...

Anyway, good luck and please keep us informed.
posted by oh pollo! at 6:12 AM on October 12, 2005

jon, best of luck and keep up the good work.
posted by OmieWise at 6:26 AM on October 12, 2005

Good luck man.
posted by mds35 at 6:29 AM on October 12, 2005

Good luck!
posted by Asparagirl at 7:42 AM on October 12, 2005

Get well soon, Jon.
posted by monju_bosatsu at 7:45 AM on October 12, 2005

Best wishes from me as well, and thanks for putting this here where we could see it.
posted by languagehat at 8:36 AM on October 12, 2005

Hey, take it easy jon. Be well, and best wishes.
posted by rocketman at 8:55 AM on October 12, 2005

Ow! Best wishes for a speedy recovery, Jon.
posted by thomas j wise at 9:02 AM on October 12, 2005

*sends more healing thoughts*
posted by brujita at 9:10 AM on October 12, 2005

Good luck dude.
posted by eyeballkid at 9:27 AM on October 12, 2005

All good wishes for a speedy recovery.
posted by redfisch at 9:30 AM on October 12, 2005

What does this magnisum citrate stuff actualy supposed to do

Anyway, good luck man!
posted by delmoi at 9:41 AM on October 12, 2005

Good luck and best wishes.
posted by y2karl at 9:42 AM on October 12, 2005

Good luck!

(You should carry your stones around in your pocket, like Pepys did, when they're out.)
posted by By The Grace of God at 9:46 AM on October 12, 2005

What does this magnisum citrate stuff actualy supposed to do

It's supposed to [ahem] clear your bowels for the procedure, which it does, in rather spectacular fashion.

(and thanks for all the well wishes, guys)
posted by jonmc at 9:47 AM on October 12, 2005

Sounds like you've got a good team on your side. Good luck, my friend.
posted by matildaben at 9:51 AM on October 12, 2005

best wishes to you for getting well soon & a quick recovery.
posted by thomcatspike at 10:10 AM on October 12, 2005

good luck Jon. I'll have a glass of water for you at the Saturday meetup.
...and a beer.
posted by hellbient at 10:54 AM on October 12, 2005

Hope it all comes out okay in the ..um.. end.
posted by deborah at 12:03 PM on October 12, 2005

♥
posted by grouse at 12:18 PM on October 12, 2005

Clearly, this calls for a stone-eradication playlist.

Track one: "Rocks Off," the Rolling Stones.

next?
posted by COBRA! at 12:22 PM on October 12, 2005

Gute Besserung!
posted by muckster at 12:58 PM on October 12, 2005

Good luck, my nizzle.
posted by dhoyt at 12:59 PM on October 12, 2005

All the best to ya, Jon. Keep us posted.
posted by Smart Dalek at 1:04 PM on October 12, 2005

Best of luck! I had my minor lythotripsy, and now think I might have another stone on the other side. Thanks for the links, and the second opinion reminder.
posted by ObscureReferenceMan at 1:16 PM on October 12, 2005

All the best to you, from another stone sufferer.
posted by ursus_comiter at 1:59 PM on October 12, 2005

Good luck & here's hoping it all goes swiftly, easily and well.
posted by mygothlaundry at 2:14 PM on October 12, 2005

Good luck to you, I hope it's a smooth ride.
posted by Snyder at 2:21 PM on October 12, 2005

Ouch! Good luck.
posted by Carbolic at 2:50 PM on October 12, 2005

Here's hoping your plot gets no thicker, and you get a jar of nice surgical souvenirs to sell on ebay. (I'd bid on it)
posted by wendell at 3:23 PM on October 12, 2005

what's gonna happen to the kidney stone, giovanni? a special spot in the rock'n'roll hall of fame? Planet Hollywood?

in bocca al lupo e guarisci presto, amico mio
posted by matteo at 4:06 PM on October 12, 2005

Wow, who would have thought that jon and I would ever have anything in common. They are quite painful. I passed out while standing in the emergency room, after I failed to make my pain level and it's rate of increase clear to the nurse.

Make sure to tell them if you want to save the stones, for some reason they tend to discard them (having no respect for the curious among us).
posted by milovoo at 4:07 PM on October 12, 2005

yeah, giovanni, bring a camera to the hospital and post a kidney stone shoutout!
posted by matteo at 5:31 PM on October 12, 2005

I don't have a functioning digital camera, but I'll see if I can swing it somehow.
posted by jonmc at 5:37 PM on October 12, 2005

Good luck Jon - definitely figure out a shoutout if you can. The internet's first kidney stone webcast!
posted by biscotti at 7:08 PM on October 12, 2005

Clearly, this calls for a stone-eradication playlist.

Track one: "Rocks Off," the Rolling Stones.


What, not takers on this?

Track two: "Too Rolling Stoned," Robin Trower

Get well soon, Jon. The place wouldn't be the same without ya.
posted by arto at 7:09 PM on October 12, 2005

Godspeed on your journey to recovery, Jon.
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 7:16 PM on October 12, 2005

Sounds like you got what my old Gross Anatomy dissection partner used to call "a big ol' staghorn" - a kidney stone that occupies much of the renal pelvis and takes on its shape.

The procedure you're about to get is specifically forbidden by the Hippocratic Oath - "I swear that I will not cut for stone, but instead will leave that procedure to its rightful practitioners." Reason was that in old Ancient Greek days, stonecutters used to come in, slice down the back, remove the kidney stone with their unwashed fingers, and then take the gold and leave town before the patient died (in 3-4 days) of urosepsis. Even if the wound healed, the patient would be left with a back-facing urostomy, which is kind of not great.

Luckily for you, nowadays this procedure is pretty much bread and butter for urologists. Good luck; I hope it goes smoothly, not rockily!
posted by ikkyu2 at 3:59 PM on October 13, 2005