Kidney Stones

[♥JP♥ 5]

Does anyone know of some natural remedies for kidney stones? My cousin is 5 months pregnant and has a very painful kidney stone. Since she is pregnant they can't break it apart with a laser so that it will pass, so they gave her a cathetar to help it pass naturally.

I have heard that there are some combinations of foods/drinks and such that you can take to help it pass naturally faster. Has anyone here heard of any?

[Nagishkaw 510]

Depending on if her stones are caused by infection or diet, you would have to be more specific. Have her drink LOTS and LOTS of water. There is no herb or supplement that will cause them to pass. My sympathy goes out to your cousin. Those are worse than delivering a baby when passing. God willing, they will pass on their own. Sometimes they are so large they get stuck in the ureter, then surgery is required ASAP. I hope that is not in her case.

[♥JP♥ 5]

Thanks for your reply. They haven't determined what the cause is but they said its not uncommon in pregnant women. She is in alot of pain and i just feel so bad for her. She has a 2 yr old and also said this pain was worse than when she delivered him naturally.

She is drinking lots of water right now and I'm praying it will pass soon. Surgery is dangerous for her unborn child which is why they are avoiding it.

I forgot to mention , she is 39 and has had several complications with pregnancies in the past including 2 miscarriages. The doctors are trying to avoid anything that might harm her pregnancy.

Edited December 28, 2007 by ♥JP♥

[*julez* 124]

My heart goes out to her! Even with meds and lasers, kidney stones are still evil. My brother had them and a girl I work with has a chronic problem with them. I hope she will be OK.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Drinking lots of water and staying physically active are often enough to move a stone out of the body. Perhaps she unconciously cut back her drinking of water because the frequency of urination with pregnancy?

[Nagishkaw 510]

Did they put in a catheter or a stent? Trust me, she is dead serious about the pain. I don't know how she is surviving thus far without litho or cysto. God be with her! I have heard that when the stone(s) move, that is when she experiences the pain.

[♥JP♥ 5]

Drinking lots of water and staying physically active are often enough to move a stone out of the body. Perhaps she unconciously cut back her drinking of water because the frequency of urination with pregnancy?

That could be true. Once she found out she was pregnant the doctor asked her to limit her physical activity due to her previous miscarriages. She has been drinking more water since she got diagnosed on Christmas Eve.

Did they put in a catheter or a stent? Trust me, she is dead serious about the pain. I don't know how she is surviving thus far without litho or cysto. God be with her! I have heard that when the stone(s) move, that is when she experiences the pain.

They put in a catheter on Christmas Eve, the next day she got an infection and went back. They gave her some meds, and she was ok. She went back last night again. Today she is a bit better. I went to visit her the other day and she could hardly move.

Thank you all for your throughts I just honestly wish I could do something to help her.

[Nagishkaw 510]

Me Too!!! I have been a martyr to them for 8 years now. I usually have a few litho's and a cysto a year. Im sick of it, so I can well sympathize. Those catheters are disgusting, but better than a stent. My Gosh, you talk about unconfortable ! She has got to force herself to drink only water, and lots of it. No soda, and slack off the coffee and dairy, as well.

[doodlebugg 10]

My ex sister in law used to get these a lot and she had this therapy done where I think she sat in a whirlpool and something went on in there that broke it up and allowed it to pass easier. I wish I knew the terminology but maybe ask her to ask her doctor about this? Can't she take nsaids for the pain even though she's pregnant?

[♥JP♥ 5]

Me Too!!! I have been a martyr to them for 8 years now. I usually have a few litho's and a cysto a year. Im sick of it, so I can well sympathize. Those catheters are disgusting, but better than a stent. My Gosh, you talk about unconfortable ! She has got to force herself to drink only water, and lots of it. No soda, and slack off the coffee and dairy, as well.

Well she can't have soda or coffee anyway because of the pregnancy, and can't stomach milk yet, LOL. So she is set there.

My ex sister in law used to get these a lot and she had this therapy done where I think she sat in a whirlpool and something went on in there that broke it up and allowed it to pass easier. I wish I knew the terminology but maybe ask her to ask her doctor about this? Can't she take nsaids for the pain even though she's pregnant?

She is taking something for the pain but she says it only takes the edge off and its still very painful.

[Nagishkaw 510]

B,

I believe they no longer do that procedure . They use Lithotripsy , which is like a blasting to the affected area in order to break up the stones so they can pass easily.

I just found this:

https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007113.htm

[doodlebugg 10]

B,

I believe they no longer do that procedure . They use Lithotripsy , which is like a blasting to the affected area in order to break up the stones so they can pass easily.

I just found this:

https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007113.htm

Oh just reading the procedure it looks like that's totally not safe for the baby. UGH I feel so bad for her.

[JanaknJanet 0]

As a Acupuncturist I see many different things.. one in which is kidney or Bladder stones.

There are many successful treatments. However.. with Pregnancy.. treatment is a bit more limited..

If she has access to a Herbalist. Oriental Medicine Acupuncturist.. she may wish to check it out.

Any practitioner would be crazy to diagnose her without seeing her.. and even more so if she is pregnant.

There are many things she can do to help tho... She may want to talk to her Doctor on some of the ideas or suggestions.. especially if she has not been diagnosed with what form of stone she actually has...

Acupuncture.com-Kidneystones

Are all kidney stones alike?

No. There are four major types of kidney stones.

The most common type of stone contains calcium (KAL-see-um). Calcium is a normal part of a healthy diet.

Calcium that is not used by the bones and muscles goes to the kidneys. In most people, the kidneys flush out the extra calcium with the rest of the urine. People who have calcium stones keep the calcium in their kidneys.

The calcium that stays behind joins with other waste products to form a stone.

A struvite (STROO-vite) stone may form after an infection in the urinary system. These stones contain the mineral magnesium (mag-NEE-zee-um) and the waste product ammonia (uh-MOH-nyuh).

A uric (YOOR-ik) acid stone may form when there is too much acid in the urine. If you tend to form uric acid stones, you may need to cut back on the amount of meat you eat.

Cystine (SIS-teen) stones are rare. Cystine is one of the building blocks that make up muscles, nerves, and other parts of the body. Cystine can build up in the urine to form a stone. The disease that causes cystine stones runs in families.

What do kidney stones look like?

Kidney stones may be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a pearl. Some stones are even as big as golf balls. Stones may be smooth or jagged. They are usually yellow or brown.

What can my doctor do about a problem stone?

If you have a stone that will not pass by itself, your doctor may need to take steps to get rid of it. In the past, the only way to remove a problem stone was through surgery.

Now, doctors have new ways to remove problem stones.

How will my doctor find out what kind of stone I have?

The best way for your doctor to find out what kind of stone you have is to test the stone itself. If you know that you are passing a stone, try to catch it in a strainer.

Your doctor may ask for a urine sample or take blood to find out what is causing your stones. You may need to collect your urine for a 24-hour period. These tests will help your doctor find ways for you to avoid stones in the future.

Why do I need to know the kind of stone?

The therapy your doctor gives you depends on the type of stone you have. For example, a medicine that helps prevent calcium stones will not work if you have a struvite stone. The diet changes that help prevent uric acid stones may have no effect on calcium stones. Therefore, careful analysis of the stone will help guide your treatment.

What can I do to avoid more stones?

Drink more water. Try to drink 12 full glasses of water a day. Drinking lots of water helps to flush away the substances that form stones in the kidneys.

You can also drink ginger ale, lemon-lime sodas, and fruit juices. But water is best. Limit your coffee, tea, and cola to one or two cups a day because the caffeine may cause you to lose fluid too quickly.

Your doctor may ask you to eat more of some foods and to cut back on other foods. For example, if you have a uric acid stone, your doctor may ask you to eat less meat, because meat breaks down to make uric acid.

The doctor may give you medicines to prevent calcium and uric acid stones.

Points to Remember

Most stones will pass out of the body without a doctor's help.

See your doctor if you have severe pain in your back or side that will not go away.

See your doctor if you have blood in your urine (urine will appear pink).

Drink lots of water to prevent more kidney stones from forming.

When you pass a stone, try to catch it in a strainer to show to your doctor.

Talk to your doctor about how to avoid more stones.

References:

National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse

3 Information Way

Bethesda, MD 20892–3580

Email: nkudic@info.niddk.nih.gov

Nutritional and Herbal Therapy for Kidney Stones

Drink more water and eat more vegetables, fiber, whole grains, and vegetable proteins.

Limit sugar, refined foods, animal products, caffeine, alcohol, soda, and salt.

Reduce your consumption of oxalate-containing foods such as spinach, black tea, rhubarb, chocolate, beets, beans, wheat bran, strawberries, and nuts.

Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6, 10 to 100 mg a day) is crucial in the metabolism of oxalic acid, which is part of some stones.

Folic acid (5 mg a day) can help break down uric acid stones.

Magnesium citrate (200 to 400 mg a day) can make calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate more soluble.

Eat more foods that are high in magnesium and low in calcium, such as brown rice, bananas, corn, rye, barley, oats, soy, avocado and potato.

[kim&james 0]

Thats an excellant post above for info.

I have been unfortunate to suffer with the damned calcium stone... 3 ops and 2 stents to get one of the buggers out and have passed another small one.

As for being preggers while having one, my sister was and did have a stone, she also had problems during pregnancy and eventually they put her on bedrest until the c section was booked.

She drank tonnes of water, they would make her drink a glass every 15 mins. There was nothing drug wise that they would give her for the pain... I felt so sorry for her and for the lady suffering from them here.

My best wishes for a safe delivery and freedom from the pain.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

Home remedies and pregnancy should not be mixed!