Sunday night at about 11:00 I started having some back pain – it felt like I pulled a muscle or something but I hadn’t done anything to pull a back muscle. It got bad enough for me to take some Alleve (and I never take pain meds). The pain moved around to the front and into the groin area and since I was online I started googling things like “What does a hernia feel like?” trying to figure out what was going on and at some point I searched for something that led me to kidney stones.
The symptoms of kidney stones was EXACTLY what I had – back pain, spreading to the front and groin area, and nausea. So, before I went to the ER I knew what it was. The pain was bad enough to bring me to tears. For guys, imagine the feeling of getting kicked in the junk for 15 minutes straight then add to that severe back pain.
After the first wave of SEVERE pain subsided I was going to wait to go to the doctor til the morning since my wife was out of town and I didn’t want to take my seven year old to the ER at 1AM but when I next hit the restroom and my urine was full of blood I decided not to wait. So I packed her up and we went to the ER at about 1AM.
On my way to the ER (15 minute drive), my back started hurting again and by the time I was at the ER desk, I was in EXTREME pain again and trying to answer questions like “Brian, is that b-r-y or b-r-i” to the slowest typist in the world. It’s really hard to focus when in extreme pain. At one point she asked me for my id and I gave her a credit card with trembling hands.
Luckily, this was a new ER and there was nobody else waiting so I got into the nurse within 3-5 minutes of finishing with the slow receptionist at check-in. Once in, I told her I thought it was a kidney stone and she got me into a bed pretty quick. They started an IV and gave me some IV pain meds. They took me in for a CT scan to confirm the kidney stone and see how big it was. It was indeed a kidney stone and was 2.5mm – half the size of the maximum size that passes easily. The pain got bad again so they gave me more IV pain meds – this time a narcotic so I wasn’t going to be driving myself home. I had to call some friends to come take me and my daughter home (thanks again Amy and John!) and got home around 5:45AM or so.
I only had one other bout of severe pain – Monday night around midnight – woke me up out of sleep so I popped two Percocets then. The stone actually passed today (Wednesday) and the actual passing of the stone outside the body was not painful at all. From what I understand, the tube (ureter) from the kidney to the bladder is much smaller than the tube from the bladder to the outside world. It’s the traveling from the kidney to the bladder that causes all the pain. I was having to urinate through a strainer they gave me to catch the stone and I did catch it – it’s just a little black stone. I took a picture of the stone but haven’t posted it here (yet).
My side is still very sore – I think it’s from the pain/stress of the stone traveling through the ureter. I feel like I had surgery or something and am walking very gingerly and feel a bit weak. My urologist appointment is Thursday morning so I’ll take the stone to him and they will analyze it to see what kind of stone it is so we can see how I can change me lifestyle to prevent further stones.
So, they say a kidney stone’s pain is comparable to childbirth. I don’t know how they compare, but I’ll tell you this – I wouldn’t wish that pain on my worst enemy.
I’m so sorry to hear about your ordeal! (But happy to hear that you got it diagnosed quickly & correctly and have good friends to help out with your daughter.)
I’m glad to hear you’re on the mend and will be back up and working soon. Feel better!
I currently have a kidney stone. I felt the 1st of my pain on saturday night around 9. My father ha to take me and my 2 kids to the ER b/c my husband was at work waiting for the boss so that he could close and meet me there. I walked into the ER and I was bent over crying hysterically. They took me right to the back and out me on a stretcher, but I had to wait awhile to get any pain med’s. I kept asking and asking but they ha to wait for the dr. I was not haooy.. I remember laying in the bed and moaning/crying b/c I was in do much pain. I remember not being able to move b/c I didn’t want the pain to spread anymore and there was sweat pouring from every part of me b/c of the pain. I thought I was going to passout from it. I kept telling the nurse that I think I’m going to die of pain. I have had two kids and had an apidural that didn’t work b/c my spine has some blockage in it so I thought my labors were the worst pain. Come to find out that a 4 mm kidney stone put it over the top. I can’t even begin to explain the pain I went through. This was my second kidney stone (last one was a couple years ago) but this time the pain was sooo much worse. I was given a perscription for hydrocodone(vicodin) and its helped w/ the pain alot! Last time I took it was last night around 7 and when I woke up this morning I wasn’t feeling any pain. Thought maybe I passed it an I didnt catch it in the strainer, but right now I’m feeling my back starting to act up so i know its still there. I’m waiting to see if there is more pain on the way before I pop a pain pill. Hopefully this stone will be out soon!!!
i had one 2 nights ago that was 2.5mm,,,,im telling u i feel for u to cause i dont wish that pain on my enemys,,,this make my 6th one
I hear you guys!!!! I have kidney stone disease. Passing then right now actually. I have several in both kidneys. I have been passing them since 1999 and for two past two years, there has not been a month that I have not had one to several stones in each kidney. I use a heating pad, pain meds, nausea meds and I drink lots of lemonade. Some have made me very sick and others just a slight nausea. I have been passing them for so long and have passed so many, I guess I have almost gotten use to it. They have not found out why I make them so fast yet. I am the human Pez dispenser of stones. It does get old and I get depressed sometimes cause I am so tired of going through this but, it is what it is and I push through. I hate to hear all of you are going through this. Lemonade does help. It actually can break down stones and help prevent them. Good luck to all of you.
I have been diagnosed with having about 4 kidney stones measuring about 2.5 mm my biggest concern is when will I know if I have passed them, I’m still having lower back and mild abdominal pain.I’m really scared.
i had this pain last week . i was diagnosed of having 2.5 mm stone in my right kidney the pain was severe and no pain killer was working on me. my elder brother helped me pricking the devil . he gave me a dose of mother tincture of berneris , a homeo medicen mixed in the jug full of water . he motivated me to drink it slowly . with him around i drank good quantity of water. and to my surprise i was able to strain a small golden stone and few particles . thank you so very much . may god bless everyone with a brother like mine who has beholden in the hour of need?