Kidney stones? - help please.

Drez

So uh it's 3AM and my mother thinks she has kidney stones. Her symptoms seem to match whatever site she checked, and I just checked WebMD and it looks like that's probably what she has. She said she wasn't feeling well earlier, but now she's vomiting like crazy.

According to WebMD, it doesn't sound serious enough that it requires an immediate hospital visit. Is that right? Should she wait until morning to go see the doctor, or should I force her to go to the hospital?

Maybe I'm overreacting...I just don't know much about this.

X5

All I've been able to fine about Kidney Stones suggest that vomiting is a "normal" side effect. However, as with any vomiting, she is likely to become dehydrated quickly if she is vominting up any water she drinks.

I am always hesistant to give advice to NOT go to the hospital, because I am not an expert. I'd suggest perhaps calling the ER, and talking to whomever you can reach there and go over all her syptoms, and explain you just wanna play it safe, and know what a professional thinks about it.

Wish I had something better to suggest. Hope she gets better soon mang

EDIT: To clarify, I am of the "Plz go to the hospital now" / better safe than sorry crowd, incase the post was confusing at all. I'm tired and working insanely late

HK5

Vomiting like crazy is a symptom for a number of very serious illnesses. You would be safest taking her to emergency care immediately. Sounds like you guys aren't sleeping anyway, so you might as well play it safe.

Munacra

Hey Drez, take her to the emergency room, just for safeties.

It's your mommy, better err on the side of caution. In fact, I hope you're already on you way and not checking up on this.

Drez

Problem is I don't have a car right now so it would mean calling an ambulance, or I'd take her in a second. She's insured, that's not a problem, but I haven't read anything that indicates an immediate hospital trip is required, and neither has she, and she's in so much discomfort she doesn't want to leave the bathroom because she keeps vomiting.

I appreciate the advice, and I agree that erring on the side of caution is always a good idea, but that's not going to work here with her...either I can prove to her that she has to go or she's not going to go. Right now it looks like it's not necessary, but if anyone knows anything contrary specifically with regard to kidney stones, I'd appreciate it, cause I'd really rather her go, especially if she needs to.

AbsoluteZero

I am not all about the ambulance because I know that is like a 500 dollar ride to the hospital.... Try to think of a way to get ahold of a car. Any friends? Family?

X5

Give the ER a call, give 'em the low down. And getting an opinion from them might be what it takes to get mom to be ok with moving from the latrine to a care facility.

You don't have a car, But to be safer than sorry-er, you gotta talk to a medical professional at the very least.

You said she is completely covered by insurance, so really, all the trip to the hospital would cost is some sleep, Which by the sounds of it, isn't happening anyway.

Munacra

Call a doctor to visit? A family doctor? A friend who knows about that? I don't really think kidney stones are dangerous per say, and some nausea does come with it, however...all that vomiting...I dont know.

Good luck, and keep calm.

Drez

It's 4AM, so...nobody's awake or around and it's Monday so people have to work.

And the doctor is open in like 4 hours, so she's pretty adamant about not going to the hospital. I mean if I had my own car I could try to physically abduct her. Since I don't, the only way of getting her to the hospital is to convince her she needs to go. I tried convincing her that erring on the side of caution is smart, but she read up on KS apparently and doesn't think it necessary. I mean, I looked it up myself, and it doesn't look like it's necessary to me either, though I didn't tell her that. Other than going to the hospital just to be safe, is there really any reason to try and force her? If not I'll just monitor her until the doctor's office opens around the corner.

I mean, if she's not likely to rupture a kidney or whatever in the next four hours, that would be much better, because the doctor is literally around the corner, as opposed to the hospital which is not. She can comfortably vomit the night away and then see a doctor. WebMD says that stones pass in three days but a doctor might recommend blablabla which to me means a regular doctor visit seems to be the SOP in this case.

Trust me, I share everyone's philosophy here, but I'm not going to put a gun to my mother's head unless there really is a profound and specific reason to. She feels shitty enough as it is.

edit: Sorry, I hope I'm not coming off as an ass here...I really appreciate the advice and concerns, but I'm kind of looking to see if anyone specifically knows anything about the severity of kidney stones from firsthand experience or whatever. I am totally with you all on erring on the side of caution, but it's not really going to work here with my mom.

edit2: Also, it's my fault for wording the OP the way I did...I should have been more specific, but I was still arguing with her as I posted it.

Munacra

Ok, well in that case, just keep an eye out for her till morning. Make sure she gets a little bit of water or Gatorade in her (for the dehydration), and take some catnaps (10 mins every 45 minutes) yourself so you can keep alert for anything that may happen.

Drez

Yah, I guess that's my only option right now. Beh.

Thanks guys...I'm gonna go keep an eye on her.

powerss

Yeah dude, please - WATCH HER CLOSELY. Even maybe don't let her fall asleep. Watch TV, have her drink some Gatoraide or something.

khain

Ok second hand story so take it however. One of my friends had kidney stones and did pretty much exactly what your mom is doing and then went to the hospital in the morning. I don't remember how bad he said it was but vomiting was involved anyway from what he told me the doctor said there was no permanent damage or side effects from waiting overnight but he could have saved himself a lot of pain if he had went immediately.

MegaMan001

As I say in a lot of these posts, I am a second year nursing student (one semester from graduation and becoming licensed).

Kidney stones, typically, are the result of calculi formation with an overabundance of some kind of element (most often calcium). When the crystals form, depending on the location, it can cause serious flank pain - which is manifested in vomiting. As with any kind of blockage in the renal system, it can lead to acute renal failure and tubular necrosis if sufficient enough.

The size and degree of blockage is detect usually via an abdominal ultrasound. If the blockage is significant the calculi can be destroyed via laser, ultrasound, mechanical means, or through lysing (calculi destructive agents) or chemicals.

I don't mean to scare you Drez and in 95% of cases it will pass without problem and only require a doctor's visit. But there is a chance for serious damage without immediate examination. As with anything else follow the symptoms, if she starts taking a turn for the worst get her to the ER.

Also, have her drink lots of fluids and if you have any potassium supplements she should take one if possible. Chronic vomiting loses a lot of electrolytes and potassium is extremely important to replace.

EDIT: Apparently the OP was over 4 hours ago. I wish I had been at the computer earlier. I hope everything is ok.

Blake T

Drez wrote:

It's 4AM, so...nobody's awake or around and it's Monday so people have to work.

And the doctor is open in like 4 hours, so she's pretty adamant about not going to the hospital. I mean if I had my own car I could try to physically abduct her. Since I don't, the only way of getting her to the hospital is to convince her she needs to go. I tried convincing her that erring on the side of caution is smart, but she read up on KS apparently and doesn't think it necessary. I mean, I looked it up myself, and it doesn't look like it's necessary to me either, though I didn't tell her that. Other than going to the hospital just to be safe, is there really any reason to try and force her? If not I'll just monitor her until the doctor's office opens around the corner.

I mean, if she's not likely to rupture a kidney or whatever in the next four hours, that would be much better, because the doctor is literally around the corner, as opposed to the hospital which is not. She can comfortably vomit the night away and then see a doctor. WebMD says that stones pass in three days but a doctor might recommend blablabla which to me means a regular doctor visit seems to be the SOP in this case.

Trust me, I share everyone's philosophy here, but I'm not going to put a gun to my mother's head unless there really is a profound and specific reason to. She feels shitty enough as it is.

edit: Sorry, I hope I'm not coming off as an ass here...I really appreciate the advice and concerns, but I'm kind of looking to see if anyone specifically knows anything about the severity of kidney stones from firsthand experience or whatever. I am totally with you all on erring on the side of caution, but it's not really going to work here with my mom.

edit2: Also, it's my fault for wording the OP the way I did...I should have been more specific, but I was still arguing with her as I posted it.

My old man had over 20 kidney stones when they operated on him to remove them, most people have four tops. He ended up being in a fair bit of pain by the end of that. He was on the surgery waiting list for about a month, so I doubt the extra hours will do damage to your mother.

Halfmex

My wife has had kidney stones two times in the last three years. Nausea is a common side effect as is (naturally) abdominal pain. Depending on the severity of the stones (if that is in fact the cause of your mother's ailment), the doctor will likely tell her to see a urologist (probably misspelled that) who will determine the necessary treatment.

My wife had a handful of stones each time, so she received a lithotripsy treatment once (non surgical procedure to break up the stones into something more easily passable) and the other time she had a stint inserted (outpatient surgery) to allow the stones to pass more easily. She was put on bedrest and a good deal of pain meds -- the heavy kind of pain meds. Percocet, Darvocet...hardcore stuff.

In either case, it wasn't anything to be too worried about, but it was excruciatingly painful for her. Just be there for your mother and when you do take her to the doctor, you might want to bring a bucket along for any emergency nausea effects she'll be feeling on the way there. Hope she recovers soon. Good luck.

variant

I've had kidney stones, my parents didn't know what it was so they took me to the E.R., there they just put me on pain killers, morphine i believe, and that for some reason stopped the nausea too, then I was let go off the next morning, and put on vicodin for the next week or so, had to pee in a damn funnel for a week to catch the stone. So...yeah you could take her to the E.R. if you wanted too but you'd be fine just waiting for the doctor's office to open up and then go in for an emergenc visit, get the perscription. Oh and vicodin doesn't help the nausea much, if anything you'll vomit more if you move around, I still threw up like twice a day that whole week.

Soviet Waffle

My sister had kidney stones, and a really terrible case of it. This isn't a "Rush to the hospital" disease unless she'd been hiding the strong symptoms for some time. Though this can turn into a really bad hassle, she'll be fine (Though I hope she's seen a doctor today)

Drez

OK so I'm back.

I went to the doctor's office with her...he thinks it's just back pain but it COULD be kidney stones. Current location of the pain is iffy on kidney stones and the urine analysis isn't necessarily consistent with kidney stones, but he couldn't be sure.

She has to go for a CT scan later, but the doctor didn't seem to think it was emergency-immediate, just that she has to go today/tomorrow morning to be sure.

Thanks, all.

MegaMan001

Drez wrote:

OK so I'm back.

I went to the doctor's office with her...he thinks it's just back pain but it COULD be kidney stones. Current location of the pain is iffy on kidney stones and the urine analysis isn't necessarily consistent with kidney stones, but he couldn't be sure.

She has to go for a CT scan later, but the doctor didn't seem to think it was emergency-immediate, just that she has to go today/tomorrow morning to be sure.

Thanks, all.

Glad to hear everything is ok!