IBS and kidney Stones

[Will1234]

Hi,Firstly , I posted similar about 1 year or so ago.

I was prescribed potassium citrate mixture in order to prevent further kidney stones , however, the side effects are stomach pains and even more diarrhoea issues . In fact , if I took this med in the quantity prescribed I would for ever need to be within a minute of a toilet .

I could not tolerate it but took it occasionally and apparently now have another suspected stone .

I cannot find a suitable alternative and my doctor could only advise that he was not aware of any alternative med.

Just wondering if anyone has had any similar experience and managed to find any alternative to Potassium citrate.

Will 1234

[Boxroad]

I was told to drink squeezed lemon juice in water each day as the acid would help keep the kidneys clear, I am waiting on follow up lithotripsy at the moment, I had one just before Christmas that gave me a water infection all over the holiday season. When I had a stone in 2022 I had lithotripsy it dislodged the stone then it got stuck in the tube resulting in an emergency operation, have that stone stuck in the tube was the most pain I have ever suffered.

[Will1234 in reply to Boxroad]

Hi Boxroad,

thanks for reply and information. Last time I had a stone it was a nightmare too. They used a Urethroscope to go up through bladder and then up to kidney. Next told me they could not find the stone. Bleeding and had a stent and catheter for a while. Next further tests then showed the stone to be very big . Had to have a PCNL surgery. They go in to kidney with a scope up through bladder but also through a tube into the kidney from your back . Next was covid and big delay in removing stent which was causing pain . So next another procedure to get stent out as it was encrusted in tube from Kidney to bladder and they needed to use a laser to dislodge and remove it . In hospital for a week due to bleeding .

After passing bits naturally I have been fine with no symptoms for around 2 years but now they think another stone . So due to the problems of the invasive approach if I need treatment again , I was going to ask about Lithotripsy .

I was therefore interested in your reply . Although Lithotripsy less invasive it sounded as if you had issues with that procedure too.

I will probably get a CT scan next to clarify the situation --hopefully before the stone gets too big -like last time . If you have any further advice about Lithotripsy please let me kow.

Best

Will1234

[Boxroad in reply to Will1234]

The lithotripsy broke the stone but it still got stuck, I had the stent and catheter after the op, I have to self catheterise myself once a week since the op been doing it for about 14 months now, I had the new lithotripsy this time where they lay you in water, it was rather painful compared to the old way to be honest, I had mine done at Colchester hospital Essex, where did you have yours done?

[Will1234 in reply to Boxroad]

Hi Boxroad,Thanks for additional information. I had my surgery in NineWells Hospital in Dundee and some other procedures in Perth Royal Infirmary. There seems to be a Urology unit for our area , now in Perth . In Scotland , it seems that the only place they do Lithotripsy is in Edinburgh. I would have been happy to travel there , thinking that the treatment was less invasive than scopes going through bladder to Kidney . However your experience seems just as bad , maybe worse having to self catheterise.

When and if the time comes I will discuss it further with the medical staff . I hope your new treatment is more successful and you get free of needing to catheterise.

Will 1234

[Boxroad in reply to Will1234]

I have got to catheterise for rest of my life, it’s to keep the urethra open after scaring, I think the removal of stones is worse than the stone itself.

[Will1234 in reply to Boxroad]

I am sorry to hear that , it does not sound good at all. I assume the passing of the pieces of stone caused the scaring . That all sounds a bit worrying.

Kind of makes me think maybe i need to ask doctor what would happen if you just left the stone in the kidney . After all people live okay with just one kidney . Overall you seem to be correct , medical intervention , it seems can make things worse .

[Boxroad in reply to Will1234]

I went nearly three years from finding the first stone to having it removed, when I had to go to A&E with the first stone they did. Ct scan and saw I had another on in the kidney as well as the one in the tube, they went in the kidney but for some reason I can’t get a answer they left the one in the kidney in there it wasn’t until my ct scan after the op that I found out it was still in there, when I asked in an email why it was not taken out when they were in there the answer was not sure. So the one I am having the lithotripsy on now has been there for at least two years, when I asked where I would get pain from my kidney stone I was told you don’t get pain from having a kidney stone the issue is if it moves and get stuck in tube, Hey Ho been there done that. Do you have other health issues apart from ibs and stones? I have had ibs for about 34 years ever since I was involved in a crushing accident, I also have angina that started in first lockdown but I think it might have been Covid, and I am type 2 diabetic. But I am doing ok to be fare I do vegetable gardening, I have cycled about 1300 miles on my E bike since I got it last march, I used to walk my dog a lot but we lost him about 14 months ago. I took early retirement due to stress about 7 years ago just need this weather to brighten up.

[Will1234 in reply to Boxroad]

These urology doctors have been a bit poor in both our cases . It all seems a bit hit or miss with these stones.

I was poor at drinking enough water I think . I would often play golf in hot weather and drink little. Then there is IBS D --all probably depleting the body of liquids. I am 77 and retired at age 50. Stress and this made IBS worse , so when an opportunity arose to take early retirement I did .

Not really any other major health issue, some hip and back pain possibly arthritis --IBS is main thing and had that since around age 21/22. Ibs D is a regular occurrence but not too bad to manage since I retired . With me , IBS has changed over the years and now, often occurs after meals and is usually relieved by loo visit which is often urgent !! . Most days in recent times I am okay after this occurs but it is such a nuisance . Usually if going out for a while , or travelling, Imodium is my crutch to get me through.

You do well exercise wise and as you say we need better weather. I am off to Tenerife on Sunday for four weeks , so hopefully an escape to the sun .