Kidney Stones

[acarpe3448]

I have had around 50 stones in the past 10 years. Most of the time they have been calcium stones out of the left kidney! The first stone put me on my butt in the er! Pain was unreal! After that when I got one I would double up on extra strength tylenol and drink lots of water! If you go to the er, you'll get the IVP before pain meds! I guess a lot of people come in faking stones! I had one massive stone stuck for around a month, and had it surgicaly removed. I had lithotripsy another times. The rest of the times, I did not know one was coming until the last hour or so! I never reported it! I am able to control my pain with just tylenol, and have never missed a trip! I am sure glad I was on the ground when the first one hit!

 

[Occam's Razor]

Holy crap Batman. How do you guys know it's a stone? Just hurts like the mother of all pain? Starts dull and crescendos as you pass it?

Remember that scene in the movie "Alien" when the creature popped out of the guy's chest? Mine felt like that...only worse.

Actually, it started out as a sharp pain that ebbed, then cycled. Each cycle got worse. The yucky part is it never ends until that rascal pops into the bladder. The pain comes from the dilated ureter. The tissue isn't used to it and it goes to DEFCON 1 when the stone stretches it out.

For me the pain was higher up (in location) than I thought it would be.

I never felt the 4 other mini me stones pass. I caught them in the nifty little strainer they give you at the urologist's office. They looked like tiny nuggets, were hard to the touch, and tasted like rock salt. <-- That's a joke, Magnum!...don't eat them!

 

[radarlove]

A combination of potassium and magnesium (standard supplement format) have a remarkable effect on future stones.

From the web:

Potassium magnesium citrate is a combination available over the counter, which is proving to be very beneficial in preventing kidney stones and even a better option than the more commonly used potassium-only formulations. In one study, it reduced the risk for kidney stone recurrence by 85%.


Potassium citrate (K-Lyte, Polycitra-K, Urocit-K) elevates citrate levels in the urine and reduces calcium excretion and recurrence of stones regardless of the cause of hypocitruria. It is given as a sole treatment to people with normal urine calcium levels. Between 70% and 75% of patients with recurrent stones have experienced remission with potassium citrate therapy. Magnesium citrate (Citroma, Citro-Nesia) may be useful for people who develop calcium stones from impaired intestinal absorption due to small bowel disease.

 

[AppBrookie]

I had one on a layover a few years ago, I did not know a human could tolerate so much pain. Once you are in the club, you are highly motivated to drink water till you float! Kudos to ALPA Aeromedical, they made several years of dues worthwhile. I passed the first in the ER but the x-ray showed that I had 3 more, so the next week they blasted me, I passed the next 3 over a 4 day period(worse pain than #1). All total, I was back flying in 21/2 weeks thanks to the Docs in Denver. From talking around w/ other "Stone Survivors", I think that I will try my best to not let them know in OKC.
My Prays are with you if you have one!!

 

[SkiFishFly]

I'm convinced.

I never want to experience one of these. I'm going to start drinking more water and go find some potassium magnesium supplements.

Good info. Thanks to all who have posted.

 

[Iflewjetz]

I had one a few years ago. We had some friends over for dinner and I winced through some pain. It got worse and after they left, my wife and I were standing in the garage waving. I fell on my knees and yelled what must have sounded like a dinosaur. I had never felt that kind of pain. It felt like Mike Tyson was punching the he11 out of my lower left back and George Foreman was squeezing the $hit out of my left testicle. I did lithotrypsy about 4 times and it was too big to break up.
I finally had to go to other options, surgery because I had burned up all my vacation and sick leave. That was pretty painful. Poking a tube directly into my kidney while I was awake and the drugs wearing off.
ALPA was great when I was stone free and I had my medical in a couple of weeks.
Drink your water.

 

[SLOTH]

Some of you guys toughing it out reminds me of the time when I had one... OUCH! My doctor told me that the kidney is very sensitive to blockage, and will seize function all together if the blackage remains for a long time (ie large stone). Toughing it out may not be the best option if you desire to keep 2 kidneys. Needless to say I drink water like it's going out of style, and have reduced softdrink, coffee, etc. intake dramatically. Besides all the kidney benefits, my weight control has been much better as well.

 

[ELVISP]

You guys are killing me with these stories. I had to slam a water just in case!

 

[Big Dog]

Women who have had kidney stones say it's a toss up as to what is worse, kidney stones or child birth. There is no other pain quite like waking up from anesthesia and finding a wire hanging out of your member. The other end is tied to a stint keeping your ureter open. Those were the longest 3 days of my life.
In short, drink plenty of water, avoid caffeine as much as possible & consume animal protein in moderation.

 

[Rabble]

I don't mean to seem dishonest, but if you go to the emergency room with a random kidney stone, you pass it, the urologist subsequently gives you the green-light... then why not just chalk it up to "don't ask - don't tell"?

How would FAA Aeromedical ever find out about the episode if you don't self-disclose?

 

[erj-145mech]

How would FAA Aeromedical ever find out about the episode if you don't self-disclose?

Because you would be falsifying a federal document when you applied for your next medical?

Do you pad your logbook also? "Well, if flew .9, but I'll just make it a 1.9 in the log." No difference.

 

[HighSpeedClimb]

Individuals with recurrent episodes of kidney stones are required to present information to the FAA that they are free of stones before returning to aviation duties. This is a recent change in FAA policy effective September 2003. Recurrent episodes generally require a 24 hour urine analysis as well.
For those pilots/controllers who have retained stones that do not pass, the FAA will consider granting a waiver if their physician can affirm that the stone appears stable and is unlikely to pass spontaneously. Stones greater than 2 mm in size or those located in the upper or mid calyces are less likely to receive waivers. The hazard is that a retained stone may pass during flight and compromise flying safety.
A recent change in the Guide to Aviation Medical Examiners indicates that individuals with a history of retained stones may not be cleared to return to flight duties by their AMEs after documenting they are stone free. Instead, authorization must be obtained from the FAA Aeromedical Certification Division (AMCD) or the Regional Flight Surgeon.
For the first episode of a stone, the FAA will not generally require follow-up reports from the pilot or controller's personal physician on subsequent FAA medical examinations. Those with a history of recurrent or retained stones should expect to be required to submit these reports for several years at the time of their FAA medical examinations.

 

[Champ42272]

Had my first (and hopefully last) kidney stone on Sep 1, 2007. It was 3mm and the most painful thing I have ever gone through. Passed it in in the ER in less than 3 hours (I know how lucky I am).

I just wanted to comment that I have to agree with Occam's Razor input about Vitamin C. This is the only dietary different thing I have done in the last 3-6 months and will never take additional Vitamin C again.

At almost 52, the excess Vitamin C argument strikes a chord with me, I suspect it is the culprit in my case.

Just my opinion, I could be wrong.

Champ 42272