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Suggest Treatment For Kidney Stones
Question: Hello Doctor,
My wife is diagnosed with a 4mm Kidney stone in her left mid Kidney. We live in Hongkong and we are finding it difficult to get appointment of a Nephrologist or Urologist as X-Mass season coming soon. The earliest possible visit would be in mid January. In this circumstances we have only option to seek some suggestions online from kind doctors like you.
1. Diagnosis - 2 weeks back during Xray done for some back pain which revealed a strained back muscle and a 4 mm stone in left mid kidney
2. No specialist visit yet as non availability of appointment till XXXXXXX mid next year
There is another situation as my wife has some other gynecological problem and the doctor suggested us to have a baby asap without wasting months but at the same time he suggested to get the stone removed first.
The question is , how long does it take a 4 mm stone to get dissolved (by water or medicine) or treated some other way?
One of my friend from XXXXXXX having the same problem mentioned that he is on Portrate MB6 and can buy some for my wife. Is it good to take that medicine at least unless I get the appointment of the specialist ?
Your suggestion is much awaited!
Thanks
XXXX
My wife is diagnosed with a 4mm Kidney stone in her left mid Kidney. We live in Hongkong and we are finding it difficult to get appointment of a Nephrologist or Urologist as X-Mass season coming soon. The earliest possible visit would be in mid January. In this circumstances we have only option to seek some suggestions online from kind doctors like you.
1. Diagnosis - 2 weeks back during Xray done for some back pain which revealed a strained back muscle and a 4 mm stone in left mid kidney
2. No specialist visit yet as non availability of appointment till XXXXXXX mid next year
There is another situation as my wife has some other gynecological problem and the doctor suggested us to have a baby asap without wasting months but at the same time he suggested to get the stone removed first.
The question is , how long does it take a 4 mm stone to get dissolved (by water or medicine) or treated some other way?
One of my friend from XXXXXXX having the same problem mentioned that he is on Portrate MB6 and can buy some for my wife. Is it good to take that medicine at least unless I get the appointment of the specialist ?
Your suggestion is much awaited!
Thanks
XXXX
Brief Answer:
No need to worry
Detailed Answer:
Hi
I do understand your anxiety and concern. The good news is that a 4 mm stone in kidney need not be actively treated unless it has been very severely impacted and causing intense pain, which is unusual , or in special circumstances such as in airplane pilots. Mostly it would pass out spontaneously if she starts taking more fluids, enough to have a clear urine output of over 2-2.5 litres per day. Restrict salt, if possible to reduce chances of stone growth and recurrence. Avoid excess non-vegetarian diet, but can take in limited quantities.
Oral potassium citrate, which is potrate syrup, is extremely safe under normal circumstances and can be taken at doses of 10-15 ml thrice daily with water after meals by your wife if you are definitely aware that her kidney function is normal and she has no significant gastric trouble. You can continue this drug for the next month or so and we can take a further decision to stop or continue after you visit your Urologist and some more reports are available.
Hopefully by the time you visit your doctor, with this regimen, the 4mm stone would have passed off spontaneously.
If she has pain in loin due to the stone coming down, she can take tablets like buscopan for relief, though I seriously doubt if it would be required
No need to worry
Detailed Answer:
Hi
I do understand your anxiety and concern. The good news is that a 4 mm stone in kidney need not be actively treated unless it has been very severely impacted and causing intense pain, which is unusual , or in special circumstances such as in airplane pilots. Mostly it would pass out spontaneously if she starts taking more fluids, enough to have a clear urine output of over 2-2.5 litres per day. Restrict salt, if possible to reduce chances of stone growth and recurrence. Avoid excess non-vegetarian diet, but can take in limited quantities.
Oral potassium citrate, which is potrate syrup, is extremely safe under normal circumstances and can be taken at doses of 10-15 ml thrice daily with water after meals by your wife if you are definitely aware that her kidney function is normal and she has no significant gastric trouble. You can continue this drug for the next month or so and we can take a further decision to stop or continue after you visit your Urologist and some more reports are available.
Hopefully by the time you visit your doctor, with this regimen, the 4mm stone would have passed off spontaneously.
If she has pain in loin due to the stone coming down, she can take tablets like buscopan for relief, though I seriously doubt if it would be required
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks Doctor for your prompt response. Our main concern is to plan the baby, as I have mentioned she has some other problems as well and the gynecologist has suggested to plan a baby asap. She is suffering from Endometriosis and doctor suggested to have a baby 2 years back. But we were not financially comfortable and didn't plan for the baby then. Now the gynecologist says that we have wasted time and Endometriosis could cause harm to her fertility if we make further delay.
So we are worried that if we plan the baby with this stone still in her kidney (no, till date she doesn't have any pain for the stone), will there be any complications ? The gynecologist confirmed no problem to the fetus but he couldn't comment on my wife's condition if she has a baby in her womb and at the same time a kidney stone.
Waiting for your suggestion.
Thanks,
XXXX
So we are worried that if we plan the baby with this stone still in her kidney (no, till date she doesn't have any pain for the stone), will there be any complications ? The gynecologist confirmed no problem to the fetus but he couldn't comment on my wife's condition if she has a baby in her womb and at the same time a kidney stone.
Waiting for your suggestion.
Thanks,
XXXX
Brief Answer:
problem unlikely with a 4 mm stone
Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
It will be difficult to predict with complete certainty that the stone will cause no trouble, but I'd say the chances of that happening are extremely less, say less than 5-10%. This would be higher if she had infection or obstruction causing pain.
As I explained earlier, with the medicines and imprived water intake, you could find that there is no stone in the kidney by January when you visit your Urologist. The other option will be to go and get a laser surgery called RIRS for stone which by itself is expensive, and / or Eswl, which might be difficult due to problem in localising such a small stone.
One other option is coming to XXXXXXX where stone removal and infertility can be managed well without too much trouble.
problem unlikely with a 4 mm stone
Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
It will be difficult to predict with complete certainty that the stone will cause no trouble, but I'd say the chances of that happening are extremely less, say less than 5-10%. This would be higher if she had infection or obstruction causing pain.
As I explained earlier, with the medicines and imprived water intake, you could find that there is no stone in the kidney by January when you visit your Urologist. The other option will be to go and get a laser surgery called RIRS for stone which by itself is expensive, and / or Eswl, which might be difficult due to problem in localising such a small stone.
One other option is coming to XXXXXXX where stone removal and infertility can be managed well without too much trouble.
Note: Consult a Urologist online for consultation about prostate and bladder problems, sexual dysfunction, kidney stones, prostate enlargement, urinary incontinence, impotence and erectile dysfunction - Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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