Help I'm steppin' into the twilight zone! Land of Kidney Stones!!



Love is missing someone whenever you’re apart, but somehow feeling warm inside because you’re close in heart.

Hello, my little blogees,
    Today is Wednesday Sept 5.  I would like to share a very strange occurance with you...
Last Sunday, after being in severe pain, I (June of June and Doug fame) ended up in our local hospital emergency room. After a CT scan and other body fluid testing..I was found to have kidney stones..granted a common problem and in itself not blog worthy.  I was admitted to the hospital due to a severe infection in the same kidney on antibiotics  and here I still sit...not blog worthy of itself.  Okay, here is where the twilight zone theme music comes in...Doug (of June and Doug fame) was on his way to work on Tuesday,  to keep Canada safe...firefighting hero he is...and as he was driving, he was stricken with intense pain and barely managed to make it to work.  When he did get there he was sent by ambulance to hospital.  After testing, he was found to have kidney stones...we share so much, it's true...but kidney stones????  Everybody say....ooooooo weird; ooooo spooky!
Well, it's what I was thinking!!  What are the chances??  Now, whe he has a toothache and my gums hurt..or when he has a cold and I get a cough..I agree that may be sympathy pains... but kidney stones???  So, please send us both your good wishes for a speedy recovery and healing white light!  And since I am so committed to expanding not just your waistline, but also your mind...I will share.

What is a kidney stone?

A kidney stone is a solid piece of material that forms in a kidney out of substances in the urine.  A stone may stay in the kidney or break loose and travel down the urinary tract. A small stone may pass all the way out of the body without causing too much pain.  A larger stone may get stuck in a ureter, the bladder, or the urethra. A problem stone can block the flow of urine and cause great pain.

Are all kidney stones alike?

No. Doctors have found four major types of kidney stones.

• The most common type of stone contains calcium. Calcium is a normal part of a healthy diet. Calcium that is not used by the bones and muscles goes to the kidneys. In most people, the kidneys flush out the extra calcium with the rest of the urine. People who have calcium stones keep the calcium in their kidneys. The calcium that stays behind joins with other waste products to form a stone. The most common combination is called calcium oxalate.
• A struvite stone may form after an infection in the urinary system. These stones contain the mineral magnesium and the waste product ammonia.
• A uric acid stone may form when the urine contains too much acid. If you tend to form uric acid stones, you may need to cut back on the amount of meat you eat.
• Cystine stones are rare. Cystine is one of the building blocks that make up muscles, nerves, and other parts of the body. Cystine can build up in the urine to form a stone. The disease that causes cystine stones runs in families.

June and her kidneys

 

 

 

 

When should I call a doctor?

 

If you have a kidney stone, you may already know how painful it can be. Most kidney stones pass out of the body without help from a doctor. But sometimes a stone will not pass. It may even get larger. Your doctor can help.

You should call a doctor if you have any of the following signs:

• extreme pain in your back or side that will not go away
• blood in your urine
• fever and chills
• vomiting
• urine that smells bad or looks cloudy
• a burning feeling when you urinate

 

 

Questions to Ask the Doctor

• What kind of kidney stone do I have?
• How much fluid should I drink every day?
• How much protein and what type of protein should I eat every day?
• Am I getting enough calcium in my diet?
• Can you recommend a dietitian who specializes in kidney stone prevention or renal nutrition?
• Do I need to take medication to prevent kidney stones?

 

 

 

 

What can I do to avoid more stones?

Drink more water. Try to drink 12 full glasses of water a day. Drinking lots of water helps to flush away the substances that form stones in the kidneys.
You can also drink ginger ale, lemon-lime sodas, and fruit juices. But water is best. Limit your coffee, tea, and cola to 1 or 2 cups a day because the caffeine may cause you to lose fluid too quickly.
Your doctor may ask you to eat more of some foods and to cut back on other foods. For example, if you have a uric acid stone, your doctor may ask you to eat less meat, because meat breaks down to make uric acid
If you are prone to forming calcium oxalate stones, you may need to limit foods that are high in oxalate. These foods include rhubarb, beets, spinach, and chocolate.

Points to Remember

• Most stones will pass out of the body without a doctor's help.
• See your doctor if you have severe pain in your back or side that will not go away.
• See your doctor if you have blood in your urine-urine will appear pink.
• When you pass a stone, try to catch it in a strainer to show your doctor.
• Drink lots of water to prevent more kidney stones from forming.

 

 

wonder what he sees in there???

Something good???

 

 

 

AND NOW PREVENTION

(yes, I know locking the barn door after the cow has escaped..but to keep you from getting any..and us from getting more...)

 

 



 

How much fluid should a person drink to prevent stone formation?

The amount of fluid a person needs to drink depends on the weather and the person's activity level. People who have had a kidney stone should drink enough water and other fluids to produce at least 2 quarts of urine a day. Some doctors have their patients collect urine for 24 hours so the volume can be measured. The doctor can then advise the patient about increasing fluid intake, if necessary. People who work or exercise in hot weather need more fluid to replace the fluid they lose through sweat. Drinking enough water helps keep urine diluted and flushes away materials that might form stones and is the most important thing a person can do to prevent kidney stones.
A person at risk for cystine stones should drink enough water each day to dilute the concentration of cystine that escapes into the urine, which may be difficult. More than a gallon of water may be needed every 24 hours.

What fluids should be avoided?

Grapefruit juice and dark colas have been found to increase the risk of stone formation and should be avoided by people who are prone to calcium oxalate stone formation. Although cranberry juice is often promoted as useful for preventing urinary tract infections, it contains oxalate and may be harmful to stone formers.

How does salt in the diet affect kidney stone formation?

Salt is made up of sodium and chloride. The sodium in salt, when excreted by the kidneys, causes more calcium to be excreted into the urine. High concentrations of calcium in the urine combine with oxalate and phosphorus to form stones. Reducing salt intake is preferred to reducing calcium intake.
The U.S. recommended daily allowance (RDA) of sodium is 2,400 milligrams (mg), but Americans' intake averages 3,300 mg, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. The risk of kidney stones increases with increased daily sodium consumption. Limiting salt to the U.S. RDA goal of 2,400 mg is an important step for people who form calcium oxalate or calcium phosphate stones. People taking medications-such as hydrochlorothiazide, chlorthalidone, or indapamide-to prevent stones still need to limit salt intake.

How can a person limit sodium intake?

Learning the sodium content of foods can help people control their sodium intake. Food labels provide information about sodium and other nutrients. Keeping a sodium diary can help a person limit sodium intake to 2,400 mg. When eating out, people should ask about the sodium content of foods they order.
Some foods have such large amounts of sodium that a single serving provides a major portion of the daily allowance. Foods that contain high levels of sodium include

• hot dogs
• canned soups and vegetables
• processed frozen foods
• luncheon meats
• fast food

People who are trying to limit their sodium intake should check labels for ingredients and hidden sodium, such as

• monosodium glutamate (MSG)
• sodium bicarbonate, the chemical name for baking soda
• baking powder, which contains sodium bicarbonate and other chemicals
• disodium phosphate
• sodium alginate
• sodium nitrate or nitrite

How does animal protein in the diet affect kidney stone formation?

Meats and other animal proteins-such as eggs and fish-contain purines, which break down into uric acid in the urine. Foods that are especially rich in purines include organ meats, such as liver. People who form uric acid stones should limit their meat consumption to 6 ounces each day.
Nondairy animal proteins may also increase the risk of calcium stones by increasing the excretion of calcium and reducing the excretion of citrate into the urine. Citrate prevents kidney stones, but the acid in animal protein reduces the citrate in urine.

Points to Remember

• Diet is one of several factors that can promote or inhibit kidney stone formation.
• Different kinds of kidney stones require different prevention diets.
• Drinking water and other fluids is the most important thing a person can do to prevent kidney stones.
• People who have had a kidney stone should drink enough water and other fluids to make at least 2 quarts of urine each day.
• Diets high in salt, or sodium, can increase the excretion of calcium into the urine and thus increase the risk of calcium containing kidney stones. Reducing salt intake is preferred to reducing calcium intake.
• Foods rich in animal proteins-such as meat, eggs, and fish-contain purines and can increase the risk of uric acid stones and calcium stones.
• Calcium from food can help prevent kidney stone formation and help maintain bone density.
• Avoiding foods rich in oxalates, such as spinach and rhubarb, may help prevent calcium oxalate stones.
• After a doctor has completed an evaluation and determined the causes of a person’s stones, a dietitian can help a person plan meals that lower the risk of forming stones.