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cvbmom
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| Posted: March 08 2007 at 2:10pm | IP Logged
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I have a question for all of you about kidney stones. I had one removed 2 weeks ago (1 week after our newest little one was born).
All along, I thought the pain in my back and side was due to the pregnancy. I'd had pinched nerves or put my back out at the end of other pregnancies, so I thought that was the problem. When I was in labor, the pain in the side was intense! The nurse said the baby was just elbowing a nerve or something. Anyway, after delivery, I thought the pain was just post-delivery related and tried to cope with it. The doctor said that because this was the 6th pregnancy, cramping would be more painful (and will be for each successive one, she said). After a week, I couldn't take it anymore. It was worse than labor! The OB sent me to the ER where eventually they found a large kidney stone. It was removed the next day. Thank God that is over!!
So, my question to you, ladies, is how can I prevent kidney stones in the future? My urologist (not my choice of doctors, he happened to be the one on call when I went to the ER) said that pregnancy causes them sometimes, so just don't get pregnant anymore. YEAH, RIGHT  ! I told him that wasn't up to me and he was floored that anyone could actually want 6 children let alone more than 6! I would love to have more, God willing. He just said, then, to drink more water. Any other advice???
Thanks and God bless,
Christine
married to dh 10 years in May!
mom to dd (almost 8), ds (6 1/2), dd (4), dd (3), ds (13 mo.) and dd (3 wks.)
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stefoodie
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| Posted: March 08 2007 at 2:39pm | IP Logged
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I've just been reading up on this, Christine, as I suspect I may have one, though hopefully not as large, but the back pain has been there for the past two weeks.
Cranberry juice, Vitamin B complex, yogurt, and lots of water are my main weapons.
Talked to a friend today who knows her stuff and she suggested Nature's Way Primadophilus in addition to the yogurt.
Those are for prevention/kidney problems.
For kidney stones, my Prescription for Nutritional Healing says
L-Methionine
Magnesium
Vitamin B complex, and
Zinc
Don't know much about L-Methionine so I hope someone more knowledgeable will chime in here.
Oh and yes, LOTS AND LOTS of water. I'm trying to drink a full glass every hour.
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stef
mom to five
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saintanneshs
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| Posted: March 08 2007 at 3:46pm | IP Logged
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Christine,
I'm having issues with these too. I passed one when my newborn was just 2 weeks old and there are still a few more inside, yet to move through and causing me urinary tract infections as well as pain in my back, side and abdomen. I went to the ER as well and was basically told that they'd have to pass on their own and then was given antibiotics for the UTI. I just got diagnosed with another UTI (my 3rd in 5 weeks) on Tuesday...so I'm feeling your pain. I know how badly you want to prevent this from happening again.
Fortunately, my kids' pediatrician (who I have a very good relationship with) went through the same thing at the end of last year, so I questioned her about what she thought. She said that she had done lots of research (me too) and found that for most of us who have had multiple babies (she has 4) it's the calcium supplements we take during pregnancy. Of course, that's not definitive. Stones, she said, can come from a variety of sources, but the primary factor in causing them is dehydration (we don't get enough to drink because we're busy taking care of our kids). This, combined with taking heavy doses of calcium supplements (not the most easily/readily absorbed kind of calcium) as in our prenatal vitamins, (which is not so much the case with products found in nature that contain a more readily/easily absorbed calcium like dairy products), all can contribute to stones. She said she believed her stones came from drinking excessive amounts of iced tea instead of water and eating lots of dark green, leafy veggies (=calcium). I think mine came from living on soda during my three months of intense morning sickness. I drank soda all day becaus eit was the only thing I could keep down. I think that since soda's nature is to dehydrate us, I just added to the unabsorbed calcium that was already there. Just my opinion.
To answer your question, the ped. did say that after consulting several urologists in the area, she was told that something in the drink Crystal Light helped to prevent stones from forming. I have no idea what that is, but she has switched to drinking it because she believes it will help. I figure that if that's her best guess (and she's a good doctor), then I'll give it a try too. What can it hurt? (I'm thinking I'll just have a glass or two a week...)
Stef, I ordered that book you mentioned a long time ago(the new edition is taking forever to get here!!) and I can't wait to read up on what you've found for kidney stone prevention! Thanks for mentioning it!
Sorry for rambling. The baby needs me and I don't have time to edit!
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Kristine
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Karen T
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| Posted: March 10 2007 at 11:39pm | IP Logged
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stefoodie wrote:
Cranberry juice, Vitamin B complex, yogurt, and lots of water are my main weapons.
Talked to a friend today who knows her stuff and she suggested Nature's Way Primadophilus in addition to the yogurt.
Those are for prevention/kidney problems.
For kidney stones, my Prescription for Nutritional Healing says
L-Methionine
Magnesium
Vitamin B complex, and
Zinc
Don't know much about L-Methionine so I hope someone more knowledgeable will chime in here.
Oh and yes, LOTS AND LOTS of water. I'm trying to drink a full glass every hour. |
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Take this with a grain of salt, since I'm a vet, not an MD  however, I do deal with kidney/bladder stones in pets on a pretty frequent basis. Stones can be made of different minerals, but I believe the most common in humans are calcium oxalate and other calcium stones. These form in acidic urine, which is exactly what cranberry juice (and dl methionine) cause. I know people who have developed stones b/c of eating a lot of tomatoes, along with taking calcium supplements.
Certainly not everyone who does this develops them; you need to have that underlying propensity. But I would get a second opinion from a knowledgable urologist. find out exactly what your stones were composed of (they should have been analyzed).
Drinking lots of water keeps any minerals diluted out to hopefully minimize recurrence, so no matter what type of stones this is helpful.
Dogs do get a certain type of stone secondary to UTIs (struvite or magnesium ammonium phosphate) but I'm not sure that people get this type, or at least commonly. Acidifiers like dl methionine are sometimes used for them b/c they form in alkaline urine, but keeping the infection under control is the real prevention.
My main point is just to find out what's best for you individually, from your doctor, and not to just start taking various supplements that might do more harm than good.
Karen, who has been putting off seeing the doctor for that nagging side/back pain also..... 
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: March 10 2007 at 11:54pm | IP Logged
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Some interesting information and what works for me...
vitamin D
You need vitamin D to properly absorb calcium. And my attacks all have occured either in AZ when I hid from the sun because it was so hot. Or here in OR in the winter. The Northern half of the US they're just determining can not get enough vitamin D from sun exposure in the winter. Not does not.. CAN NOT. The additional calcium supplement I take for pregnancy also has vit. D (amoung others) and soon as I feel that back pain I can usually point to the fact that I'm not taking my vitamins (which have vit. D) and it's always in the winter now. And I take a vit. D supplement and it goes away.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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Cindy Mac
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| Posted: March 12 2007 at 8:14pm | IP Logged
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Oh I SOO feel your pain! Been there, done that have multiple t-shirts. That being said, here's what my urologist told me to do; and I really trust this guys - he was fabulous, and 3 months later still asks my OB about me every time he sees her!
Drink 2 liters of a "lemonade" mixture everyday in addition to regular water intake. Take 1/2 cup of lemon juice and add it to 2 liters of water. I tend to add a bit of Splenda to make it palatable. He said that the citric acid keeps the calcium from binding in the kidney.
God luck, I'll be praying for you.
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Cindy - wife to Chris, mommy to my 4 sons!
Kellys Klassroom Korner
St. Anne's Academy
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Maturemomg
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| Posted: March 12 2007 at 8:21pm | IP Logged
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There are various effective fasts/cleanses you can do for kidney stones. Most include lemon juice and olive oil. You have to discern for yourself if you want to try these kinds of remedies or seek professional medical help.
Yours in Christ,
Kathy
PS PM me if you want more info... I will share what I know, but I do NOT give out "medical advice"....
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4Real Forums : Our Lady of Good Remedy and Care
Topic: Kidney Stones
