About this topic
The urinary tract is made up of the kidney, ureters, bladder, and urethra. The kidneys make urine and it drains down into tubes called ureters. These ureters are connected to the bladder. The bladder then squeezes out the urine and it exits the body through the urethra. ‚
Sometimes, salts and minerals in your urine build up and form stones. The stones are hard and can get stuck on their way out of the body. Some stones are too large and block the flow of urine. Others cause bleeding and pain. They may damage the kidney. Treatment depends on the type of stone, size of the stone, and where it is along your urinary tract. Your doctor may send the stone to a lab to learn more about it and how to best treat you. ‚
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What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Your doctor may tell you to watch your fluid intake. You may be asked to drink 8 to 10 glasses of water each day or more. This may help you pass any stones.
- Your doctor may ask you to use a filter to strain your urine. The filter catches the stones.
What follow-up care is needed?
- Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits.
- Your doctor will tell you if other tests are needed.
- Your doctor may send you to a kidney specialist. This kind of doctor is called a urologist.
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain
- Prevent infection
- Help flush out kidney stones
- Prevent kidney stones
Will physical activity be limited?
You may have to limit your activity. Talk to your doctor about the right amount of activity for you. ‚
What changes to diet are needed?
- Talk to your doctor or dietitian about your personal diet plan. Ask if there are foods you should eat more or less of, based on the kind of stone you had.
- Avoid caffeinated drinks that can overwork your urinary tract.
What problems could happen?
- Kidney infection
- Kidney damage
- Block in the urinary system
- High blood pressure
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Prevent or treat urinary tract infections.
- Drink lots of water during the day. When you have less fluid in your body, urine becomes concentrated. This increases your chance of kidney stones.
- Take drugs as ordered by your doctor.
- Limit foods or drugs that may cause kidney stones.
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, pain with passing urine.
- Very bad pain in your back or side that will not go away
- Throwing up
- Urine that smells bad, looks cloudy, or has blood in it
- No urine for more than 6 hours
- Very bad pain in your chest, shoulder, or belly
- More swelling of your ankles, legs, and hands or tightness with your shoes or rings
- You are not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or you are feeling worse
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my condition.
- I can tell you what changes I need to make with my diet or drugs.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have very bad pain in my back or side.
Where can I learn more?
American Urological Association Foundation ‚
http://www.urologyhealth.org/urology/index.cfm?article=148 ‚
National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse ‚
http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/stones_ez/ ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚