Living with Kidney Stones: Coping Strategies and Support

What to expect at home: 

See your health care provider or hospital because you have kidney stones. Self-care measures should be taken. Steps to take vary depending on the type of stone, but may include the following: 

Drink more water and other fluids 

Eat more of some foods and less of others 

Take medications to prevent stones 

Take medications to help pass stones (such as antibiotics, inflammatory drugs, alpha Blocker)

You may be required to have a kidney stone removed. To do this, collect all the urine and strain it. Your provider will tell you how. 

What are kidney stones: 

Kidney stones are solid substances that form within the kidneys. Stones may harden as they leave the kidney. Blockages can occur in either of the two ureters (the tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder), the bladder, or the urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body). 

Kidney stones vary in size from sand and gravel to larger than a pearl. Stones can obstruct the flow of urine and cause significant pain. Stones may break up and be passed out of the body through the urinary tract without much pain. There are four main types of kidney stones. 

The most common type of stone is calcium. Calcium can combine with other substances, such as oxalate (the most common substance), to form stones. 

Too much uric acid can lead to the formation of uric acid stones. 

Struvite stones may form after an infection of the urinary system. It is rare to have as many as cystine stones. Cystinuria, the disease that causes cystine stones, runs in families. 

Fluids: 

Drinking plenty of fluids is important for treating and preventing kidney stones of all types. Staying hydrated (having enough water in your body) dilutes your urine. This will prevent stones from forming.

Water is best.

Ginger ale, lemon-lime soda, and fruit juices are also available. 

Drink enough fluids throughout the day to produce at least 2 quarts (2 liters) of urine every 24 hours.

Drink enough water to keep your urine light in color. Dark yellow urine indicates that you are not drinking enough water. 

Limit coffee, tea, and cola to 1-2 cups (250-500ml) a day. Caffeine causes rapid water loss and can lead to dehydration. 

Diet and Calcium Stones: 

If you have calcium kidney stones, follow these guidelines. 

Drink lots of fluids, especially water.

Avoid salt. Chinese and Mexican food, tomato juice, regular canned foods, and processed foods are high in salt. Look for products with reduced or no salt. 

Avoid to 3 meals a day of calcium-rich foods such as milk, cheese, yogurt, oysters, and tofu.

Eat a lemon or orange or drink fresh lemonade. The citrate present in these foods prevents stone formation. 

Limit your protein intake. Choose lean meat. 

Eat a low-fat diet.

Do not take too much calcium or vitamin D unless recommended by a kidney stone treatment doctor.

Be careful with antacids that contain extra calcium. Ask your doctor which antacids are safe to take. 

Your body still needs the normal amount of calcium it gets from your daily diet. Restricting calcium can actually increase the chance of stone formation. 

Consult your doctor before taking vitamin C or fish oil. They can be harmful to you. 

If your health care provider tells you that you have calcium oxalate stones, you may need to limit foods that are high in oxalate. These foods include: 

Fruits: rhubarb, currants, canned fruit salad, strawberries, Concord grapes 

Vegetables: beets, green onions, summer squash, sweet potatoes, spinach, tomato soup 

Beverages: tea, instant coffee 

Other foods: Grits, tofu, nuts, chocolate Diet and uric acid stones: If you have uric acid stones, avoid the following foods: 

Alcohol 

Anchovies 

Asparagus 

Bread or brewer’s yeast 

Cauliflower

Consomme

Gravy Sauces

Herring

Legumes (Dried Beans and Peas)

Mushrooms 

Oil 

Organ Meats (Liver, Kidney, Sweetbreads) 

Sardines

Spinach 

Other Meal Suggestions: 

Every Meal 7 3 oz (85 g) Don’t eat any more meat. 

Avoid fatty foods such as salad dressings, ice cream, and fried foods. 

Eat enough carbohydrates. 

Eat more lemons and oranges and drink lemonade, as the citrate in these foods prevents stone formation. 

Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. 

If you are losing weight, do it slowly. Rapid weight loss can lead to the formation of uric acid stones. 

When to call your doctor: 

Call your health care provider if you have any of the following symptoms: 

Severe back or side pain that doesn’t go away 

Blood in the urine

Fever and chills 

Vomiting 

Urine that smells or looks cloudy

Burning sensation when urinating How to prevent kidney stones: 

Kidney stones are common. However, there are simple ways to prevent stones. Here are some strategies to help you. 

Drink enough water: 

According to a meta-analysis from the National Kidney Foundation, people who produce 2 to 2.5 liters of urine each day are more likely to develop kidney stones than those who produce less urine per day. It will be expensive. You thought it was expensive. 

It turned out to be Ta:

To produce this amount, you need about 8 to 10 8-ounce glasses of water (about 2 liters total) per day. 

Eat more calcium-rich plant foods: 

Good sources include yogurt, soy products, beans, lentils, and seeds. Dietary calcium combines with oxalate in the intestines, reducing the amount absorbed and ultimately being excreted in the urine at lower concentrations. 

Enjoy Lemons: 

Citrate, the salt of citric acid, binds to calcium and blocks stone formation. “Research shows that drinking 1/2 cup of concentrated lemon juice diluted with water, or the juice of two lemons daily, may increase urinary citrate and reduce the risk of kidney stones. “We know it’s expensive,” Dr. Eisner said. 

Sodium: 

A high-sodium diet increases the amount of calcium in your urine, which can lead to kidney stones. Federal guidelines recommend limiting total sodium intake from meat, eggs, seafood, and other foods to 2,300 milligrams (mg) per day. Increases risk of stone formation. If you are prone to kidney stones, limit your meat intake to one pack of playing cards per day.

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