Kidney Stone - special diets??

Hi All - Tuesday night I ended up in extreme pain, and after several hours in the ER, one CAT scan, x-ray, and blood work it was discovered that I had a 2cm kidney stone!  The next day the doctor put  a 'stent' in my kidney to stop the stone from blocking the ureter, and next Tues. I have to go back to hospital for the stone to be 'blasted'.  This should convert the stone to sand which will pass without problems - hopefully!! Then a few weeks later the stent will be removed.  My question is this: given that kidney problems are a big concern for myeloma patients, is there any special diet that can be used to avoid stones??  I have made a point of drinking 2-3 litres of water everyday to try to avoid kidney problems, so was taken quite by surprise when this happened!  Have any of you had this sort of problem - and if so, how was it managed?  All help gratefully appreciated.  Many thanks, Cath

 

On 2/22/2008 poppy/cath wrote:

Hi All - Tuesday night I ended up in extreme pain, and after several hours in the ER, one CAT scan, x-ray, and blood work it was discovered that I had a 2cm kidney stone!  The next day the doctor put  a 'stent' in my kidney to stop the stone from blocking the ureter, and next Tues. I have to go back to hospital for the stone to be 'blasted'.  This should convert the stone to sand which will pass without problems - hopefully!! Then a few weeks later the stent will be removed.  My question is this: given that kidney problems are a big concern for myeloma patients, is there any special diet that can be used to avoid stones??  I have made a point of drinking 2-3 litres of water everyday to try to avoid kidney problems, so was taken quite by surprise when this happened!  Have any of you had this sort of problem - and if so, how was it managed?  All help gratefully appreciated.  Many thanks, Cath

Yikes. I can relate. Very, very painful. I just passed a kidney stone myself last week. It is the second time it has happened to me. It depends on what type of kidney stone you have because apparently there are two types. Drinking more water is recommended, but you might want to add lemon juice and/or apple cider vinegar to it which will help break up an stones that might try to develop. I now drink every 1/2 liter with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and apple cider vinegar added. I've also read that dark green leafy vegetables, almonds and soy products are not recommended for one type of stones. Vitamin D can also exacerbate the problem. Dairy products, believe it or not, are recommended for the diet.

Regards,

Craig Persel 

 

 Myeloma patients need Calcium and magnesium but you need vit D with those 2 to absorb properly and not turn to kidney stones. (I note Craig about the d) but small amount .  The dosage is 2:1 1000 mgs calcium to 500mgs magnesium.  I took coral calcium and added vit d and magnesium and it worked very well .  I can only relate my own experience but I never had a hint of kidney stone. mms.

On 2/22/2008 photog wrote:

 

On 2/22/2008 poppy/cath wrote:

Hi All - Tuesday night I ended up in extreme pain, and after several hours in the ER, one CAT scan, x-ray, and blood work it was discovered that I had a 2cm kidney stone!  The next day the doctor put  a 'stent' in my kidney to stop the stone from blocking the ureter, and next Tues. I have to go back to hospital for the stone to be 'blasted'.  This should convert the stone to sand which will pass without problems - hopefully!! Then a few weeks later the stent will be removed.  My question is this: given that kidney problems are a big concern for myeloma patients, is there any special diet that can be used to avoid stones??  I have made a point of drinking 2-3 litres of water everyday to try to avoid kidney problems, so was taken quite by surprise when this happened!  Have any of you had this sort of problem - and if so, how was it managed?  All help gratefully appreciated.  Many thanks, Cath

Yikes. I can relate. Very, very painful. I just passed a kidney stone myself last week. It is the second time it has happened to me. It depends on what type of kidney stone you have because apparently there are two types. Drinking more water is recommended, but you might want to add lemon juice and/or apple cider vinegar to it which will help break up an stones that might try to develop. I now drink every 1/2 liter with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and apple cider vinegar added. I've also read that dark green leafy vegetables, almonds and soy products are not recommended for one type of stones. Vitamin D can also exacerbate the problem. Dairy products, believe it or not, are recommended for the diet.

Regards,

Craig Persel 

 

 

Vitamin D reduction and/or monitoring for people with kidney stone problems is recommended by the NIH (National Institutes of Health) and its associated National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Clearinghouse (NKUDIC).

http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/stonesadults/

Regards,

Craig 

On 2/22/2008 mmsurvivor wrote:

 Myeloma patients need Calcium and magnesium but you need vit D with those 2 to absorb properly and not turn to kidney stones. (I note Craig about the d) but small amount .  The dosage is 2:1 1000 mgs calcium to 500mgs magnesium.  I took coral calcium and added vit d and magnesium and it worked very well .  I can only relate my own experience but I never had a hint of kidney stone. mms.

On 2/22/2008 photog wrote:

 

On 2/22/2008 poppy/cath wrote:

Hi All - Tuesday night I ended up in extreme pain, and after several hours in the ER, one CAT scan, x-ray, and blood work it was discovered that I had a 2cm kidney stone!  The next day the doctor put  a 'stent' in my kidney to stop the stone from blocking the ureter, and next Tues. I have to go back to hospital for the stone to be 'blasted'.  This should convert the stone to sand which will pass without problems - hopefully!! Then a few weeks later the stent will be removed.  My question is this: given that kidney problems are a big concern for myeloma patients, is there any special diet that can be used to avoid stones??  I have made a point of drinking 2-3 litres of water everyday to try to avoid kidney problems, so was taken quite by surprise when this happened!  Have any of you had this sort of problem - and if so, how was it managed?  All help gratefully appreciated.  Many thanks, Cath

Yikes. I can relate. Very, very painful. I just passed a kidney stone myself last week. It is the second time it has happened to me. It depends on what type of kidney stone you have because apparently there are two types. Drinking more water is recommended, but you might want to add lemon juice and/or apple cider vinegar to it which will help break up an stones that might try to develop. I now drink every 1/2 liter with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and apple cider vinegar added. I've also read that dark green leafy vegetables, almonds and soy products are not recommended for one type of stones. Vitamin D can also exacerbate the problem. Dairy products, believe it or not, are recommended for the diet.

Regards,

Craig Persel 

 

 

 

Hello MMS - I have found out that there are actually four types of kidney stones, one of them is calcium based.  My mom has had these and has found that they are aggrivated by taking calcium supplements so she no longer uses the supplements.  As I don't know exactly what type of stone I have, I'm not prepared to add these things until the stone has been analysed.  The last time I had a  stone I was told it was 'genetic' - cytiene, or something like that.  The advice that Craig has given, with the juice in water, sounds like it will be best for me at this point.  I will ask the urologist about the other things.  Thank you, Cath

Hi Craig -- Thanks so much for your response!  I will try the juice in the water for the time being as that sounds promising to me, along with increasing my total water intake.  I have found that there are actually four types of stones, and that in the past I had one that was rare and of 'genetic' origin.  I can't remeber its exact name, something like cytiene, but I remember the urologist specially tested it  because it could have affected our kids.  Whether this stone is the same, I don't know.  I don't know how they will determine what type it is, given that they are going to 'blast' it into millions of pieces but I will ask the urologist on Tuesday.  Thanks again for your help!!  Cath 

 

On 2/23/2008 poppy/cath wrote:

Hi Craig -- Thanks so much for your response!  I will try the juice in the water for the time being as that sounds promising to me, along with increasing my total water intake.  I have found that there are actually four types of stones, and that in the past I had one that was rare and of 'genetic' origin.  I can't remeber its exact name, something like cytiene, but I remember the urologist specially tested it  because it could have affected our kids.  Whether this stone is the same, I don't know.  I don't know how they will determine what type it is, given that they are going to 'blast' it into millions of pieces but I will ask the urologist on Tuesday.  Thanks again for your help!!  Cath 

Yes, exactly. They have to test the stone (if possible) to see what type it is and then that can guide you on prevention. It can be quite different based on what type it is. Best of luck.

Craig 

 

Hi Craig!  I had written half a response and then hit a 'wrong' key and lost the lot - I really hate it when that happens!! I was saying that its been a week since they zapped the stones - yep, apparently there were 3, one big one, one middle size and a small one.  I'm suppose to have a CT scan in three weeks to see if there are any stones left, but as they only saw one in the first place, I'm not too hopeful.  This has been extremely painful, so much so that even breathing has been difficult, let alone coughing, vomiting, or sneezing!  I am on high strength antibiotics and I do believe that these are working for my temp has dropped from 39 to 37.5 most of the time.  I always understood that the kidneys might herald the nearness of the time of the end, but I had thought that it meant that I would need to go on dialysis.  That being said, I thought I had a long way to go, but with all of this happening my prognosis may not be right.  Oh well, live and learn.  If it does look like I'm starting a downhill slide I do intend to write to all of you and let you know what the time of the end is looking like for me.  Its amazing just how much energy it takes to write on a laptop -  particularly when you find it difficult just to breath.  This means that a trip to the loo can take up to 15 minutes by the time I can regain my breath!  Wow, who would have thought??  Thanks for your good wishes Craig.  They mean a lot.  Hopefully this kidney experience will get better and I will just continue on my Revilimid journey -- its 19 months now and going strong!!  Take good care and I'll be in touch, Cath

Three stones at the same time is almost not comprehensible. I applaud your courage and strength. I'm sure ... in the end ... you will come through with flying colors and be on the mend.

Take care.

Craig 

Hi Craig~~ Thanks for your kind thoughts.  This has really scared me because it is taking so long for me to regain some semblance of health.  It has been 10 days since the stones were blasted and although I am feeling better every day, the improvement can be measured only in the most miniscule of incrememts. Today I have to participate in a function that was organised over a month ago - before all of this kidney problem started - and I just can't avoid it.  I'll have to take extra breakthrough medication just to attend, something I havent needed for three months.  I hate being in this situation!  But yes, I am a tiny bit better than I was yesterday and hopefully tomorrow I will be another tiny bit better and hopefully gradually I will return to my former level of health.  My problem I suppose, is that this is making me very aware of what the word 'terminal' may mean, and I don't like it!  Sorry, I'm not a whinger.  But feeling so vulnerable -- well its not a place I like being!!  Thanks again for your support.  Cath