I woke up about 2am with a bit of pain in lower left ab area. I took some maalox and tried to get back to sleep. By 4 am I was vomiting and the pain was radiating around my back and across the whole abdominal area. I had it in my mind I was food poisoned because I took a chance on Chinese food that I normally won't eat. But I ate about 530pm and woke at 2 am so that seemed strange.

By 5 am, in one of the lulls in the pain spasms I woke my son up to take me to the emergency room. I had another bad spasm and couldn't get dressed, so we left about 45 minutes later.

By the time we get there, I can barely walk and continuously dry heaving. They get me in pretty fast - the pain med made me high, but didn't touch the pain. The zophram reduced the naseau. By the time I got back from the ct scan I was in screaming pain, dry heaving again and the shift had changed. New nurse guessed my diagnosis and switched me to a strong anti inflammatory pain med and treated the vomiting symptom.. I felt better within about 10 minutes! Thank God. My pain was like a 9 if unmedicated childbirth is like a 12 (on a scale of 1-10). Really I felt as though I might die, or worse yet that I wouldn't and have to suffer so.

So anyhoo..you guessed it, really big kidney stone, way up high. Follow up with urologist since they don't think this baby will pass unassisted. Great.

Current problem is that an NSAID is needed but not good for us. Called my lovely bariatric practice and have a plan of attack on how to protect my tummy for short term use of NSAID.

My luck has not been 100 percent good in 2016 so far....

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Sorry my Nook is stuck on repeat

Yikes! Sounds terrible, sorry you had to be in so much pain. Hope you have no more flare-ups until they can bust it up.

Ouch! I thought gallbladder at first as well. Your symptoms sounded a bit like the attack I had before having mine removed. Do they know what caused your kidney stone? Now I have to go and Google it! :-)

Ye gads! So sorry, @@CowgirlJane .

I will offer this: I've read that NSAIDs taken ANY way -- orally, as pills, as liquid, intravenously, or even as a topical all have the very same negative effect on our stomach lining. Bad.

I'm only repeating what I've read, but NSAIDs don't hurt our stomach linings because they come in contact with the stomach lining, but because they interrupt the role of some prostaglandins that protect the stomach lining:

"By inhibiting the body's production of prostaglandins, NSAIDs decrease inflammation and the symptoms and signs of inflammation, pain, tenderness, and fever. However, certain prostaglandins also are important in protecting the stomach lining from the corrosive effects of stomach acid as well as playing a role in maintaining the natural, healthy condition of the stomach lining. These protective prostaglandins are produced by an enzyme called Cox-1. By blocking the Cox-1 enzyme and disrupting the production of prostaglandins in the stomach, NSAIDs can cause ulcers and bleeding. Some NSAIDs have less effect on prostaglandins in the stomach than others, and, therefore, may have a lower risk of causing ulcers but the increased risk of ulcers still exists."

At http://www.medicinenet.com/nonsteroidal_anti-inflammatory_drugs_and_ulcers/page3.htm#how_do_nsaids_work_and_how_do_they_cause_stomach_problems

The NSAIDs scare the crap out of me. I have a healthy tummy, no excess acid and really don't want an ulcer or whatever!

However. They hit me twice with so much dulaudid I could barely talk but the pain was excruciating. The naseous was terrible even with multiple doses of meds - it wasn't until the NSAID that I thought I might live again. Don't see that I have too many options. Just hoping this resolves quickly... it is time to move on with my life - tired of medical disability!

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Thanks, Ann, for providing the info about NSAIDS. I've explained it in other threads, but your answer is just so much more "official".

And @@CowgirlJane don't stress too much about the NSAIDS. I have been on very high doses a couple times since my VSG without problems. (800mg three times/day for three weeks). I've also had to take prednisone for cervical nerve impingement and steroids have the same GI effects as NSAIDS. My surgeon just advised to take a PPI while I'm on them. And just for good measure, I take sucralfate during and at least a week after stopping them, too. I also temporarily cut out acidic drinks/food like coffee and tomato based stuff.

I'm so sorry you had to go through this - I hope it is completely resolved soon!

I actually work in urology (NP). I'm sure I will eventually develop a stone as the metabolic changes with bariatric surgery, high protein diet set us up for stones! Sound like your urologist is describing an ESWL (extra corporeal shockwave lithotripsy). Hope you feel better soon!!

I had a kidney stone about a year ago. It passed on its own. I had 3 unmedicated births and, quite frankly, I'd rather do that again instead of the stone.

I'm in WA state also. I was treated at Valley Medical in Renton. I wish you good luck.

Edited March 3, 201610 yr by LSuther277

So, other women do report this as happening. I had heard this was painful but I just had no idea....I qgree it is in the same league as childbirth only scary

I called urologist for appointment and had to leave a vmail. Still no appointment.

It's 1 am, and the small stabbing pain is back. I took the meds but heavens I can't do the ER again so keeping fingere crossed I am in front of the pain. Damn it hurts again.

hope and pray you have found relief this morning.

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This was an ER, there wasn't too much waxing philosophical about causes. I got great treatment but I feel there was a general lack of awareness about the sleeve and they didn't seem too interested in my NSAID concerns except to say the alternative was to be admitted.

So here is what I am told. If you must take an nsaid IV is fine. For at home use the liquid is easier on tummy than pills.

Take PPI on an empty stomach. Wait about 30 minutes and eat..immediately take nsaid. Do as little frequency, and short of duration of the med as possible. Her perferance was no more than once daily but of course I am prescribed more frequentcy.

If urologist says it needs treatment they use something to "bust it up". I thought it was ultrasound but they mentioned laser. At any rate it is a specialized treatment. Hitting my deductible early this year.

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I am sorry you are dealing with this. I don't understand why ppl have to wait to see a urologist when they've been in the ED with painful kidney stones. Like why don't these specialists have urgent appointments in their daily schedule. Rhetorical. When I'm in charge this will change!

About the NSAIDs, I wonder if a Tordol injection would help you? That's the plan for me postop knee surgery. Any NSAIDs will still go to stomach mucosa regardless of administration, but route of administration does minimize risks.

The comment above about Carafate is interesting and maybe worth doing but that might be processed by the kidney and be contraindicated? Carafate and Protonix are my treatment.

I guess I'm suggesting you keep advocating for yourself. There are options. Sometimes we just have to make our physicians aware of the options

So pain meds over night helped. However, it is almost 8 am and pain is returning.... I am trying to work and pain meds are not conduscive to that... I am on the phone at 8 am to that damn urologist's office. If they won't take my call, I will find a different one! This is ridiculous... no wonder healthcare is so expensive. They are pretty sure I need treatment, it won't pass on its own, they couldn't deal with it in ER and the expert they sent me to is apparently too busy to answer their phone or to call me back and return my message. I really don't want to be back in the ER due to the pain and vomiting - that was a terrible experience AND it is just wasteful from a healthcare point of view. The nurses sort of implied they expect to see me again soon.

Not cool.

I called again... you will love this. I will hear back from the medical assistant within the next 48 hours to determine where I am on the "triage" and getting an appointment. Wow, who knew urologists were such a rare breed that you must be screened to get in. I am going to make some more phone calls.

Meantime, i am a little woozy on pain meds, trying to work and noticing that the knife wound feeling stab in my lower left gut is holding steady... not better but not worse I was hoping for better. Keeping fingers crossed as I do not want to be back in the ER!