KIDNEY STONES

Hi guys! We had a rough time these past few days. My husband, Jim, is in so much pain and was found out that he has nephrolithiasis (kidney stones).
I never had this and I wouldn't be able to describe how painful it is but through research, it states that it is more painful than giving birth. It mimics the pain and symptoms of appendicitis hence the confusion earlier. Anyway, he got multiple kidney stones on both the right and left kidneys. The largest at the right measures 6mm and 5mm in the left. The pain was brought about by a dislodged stone located within the right utero-vesical junction. We saw a urologist yesterday at Mactan Doctors' Hospital and he explained how we should go through this.

1. Medical Expulsion Therapy - Jim has been given a number of medication to try to pass the dislodged kidney stone naturally. He has been given 4 weeks to do this but Jim wanted to remove the stone immediately so the physician gave him a week to try the medications. 

1.a. Potassium Citrate tablet- taken three times a day 
1.b. Sambong Releaf tablet - taken three times a day 
1.c. Tamsulosin 400 mcg. tablet - taken during hours of sleep 
1.d. Finasteride 5mg. tablet - taken once daily 

2. Less Invasive Intervention - Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy 
- With Jim's case, we need to have a stent placed before this procedure. After 2 to 3 months, then we can do the ESWL.

and lastly the...

3. Invasive Surgical Intervention - open surgery

As a wife, it really is a struggle watching a loved one in so much pain. We are blessed to have mama, papa and dodong's support every time. A take away on this, is to make sure to drink lots of water. I couldn't emphasize it more but it's really necessary. It was told that 8 glasses of water is enough but if you are living in this hot climate it would be great to drink 2 to 3 liters of water a day.  

I hope this blog helps and we would appreciate for you guys to share this to raise awareness. 

Stay hydrated!