carolyn22

I have to agree with the others about being reluctant to do this surgery one day and fly to Rome the next. I don’t know about other’s experiences, but the stent was almost as bad as the kidney stone pain for me. I constantly felt like I had to pee, sometimes successfully but most of the times not. The pressure was unbearable at times. I can’t imagine getting on a plane for a long flight feeling like I needed to be in the bathroom every 15 minutes. He will still be passing smaller pieces of the busted up stone, and I’ve had a few instances where those smaller pieces still really hurt. They took my stent out 2 days after my procedure (that didn’t hurt), and I felt fine for about 15 minutes and the pain really hit. It went on for over a week. They said my ureter was so ripped up from the stone (7 mm) and the procedure that I was having spasms. I’m guessing the doctor who he saw said it would be OK to fly to Rome the day after the lithotripsy, so obviously you should listen to him. I’m just passing along my experience. Best case scenario is if he passes it on his own. One previous poster said to drink beer. I had completely forgotten to tell him to try that. I was always scared to try that because more than one beer is too much for me in good times, and I also don’t like to mix beer with pain pills. Hopefully the doctor also prescribed flomax to help relax his urinary track. That can help, too. Best of luck to your husband!! I truly do hope that he passes the stone soon and you’ll be able to go on your cruise.

That’s a decent sized stone. If proximal is up closer to the kidney (which I think it is), then the stone still has a distance to travel. The quicker they can get it out, the better for him. Make sure he drinks LOTS of water. Good luck with everything!

Ugh, as a frequent kidney stone sufferer, he has my complete sympathy. Did they say how many millimeters the stone is and where exactly it’s located? I live in a smallish town, and the only urology office in town only does lithotripsy once a week, unless it is an emergency where there is danger of kidney damage because of the size of the stone. Hopefully you live in an area where his stone can be treated more quickly. If they are able to bust up the stone, ask specifically which method they are going to use. If the can do the shock wave lithotripsy soon, I’d say your chances of being able to go are good. Be advised that he is still going to have to pass those broken stone pieces and that can still be painful, but certainly do-able. I got a big stone one time while on vacation in Florida, and the surgeon I went to used laser lithotripsy and also put a stent in. I have say it was NOT a pleasant experience afterwards and there is no way I could have gone on a cruise until at least two weeks after that procedure. I have begged my local urologist to never use that procedure on me in the future. Do you have trip insurance? If so, I think you would be covered given that this is his first stone and obviously not a pre-existing condition. I am hoping for the best outcome for your husband and your trip! I wish I could help you with some of your cruise-related questions, but unfortunately my only advice relates to kidney stones. There are a lot of helpful people on here that hopefully can advise your on your cruise and air questions.