I'm havingLithotrispy??

Question

I'm having Lithotrispy for a 1cm stone in the upj on Weds. Can someone please tell me what to expect? Painful? recover? I want to know it all!

Answer 1

There are several forms of lithotripsy. The most common is extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). Extracorporeal means outside the body.

You will usually be asked not to drink or eat anything for several hours before the test. Before the test is scheduled, tell your health care provider about any medicines you take. You may be asked to stop taking aspirin, ibuprofen, coumadin, and any other drugs that interfere with blood clotting several days before. You should tell your doctor if you are pregnant, because lithotripsy must not be performed during pregnancy.

You will wear a medical gown and lie down on an exam table on top of a soft, water-filled cushion. (Older machines required the person to sit in a tub filled with water. Although this isn't done much anymore, the method works, and some machines are still available today.) Since lithotripsy can cause mild discomfort, you will be given a mild sedative or painkiller before the procedure starts.

The health care provider will use x-ray or ultrasound images to see where the stones are. High-energy shock waves, also called sound waves, pass through your body to the area on the kidney stones. You may feel a tapping sensation when this starts. The waves break the stones into tiny pieces. It is easier for smaller pieces to pass out of the body during urination.

The procedure generally takes from 45 minutes to 1 hour.

MORE INFO:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007113.htm

Answer 2

I have had this procedure- don't worry- it is nothing. I had 2000 shocks to my kidney stone and because I am tiny, they kept me over night -I was bruised all the way through. Most of the time it is out patient. They put you out and then hoist you, sitting down into warm water and use sound waves to break up the stone, they then insert a tube into your urethra so the stones pass thru, after one week the tube is removed. It has a string taped to the inside of your leg when you wake up, for removal purposes- at times it is uncomfortable, but better than having a stuck kidney stone! Been there and done that many times.

Answer 3

Did you ask your doctor?