symptom of kidney stones : How can I avoid developing kidney stones?

People who have had more than one kidney stone are likely to form another. Therefore, prevention is very important. To prevent stones from forming, their cause must be determined. The urologist will order laboratory tests, including urine and blood tests. He or she will also ask about the patient's medical history, occupation and dietary habits. If a stone has been removed, or if the patient has passed a stone and saved it, the lab can analyze the stone to determine its composition.

A simple and most important lifestyle change to prevent stones is to drink more liquids -- water is best. A recurrent stone former should try to drink enough liquids throughout the day to produce at least 2 quarts of urine in every 24-hour period.

Patients with too much calcium or oxalate in the urine may need to eat fewer foods containing calcium and oxalate. Patients may be told to avoid food with added vitamin D and certain types of antacids that have a calcium base. Not everyone will benefit from a low-calcium diet, however. Some patients who have high levels of oxalate in their urine may benefit from extra calcium in their diet.

Patients who have a very acid urine may need to eat less meat, fish, and poultry. These foods increase the amount of acid in the urine.

Certain medications prevent calcium and uric acid stones. Another way a doctor may try to control hypercalciuria, and thus prevent calcium stones, is by prescribing certain diuretics, such as hydrochlorothiazide. These drugs decrease the amount of calcium released by the kidneys into the urine.

Some type of surgery may be needed to remove a kidney stone if the stone:

does not pass after a reasonable period of time and causes constant pain,

is too large to pass on its own,

blocks the urine flow,

causes ongoing urinary tract infection,

damages the kidney tissue or causes constant bleeding, or

has grown larger (as seen on follow up x-ray studies).

Until recently, surgery to remove a stone was very painful and required a lengthy recovery time (4 to 6 weeks). Today, treatment for these stones is greatly improved. Many options exist that do not require major surgery, like lithotripsy, or sending shock waves to break up the stones.

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