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Kidney Stones And Gastric Sleeve Surgery

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englandconnie

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I had my gastric sleeve surgery on February 20, 2012 and everything went great. I've lost 45 lbs since surgery. However, I have developed one problem...kidney stones! Mother's Day weekend I had my first experience with a small stone and also walking pneumonia, which was related to a sinus infection. Last week I suffered another kidney stone episode and wasn't as lucky with it this time. I was told that the stone was too large to pass (6mm), so I went to the urologist early Friday morning and had surgery on Friday afternoon. He used a lasar to get rid of the stone and then placed a stent in which was removed yesterday. He is concerned that my stones may be due to high uric acid/gout. I've been reading various information on both gout and the correlation between gastric sleeve and kidney stones. I am currently awaiting results from my blood work to determine if I might have gout. I have had some major flare ups with various joints that usually doesn't last long (another sign of gout). On a positive note: I'm very pleased with my weight loss and haven't had any problems with over eating and such. It is wonderful to try on clothes and have them "fall off." Since I'm a hoarder, I have had lots of smaller sizes to pull out and start wearing. I don't want to waste a lot of money on clothes that I won't be wearing very long, so I have purchased a few pair of shorts at the local Goodwill. I'm still wearing a lot of my t-shirts and other tops even though they are beginning to get a little baggy. I hope that these kidney stones are just a minor problem and don't become a regular event. I've read that some people have flare ups two or three times a month...I don't want this. First of all it really puts a limit on the things you want to do and can do, second they are very painful and I have a fairly high tolerance to pain. Third, I don't want to be a regular in the emergency room. I know that when people do this, doctors tend to start thinking that you are just looking for drugs. Personally, I don't like the way these pain killers affect your body. They put me into a zombie like state and I don't like it.

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Hi, there are medications you can take to reduce the uric acid. I was on chemotherapy back in 1989/1990 and a side effect of medicine was gout and kidney stone. I remember there was a pill I had to take daily to prevent the gout., allopurinol. You may want to ask your Dr about that if it becomes an ongoing issue.

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My surgeon put me on a pill at 2mo. because I still have my gallbladder.ursodiol twice a day to keep from developing stones for 6mo. this is when the weight comes off the fastest and stones will form. Did he mention this to keep from forming more?

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I had uric acid kidney stones in 1995. I (gratefully) didn't need surgery, but I was told to drink more water to prevent them in the future. Also, you can take cranberry extract pills to keep them away. I once knew someone with gouty arthritis, and he used a supplement for the joints, which I don't recall, but it likely can be found in a google search for joint relief.

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Thanks for all the comments. I'm waiting for the results of my blood work to determine if my kidney stones are due to gout or what, but I hoping that this is just a one time event. It's really scary to think about having another attack. We are planning a vacation in three weeks and I don't want to be stranded in Orange Beach, AL and have another attack. Every time I have a little gas pain, I worry that it's going to turn into another Kidney stone attack. It's absoulutely the worst pain I've ever had and the pain meds just don't cut it. Plus, I threw up with both attacks and I don't do that gracefully. LOL! I will check into supplements for the gout...couldn't hurt. Even though I've had these attacks, I don't regret having the sleeve surgery. Up until the kidney stones, I felt great and beginning to look a lot better too. I enjoy all the compliments that I'm getting. I still have about 30-40 more pounds that I would like to lose and I know I can do it! I do crave certain foods and have learned to just take a small bite to deal with the craving. Other than the stones, I haven't been sick at all. Since summer has arrived, my biggest craving has been for a good old hamburger complete with bun! Someone suggested that I use lettuce as a wrap, but I'm not sure that will digest well. I can only eat a few bites of the burger so the other night I used the bottom part of the bun only cut it in 1/2 and then put a 1/2 burger on it with all the fixings. It was delicious. I know that I can't do that very often, but when 3 bites fill you up I figure it's better than making myself miserable. It is difficult to eat out, because I feel guilty about ordering food and then not be able to eat what is served. My son in law had been trying to watch his weight, so we have split orders several times. My husband will have no part of sharing...he wants a complete meal. If he stays home, then I order a meal and bring it home to him whether he likes it or not. I'm really anxious to get to my next goal...I only lack 3 lbs. I have set my goals in increments of 10 lbs. and don't look beyond that. Yes I'm a very happy camper concerning my gastric sleeve surgery...and just feel that the kidney stones are just a minor set back.

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Well, I've made it a full three weeks without another kidney stone attack. I'm hoping that this is a good sign and that I don't ever have another kidney stone. I'm beginning to regain my energy again. This is good because this next week I will have three of my five grandchildren staying with me, our gospel meeting is startin at church and I'm trying to finish up some end of the school year work that must be turned in by June 22 which happens to be the day I'm leaving for the beach for a week...I'm so looking forward to this vacation. I've been cleaning and helping my daughter to plan her oldest child's birthday party...I'm also continuing to lose weight and only 2 lbs away from my next goal...these small goals have made losing weight so much easier. I just hope that I'm over the kidney stone portion of my gastric sleeve surgery. On the up side...I have met my deductable for the year...so I'm only out my co pay on each visit to the ER and doctor.

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