Bilateral stone removal
Stone Fighter #C514EEApr 7, 2026👁️ 2.4k❤️ 185- Strategy
- Patient journey
Just booked surgery to have stones removed from both of my kidneys! A few weeks ago, CT scans showed multiple bilateral stones. I was given the option to wait, take care of one side, or blast both sides. I chose both sides as I often cannot pass stones on my own, I lose my great healthcare coverage soon, and I am siiiiick of living every day in fear wondering if that sudden god awful pain will strike.
While I’ve had this surgery ~5 times, I have never had both kidneys done at once. Is 2 stents at the same time a death sentence? Any advice for bilateral surgery? I look forward to being stone free for probably the first time in my life, but I am terrified.
Comments (1)
Stone Fighter #5FDF1CApr 7, 2026Ugh I don’t think that I would do both kidneys at the same time. At least my doc wouldn’t allow it. You risk damage with the lithotripsy. I would pick the one with the largest stone and go from there.
Stone Fighter #C514EEApr 7, 2026I imagine the risk for damage is crazy high. I’m going back and forth about whether to do one or both. I worry that I’ll need a second procedure if I choose to do only one. But then I worry about the recovery + risks if I do both :D
Stone Fighter #5FDF1CApr 7, 2026Yeah I’ve had two and my last one went sideways pretty bad. I had massive internal bleeding, I list over four units. Luckily the capsule around the kidney didn’t rupture but I still spent four days in the hospital and they had to monitor the kidney hematoma. My doc said he barely blasted the stone but now I’m not sure I’m a good candidate for another lithotripsy.
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