Experience so far for uteroscopy with laser litho

32F, first time stoner. Finally had this stupid big ole kidney (somewhere between 6-8mm long, 3-4mm wide, looked bigger on the X-ray done 2 weeks after the CT scan) stone I've been struggling to pass for the past 2 months yeeted into dust today. It's basically been living in my lower ureter, occasionally deciding to move just enough to be violently painful. It's been giving me hell at random times (had a 9 hour pain flare up with constant barfing two days ago). Apparently I'm just destined for first time experiences often being trial by fire 🙃

Anxious and nervous would be an understatement for how I felt going in. The whole care team was very kind and reassuring though. I was also terrified of getting a potential stent, which I did end up having placed. 🫠 It's not giving me much trouble so far. I actually had to ask them if they even placed one when I woke up. I don't feel like I'm peeing razer blades. just mild discomfort. Urine is a bit bloody, but they say it's very normal to have for a while.

The first 5-6 hours of recovery were rough for me, though I didn't feel the stent, peed easy and painlessly, and wasn't as thirsty upon waking as I was going under (prob thanks to the IV)... ugh, the nausea! While I had no nausea the first two times I went under anesthesia as a child, this time...so much nausea. They put another dose of zofran in my IV before I left, and it barely made a difference. I barfed bits of bile into a puke bag the whole way home, and continued to for at least a few more hours after getting home.

I finally took a hot bath (with some lavender Epsom salt) and it was nearly instant relief! I wouldn't leave the tub for 3 hours, made my parents let me pull the curtain any time they had to pee since they're staying with me all weekend in my 1br apartment. I was hesitant to try the bath since the Internet says there's no evidence it would help with nausea caused by anesthesia drugs, but there was no way I could sleep and I was desperate. But it seemed to work, so maybe my sensitive stomach just needed to relax. The bathtub has officially become my best friend through this kidney stone journey.

But yeah, so anyone else terrified of stents: it might not be as bad as expected. I barely feel mine at all right now unless I pee and even then, no razer blade feelings so far. I have heard once the swelling from surgery subsides within a few days that the stent will become more uncomfortable, so hoping it'll be bearable. I'm actually not even taking meds rn cause they sent the percocet they prescribed to the wrong pharmacy. Will grab it tomorrow just in case (also have left over oxy from the ER) but for now, I don't feel like I need pain meds just yet.

I do wish I made my toradol from the ER stretch though. That was by far the most effective pain management for me, but they only gave me two weeks worth, and I had no idea they were going to avoid refilling it. Don't really understand why they'd rather prescribe opiates (especially when I have a sensitive stomach) when I had no negative effects from toradol at all, but since I'm not in too much pain right now, I'm trying not to worry about that just yet.

Feel free to pass along any advice for the remainder of the journey. I'll have the stent for 6 days, then have it removed in the doctor's office by a nurse. It does have a string at least, though im guessing it's cut short since I don't feel it (but haven't gone looking for it either 😅)

Update: Last night trying to sleep was hell. Nausea came back and my right side (where the stent is) was throbbing. Sent my dad for my prescriptions, AZO, and miralax.

Update #2: last night was better. I was able to sleep and not spend the whole night struggling with nausea. I think the AZO helps. Still feeling weak/achey this morning and terrified of my stomach, but I think I'm going to try to eat soon.