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ER or Urgent Care?

Stone Fighter #CE87F0Stone Fighter #CE87F0Aug 13, 2026👁️ 1.9k❤️ 156
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I have three stones in my right kidney (2 @ 3mm and 1@ 2mm) and two in my left (5mm and 3mm) which have been there since last summer.

For the last couple of weeks I've had the familiar spasms of pain which usually means a stone is on the move. Today the pain is constant but not severe in my right side and sporadic in my left and I have another raging kidney infection. I've been vomiting the last couple of days and waking up in the night with pain so it's getting worse.

I finished antibiotics for the last one about 2 weeks ago and this is my 5th since December. I just can't seem to clear it all the way.

I'm nervous to go to ER since the last time, a few months ago, it was just a bad infection and the stones were in the same place they were the previous summer. It felt like they were moving that time too, but they weren't.

But if I go to urgent care the odds are they'll send me to ER for a scan making it a wasted trip. But if they will give me antibiotics it will be a lot faster and I won't waste the next 6-8 hours in the ER waiting room.

If I call my urologist they will just tell me to make an appointment and go to ER if I need to in the meantime.

I have CKD due to AKI last summer during one of my many stone surgeries and haven't been the same since, so Idk if that's why the pain was there without stones moving?

I know I need to make a decision, just venting. Sometimes I wish I had someone to make decisions for me, I'm clearly not good at them.

Comments (4)

Stone Fighter #14E681Stone Fighter #14E681May 6, 2026

No one on Reddit can usefully comment unfortunately, I get your frustration. You clearly need review by some kind of clinician. Urgent care would be a good starting no point, they can at least work out if you have a persistent infection and treat it.

Stone Fighter #55983EStone Fighter #55983EMay 6, 2026

I know, I was just venting at the frustration. I decided on urgent care.

Stone Fighter #B1A014Stone Fighter #B1A014May 6, 2026

I truly feel like you’ll know if you need to go to the ER. If the pain is getting up there, go. This is an emergency. I’d for sure skate past urgent care because you’re absolutely right - they will send you to ER. Hope things turn up better for you, and quickly. I’m so sorry you have to go through this.

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