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Need some red flag advice please!

Stone Fighter #28C522Oct 4, 2026👁️ 2.3k❤️ 126

Strategy: Patient journey

Hi all. I'm currently dealing with a 5mm stone that landed me in hospital about 2 weeks back. The pain was rough for a week but has settled down since, and I'm managing it with paracetamol plus the odd diclofenac. I think I've reached the point where it's shifted - the kidney/flank pain has gotten a bit worse, I'm now getting pain around my bladder, and I've just passed a lot of visible blood in my urine.

So all this to say, I'm about to head off and be out in the middle of nowhere for the next few days. What are the red flags I should watch for that might mean I need to go and get extra help? I'll have plenty of painkillers on me and can keep the pain ok, I mainly want to make sure I don't miss anything important and end up making myself more ill.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give!

EDIT: the "middle of nowhere" bit was an exaggeration and just me being dramatic - i can leave and get to medical help easily enough, I'll simply be away from my usual GP practice and the urologist I'm under. I'm mainly after advice on which signs should prompt me to go and get that help.

Comments (3)

Stone Fighter #CE87F0Oct 4, 2026

I would strongly advise you dont take this trip. If the stone blocks it could lead to infection/sepsis. Get the stone passed first, then go ahead on your trip. Its not worth the risk. If you do still decide to go, watch for these red flags: Inability to pee Fever Chills Any normal cold symptoms These are all signs or blockage and or infection.

Stone Fighter #432B42Oct 4, 2026

How do you define middle of nowhere, within the UK or somewhere like a safari in Namibia?

Stone Fighter #28C522Oct 4, 2026

Within the UK, and i can easily leave if anything comes up, I'll update my post because I realise I've made it sound like I'm off on some big trek through the forest which is not the case 🤣

Stone Fighter #28C522Oct 4, 2026

I can easily leave and get to a hospital or whatever if I need to, its not too far away (and still only a couple of hours drive from home). It's a trip that can't really be moved, but its not anywhere near as dramatic as my post makes it seem! Thanks so much for the advice

Stone Fighter #432B42Oct 4, 2026

No worries, I just wanted to be sure. Most hospitals have urologists attached, at least if needs be to consult with, and A&E departments can handle most acute problems and then refer on to a urologist. Even if you head to say the remote parts of Scotland, you should be able to reach fairly capable hospitals not too far away. It sounds like it has already travelled down the ureter, and it could stick at the UV junction, but most stones enter the bladder which it may well have done already. ...

Stone Fighter #9CC827Oct 4, 2026

Dang... that's a rough spot to be in, especially with you heading out into the middle of nowhere. Visible blood and bladder pain while a stone's on the move is exactly the kind of situation where you have to know when to bail and get back to civilization. Here are the red flags that mean you need medical attention right away: a fever (even a low grade one), being unable to keep any fluids down, pain that all of a sudden gets worse instead of better, or if you can't pee at all. Those all poin...

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