Stent(s) Removal UPDATE!!
I posted on here the other day asking for advice regarding stent removal and was asked to post an update after! I had a stent in each kidney and just had them removed in office. Backstory: I elected to have a bilateral lithotripsy because I recently had scans that showed multiple stones in each kidney. They weren’t obstructing or causing harm but I could often feel them, so I found a urologist who would remove them regardless. Not easy btw, the first urologist looked at me like I was crazy when I stated I wanted both kidneys cleared at once. Found another doctor who lasered them all without hesitation and the surgery was a success. I had the stents for almost a month, the first couple of weeks were hell but towards the end I barely noticed they were there.
At the removal appointment, they took me into an examination room where the Cystoscopy machine and sterile tools were all laid out and ready. I stripped from waist down, sat on the table, and covered up my lower half with a sheet. A nurse cleaned my private area with lidocaine and draped the area with a bunch of sterile cloths. Then, everything started happening fast and the doctor tried to gently guide the camera into my urethra. I don’t think I was given any sort of anesthetic or numbing. Just some saline was pumped into my bladder? The stents were pulled out one by one. He was fishing for the stents longer than I would’ve imagined. I felt everything. I’d say 60% uncomfortable 40% painful. The first pee after removal was rough, felt like I was peeing flames.
My doctor is PHENOMENAL though which helped a ton. I cannot rave enough about him and I’d do it all over again if it meant having him as a doctor. If anyone has questions, concerns, etc please don’t hesitate to ask!