u/AprilDayFool

Hi, I have a question and am interested in opinions based on other people's experiences.

I am 30wks pregnant and went to the hospital last Monday morning in severe pain (literally writhing, gasping for air, throwing up bile). After several hours unmedicated and checking to see if there were any problems with baby I was moved from L&D to Emergency where I was sent for a CT Scan and received the official diagnosis of a 4mm kidney stone (at the time resting nearly right at the entrance of my bladder) with fluid filling my right kidney. No other stones developing. I was sent home with oxycodone and antiemetics. The emergency team said the stone would likely pass within 24 hours. After a couple more days I was prescribed a muscle relaxer and medication to "help flush everything out" as I was still experiencing pulsing pain in my right kidney (but not severe enough to still be taking oxy).

I was warned that the 4mm will hurt to pass, but definitely shouldn't get stuck. My medications are a 30 day supply, but was again told it absolutely should not take that long.

Now it's been a week, I still get occasional pulsing pain in my right kidney area. I haven't experienced any pain while peeing and have not seen a stone yet. I just don't know if somehow I missed it entirely, or if it's still sitting just before my bladder, or if now it's hanging out in my bladder.

Of course because I am pregnant (and drinking upwards of 160oz of water per day) I'm going a lot and frequently. Sometimes it feels like I need to go again immediately afterwards, but again, could just be a pregnancy thing. Im just very confused.

Just a cautionary tale and warning. Kidney stones may be less common in women generally, but chances increase when pregnant. Do all the things to prevent. Also TMI warnings.

29 weeks. I woke up at about 2 am this morning, needing to pee. I noticed I had some hip pain on my right side, had been sleeping on my left. Assumed this was par for the course, my hip pain has been gnarly. Went back to bed. Woke up at 6 am with intense pain, radiating from my right hip upwards. As I spent 15 minutes getting ready for the day, the pain began to wrap my lower abdomen and lower back. Began to feel like I needed to have a BM, but I've been very regular so I knew it wasn't constipation. Within 30 minutes I was incapacitated, barely able to breathe. Called my birth care emergency line and they were worried about preterm labour, told me to go to my nearest hospital instead of their hospital. Scary. Spent the next several hours (7am-12pm) writhing in agony because L&D couldn't give me pain medication without a urine sample. All water came right back up as bile. I physically could not provide this until they started an IV. They told me baby was all good, sent me back to Emerg. Thank the Lord they had a syringe of morphine and Tylenol ready to go for me, because I was vomiting, shaking, gasping for air. Was actually told "this is far too much pain to be labour" by the medical team.

Once I was semi lucid again, they told me they were worried about my gallbladder, appendicitis, and kidney stones. Their exams were agony. They wanted to do an ultrasound to rule out what they could, but prepared me for likely needing a CT to actually get a clear picture. Ultrasound was agony, I was unable to be in the positions they needed. Went for a CT. Lo and Behold, there's the teensy 4mm kidney stone. Now I'm at home waiting to pass, still in pain and vomiting, but sent home with antiemetics and oxycodone.

Kidney stones can be worse in pregnancy for a lot of reasons, but especially if you have GD. Please drink so much more water than you think you need. Studies show a glass of lemon water can help prevent too. Reduce sodium to less than 1500-2000mg. Dietary calcium can help by binding to oxilates, but medicinal/supplementary calcium can contribute to formation.

I feel terrified for my baby and what damage I've done to them due to this (medication, radiation, stress and pain, elevated heart rates). If I can share this and help anyone it's worth it. Thanks for reading this far.