Kidney stone prevention

[Sephiroth76]

Hi, a while ago I had kidney stones, I was sent for a scan after, upon returning to my GP for the results of my test, he told me there were calcium deposits in my kidney that could mean I have another on the way, I've been trying to keep well hydrated and doing all I can to prevent a recurrence, because they're damn right evil, I've got away with it for quite a while now, last night I was woke up with the same pain I had when I had kidney stones, I sat on the toilet and waited for the pain so subside, it seems to have gone again for now, I was just wondering if I'm supposed to avoid eating foods rich in calcium, I'm also lactose intolerant and with all this I'm starting to wonder if I'm going to en up deficient in calcium, thanks for any advice

[Unclebuck257]

Couldn't have said it better myself, " Bloody Hell" is right my friend!! LOL! Those pains you are experiencing in the upper part of your chest etc. are probably and most likely from something other than a kidney stone as you suspected since the pain from a kidney stone, as you've already experienced , is from a different area of the body and the word "intense" doesn't even describe that pain! My pain from a kidney stone(s) has ALWAYS been the same type, in the same area of the body, be it either on the right side or left side, depending on which kidney has the stone(s) in it. There's never been any mistaking that immobilizing severe pain or what it was from. Oh, and I just said 33 years last time. Actually, it's been 35 to 40 years and well over 40 stones to date.

If I were you, I'd have my doctor check out those upper chest pains as they may be the signs of some other problem that you need to address. Good Luck!

[Sephiroth76]

Thanks for the response, 33 years, bloody hell, a few years has destroyed me, I had a double hernia op that felt way less painful than kidney stones for me, I have noticed chest pains all across the top of the chest that sometimes spread down both forearms, on the front of my throat and the top of my head, I'm starting to wonder if that's all connected to the kidney stones since I just happen to have had the kidney stone pain not long after the onset of these symptoms. What suprises me, is that because I'm Lactose intolerant, I can't see how I can be taking in much calcium anyway, since my milk costs 250% of the price of regular milk.

I've just been doing a bit of searching myself, and on the NHS site there was a section that talks about the bodies ability to absorb calcium, I just thought I'd post it here in case it's of any use to you, although with you having suffered for it this long I'm guessing you've probably came across it already:

"Diet
If your kidney stone is caused by an excess of calcium, you may be advised to reduce the amount of oxalates in your diet.
Oxalates prevent calcium being absorbed by your body, and can accumulate in your kidney to form a stone.
Foods that contain oxalates include:
beetroot
asparagus
rhubarb
chocolate
berries
leeks
parsley
celery
almonds, peanuts and cashew nuts
soy products
grains, such as oatmeal, wheat germ and wholewheat
You should not reduce the amount of calcium in your diet unless your GP recommends it. This is because calcium is very important for maintaining healthy bones and teeth.
To avoid developing a uric acid stone, you should reduce the amount of meat, poultry and fish in your diet. You may also be prescribed medication to change the levels of acid or alkaline in your urine."

Thanks again for your advice, much appreciated

[Unclebuck257]

Have you had that first stone analyzed to see what it's made of? I know that calcium are what makes up a great deal of all my stones so I do avoid consuming a lot of things with major calcium content in them. Apparently my body does not absorb calcium well. You may be the same way. That does not mean that you can't eat things containing calcium like ice cream or milk products, it just means you'll have to do it in moderation. For example too, I do NOT take calcium supplements in any form. Apparently my body can't handle the marginal amount of calcium let alone adding more into the mix. For continued bone strength if you're younger, you can take Vitamin D supplements to help with that. I still drink milk, but in great moderation and ice cream the same way. You will still be fine but you'll have to talk to your doctor about other things you can take or eat that will make up for the calcium you won't be eating. Researching yourself for alternatives will help too. For example, I am older, 70 last month, and about three years ago my daughter and wife started getting me to drink one bottle of Ensure every day. Wasn't long before I realized that was a mistake due to three stones forming. Got rid of them and don't drink Ensure anymore because after reading about it, I found it was loaded with Calcium for bone strength. Again, a limited amount of calcium probably won't hurt but you'll have to find out what the limit is for your body. Anymore question, please just ask. I've been dealing with these nasty things for well over 33 years now so I've learned a few things along the way. Good Luck.