Staghorn Kidney Stone - Anyone experienced them?

Kidney and urinary tract
1

Hi

In 2007 I started experiencing regular pain in my left side, after several visits to my GP I was told nothing wrong with me, and just muscular. Learned to live with the pain.

2013 Gave birth to my second daughter, and pain became so much worse, longer lasting and no longer responding to pain killers

May 2014 Visited GP and referred for ultrasound

June 2014 ultrasound revealed I had hydronephrosis of left kidney was referred to urologist

Aug 2014 urologist suspects birth defect and refers me for a ct scan

Sep 2014 CT scan and told they could see a stone

Oct 2014 Urologist for results-advised that I have an extremely large stone called a Struvite Staghorn and that it was going to be very difficult to remove. I have to have surgery to remove it..and it will be a large incision and surgery will last about 3 hours and a hospital stay for a minimum of 2-3 days.

I am now waiting for this surgery. My questions are 1. How long do you normally wait for this operation?

2. I have been searching for information about the operation  I am not sure if it will be PNL or open surgery, my friend who came with me said that he mentioned open surgery as the incision would have to be large. Which surgery did you have?

3. Any side effects of this operation?

Any other information would be gratefully received. Thanks in advance.

2

I have had similar experience. I was just in the ER last night (10/19/14) and FINALLY had a CT scan that verified I have kidney stones.it amazes me that doctors don't listen to us! I have been complaining about this for THREE years. I have a appointment with a urologist tomorrow and hopefully I can get to the bottom of this. The pain is so bad it's getting hard to work. 

3

Hi jlynn73 i hope you get sorted soon. I have had a nightmare being passed round different doctors, but finally saw a great urologist last Thursday who admitted me in hospital where i had a stent fitted to ease pain and to try and drain the dilated kidney. i will have the PCNL op in a few weeks to remove the staghorn. It is agony and i have been off work since beginning August. This urolgist is amazed that i have not had any treatment other than painkillers before now, and even the painkillers i was on, I shouldn't have taken with kidney disorders. Good luck with your urologist let me know how you get on

4

I hope you get it sorted soon! I also had similar problems, 9 trips to the ER 17 to the GP and no one believed there was a think wrong until I passed it and took it with me to the doctor x