Yep you read that right! Mom is bringing in the New Year with yet another Lithotripsy!!!! Mom can't remember if this is the 13th litho she has had because she has had so many. Mom also laughs when they say it is "shockwaves" that smash the stones. Technically it is, but it is really a machine that BEATS THE LIVING HELL OUT OF YOU 2500 TIMES. SERIOUSLY. Mom will ALWAYS HAVE KIDNEY STONES due to the metabolic make-up of her kidneys. They will NEVER be gone. The reason Mom has to have so many is because she has MSK (Medullary Sponge Kidneys).
"Medullary sponge kidney (also known as Cacchi–Ricci disease) is a congenital disorder of the kidneys characterized by cystic dilatation of the collecting tubules in one or both kidneys. Individuals with medullary sponge kidney are at increased risk for kidney stones and urinary tract infection (UTI)."
"Patients with MSK typically pass twice as many stones per year as do other stone formers without MSK. While described as a "benign" disorder with a low morbidity rate, as many as 10% of patients with MSK have an increased risk of morbidity associated with frequent stones and UTIs. While some patients report increased chronic kidney pain, the source of the pain, when a UTI or blockage is not present, is unclear at this time. Renal colic (flank and back pain) is present in 55% of patients. Women with MSK experience more stones, UTIs, and complications than men. MSK was previously believed not to be hereditary but there is more evidence coming forth that may indicate otherwise."
So, when someone tells me they have had one or two stones and never have had another, please excuse me while I laugh (maniacally) ............
