First attack 1989, was 17 and damned near wrecked the car, felt like I was shot in the back, worthless 4 hrs in that trip to ER, plenty of pain meds after 4 hrs torture, stone was 4mm and passed 2 weeks later.
About 1992, one hung up and another trip to ER, more pain meds and docs said it'll pass, this one was 5mm.
1997 and 2003, same as '92 IIRC, no more than 2-3 days of hell.
2007, left kidney locked up for 2 days, massive infection. Scan revealed an 11mm stone locked about 4mm below kidney, they keep me in hospital 24 hrs, since stone wouldn't budge they "electrocuted" it and busted it up, for several days had a fist-sized bruise with roughly .40 cal burn hole on lower back, everyone said it looked like gunshot wound. On top of that, you have a small IV-type tube from kidney to bladder to make sure tiny stone pieces pass and don't block up, only one way to put that tube in or out!
Enjoy pissing blood for a week.
Preventative maintenance, NEVER, EVER, get dehydrated-PERIOD! I don't care if you're pissing 30 times a day, keep drinking water/lemonade until your piss is clear, if you don't, the stones either get larger (deposits not flushed frequently) or kidneys shrink, which DOES tend to push out large stones.
Water, Lemonade, and Sprite were the only things one certain doc advised, another said drink a few beers weekly, so far, I actually feel small stones passing, which is a good thing.
Dealing with pain when small stones ARE passing, drink as much liquid as you can stomach. A real hot shower (on lower back) helps,almost numbs it until the hot water runs out, then pain until hot water back up. A hot tub is your best friend, constant heat and massage, I've never been happier. Another thing is the heat might make you throw up, you're gonna do that anyway, might as well get over it, it actually helps push stone out in most cases.
Pain meds, watch the ones that WILL dehydrate you, keep up with liquid intake, if not, you're in big trouble.
