Chapter 1
What are kidney stones?
Kidney stones are hard deposits of minerals and salts that accumulate inside your body. There are multiple types of kidney stones.
This is the most common type of kidney stone – and these typically occur in the form of calcium oxalate. Oxalate is a substance that your liver makes or that you absorb by eating certain foods, including nuts, chocolate and certain fruits and vegetables.
The following factors can cause high levels of oxalate and calcium in your body:
- Having a metabolic syndrome
- Having high levels of vitamin D
- Having undergone intestinal bypass surgery
If you have an inherited (passed down in families) condition called cystinuria, your body can develop this type of kidney stone.
If you have or have recently had a urinary tract infection (UTI), your body may develop struvite stones. They can grow quickly and sometimes have no symptoms.
This type occurs in people who don’t have enough fluid in their body. Factors that can cause low fluid levels include:
- Eating a high-protein diet
- Having a malabsorption disorder
- Having a metabolic syndrome
- Having chronic diarrhea
- Having diabetes
Chapter 5
How are kidney stones diagnosed?
Your doctor will use one or more of the following tests to diagnose kidney stones:
- Blood tests. In this test, your doctor sends a sample of your blood to the laboratory for close analysis. Lab technicians analyze your blood to check for high levels of calcium or uric acid, which could indicate problems with your kidneys.
- Imaging tests. Your doctor may order imaging tests – such as a computed tomography (CT) scan or X-ray – to look for kidney stones or other problems that could be causing your symptoms.
- Urine test. In this test, your doctor sends a sample of your urine to the laboratory for close analysis. Lab technicians analyze your urine to check for unusually high levels of minerals or other substances that can lead to kidney stones.
- Ureteroscopy. Your urologist inserts a flexible scope (thin tube) into your urethra (hole through which urine exits your body) and into your bladder and ureter (tube that connects each kidney to the bladder). Your urologist then uses a specialized viewing monitor to look for stones. They may be able to remove the stones during the same procedure.
Where can I receive treatment?
