Q.  When can I go back to work?
A.  Most people can return to work 2-3 days after the procedure. However, it is very individualized depending on the procedure that your doctor performs.

Q.  If the HM3 bath unit is to be used, how are you going to keep me from getting electrocuted while in the water?
A.  Although, we call them shock waves, they are really pressure waves or concussion waves. It's not an electrical shock.

Q.  How long will I be at the facility?
A.  From 3-5 hours depending on the treatment your physician plans.

Q.  When can I resume sexual relations?
A.  With in a couple of days, unless your doctor leaves a string attached to the stent. In that case, you must wait until the stent is removed.

Q.  Why do I need a driver?
A.  You will receive some form of anesthesia for the procedure. Anesthesia may include narcotics and sedatives, making driving dangerous to you and others.

Q.  What is a stent?
A.  The stent is a sterile hollow flexible tube that the physician places into the kidney drainage system. This allows the kidney to drain around the pieces of stone in your system. It also continues to drain the kidney as you pass the stone fragments created by the lithotripsy procedure.

Q.  Who determines if I need a stent?
A.  Your doctor makes that decision based on stone size, location and other symptoms i.e. pain or infection.

Q.  How does the doctor put in the stent?
A.  Your doctor uses a special instrument called a cystoscope to look into the bladder through the urinary opening. Once the scope is inside, he/she locates the opening to the ureter (kidney drainage tube) and slides the stent into the kidney.

Q.  How long will the stent be in?
A.  The stent needs to stay in until the majority of the stone fragments have been passed. Approximately one to two weeks.

Q.  What causes kidney stones?
A.  Although there are some stones that are caused by metabolic or endocrine problems, most stones come from being chronically dehydrated. At some point, there was not enough fluid being flushed through the kidney to move out all the solids in the urine.

Q.  How do I know if I'm dehydrated?
A.  Thirst is the last indicator that you are low on fluids. Once you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated. If you void infrequently and /or the urine is a dark yellow to amber color, the urine is concentrated. This means you are dehydrated. A good rule is to drink 8 ounces of water every time you urinate replacing water that you have just lost. If you consume coffee, tea and colas you increase your chances of being dehydrated because caffeine is a diuretic.

Q.  My friend says that I should drink a lot of cranberry juice, is that true?
A.  Cranberry juice is excreted as an acid. This makes it beneficial in cases where a person has frequent bladder infections by keeping down bacteria growth. However, for some stone formers, it can encourage stone growth. If the urinary tract is irritated by a stone or by a stent or other procedure, cranberry juice will irritate the system even more.

Q.  What can I do to prevent stones in the future?
A.  First, an analysis of the stone must be performed to determine its chemical composition. A stone that was passed or some of the collected particles will be sent to a lab for analysis. From there, your doctor can guide you.