We also call kidney stones nephrolithiasis. This usually presents as a sudden onset of severe pain in the flank area. It is caused by the attempt to pass a kidney stone through the smaller ureter. The ureter is a small tube that empties the urine that is formed in the kidney into the bladder. This is like forcing a square peg through a round hole. And this really hurts. By report, women who have delivered a baby and had kidney stones would rather deliver the baby. That speaks for itself.

People who tend to form kidney stones must be careful to not become dehydrated and should not be on diuretics (used for hypertension or fluid retention usually). They are instructed to drink lots of fluids. They are also instructed to eat fewer foods that have oxalates as most kidney stones (but not all) are calcium oxalate in substance. Flomax is a drug that helps dilate the ureter which may help in passing the stone. If you have a stone, don’t worry. You are not going to die. But you may want to.