Renal Stones : I have more homework to do

(Hugh Walter Jennings) #1

Thought I noticed what might be blood in my urine so I went to see a urologist. Yep, it’s there.

They ordered a CT urogram. My first thought was “great, my 6th exposure to radiation in 6 months”
:face_with_raised_eyebrow:

Anyhow, I complied. The results…

"Number of CT scans and/or myocardial perfusion studies in the past 12 months: 0.

COMPARISON:
2/11/26.

FINDINGS:
Abdomen: The kidneys are symmetric in size. There are bilateral nonobstructing renal calculi. A calculus in the lower pole of the left kidney measures 1.3 cm (internal density of 1140 HU). There are 2 additional left renal calculi measuring up to 4 mm. A calculus in lower pole right kidney measures 1.7 cm (internal density 1000HU). There are 3 additional right renal calculi measuring 2 to 3 mm. Benign renal cysts are identified. No abnormal enhancing renal mass. The renal vasculature is patent. There is uniform excretion of IV contrast into the renal collecting systems. There is no abnormal ureteral enhancement or ureteral filling defects.

The liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, and adrenal glands are within normal limits. There is low-attenuation adreniform thickening of the adrenal glands. The small bowel is not dilated. The appendix is normal. No enlarged retroperitoneal or mesenteric lymph nodes. Abdominal aorta is normal in caliber.

Pelvis: No pelvic mass. No enlarged pelvic or inguinal lymph nodes. No bladder calculi. There is no abnormal bladder enhancement or bladder wall thickening. No bladder filling defects.

IMPRESSION:

  1. Bilateral nonobstructing renal calculi. No hydronephrosis or ureteral calculi.
  2. Benign bilateral renal cysts.
  3. No acute findings in the abdomen or pelvis."

Ok, I made the urologist aware of the number of Ct scans the past 6 months. Four were on my chart and I had mentioned the Dexa scan in October '25 that didn’t appear on my chart. I also reminded the staff at radiology of it before the ct urogram.

The results open with…
“Number of CT scans and/or myocardial perfusion studies in the past 12 months: 0.”

Not happy with that.

Otherwise, the results were encouraging. No signs of cancer, inflammation, obstruction, or infection.

Now time to see how to prevent new stones, or enlargement of the existing stones.

Quick search suggests adequate hydration, reduced sodium intake, increased citrate intake, and limiting animal protein. As well as limiting oxalates. Citrates and calcium look like the way to bind oxalates and keep them out of my kidneys. The urine tests (2) indicated calcium oxalate crystals, so I suppose that’s where the citrate and calcium comes in.

I’m also scheduled for a uroscopy next week. Urologist says that’s to get a better look at my bladder. She said I may not need it, pending results of the CT urogram. Evidently bladder cancer tumors can be flat and not show up on a ct scan. Fingers crossed the ct scan results are a good enough indication of renal stones are causing blood in my urine and we can cancel the uroscopy thing. It’s an outpatient thing with little prep.

Anyone here dealt with renal stones ? If so, how were you treated for them ?

Also, how did the diagnosis affect your keto diet choices ? Specifically protein choices.

(Hugh Walter Jennings) #2

So far, I think my consumption of peanut butter is a possible culprit. I simply eat too much, a half a small jar/day.

My cottage cheese brand has 100mg of calcium per serving, which according to AI search results should be enough to bring to the oxalates in one tbsp peanut butter and keep it out of my kidneys.

Looks like avoiding all oxalates is tough but pairing foods that contain them with foods that contain calcium is the way to go.

Next I need to look into the purines in the salmon, mackerel, and herring I like, and see if I can continue eating fish.

(Ethan) #3

I had a 3 mm stone. No big deal but I wanted to get rid of it + not get any more + not worry about what I eat.

Fortunately the answer is very simple, as long as its an Oxalate stone which most are. Chanca Piedra works great. I took 2-3 day for a few weeks, that was back in 2020. Now I take 1/day as part of my Stack, to keep the kidneys (and gall bladder ) clear and not ever worry about stones again. Still only very few people seem to know about it + the Urologists didn’t have a clue.

(Hugh Walter Jennings) #4

Thanks for the info.

I have one more procedure Monday. The less invasive scope with laser to break up the one remaining stone. Doc did PCNL one one kidney but decided to stop and wait on the other one. PCNL is where they go in through the back with an incision.

Anyhow, I go home the same day with the Monday procedure. Barring any complications.

I’ve had a bilateral stent in me since June 8th. Was going to have it removed after a week but the doctor told me since I was handling it well, just leave it in until the next procedure.

After Monday’s procedure there will be a stent in me with a string. Supposedly I can remove that myself in 3 days, standing in the shower in case urine leaks out when I pull it out.

On the stone breaker, after the first surgery I was told they would analyze my stones to determine the type within a couple of weeks. It has now been a month and I called yesterday about it. Staff member said there is nothing on my chart and she will ask the doctor if the results are in and get back to me. She said the hospital might not have sent them in. A calmly informed her that I was told twice it would be a couple of weeks.

If they are calcium oxalate, I’ll try the Chanca.

Not happy with the hospital or medical group. Doctor is fine but nothing is on my charts. The CT’s, blood work, urine samples, surgery notes, etc. Nothing that was done in the hospital.

#5

In the early 90’s, two months after having a baby i got kidney stones. The doctor sent me home squirming in agony. I was nursing so no pain meds. There was nothing i could do but wait and since they are usually calcium (mine was), I should avoid all calcium in my diet and never drink milk again but even doing that I would always be prone to them. After a day 1/2 of extreme misery while trying to care for a new baby, I got down my mom’s old Adele Davis book. I know she’s considered problematic now but the advice worked for me and that was to take/eat calcium. I took two calcium pills with milk and within an hour the stone passed. I felt tired but so much better. I did not limit my calcium i take. In fact I got into dairy goats shortly after that and had a lot of milk (lots of home made cheese etc) in my diet for over 20 years after that. Sadly, my goats are gone but I still eat dairy. Its been almost 30 years since that stone and I’ve never had another one. I dont know if this would happen for anyone else.

(B Creighton) #6

Hey Walt.
I have not specifically had kidney stones, but my brother did. For awhile he went crazy with the almonds every day + almond milk daily. Yeah, he got kidney stones. He said it was the worst thing he had ever had to deal with healthwise. So, no more almonds.
I do eat almonds, but typically only in an otherwise fairly low oxalate nut mix. The oat rolled dates in the mix are the only other high oxalate thing. The other nuts are pistachios, pecans and macadamias which are considered low oxalate nuts. Cut out cashews some years ago. Sunflower seeds, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds and coconut are also in the mix and are low oxalate.
I do eat peanut butter, but it is spread on Dave’s Bread for my PB, banana, raisin sandwich when not doing keto - so maybe like 2 tbsp/day. I am very low on the root “vegetables” which are typically starchy and some of your higher sources of oxalate - eat none of these when doing keto.
I often eat a salad which is cruciferous based, which are lower oxalate. I generally don’t eat lettuces, which can be mid level oxalate sources.
I’m sure I’ve previously told you that I drink a stevia lemonade in the morning which consists of a whole ground lemon concentrate, water and stevia drops. I use a straw to protect the teeth. Good source of citrate. I also often have a red grapefruit. Stevia is actually high in oxalate, which can be in the powdered form, but I typically only use the rebaudioside drops in which oxalates are refined out.
.
To date I continue to eat sockeye salmon, shrimp, crab, sardines, and the occassional other fish. That can be 3-4 nights/wk. Rounded out with lamb, chicken, the occassional liver, grass fed ground beef, etc. As far as I know I have never gotten kidney stones. Presently I do not worry about purines as much as I do oxalates in my foods, and try to eat a low oxalate diet.

(Hugh Walter Jennings) #7

My LithoLink 24 hr urine collection results are posted.

The culprit seems to be oxalates and I’m convinced it’s the ridiculous amount of peanut butter I was eating.

The test doesn’t identify what type of stones I had but after looking into it, I’m convinced they were/are calcium oxalate. Follow up appointment in 2 weeks to discuss with the surgeon the test results and supposedly he had the stones analyzed and will tell me then.

(Hugh Walter Jennings) #8

I was also eating a lot of soy flower pasta which appears to be high oxalate. And a moderate amount of higher oxalate greens.

The brands of soy flower pasta I was buying are no longer available at my local grocery I shop, so it will be easy to eliminate them.

Anyhow, now I have another rabbit while to look into. Seems a keto diet can increase stone formation 5-7% including uric acid and calcium oxalate stones. Not giving up on keto just yet because for now I’m focusing on staying well hydrated, adding lemon juice to my water, and adding dietary calcium to any meal that contains oxalates.

Goal is to identify nutrient dense foods as my staple foods and focus on avoiding the combination of nutrients that reduce the absorption of each other.

(Niko Neko) #9

Hi Hugh, did you find out for sure what the stones were made from? Oxalate?

I had the same experience as you did with the endless CT scans, X-rays, Ultrasound etc.

(Hugh Walter Jennings) #10

Not yet. I was told I’d know in two weeks. That was June 8th. It may be because I had a second surgery in July and they decided to wait until all stones were removed. Insurance may only pay for one analysis ?

Doctor sees me in a couple of weeks. Should know by then.

(Hugh Walter Jennings) #11

Peanut butter, chia seeds, spinach, walnuts, greens, matcha tea, green tea. All high oxalte, especially the amount I was consuming.

No wonder I had stones (assuming the stones were calcium oxalate)

(Jane) #12

My husband suffered with kidney stones about 10 years ago. None since going keto over 7 years ago and he doesn’t eat hardly any of the things you listed. He drinks tea, but not much of the green teas.

(Hugh Walter Jennings) #13

Do you remember what type the stones were ?

(Jane) #14

I asked him and he doesn’t remember.

(Niko Neko) #15

Have you run your CT scan report through AI?

It might give you some insights albeit sometimes AI is totally wrong. I recently discovered that vitamin C pills turn into oxalate, I didn’t know that - I take at least one 500mg chewable daily.

(Hugh Walter Jennings) #16

No CT results searched via AI.

The vitamin C is another thing I was doing. I started taking 1000 mg per day back in November. But by February my stones showed up on the scan and the two largest ones couldn’t have gotten that large in just a few months. Stones the size I had take about 3 years, which coincidentally is when I started eating all the high oxalate foods.