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I have been experiencing cramps on my lower abdomen and all along I thought it was just a menstrual cramps. Then 2 days after Christmas (at 3 in the morning), I experienced a sharp pain on my lower abdomen, right part and it goes down to my foot. Knowing that we have history on appendicitis (my sister had her appendix removed, my maternal grandmother died from appendix rapture), I woke my husband and told him to bring me to the hospital. The diagnosis was Kidney Stones (I need to know shockwave for kidney stone cost) and I was given 2 kinds of med to drink for one week. I was given Rowatinex and Acalka. Rowatinex smells like olive oil, well it has olive oil (so does it means the Kidney Stones Home Remedy Treatment or natural treatment for kidney stones that involves olive oil is effective?).. and it does not taste good. Acalka is a big tablet and really hard to swallow. The tablet is not digested and you can see it in your feces.. as whole as it is. Readings said that though the tablet is not soluble, the active ingredient has been released in gastrointestinal tract (which maybe the cause of slight gastrointestinal disorders).

After my medication, I went to a Urologist for follow ups and to see if the kidney stone/s are gone. My urologist, Dr Hector Jacinto, advised for a CT Scan. My kidney’s swelling based on my Ultrasound but there was no stones found.. the CT Scan result was ureterolithiasis or stone/s in the ureter. And not only that, the stone formed is too big for medication, I need to undergo Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL)  or shock wave for short, a no surgery treatment for kidney stones (shockwave for kidney stone cost). It’s a bit shocking for me.. no. I was shocked big time! I need another week to accept the fact that I need the procedure. I was scheduled for a shock wave at Urology Center of the Philippines* a few days after I said yes.

minutes before the procedure, had to remove my pink lipstick 🙂 

The procedure was not that stressful as I expected. I did not need to be stained since the stone can be seen clearly. The whole Shock Wave procedure took about 2 hours, which includes anesthesia, X-ray and shock wave (30-45 minutes). After the procedure I was expecting that my right back would hurt, because they said that the shock wave is like Pacman’s punch times 1000 (aw!). Good thing it was not the case, I was asleep during the procedure and they woke me up after it was done where I was transferred to the recovery room. After an hour or two, we went home and got my cup of Frappe. Dr Jacinto prescribe 5 meds, one for pain management (2 days only), antibiotics (can’t remember but I think I took it for 5 days) and 3 for the stone management (took for a month, 3x a day). There’s Rowatinex and Acalka and Sambong.  And I also need to drink 3L of water a day and should not hold my pee… that’s quite hard for me..but hey I did it! and I am already accustomed to drinking that much water.

It’s been 3 months since my Shock Wave treatment and my last ultrasound showed no signs of swelling, but I still need to undergo CT Scan to make sure that I am Kidney stone free.

And now, let’s get on to the technical terms.

What is Kidney stone? This is a solid formation on the kidney that usually cause by minerals on our diet. It is classified based on the location: kidney> nephrolithiasis, ureter >ureterolithiasis or bladder >cystolithiasis. And also classified based on the stone component: Calcium containing or uric acid.

What are the Symptoms of kidney Stones? from my experience, sine what I had was ureter stone, there was a cramp on my lower abdomen as well as my foot. But one of the most Kidney Stone symptom is back ache, the kind of back ache where the feeling was heavy (or ngawit). Other symptoms are changes in urine pattern as well as blood in the urine.

What causes Kidney Stones? This can be caused by the minerals on our diet such as calcium and uric acid. In my case, since I did not drink enough water and loves to eat food high in uric acid (hello isaw), that’s where I got it.. I think. You will know what kind of stones you got by collecting stone samples and having it examined.

Treatment for Kidney Stones. Depending on the size of the stones, it can be treated through medication or shock wave treatment. Kidney Stone Home  treatments suggest live oil and lemon juice to treat it. Lemon juice (as some of my readings suggest) will help in breaking the stones so that it can pass through, where as Olive oil aides in passage. Medication includes Acalka and Rowatinex and usually administered for 1 month.

Shock Wave treatment or Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL)  is done when the size of the stone is 6mm up. High energy sound waves are used to break the stones into smaller pieces and making it easy to move through the ureter and out of your the body (through urine).

How much is Shock Wave Treatment in the Philippines (shockwave for kidney stone cost)?

My treatment cost was around 38,000 PhP based on the package that our HMO approved. And I am just so glad that Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL) was included on our health card (so thanks to my hubby’s company for providing such). When I asked the staff the Urology Center how much it usually cost, they did not give figures, so I am guessing the usual cost is around 38-50K PhP depending on the HMO and the doctor. Now I am not sure if it cost lower or higher if you will be the one paying it.

ESWL treatment room 

Guide To ESWL Treatment (I am posting some tidbits from the readings they gave me when I had my ESWL treatment):

• No aspirin for two weeks, no alcohol for 24 hours and no food 8 hours prior to appointment.
• Day of the appointment, do not drink anything, no make- up (that I did not know, yes I come in full battle gear LOL), no nail polish and no jewelries.
• Patient should be on the center one hour before the appointment and should have one companion at least (you’ll be groggy and sleepy after the procedure)
• Procedure is 30-90 minutes (depends on the size of stone), anesthesia is given. This is an outpatient procedure.
• Pain is manageable but patient may feel sore due to passage of stone. Patient may have slight fever, beyond 38C see your doctor.
• Stone particles: strain urine for a week to save stone fragments for stone analysis.
• Bloody urine is expected for a day or two.
• Normal activities can be resumed after a day but patient can’t drive for 24 hours.
• Diet will depend on the stone analysis.

DIET FOR kidney stone patient:

•  For Uric Acid Stones: 

Moderation: poultry, Sea food (crabs, oyster, eel, shrimp), Vegetables (asparagus, spinach, mushroom, cauliflower), beverage, Fats, Legumes, Meat, Mar soups and broth, Oatmeal, Butter, Maragarine

Limited Amounts: Mussels, meat extracts, Internal organs (liver, pancreas, kidney>>> goodbye chicken liver!!), sardines, patis, yeast, Nuts, Anchovies, Brains (what?!? I can no longer b a Zombie!), Gravies, Herring, Mackerel, Balut and Beer

• For Calcium Stones: 

Limited Amounts: Green leafy vegetables, Calcium- fortified juices, whole, low fat, buttermilk, yogurt, cottage cheese, ice cream, ice cream sherbet, custard, pudding, cream, cream soups, sweet potatoes, tofu, quick cooking cereal and quick breads, Sardines, fish canned with bones, dried beans, cheese, Food rich in saturated fats like bacon, kropek, sitsaron, whole nuts and peanut butter… and CHOCOLATES!

*Urology Center of the Philippines map:

Urology Center of the Philippines is at Maginoo street, Quezon City. If you are coming from EDSA, turn at East Avenue then turn right at Matalino Street (street right after Philippine Heart Center), go straight until the last street before Kalayaan Ave.. Maginoo street is right after Masikap. Turn right at Maginoo street and go straight until almost dead end, turn right and you will see Urology Center of the Philippines. When you turn at Maginoo Street, you will wonder if there is really a Urology center there as the road looks as if you’re inside a village.. but yes there is… and this is how it looks:

How can Kidney Stones prevented? Check the foods that you eat, avoid salty food and drink lots of water, 2-3 L of water a day is your road to a healthy kidney!