Can Kidney Stones Cause Gastrointestinal Problems?

Kidney stones can cause several gastrointestinal symptoms, as well as GI complications that warrant a trip to a doctor’s office.

Kidney stones are hard, crystallized masses that can form in your kidneys.

They’re common, affecting about 600,000 Americans every year. While anyone can have kidney stones, different types of stones are more or less likely to affect different groups of people.

There are many reasons you might have kidney stones. Some types of stones are caused by genetic conditions. Others are linked to digestive problems, not taking in enough fluids, and certain infections.

Kidney stones are associated with severe pain in your abdomen, lower back, and sides — but they can cause other issues as well.

Kidney stones have a complex relationship with your gastrointestinal system. Let’s take a look at how the two might affect each other.

When you have a kidney stone, some of the symptoms that you first notice might be related to your gastrointestinal system.

Pain

Gastrointestinal pain is the most common symptom of kidney stones. It’s sometimes called renal colic.

This type of pain often comes and goes in waves, and it usually feels sharp and severe. You might feel it in your abdomen, sides, lower back, and groin.

Nausea

Kidney stones can also cause nausea, sometimes as a reaction to pain. This symptom is not as common as pain itself, and may indicate that you need immediate medical care.

Vomiting

Vomiting can also be a symptom of kidney stones, but like nausea, it’s one of the less common symptoms. If you believe kidney stones are the cause of your vomiting, call a doctor right away.

The gastrointestinal symptoms of kidney stones described above are things that could alert you to a kidney stone. Symptoms usually go away after the kidney stones are treated.

As a result of having kidney stones, you might also experience new gastrointestinal issues.

Irritable bowel syndrome

A study in Taiwan found that adults were more likely to develop irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) after having a kidney stone. More than 30% of new cases of IBS occurred within 6 months after having a stone for the first time.

Bowel obstruction

While it’s extremely rare, a 2013 case report described an older female whose kidney stone caused a bowel obstruction. This led to complications that are not usually associated with kidney stones, including complete constipation and feculent vomiting.

Kidney stones can cause gastrointestinal symptoms and complications, but is the reverse true as well? It turns out that yes, some gastrointestinal issues can lead to kidney stones.

Diarrhea

Diarrhea has many causes and is characterized by watery bowel movements that are frequent and urgent. A short bout of diarrhea is unlikely to cause kidney stones. Chronic diarrhea, however, can lead to dehydration, which is one of the known causes of kidney stones.

Inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) refers to a group of disorders that affect your intestines and digestive tract, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. The inflammation associated with these conditions can make it hard for your body to properly absorb certain compounds. This malabsorption can sometimes cause kidney stones to form.

Abdominal surgeries

Sometimes, abdominal surgeries — such as gastric bypass and sleeve surgeries — can cause issues like diarrhea or malabsorption. As described above, these issues do have the potential to lead to kidney stones.

There are some symptoms of kidney stones that don’t affect your gastrointestinal system. If you have kidney stones, you may experience some, all, or none of these symptoms. Only a doctor can diagnose kidney stones, so if you’re unsure, you should consult with a doctor about your symptoms.

Kidney stone symptoms that are not gastrointestinal include:

• painful urination
• frequent or urgent urination
• bloody urine
• bad-smelling urine
• cloudy urine
• difficulty urinating
• fever
• chills
• sweating

The least invasive treatment for kidney stones is to let them pass naturally on their own by exiting your body with your urine. But in some cases, your kidney stones might be too big to safely pass on their own. If left untreated, this could cause an obstruction. The only way to know if a stone is small enough to pass on its own is to have it examined by a doctor.

The most common symptom of kidney stones is pain, but pain can be caused by many other conditions. If you think you might have a kidney stone, it’s best to call a doctor.

If you experience other gastrointestinal issues, such as nausea or vomiting, it might mean your kidney stone is more severe. In this case, get immediate medical attention.

The relationship between kidney stones and gastrointestinal issues is complex, with each having the ability to cause the other under certain circumstances. Here are answers to the most common questions on this topic.

Can kidney stones affect bowel movements

While this is something that could happen, generally the answer is no. Kidney stones do not typically affect bowel movements except in extremely rare cases, such as a kidney stone causing a bowel obstruction.

What GI issues can cause kidney stones?

Dehydration and malabsorption can both lead to kidney stones. Both of these problems can be caused by GI issues including:

• chronic diarrhea
• inflammatory bowel disease
• abdominal surgeries

What GI issues can kidney stones cause?

Adults who have their first kidney stone are more likely to develop irritable bowel syndrome within the following 6 months than adults who have never had a kidney stone.

Very rarely, kidney stones can cause bowel obstructions as well.

Can kidney stones cause IBS?

While it’s not known if kidney stones can cause IBS, adults who have had a kidney stone are more likely to develop IBS over the next 6 months than those who haven’t. More research is still needed to determine if kidney stones can directly cause IBS.

Kidney stones and gastrointestinal issues have a complicated relationship. You can have either condition independently of the other. For some people, kidney stones can be caused by gastrointestinal issues. For others the reverse is true, and gastrointestinal issues can be caused by kidney stones.

If you experience kidney stones and gastrointestinal issues at the same time, it could indicate that your kidney stones are more severe. If you think you might have kidney stones, the best thing to do is consult with a doctor immediately.

Can Kidney Stones Cause Diarrhea? Gastrointestinal Symptoms and More

Kidney stones are crystallized materials that bunch together in your kidneys. Diarrhea is not a symptom of kidney stones, but there are numerous symptoms.

Kidney stones — also called renal calculi — are tiny collections of hard crystals.

When microscopic compounds accumulate in your kidneys, the compounds bunch together into larger pieces, forming kidney stones.

The risk of kidney stones can be higher for people assigned male at birth or who have:

• a personal or family history of kidney stones
• chronic dehydration
• chronic kidney disease
• gout
• chronic urinary tract infections
• obesity
• high blood pressure
• diabetes

The least invasive treatment for a kidney stone is to pass it through your urine. This is often painful, resulting in more than half a million emergency room visits annually.

If your stone is too large to exit your body with your urine, you may need a more invasive treatment. If a stone blocks any part of your urinary tract, it can cause further complications and needs treatment immediately.

Kidney stones can cause many symptoms, but diarrhea is not one of them. Let’s take a look at the symptoms of kidney stones.

Diarrhea is a common condition that usually causes you to have urgent and frequent bowel movements. It has many causes and can vary greatly in severity.

Common causes of diarrhea include:

• viral infections, such as norovirus or rotavirus
• bacterial infections, such as E. coli or salmonella
• parasitic infections, such as cryptosporidiosis or giardiasis
• foodborne illnesses
• food allergies and intolerances, such as lactose intolerance
• gastrointestinal disorders, such as Crohn’s disease or irritable bowel syndrome
• reactions to medications, such as antibiotics

Kidney stones are not one of the causes of diarrhea. But doctors can remove kidney stones surgically if the stones are large. The surgical removal through the abdomen can cause diarrhea to develop. Experts need more research before confirming that kidney stone surgery can cause diarrhea.

The causes of kidney stones include:

• inadequate hydration
• obesity
• diets high in sugar or salt
• certain medications
• some genetic conditions, such as cystinuria

While diarrhea is not a direct cause of kidney stones, it often involves passing frequent, watery stools. The most common complications of diarrhea are dehydration and malabsorption.

Because diarrhea can cause dehydration, and dehydration can cause kidney stones, diarrhea may lead to kidney stones.

When you’re dehydrated, your urine becomes more concentrated, acidic, and filled with salts. All of these factors promote the formation of kidney stones.

If you have diarrhea, it’s important to replace fluids as you lose them. Water is a good replacement fluid. You can also have drinks high in electrolytes, such as sports drinks. Try to avoid beverages with caffeine, alcohol, or a lot of sweeteners, as they can make dehydration worse.

While kidney stones don’t cause diarrhea, they can affect your gastrointestinal system in other ways. If you’re experiencing what you believe are gastrointestinal symptoms of kidney stones, contact a doctor right away.

Pain

Kidney stones can cause severe pain in your abdomen, stomach, and lower back. You might feel pain in one of these areas, or multiple areas, on either one or both sides of your body. The pain often comes and goes in waves, lasting from 20 to 60 minutes.

Nausea

If you have kidney stones, pain symptoms can trigger nausea. When the pain recedes, the nausea may or may not ease.

Vomiting

Vomiting is when you empty your stomach contents through your mouth. Nausea often comes before it, but not always.

Besides the gastrointestinal symptoms of kidney stones listed above, other common symptoms of kidney stones include:

• bloody urine
• frequent urination
• fever
• sweating
• chills
• tenderness in your groin or where your ribs meet your spine

Kidney stones often pass on their own without needing medical attention.

Passing a kidney stone through your urine generally takes 1 to 2 weeks. Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers may help you manage the pain symptoms.

If the pain is too intense to handle with OTC pain relief medications, or if more than 4 weeks pass without passing the stone, get medical help.

Additionally, contact a doctor right away if you experience:

• nausea
• vomiting
• bloody urine
• difficulty urinating

These are all indications that your kidney stone is severe or too large to pass on your own. If you’re unable to contact a doctor quickly, get help at an urgent care clinic or emergency room.

Kidney stones are chunks of crystallized materials that can form in your kidneys. The most common symptom is severe pain, and they usually exit your body with your urine.

Diarrhea is a condition that makes you empty your bowels urgently and often, usually with watery stool.

There is currently no evidence that diarrhea is a symptom of kidney stones. Sometimes diarrhea can occur due to abdominal surgery, which doctors may perform to treat kidney stones, but there are no studies available yet that specifically connect the two.

Diarrhea can cause dehydration, however, which may then lead to kidney stones.

Whether you have them together or separately, if you’re unable to manage your diarrhea or kidney stones, speak with a doctor right away.

Stones in the ureter: causes, symptoms, treatment

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Cost of services at the Dobriy Prognoz clinic

Service	Price in UAH
Urologist consultation Zugan K.B.	590 690
Urologist’s consultation Shmulichenko A. V.	690
Urologist’s consultation Tishchenko A.V.	590
Bladder instillation	250
Comprehensive urologist appointment for men (consultation + ultrasound of the urinary system + ultrasound of the prostate)	– 36% 890* 1390
Comprehensive appointment with a urologist (consultation + ultrasound of the urinary system)	– 45% 690* 1240
Ultrasound of the kidneys, adrenal glands and bladder	550
Ultrasound of the kidneys, adrenal glands, bladder and prostate	700
CT scan for urinary stones	1235
Laser stone crushing	Share: 15 745 26 000

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Learn about treatment

th condition in which stones from kidneys on the way to the bladder get stuck in the ureter, block the outflow of urine and cause acute renal failure.

One of the varieties of urolithiasis are stones in the ureter. They are produced in the kidneys and travel through the ureter to the bladder. If the stone is large and cannot get into the bladder on its own, it gets stuck in the ureter, blocking the flow of urine from the kidneys to the bladder. Stagnation of urine leads to complications, can cause acute renal failure. Stones with sharp edges can scratch the walls of the ureter, causing inflammation of the mucosa. If a stone in the ureter remains immobile long enough, it can cause a pressure sore. Later, a scar forms in this place, because of the scar, the ureter narrows, the functions of the urinary system are disturbed.

A stone stuck without movement is called a fixed stone. If the calculus moves up and down the ureter, then it is called mobile. Stones in the ureter can cause serious complications. Their consequences are the most severe, compared with stones in other places.

Localization varies. If the stones are located at the mouth of the ureter and , it causes a person acute pain in the lower back, in the groin, in the lower abdomen, in the thigh. In men, an attack can spread to the scrotum or penis, in women – to the labia majora.

Stones in the lower ureter cause pain in the suprapubic region. The urge to urinate is very frequent, but the process of urination itself causes difficulties and pain, urine may be with traces of blood.

Stones located at the entrance to the bladder cause pain similar to sensations in prostatitis, urethritis, acute cystitis.

CAUSES OF STONES IN THE URETER

The main cause of stones in the ureter is a failure in the metabolic system, a change in the composition of urine and its acidity. The following factors influence the development of the disease:

• infectious diseases of the kidneys;
• diseases of the stomach and gastrointestinal tract;
• disorders in the endocrine system;
• incomplete bladder emptying;
• diseases of the skeletal system;
• injuries and traumatic injuries;
• eating spicy, fatty, salty foods;
• insufficient fluid intake;
• anomalies in the structure of the pelvis and calyces;
• heredity or genetic predisposition.

Symptoms of stones in the ureter

The very first sign of stones in the ureter is severe pain in the lower abdomen (renal colic), more than 90% of all patients experience them.

When the calculus partially blocks the ureter, there is a dull pain in the region of the ribs and spine. If the ureter is completely blocked, then the movement of urine is disturbed, the patient experiences a sudden attack of acute pain. Pain is aggravated by any sudden movement or physical activity. An attack of pain can last from several hours to days with varying intensity.

More symptoms:

• nausea, vomiting;
• flatulence, diarrhea or retention of stools;
• headache, fever;
• fever, high blood pressure;
• tension in the abdominal muscles.

DIAGNOSIS OF STONES IN THE URETER

For the diagnosis of stones in the ureter, the following methods are used:

• urinalysis, which will show the number of erythrocytes and leukocytes, the level of proteins, the presence of impurities and salts;
• Ph-urine;
• blood test – general and biochemical;
• bacteriological culture;
• x-ray examination, which can be used to determine the location of the calculus, its size and shape;
• endoscopy and sonography;
• survey and excretory urography;
• computed tomography of the kidneys;
• ureteroscopy;
• Ultrasound of the kidneys, ureter, bladder;
• radioisotope alternative diagnostics.

DOCTORS WHO REMOVE STONES IN THE URETER

PS: This article was written by the doctors of the Dobry Prognoz clinic in a popular science style, easy and accessible for people without medical education to understand. The stated medical facts are based on medical literature data, protocols, orders and treatment guidelines approved by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine. And also on the data of foreign medical literature and online publications.

PSS: Determining the diagnosis and choosing a treatment method remains the exclusive prerogative of your doctor!
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© The authors of the article:
Eremenko Maxim Alexandrovich
Dobry Prognoz Medical Center
,
Stakhovsky Alexander Eduardovich
Dobry Prognoz Medical Center
,
Shmulichenko Alexander Vladimirovich
Dobry Prognoz Medical Center

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I faced such an ailment as a stone in the ureter, with acute pain I got to the ambulance, and there I faced a terrible attitude, they put a stent in and discharged me, saying that you would come back to remove it. When it came time to shoot it, they refused to help me. All that remained was to remove the stent and take away the stone, which made me feel bad, I had been walking with him for a long time, and a miracle happened, a friend of mine recommended the Good Forecast medical center to us. We came for help to the urologist Kirill Alexandrovich Kirsanov, this is heaven and earth, I was in awe, even after talking with this person, I trusted him 100%. The appointment went well and my opinion about the doctor remained positive, I did not notice anything negative. I can notice that Kiril Alexandrovich concisely and correctly communicates with patients. I took with me ready-made examinations, which the doctor studied, and he also examined me. The doctor gave me enough time, he gave answers to all questions and everything was clear.
The next day after the test, he removed this stent for me and crushed the pebble. I felt great, and every day I got better and better, so I am extremely grateful to Kirill Alexandrovich for the prompt solution of the problem, for his caring attitude towards clients. Thanks a lot.

Patient

10/29/2022

Everything was at the highest level, the operation went almost unnoticed. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of my journey to recovery. My diagnosis: stones in the ureter. The attending physician Alexander Vladimirovich Shmulichenko, the best in his field. I recommend.

Pavel

01/17/2020

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Guest

01/15/2019

V in general, I am not a fan of writing reviews, but a huge human gratitude to you for saving me from terrible torment, I already climbed the wall when the stone went. They will really help you here!

Zhenya

12/06/2017

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Pyelonephritis (kidney inflammation)

Pyelonephritis (kidney inflammation)

Description

Fundamentally, pyelonephritis is classified into acute and chronic.

Acute pyelonephritis (kidney inflammation)

is a rapidly developing and life-threatening disease. It is characterized by increasing serous-purulent inflammation in the kidney, leading to severe intoxication (poisoning of the body with infectious and other toxins).

In this case, the patient most often complains of pain in the lumbar region (“impossible to touch”), fever (up to 39 degrees with chills), severe general weakness, headache, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, and bloating. In the absence of adequate treatment for inflammation of the kidneys, a picture of infectious-toxic shock may develop: a drop in blood pressure, loss of consciousness, tachycardia, pallor of the skin.

The main distinguishing feature of acute inflammation of the kidneys is the possibility of rapid progression with a fatal outcome. The reason for this is the peculiarities of the blood supply. 20-25 percent of circulating blood “passes” through the kidneys, therefore, in a situation where the kidney turns, in fact, into an abscess, there is a danger of generalization of inflammation (spread to the entire body).

Causes of acute pyelonephritis

– an infectious process in the kidney caused by bacteria. Pathogens (usually Escherichia coli – E. Coli) can enter the body in two main ways: from the lower urinary tract (for example, from the bladder with chronic cystitis) and from the blood (for example, if there is a source of infection somewhere – caries, tonsillitis, sinusitis, etc.). However, out of the blue, pyelonephritis (inflammation of the kidneys) develops extremely rarely. Most often, there are so-called “predisposing factors”: urolithiasis, anomalies in the development of the genitourinary organs, the presence of narrowing of the ureters, prostate adenoma, etc.

If acute pyelonephritis is suspected, the patient must be immediately hospitalized in a specialized clinic.

Chronic pyelonephritis (kidney inflammation)

– a sluggish infectious and inflammatory disease characterized by damage to the tissue (panenchyma) and pelvicalyceal system of the kidney.

During this disease, two phases can be distinguished. Remission – remission of the pathological process. An exacerbation is a manifestation of vivid clinical, laboratory and pathomorphological symptoms.

Chronic inflammation of the kidneys is usually based on two components: a violation of the outflow of urine from the kidneys and the presence of a urinary tract infection.

Causes of chronic pyelonephritis

– usually develops after acute pyelonephritis. The main causes of chronic inflammation of the kidneys are as follows:

1. Unresolved urinary obstruction (treated acute pyelonephritis with antibiotics, but the cause was not corrected),
2. Incorrect treatment of acute pyelonephritis (insufficient duration of treatment, inadequate drugs),
3. Chronic foci of infection in the body (tosillitis, caries, enterocolitis, etc. ),
4. Immunodeficiency and metabolic diseases (eg, diabetes mellitus).

Chronic pyelonephritis is an extremely common disease. In adults, inflammation of the kidneys occurs in more than 200 people per thousand of the population. At the same time, women suffer from this disease 4-5 times more often than men. Chronic pyelonephritis is the most common cause of chronic renal failure.

Chronic inflammation of the kidneys is a slow but dangerous disease. Its essence lies in the fact that as it develops (periodic activation and attenuation of inflammation), gradual scarring of the kidney tissue occurs. Ultimately, the organ is completely replaced by scar tissue and ceases to perform its function.

In the remission phase, chronic pyelonephritis can proceed for years without clear clinical symptoms. In the initial phases of inflammation of the kidneys, patients may periodically notice a slight malaise, an increase in body temperature to subfebrile values ​​​​(up to 37. 5 degrees), a decrease in appetite, increased fatigue, mild dull pain in the lumbar region, pallor of the skin. In the analysis of urine, there is a moderate increase in the number of leukocytes, bacteriuria. With the further development of inflammation of the kidneys, the progression of the described complaints is noted. Impaired kidney function leads to thirst, dry mouth, the formation of an increased amount of urine, nighttime urination. In laboratory tests, the density of urine decreases. As the pathological process deepens, nephrogenic arterial hypertension (increased pressure) develops in the kidneys, which is characterized by a special “malignancy”: high diastolic pressure (more than 110 mm Hg) and resistance to therapy. In the final stages of the disease, symptoms of chronic renal failure are noted.

A separate nosology is “ asymptomatic bacteriuria ” – a situation where there are no clinical and laboratory symptoms, but an increased number of bacteria is determined in the urine. In such a situation, the likelihood of developing a manifest urinary tract infection against the background of hypothermia, a decrease in general immunity and other provoking factors is increased. Asymptomatic bacteriuria is a reason to consult a urologist and find out its causes!

The so-called “ pyelonephritis of pregnant women . Its essence lies in the fact that the enlarged uterus compresses the ureters and the outflow of urine is disturbed. Against this background, the development of severe forms of pyelonephritis is possible, the treatment of which is very difficult, since most antibiotics are contraindicated during pregnancy. In this regard, pregnant women need constant monitoring of urine parameters. And when pyelonephritis (inflammation of the kidneys) occurs, it is often necessary to install internal ureteral stents that drain urine from the kidneys.

Treatment of pyelonephritis

consists primarily in the elimination of its cause – the underlying disease (urolithiasis, ureteral strictures, prostate adenoma, etc.