Information:
Kidney stones are common and often very painful, but many people recover without needing surgery.
What is going to happen
The symptoms that brought you to hospital might be caused by a ureteric stone. This is a stone in the pipe that drains urine from the kidney to the bladder.
- It is safe for you to go home for now.
- You need to come back for a scan to check if you do have a stone.
Ultrasound
- You will have an ultrasound scan to check for stones.
- You may need a CT scan later but ultrasound is a better test for you to start off with.
- Ultrasound is the type of scan we use for pregnant people to look at their babies. It uses jelly on your skin and a small wand which presses on your skin to get a picture of the kidney. It can sometimes tickle and the jelly can be cold.
- Your Ultrasound Scan will be performed in the Ambulatory Surgical Centre in Chancellor Wing at St James’s University Hospital.
Your scan
- You will be given the date and time of your scan.
Location
The Ambulatory Surgical Centre
If you come in via the entrance for A and E it is sign posted from there.
After your scan
- After your scan you can go home.
- A doctor will call you to speak to you about what the scan shows within two working days.
- Please answer calls from the telephone numbers: 0113 392 9999 or 0113 206 9999.
What do you need to know
Pain
- We recommend that you take regular Paracetamol and Ibuprofen.
- You can get these at pharmacies, supermarkets and convenience stores.
- We will also give you pain killers to go home with.
- The doctor who sees you will explain how to use these.
Emergencies
If you start having the below symptoms when you are at home, please come to the Surgical Admissions Unit at
St James’s University Hospital to be checked by a clinician:
- High temperature (over 38 degrees).
- You feel very hot and have shaking that you can’t stop.
- Very bad pain which does not go away with the pain killers we give you.
- You stop passing urine.
Surgical Assessment Unit
If you come in via the entrance for A and E it is sign posted from there.
What might happen
- Some stones don’t need treatment and come out on their own.
- Some stones might need help or treatment to come out.
- The doctor that calls you will explain what they think is likely to happen with your stone.
- Information on the two most common treatments can be found below. You may want to look at this if your doctor talks to you about this treatment.
Contact us
If you have a problem or any questions, please contact us via telephone.
