Around 2 AM last Tuesday, a patient hurried into my clinic in obvious distress. She had been enduring severe back pain for two days, convinced she had strained a muscle at the gym. After examining her and running the necessary tests, it became clear that the real cause was not a workout injury but a sizable kidney stone.
I’m Dr. Nilanjan Mitra, and honestly? This happens all the time. Women tough it out way longer than they should because they think it’s just back pain or period cramps or whatever. Here we know see all details about kidney stone symptoms in women so you know what to watch for.
What Are the First Signs of Kidney Stones?
The early stuff is sneaky. You get this ache in your lower back. One side usually, right below your ribs. It’s not like you lifted something heavy, it just shows up and sticks around. Most women I see thought it was their period or maybe slept funny.
Then bathroom stuff gets weird. You’re running to pee every twenty minutes but hardly anything comes out. Or it burns. You think UTI, right? Sometimes it is, but not always.
Your pee might look cloudy or smell off. One patient described it as “swamp water”, not the medical term I’d use, but I got the picture. And if you see pink or reddish colour? That’s blood. Even a tiny amount shows up, and that’s your body telling you something’s wrong.
When Things Get Really Bad
Once that stone starts moving? It became serious issue and everything changes.
The Pain Situation
As doctor we heard every description. “Like being stabbed with a hot knife.” “Worse than having my kids.” “Thought I was actually dying.”
The pain usually hits your lower back or side, then shoots down toward your belly and groin. It comes in waves, you’ll be okay-ish for thirty seconds, then BAM, another wave crushes you.
Here’s what makes kidney stone pain different from anything else. You can’t get comfortable. Sitting doesn’t help, lying down doesn’t help, walking around also doesn’t help. When patients tell me,”nothing made it better,” that’s usually when I know we’re dealing with stones.
Many moms shared that it is worse than labour, because labor has breaks between contractions, and you know it ends with something good. Kidney stones? Just wave after wave of pain until it passes or we intervene. One patient said, “At least after labor I got a baby. After this I got a pebble and trauma.”
Types of Stones Women Get
Most stones are calcium oxalate. These form when you’re dehydrated and eating too much salty stuff or foods high in oxalates such as spinach, nuts or chocolate.
Uric acid stones– It happen with high-protein diets, especially if you’re eating tons of meat.
Struvite stones – Those usually come from chronic UTIs and can grow fast.
Cystine stones– This are rare and genetic – if you have these, you probably already know because they run in families.
What Causes Kidney Stones in Women
Here are few causes of kidney stones in women because understanding why helps you prevent them.
Not drinking enough water – This is probably 70% of cases. When you’re dehydrated, minerals in your pee stick together and form crystals. Simple fix – drink more water. If your pee looks like apple juice, you need more fluids.
Diet stuff matters – Too much salt or lots of red meat. Ironically, some healthy foods like spinach can be problematic if you’re prone to oxalate stones.
Medical conditions– It play a role. Chronic UTIs, digestive problems like Crohn’s, thyroid issues. These mess with how your body handles minerals.
Hormone thing– Pregnancy changes how you process calcium. Menopause affects everything. Being a woman adds layers because hormones influence mineral metabolism.
Genetic – If kidney stones run in your family, you’re at higher risk.
Weight matters – Being overweight increases risk. But losing weight too fast can also trigger stones. Bodies are complicated.
Passing a Kidney Stone – The Reality
Small stones under 4mm usually pass on their own in a few weeks. Doesn’t mean it’s easy, just means surgery probably isn’t needed.
Here’s what we doctor prescribe for passing a kidney stone:
Drink water constantly. Like, have a bottle with you always. Take the pain meds I give you – don’t try to be tough. Keep moving because walking helps things along. And yeah, I give patients a strainer for the toilet. It’s gross but we need to catch that stone and figure out what type it is.
When You Need Help Right Now
Call a doctor immediately if:
You’re in so much pain you can’t function. You’ve got a fever over 100.4. There’s blood in your pee. You can’t urinate at all. You’re throwing up constantly. Pain’s been going for more than 48 hours.Even milder symptoms deserve a check. Better safe than sorry.
How I Handle This
First visit, we run tests – urine analysis, blood work, imaging. Gotta see what we’re dealing with.
Small stones? We manage conservatively with fluids and meds. Medium ones or maybe lithotripsy where sound waves break them up. Bigger stones? Minimally invasive procedures.
After the crisis, we work on prevention. Diet changes, hydration goals, maybe medication depending on stone type. Because nobody wants this twice.
Prevention Actually Works
Drink 2-3 liters of water daily. Keep your pee pale yellow. Cut back on salt. Don’t go crazy with high-oxalate foods. Treat UTIs promptly. Maintain healthy weight.
These things prevent stones. I’ve seen it work.
FAQs ( Frequently Asked Questions )
- Can kidney stones feel like period pain?
Yes. But kidney stone pain is stronger and usually on one side.
2. How do I know if it is a kidney stone or UTI?
Kidney stones cause strong back or siFde pain. UTI mostly causes burning while peeing.
3. Do big stones need surgery?
Yes. Big stones may need treatment by a doctor.
4. Can kidney stones make you pee more?
Yes. You may feel like peeing again and again.
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Bottom Line
Kidney stone symptoms in women aren’t something to ignore or “wait out.” I’ve walked hundreds of women through this, and the ones who came in early always had easier times.
You’re having symptoms? Call me and let’s figure it out and get you feeling better. That’s literally what I’m here for. Don’t suffer in silence.
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