Drinking Lots of Water / Kidney Stones

[BaileyJune]

I'm hoping someone can help! I have had kidney stones a few times in the last 3 years. I am 40, female. Kidney stones run in my family. The urologist determined I am not drinking nearly enough water. He recently told me that I need to drink 2-3 liters a day!! 2 liters = 135.2 ounces a day! :eek:

It's all I can do to get 64 ounces in. How on earth am I going to drink that much? I've tried measuring it all out at the beginning of the day and figuring out how much an hour I need to drink. I've tried flavoring my water; I don't drink soda or tea or coffee because I prefer water anyway. I've tried eating more so I can drink a lot in between bites. (Goofy, I know.) This doctor told me that I could be compulsive and set an alarm for 2am to get up for a couple of glasses of water. This is not something I'm willing to do on a regular basis.

If I continue to have stones, or can't drink enough, then the doctor wants me to go on 3 medications, 5-6 pills per day, to keen things under control. These pills lower various concentrations of things like oxalate, uric acid and calcium that are excreted in urine, so that I'm less likely to have stones.

I'm going to have to stop to use the restroom every half hour - how can I go to the movies or take a vacation or go on long bike rides or anything else that might take me a way from a restroom.

I don't want to go the medication route. But how can I get all this water in???? I am only 5'3" and 110 pounds. Do I REALLY need this much water?

[wallycat]

There are some food options you could try, but you need to know what type of stone you have.
Just like gallstones, they can be made up of different materials.

Has your doc told you what yours is? If not, can you ask him?

I'd hate to make dietary suggestions till I know what kind of stones you are producing. Also, I am assuming this is a hereditary thing (though not always) and wonder what your family has done for them in the past.

Best to you...let me know and I will see if food options exist for your type of stone!

[funnybone]

When I was pregnant, I used to drink a couple of liters a day. I would sit a liter bottle of water on my desk and it would be finished before I knew it. I don't drink as much water as I should these days, but I find that leaving it out really helps. Two liters is only 4 of those 500 ml bottles of water. If you drink one first thing in the morning, another by lunch time, another in the afternoon and the last for dinner, you'd be done. I always take water with me - even in the car for short errands. Just make it a habit. BTW - those Crystal Light On the Go packets are great for adding flavor to water. They have more flavors this year too.

[funnybone]

2 liters = 135.2 ounces a day! :eek:

I forgot to point out your calaculation is wrong. 2 liters is approx. 64 oz. and 3 liters would be 96 oz. You're probably already drinking enough.:)

[BaileyJune]

Wallycat - my stones are calcium oxalate. The doctor recommended making sure I eat more calcium and reduce high oxalate foods (chocolate, nuts, spinach, rhubarb, strawberries, all things I like, but don't eat in super high concentrations). Unfortunately, my family members haven't done anything for them in the past, other than take them as they come.

Funnybone - you're right, thank God! I think I saw there are 67.6 ounces in a 2-liter of soda, and I was doubling that! Oops. :o I do leave my water bottle out in front of me, on my desk every day; it has ounces marked on it so I can easily keep track. So you're right, it's not as bad as I think, but still a lot more water than I'm used to drinking. Unfortunately, I don't love Crystal Light, but maybe I'll try it again.

Thanks!

[funniegrrl]

When struggling to drink water, sometimes I think the best option is to skip all the flavored stuff and just. drink. water. For people not used to drinking it, it can be an acquired taste, but the more you drink plain water the more you'll like it. I prefer mine icy cold, but I know a few people who find it easier to get down if it's room temp or even slightly warm. If you crave a little variety, look for seltzer water or sparkling water. It's just water with bubbles, no added salts, etc. like with club soda. You can go the fancy spring water route, like Perrier, LaCroix, etc., or you can go the cheap route (like me) and just get the supermarket brand. For example Kroger's version is called Crystal Clear. Of course, these come flavored, but the plain version is what I'm referring to.

[TKay]

I forgot to point out your calaculation is wrong. 2 liters is approx. 64 oz. and 3 liters would be 96 oz. You're probably already drinking enough.:)

I'm glad that calculation was off. I was going to suggest that double that was WAY too much water per day (in my decidedly non-medical opinion).

[Valerie226]

I was just going to point out the miscalculation too. a liter is approximately a quart, and 2-3 a day should not be a problem. I don't like flat water much so use the very faintly flavored unsweetened seltzers. I buy the big 2 liter bottles, about $1 each,and pour them over into 16 oz bottles that I re-use. that way I can always have a bottle of water handy, and it's easy to polish off 4-5 a day if I think about it. I keep on in my car , one at the bedside, etc.

I always drink this much & I have no problem with going to movies, etc. It's a habit, you get used to it & bathrooms are easy to find. I've seen people passing kidney stones & it looks like drinking lots of water ( if it works for you) is a BARGAIN.

[mbrogier]

I have kidney stones, and my doctor encouraged me to drink fresh lemon and limeade to help dissolve the kidney stones. I've noticed I drink more fluids when I have lemon or lime in my water.

[wallycat]

Wallycat - my stones are calcium oxalate. The doctor recommended making sure I eat more calcium and reduce high oxalate foods (chocolate, nuts, spinach, rhubarb, strawberries, all things I like, but don't eat in super high concentrations). Unfortunately, my family members haven't done anything for them in the past, other than take them as they come.

Funnybone - you're right, thank God! I think I saw there are 67.6 ounces in a 2-liter of soda, and I was doubling that! Oops. :o I do leave my water bottle out in front of me, on my desk every day; it has ounces marked on it so I can easily keep track. So you're right, it's not as bad as I think, but still a lot more water than I'm used to drinking. Unfortunately, I don't love Crystal Light, but maybe I'll try it again.

Thanks!

Well, I'm glad to hear your doc is up on the dietary aspects.
Many docs used to discourage calcium thinking it contributed to the stones, but it doesn't. Make sure to try to get the calcium from food. If you plan to take supplements (like tums) take them with a meal.

You could also include green tea, which for some reason seems to limit stone formation. Eating low sodium foods and eating less meat-protein seems to help as well.

Other high oxalate foods are: rhubarb, star fruit, beets, beet greens, collards, okra, refried beans, spinach, Swiss chard, sweet potatoes, sesame seeds, almonds and soy products

Good luck to you!

[BaileyJune]

Thanks, Wallycat!

mbrogier, my doctor also recommended squeezing lemon into my water. I forgot to mention that earlier. I'll be stocking up on the citrus! Thanks for the reminder.

[dirtydoodle]

Do as what your physician tells you. You can drink it moderately.


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[JulieM]

DH suffered with kidney stones of your type for years and went through two lithotripsies before a doctor told him to drink more water on a daily basis. After that, we chose to ignore the dietary recommendations and just focus on proper water intake and so far no stones for the last 14 years. He also switched from coffee to green tea maybe 7 years ago so maybe that helped. He eats nuts every day, tons of spinach, chocolate, strawberries in season, etc. In the early years of his having these stones, the wisdom at that time said not to drink milk or eat dairy, but they've since changed that, and in fact say that avoiding calcium actually may promote the formation of stones. It's a personal decision but the water part of it seems the major part. We just didn't like avoiding all the great nutrition that comes with those foods.

[Bawstinn]

I have kidney stones, and my doctor encouraged me to drink fresh lemon and limeade to help dissolve the kidney stones. I've noticed I drink more fluids when I have lemon or lime in my water.

There are times I think my BF is a kidney stone factory - his run in the family as well - and his Dr also strongly encouraged him to add some lemon or lime juice to his water, and to up his water intake. It has been about 15 months since he has passed one (why do they always want to pass in the middle of the night?) although we know he has one.

[JulieM]

There are times I think my BF is a kidney stone factory - his run in the family as well - and his Dr also strongly encouraged him to add some lemon or lime juice to his water, and to up his water intake. It has been about 15 months since he has passed one (why do they always want to pass in the middle of the night?) although we know he has one.
It is strange how they always seem to flare up in the night. Although DD had her attack mid-morning at work and it almost made her drop to the floor. She had no idea what had hit her and got herself to the emergency room.

We have found that long rides in a car will also cause a flare up. I guess the vibration works the stone loose.