Can you die from a kidney stone?!

Can you die from a kidney stone?

My step-dad is passing one. This isn't the first time he has passed one. He has to go to the hospital each time he gets one. Today he was vomiting and sweating and his skin turned yellow. This cannot be healthy over time. What are some of the complications of kidney stones? He drinks water a lot but is overweight.

Kidney stones are probably one of the most uncomfortable things to have. Most kidney stones end up blocking your urine from leaving your kidneys. Kidneys filter your blood and take all of the toxins out of it... the toxins are secreated in your urine leaving the body. When you have a stone the tube from the kidney to the bladder (called the ureter) gets blocked and this causes the sypmtoms you described. It can also cause blood in the urine and in rare cases can rupture that tube. I haven't heard of anyone who gets treatment dieing... most doctors are able to get the stones out or break them up. This is done in the operating room and the little pieces are passed more easily.

Kidney stones are pretty common and once you've had one most people will get another one. They don't really have a cause other than build up of minerals. Diet can be altered to help... have your dad ask his urologist what kinds of things he should or shouldn't eat. Tell him to also drink lots of water (about 10 glasses a day) this will help the passage of the stone! Good Luck!!