Young, healthy and 24, Tina Brock didn’t know what had hit her when crippling pain rippled through her body, leaving her nauseous and aching.
The discomfort was excruciating and came from nowhere, but the medics at her university campus quickly recognised the symptoms of kidney stones.
“Doctors will sometimes say kidney stones rarely kill you – they just make you want to die because you want the pain to go away,” Ms Brock, now 58, said.
“It hurts so bad you think it must be something that’s going to kill you.”
Ms Brock, whose father also had kidney stones, has now suffered with the condition on and off for decades and has endured five surgeries despite taking every precaution and moderating her diet and exercise.
Her experience is a warning as Australia heads into what is forecast to be a hotter-than-normal summer – conditions that put thousands at a higher risk of developing the painful condition.
With temperatures rising, the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand is urging people to stay hydrated as stone cases begin to spike from December.
The organisation says hotter climates, such as those in the Northern Territory and Queensland, consistently record the highest rates.
Up to 10 per cent of the population might be affected, with men historically more prone to developing stones – although the gap between the genders is narrowing.
Kidney stones are relatively common in people over 60, with risk increasing as we age. Dehydration, certain medications, and conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and gout all contribute to stone formation later in life. Men remain more prone overall, but post-menopausal women see their risk rise significantly. Drinking enough water and reviewing medications with a GP can help reduce the likelihood of stones developing.
Hospitalisation is common and the condition often mimics other emergencies, with patients turning up in distress convinced they’re facing appendicitis, cardiac pain or another serious health event.
“Patients often describe the pain as ‘100 out of 10’,” urologist Gregory Jack said.
“It’s sudden, severe and unlike anything they’ve experienced before, and even small stones can cause extreme discomfort.”
Kidney stones form when minerals and salts in urine crystallise and grow, a process that can take years.
Often, there are no symptoms until the stone moves out of the kidney and into the urinary tract.
The main causes of kidney stones include dehydration and high salt intake.
Hot, humid weather increases the risk, as does a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, diabetes, bowel surgery, metabolic syndrome and family history.
Experts highlight the need to stay well-hydrated, particularly during the hot summer months.
Stones can take from days to months to pass. While smaller ones might move on their own, larger stones can require endoscopic surgery or non-invasive ultrasound treatments that help break them apart.
Some people tout home remedies – such as drinking lemon drinks – to help the stones pass, but Dr Jack said it was difficult to substantiate their efficacy.
“Everyone’s got their anecdotes, but 80 per cent of these stones will pass on their own,” he said.
IMPORTANT LEGAL INFO This article is of a general nature and FYI only, because it doesn’t take into account your personal health requirements or existing medical conditions. That means it’s not personalised health advice and shouldn’t be relied upon as if it is. Before making a health-related decision, you should work out if the info is appropriate for your situation and get professional medical advice.
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