Free
E-newsletter
Subscribe to Housecall
Our weekly general interest
e-newsletter keeps you up to date
on a wide variety of health topics.
close window
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffSmall kidney stones that don't block your kidney or cause other problems can be treated by your family doctor. But if you have a large kidney stone and experience severe pain or kidney problems, your doctor may refer you to a doctor who treats problems in the urinary tract (urologist).
Because appointments can be brief, and there's often a lot to cover, it's a good idea to be well prepared.
What you can do
- Ask if there's anything you need to do before your appointment, such as limit your diet.
- Write down your symptoms, including any that seem unrelated to kidney stones.
- Make a list of all your medications, as well as any vitamins or other supplements that you take.
- Take a family member or friend along, if possible. Sometimes it can be hard to remember all the information, and a relative or friend may hear something that you missed or forgot.
- Write down questions to ask your doctor.
For kidney stones, some basic questions include:
- Do I have a kidney stone?
- What size is my kidney stone?
- Where is my kidney stone located?
- What type of kidney stone do I have?
- Will I need medication to treat my kidney stone?
- Will I need surgery or another procedure to treat my kidney stone?
- What's the chance that I'll develop another kidney stone?
- How can I prevent kidney stones in the future?
- I have these other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
- Do I need to follow any restrictions?
- Should I see a specialist? If so, does insurance typically cover the services of a specialist?
- Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you're prescribing me?
- Do you have any educational material that I can take with me? What websites do you recommend?
- Do I need a follow-up visit?
Don't hesitate to ask questions during your appointment when you don't understand something.
References
- Worcester EM, et al. Nephrolithiasis. Primary Care: Clinics in Office Practice. 2008;35:369.
- Kidney stones in adults. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/stonesadults/index.htm. Accessed Jan. 18, 2012.
- Diet for kidney stone prevention. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/kidneystonediet/index.htm. Accessed Jan. 18, 2012.
- Rakel D. Integrative Medicine. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/177428112-2/0/1494/0.html. Accessed Jan. 19, 2012.
- Curhan GC, et al. Diagnosis and acute management of suspected nephrolithiasis in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 26, 2012.
- Preminger GM, et al. The first kidney stone and asymptomatic nephrolithiasis in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Feb. 27, 2012.
- Humphreys MR (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, Ariz. Feb. 20, 2012.
- Anderson CF (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Feb. 8, 2012.
Find Mayo Clinic on