04 March 2024 , 10:21
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Kidney stones can damage the blood-filtering organs if left untreated, so it's important to catch them early.
Michael McIntyre was forced to cancel a comedy gig in Southampton this week after he was rushed to hospital for an "operation to remove kidney stones". The 48-year-old comedian was due to perform at the Mayflower Theatre on Monday (March 4) but told fans on social media on Sunday (March 3) that the show would not be going ahead as a result of his urgent medical procedure.
According to the NHS, kidney stones are "quite common" with more than one in 10 people affected, and while some kidney stones can pass through your body completely unnoticed, larger ones can be "extremely painful".
What are kidney stones?
Kidney stones are caused by waste products in the blood that can occasionally form crystals that collect inside the kidneys. Over time, these crystals may build up to form a hard stone-like lump. You're more likely to get kidney stones if you don't drink enough fluid to flush the crystals out, or if you have a medical condition that raises the levels of certain substances in your urine.
Your body will naturally try to pass kidney stones when you pee, and if they're small, you won't notice them at all. Larger kidney stones can cause some painful symptoms, however, and these are the type that may need to be removed through surgery.
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Symptoms of kidney stones
The main symptoms of kidney stones include:
- pain in the side of your tummy (abdomen) or groin – men may have pain in their testicles
- a high temperature
- feeling sweaty
- severe pain that comes and goes
- feeling sick or vomiting
- blood in your urine
- urine infection
Kidney stones can also block the ureter - the tube that connects your kidney to your bladder - and can cause a kidney infection. This is because waste products cannot pass the blockage, which may cause a build-up of bacteria. A kidney infection carries many of the same symptoms as kidney stones, but can also include:
- a high temperature
- chills and shivering
- feeling very weak or tired
- cloudy and bad-smelling urine
Treating and preventing kidney stones
While small kidney stones can be passed in your urine, larger ones are usually removed through surgery. The main types of surgery for removing kidney stones include shockwave lithotripsy (SWL), percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), or ureteroscopy.
SWL involves using ultrasound to pinpoint where the stone is before ultrasound shockwaves are sent from a machine to break it into smaller pieces which can then be passed in your urine. The process can be uncomfortable, so it is often carried out after giving painkilling medication.
PCNL uses a thin telescopic instrument called a nephroscope, which is passed through a small cut made in your back where it can then enter the kidney. The stone is either pulled out or broken into smaller pieces using a laser or pneumatic energy, and this procedure is always carried out under general anaesthetic.
Lastly, a ureteroscopy involves passing a long, thin telescope called a ureteroscope through the urethra - the tube urine passes through on its way out of the body - and into your bladder. It's then passed up into your ureter, which connects your bladder to your kidney. The surgeon may either try to gently remove the stone using another instrument, or they may use laser energy to break it up into small pieces so it can be passed naturally in your urine.
When to get medical help for kidney stones
According to the NHS, you should contact your GP or call 111 if you're in severe pain, have a high temperature, have an episode of shivering or shaking, or have blood in your urine.