What is lithotripsy?
Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, or ESWL, is a non-invasive medical procedure that uses shock waves to break up stones that form in the kidney, bladder, or ureter (the tube that carries urine from the kidneys to the bladder). Anesthesia may be used in this procedure. You will lie on a gurney supported by a water-filled device right where the stone is located. An X-ray or ultrasound system will be used to locate the stone and determine where the waves should be applied with the machine.
How do I recover?
After the procedure, small fragments of the stone will exit the body through the urine, and their release may take a few days or a week, causing mild pain. When the stone breaks into small pieces, it can cause minor damage to the walls of the urinary system, so it is normal to see some blood in the urine after the procedure. The doctor will recommend that you drink plenty of water during this time to facilitate the expulsion of these fragments. In addition, they may advise you to analyze the fragments to determine the type of stone you had. It is very important to know the type of stone that has formed to follow the best treatment and the appropriate measures to prevent another stone.
How to prevent recurrence?
The most important thing is to drink plenty of water to dilute the urine and go to the bathroom often to eliminate any potential crystals that may have formed. It is also very important to have a balanced diet and maintain regular physical activity.
Depending on the type of stone you had, you may need to monitor your urinary pH and ensure it stays within a range that prevents future colics (urinary pH between 5.5 and 6.2). You can find more information about urinary pH here. If you want to know more about the different types of stones and what you can do to prevent them, you can find information here.
If you do not know what type of stone you have after the procedure, the urologist may recommend food supplements such as Lit-Control pH Balance, which contains crystallization inhibitors to prevent the formation of new stones from fragments that have remained in your urinary system and antioxidants to help your body repair the injuries caused by ESWL.
