Brits should be aware of an 'old man affliction' that now affects over one in 10 of us.
Kidney stones are an often silent problem that left one Brit being rushed to hospital for surgery after she shocked doctors with the state of her kidney.
Donna, 33, from Suffolk first showed symptoms of kidney problems 13 years ago.
She experienced an excruciating pain under her ribs that became so bad she was being physically sick.
At first she found herself repeatedly dismissed by doctors, as they couldn’t find anything wrong.
But eventually they came across the 2cm kidney stone surrounded by a severe infection, and had to surgically remove it, The Guardian reported.
Whilst normally associated with older men, one in 10 Brits are expected to get a kidney stone in their lifetime with the condition increasingly found in younger people.
And to make things worse, about half of sufferers will have them again within five years.
Things didn’t improve for Donna post-surgery and her kidney collapsed after it was left so weak, and it had to be reconstructed.
“After the operation I was rushed back into hospital with a blood clot and fever, and urine was leaking into my abdomen. I was so ill I nearly died,” the outlet reported.
Kidney stones are formed from waste deposits in the blood forming crystals that collect in the organ.
Over time they can build up into hard lumps.
This can happen if you don’t drink enough, or have a medical condition which raises the levels of some substances in your urine, or if you’re on some types of medication.
Doctors told Donna her undetected stone was likely caused by years of severe untreated urinary tract infections.
They can often cause excruciating pain when they try to pass and can also lead to kidney infections - or even the kidney failing to function properly.
Recent research has indicated that cases are on the rise in all age groups.
Smaller kidney stones will often just be peed out without any trouble, but of larger stones include:
- Pain in the side of your tummy (abdomen)
- Severe pain that comes and goes
- Feeling sick or vomiting
UTIs are a common cause of kidney stones as they are more alkaline so create the perfect environment for them to form.
Other common types of kidney stone include uric acid stones and calcium stones - with both affected by the diet.
