So I am a 23 year old woman and am currently halfway through my Peace Corps service (meaning I have been here a little over a year and have just under a year left) I found out about 8 months ago that I have a very large number of kidney stones. I found myself in agonizing pain one morning and called my doctor and they came and got me and admitted me into a hospital overnight in the capital and then had me stay there and ran a bunch of tests for a week. Well, the ultrasound showed many many stones. However, they stopped hurting completely after about 2 days and I never passed anything (that I saw anyway - I suppose one may have broke up and passed unnoticed). They figure from th urinalysis that they are the calcium oxalate kind although they said they couldn’t be sure because I didnt pass a stone for them to analyze.

I had a follow-up ultrasound in April and they found either 10 or 12 (I forget now which) and then the ultrasound technician quit looking, said that was sufficient to prove they were still present, and sent me on my way. At that time my largest ones were about 7mm in diameter and I had several that were 5mm, 4mm, 3mm, etc… Well, that was the last I have heard about them… Obviously the Peace Corps is not going to pay for any sort of "unnecessary" procedure for me to get rid of them if they are not hurting me constantly or causing other problems but I feel kind of like a ticking time bomb. I know I have about a dozen (or more) little stones sitting in my kidneys (I have them in both) and I kind of question what my doctors back home would be suggesting at this point… I figure it is only a matter of time before one of them decides to move and I am once again in excruciating pain.

So, for my question: For any of you who are doctors or for any of you who are in or have been in my position, what are the normal recommendations at this point? My doctors have pretty much told me to drink at least 2 liters of water a day and avoid foods with high oxalate (which is virtually impossible where I am at because one of the main foods eaten here is tomatoes). That is all they have said though… Any help is welcome :)

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