Kidney stones again 2 months after lithotripsy — why did they come back?
I had kidney stones on both sides — one 13 mm stone and two 3–4 mm stones in my left kidney, and one 3–4 mm stone in my right kidney.
I underwent lithotripsy for my left kidney about two months ago, during which the doctor said the 13 mm stone and the other smaller stones were removed. I also had the stent removed about a month ago.
Recently, during my follow-up, my doctor asked me to get another CT scan. The scan showed that I still have three stones in my left kidney — approximately 5 mm, 4 mm, and 2 mm. It also says that the 5 mm stone is causing mild blockage, resulting in mild hydronephrosis.
My doctor has prescribed Silodosin 8 mg once at night for 15 days, along with a syrup containing potassium citrate, magnesium citrate, and vitamin B6, to be taken three times a day after food.
What is really concerning and frustrating me is how these stones are still present or have seemingly reappeared just two months after the procedure. I genuinely thought the treatment was over and that I could finally move on from this.
I want to understand:
Why did these stones come back or remain even after lithotripsy?
Is it possible that some of the stones were not completely removed during the procedure?
What should I do now to help these stones pass naturally?
How long can I realistically expect it to take for the 5 mm, 4 mm, and 2 mm stones to clear?
Since one of them is causing mild hydronephrosis, how concerning is this, and when should I consider further intervention?
What can I do to prevent this from happening again?
I’m honestly quite frustrated because after going through lithotripsy and stent removal, I was under the impression that the problem had finally been resolved. Finding more stones on the follow-up CT has been really disappointing and stressful.