Question:
regarding kidney stones: does citrate contribute to them as much as carbontate?
— [Anonymous] (posted on December 12, 2001)
December 12, 2001
My boyfriend has had 7 kidney stones so far in his life and he is 43. The
last one was up in the kidney and was too big to pass and they had to break
it up with laser.He still has a few residual stones that are trying to make
thier way down
unsuccessfully. We asked the Urologist the same thing that you are asking
and his answer was that some people are just prone to making stones no
matter what they delete from their diet.So I guess it is best to check with
your urologist and see what he/she says about this.It is a very frustrating
situation when they keep recurring for no apparent reason.Good Luck<3
— garyzgurl
December 12, 2001
I had a stone last year, pre-WLS. My father and brother get them. The Dr.
told me there are 2 kinds of stones - a lab will analyze them and tell you
what kind. There are calcium kinds, which you can avoid by diet, and the
other kind (magnesu=ium has to do w/it?), which is just the unlucky kind.
They tend to be familial, sporadic, happen more in men and can't be reduced
by diet. Mine broke up, so there was nothing to analyze.
— M. A. B.
December 12, 2001
My urologist warned me to swtich from carbonate to citrate BEFORE the stone
formed, when it was just crystals. I didn't do it. Got my kidney stone for
Christmas that year. Smart, huh? If your urinalysis shows high oxalates,
then that is made worse with carbonate. Citrate is the "treatment of
choice", according to this urologist. She even said that RNY are more
prone to stones--why? Not enough water, and all those Tums they tell us to
take. She also warned me about osteoporosis? Was I listening? Nooo. Since
the carbonate doesn't go into the bones, it does go somewhere. It appears
to make the blood work look great and the kidneys gather the calcium.
Since FINALLY swtiching to citrate, I've had no more episodes of stones or
crystals.
— vitalady
December 13, 2001
I had Open RNY on 9/13/01 and had my first kidney stone on 10/15. My
urologist does not see a connection between WLS and kidney stones. He said
that he would rather I form another stone from taking calcium (I take
citrate) than risking osteoporosis. He also suggested drinking a glass
of lemonade a day. Something in the lemonade helps prevent stones from
forming!
— Debbi C.
December 14, 2001
The common recommendation for anyone with kidney stones, or who has a
tendency to form them, is to add lemonade (even Crystal Lite works) because
it has citric acid in it, which is a substance sometimes thought to be
lacking in people who form kidney stones. It would then stand to reason
that calcium citrate would be preferrable, and is preferable for WLS
patients anyway because of absorption.
— Jennifer P.
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