DEAR DR. GOTT: I was recently diagnosed with kidney stones. The pain was one of the worst I have ever experienced. I was treated with pain medication, hydrated with a saline solution and given a CT scan. One of the stones passed that morning and I was sent home. The follow up doctor visit revealed that I have three more stones in my kidney that I was told would eventually make their way down my urinary tract which will also be painful. I am now somewhat paranoid waiting for the new pain that will come at anytime. I have a visit scheduled in 6 weeks but in the meantime I was told to drink eight to 10 glasses of water to keep the acid content in my kidneys diluted and basically just wait. I do some traveling and the thought of this pain hitting me again while flying or in another state is agonizing.
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