Preparing for an appointment

For treatment of kidney stones associated with hyperoxaluria, you may start by seeing your family doctor. If you have large, painful kidney stones or stones that are damaging your kidneys, your doctor may refer you to a doctor who specializes in treating problems in the urinary tract (urologist or nephrologist).

What you can do

To prepare for your appointment:

• Ask if there's anything you need to do before your appointment, such as limit your diet.
• Write down your symptoms, including any that may seem unrelated to your condition.
• Keep track of how much you drink and urinate during a 24-hour period.
• Make a list of all medications, vitamins or other supplements that you take.
• Take a family member or friend along, if possible, to help you remember what you discuss with your doctor.
• Write down questions to ask your doctor.

For hyperoxaluria, some basic questions include:

• What's the likely cause of my symptoms?
• Are there any other possible causes?
• What kinds of tests might I need?
• Do I have kidney stones?
• What type of kidney stones do I have?
• Where are the kidney stones located? How big are they?
• What are the possible treatments for my condition?
• How can I prevent kidney stones in the future?
• I have other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
• Do I need to plan for follow-up visits?
• Do you have any educational materials that I can take with me? What websites do you recommend?

Besides the questions you prepare in advance, don't hesitate to ask other questions during your appointment as they occur to you.

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor may ask questions such as:

• When did you first notice your symptoms?
• Do your symptoms happen all the time or only once in a while?
• How severe are your symptoms?
• Does anything seem to help ease your symptoms?
• Does anything seem to make your symptoms worse?
• Has anyone else in your family had kidney stones?