Kidney stones, also known as renal calculi, are tough lumps made of minerals and salts that develop in your kidneys. They come in various sizes, shapes, and colors. Checking them out when you pee can give clues about what they’re made of and why they came about.
What Do Kidney Stones Look Like in the Toilet?
When kidney stones come out of your body and into the toilet, they can look different depending on what they’re made of. Here’s what you might see:
- Calcium Oxalate Stones: These are the most common. They’re usually small and hard, and they look yellow or brown, kind of like gravel or sand.
- Uric Acid Stones: These form when you have too much uric acid in your pee. They’re reddish-brown and can be small or big. They might look smooth and yellowish in the toilet.
- Struvite Stones: These often happen with urinary infections. They can get really big and fill up your kidney. In the toilet, they might look big, smooth, and white or off-white.
- Cystine Stones: These are rare and happen because of a genetic problem. They’re usually yellowish and can be big and not a regular shape.
- Other Stones: There are other kinds of stones, too, like ones with ammonium. They can be weird shapes and come in different colors like white, yellow, or brown.
Composition of Kidney Stones
Kidney stones can be made of different minerals and substances, each with its own unique appearance. The main types are:
- Calcium oxalate stones: These are the most common and are usually yellow or brown. They form from calcium oxalate crystals when there’s too much calcium or oxalate in urine.
- Struvite stones: These are linked to urinary tract infections and are often large and smooth, with a white or tan color. They’re made of magnesium ammonium phosphate.
- Uric acid stones: These form when there’s too much uric acid in urine and can be yellow or brown crystals. They’re often smooth and round.
- Cystine stones: These are rare and made of the amino acid cystine. They appear as smooth, yellow crystals.
Causes of Kidney Stones
Kidney stones can form due to various reasons, including:
- Dehydration: Not drinking enough water can lead to concentrated urine, raising the risk of kidney stone formation.
- Diet: Eating foods high in oxalate, sodium, or protein can increase the chances of kidney stones developing.
- Genetics: Having a family history of kidney stones can raise the likelihood of developing them.
- Medical conditions: Conditions like urinary tract infections, gout, and inflammatory bowel disease can increase the risk of kidney stones.
Here’s a table outlining the causes of kidney stones, including the type of stone, underlying causes, risk factors, and dietary influences:
| Type of Kidney Stone | Underlying Causes | Risk Factors | Dietary Influences |
| Calcium Oxalate Stones | – High levels of calcium or oxalate in the urine | – Family history of kidney stones | – High intake of oxalate-rich foods (e.g., spinach, nuts) |
| – Hyperparathyroidism | – Dehydration | – Excessive consumption of sodium and sugar | |
| – Excessive vitamin D | – Obesity | ||
| – High intake of animal protein | |||
| Calcium Phosphate Stones | – High levels of calcium and phosphate in the urine | – Similar to calcium oxalate stones | – Excessive consumption of dairy products |
| – Renal tubular acidosis | – Chronic urinary tract infections | – High intake of phosphate-rich foods (e.g., colas, processed foods) | |
| – Hyperparathyroidism | |||
| Uric Acid Stones | – High uric acid levels | – Family history of kidney stones | – High intake of purine-rich foods (e.g., red meat, shellfish) |
| – Gout | – High alcohol intake | – Excessive consumption of alcohol | |
| – Metabolic syndrome | – Diabetes | ||
| – Dehydration | |||
| Struvite Stones | – Chronic urinary tract infections | – Frequent urinary tract infections | – No specific dietary influence, but adequate hydration is crucial to prevent UTIs and stone formation |
| – Bacteria that produce urease (e.g., Proteus, Klebsiella) | – Catheter use | ||
| – Neurogenic bladder disorders | |||
| Cystine Stones | – Genetic disorder (Cystinuria) leading to excess cystine in the urine | – Family history of cystinuria | – Low salt and low animal protein diet recommended to reduce cystine levels in the urine |
| – Chronic dehydration | |||
| Mixed Stones | – Combination of factors leading to multiple types of stones (e.g., calcium oxalate + uric acid) | – Combined risk factors from above | – Dietary influences based on the predominant stone type |
| – Certain medications (e.g., topiramate, triamterene) |
Symptoms of Kidney Stones
While how they look can give hints, the true warning signs of kidney stones are the symptoms you feel. The following are some to be aware of:
- Intense Pain: Feels like a sharp, crampy ache in your lower back or belly, and it can spread to your groin.
- Painful Peeing: It hurts or burns when you pee, and you might have trouble starting.
- Blood in Pee: Your pee might look pink, red, or brown because of blood.
- Peeing Often: You feel like you need to pee a lot, even if you don’t pee much.
- Feeling Sick: You might feel like throwing up because of the bad pain or if the stone blocks your pee.
Preventing Kidney Stones from Coming Back
Once you’ve passed a kidney stone, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of forming new ones. Here are some tips:
- Drink More Fluids: Try to drink eight glasses of water or other fluids every day to make your pee less concentrated and lower your chances of getting more stones.
- Watch Your Diet: Depending on the kind of stone you had, your doctor might suggest eating less foods with oxalates (like spinach, beets, and nuts) or purines (like red meat and organ meats).
- Talk to Your Doctor: Ask your doctor about supplements such as potassium citrate that can help stop certain types of stones from forming.
In conclusion, kidney stones can come in different sizes, shapes, and colors, and looking at them when you pee can tell you what they’re made of and why they happened. If you think you have kidney stones or have symptoms, it’s crucial to see a doctor for the right diagnosis and treatment. Drinking enough water and eating healthy can also stop kidney stones from forming again.
