Living With a Ureteral Stent: Fluids, Discomfort and the Follow-Up Visits That Matter

The discharge nurse hands over a printed sheet, a small plastic card with a date on it, and one instruction repeated twice: do not lose this card. The card is the stent record. The date is when the tube has to come out. Everything else on the sheet is about how the next few weeks are going to feel.

Living with a ureteral stent is one of those experiences nobody warns you about until you are already in it. The procedure that placed it, usually to clear a kidney stone or relieve a blockage, gets all the attention. The stent, a soft tube no wider than a cooked spaghetti strand, is treated as an afterthought. Then you get home, sit down, stand up, and feel it.

This explainer is for that moment. It covers what the stent is doing, why it makes the bladder so restless, how much to drink, what pain and bleeding fall inside the expected range, and why the appointment on that little card matters more than almost anything else you do.

What is a ureteral stent and what is it actually doing in there?

A ureter is the muscular tube, roughly the length of a ruler, that carries urine from each kidney down to the bladder. A ureteral stent is a soft, flexible plastic tube placed inside that channel so urine can keep flowing when the ureter is blocked, swollen or healing. Most are shaped like the letter J at both ends, which is why clinicians call them double-J stents: one curl sits in the kidney’s collecting area, the other curl rests in the bladder, and the coils stop the tube from sliding.

Urine does not only travel through the hollow center. It also runs along the outside of the stent, between the tube and the ureter wall. That is why a stent can keep a kidney draining even when a stone fragment or scar tissue narrows the passage. The kidney stays decompressed, pressure inside it falls, and the risk of infection building up behind a blockage drops.

The stent is temporary by design. According to Cleveland Clinic, most are left in for a few days to a few weeks after a stone procedure, while stents placed for longer-term blockages are exchanged every three to six months because urine minerals gradually coat the plastic. A stent left far beyond its planned life can become encrusted with stone material and much harder to remove, which is the whole reason the follow-up date matters.

Two features explain most of the discomfort ahead. The bladder curl rubs the inner lining every time the bladder fills and empties, and the tube keeps the ureter’s one-way valve from closing completely, so urine can briefly reflux toward the kidney when you strain to urinate. Neither is dangerous. Both are noticeable.

How is a ureteral stent placed, and how does it come out?

Placement almost always happens at the end of another procedure. After a ureteroscopy, which is the passage of a narrow telescope up the urethra, through the bladder and into the ureter to break or remove a stone, the surgeon threads a guidewire up to the kidney, slides the stent over it, and withdraws the wire so the curls spring into shape. You are usually asleep or heavily sedated, and the stent adds only a few minutes. Position is confirmed with X-ray imaging, which is why you may notice a faint line on your post-procedure film.

Some stents are left with a fine thread, called a tether or string, that exits through the urethra and is taped to the skin. It lets the stent be pulled out in clinic, or occasionally at home under instruction, without a second scope. Others have no string and are removed by cystoscopy: a slim telescope passes into the bladder, grasps the lower curl, and draws the tube out in one smooth motion. Cleveland Clinic describes removal as typically taking only a few minutes, usually with local anesthetic gel rather than general anesthesia.

People often ask which is better, string or no string. The honest answer is that it depends on how long the stent needs to stay, how likely a second look at the ureter is, and the surgeon’s judgment about the risk of the string being accidentally tugged. A string cannot stay for weeks; a stringless stent can. That choice belongs to the treating team, and it is a fair question to raise before the procedure rather than after.

Expect a brief flare of urgency and a little blood after removal. The ureter has been holding a foreign object and reacts as it settles.

Who usually needs a ureteral stent, and who is asked to wait?

The most common reason is a kidney stone procedure. After a stone is fragmented, the ureter wall is bruised and swells, and a stent holds the channel open while fragments pass and the lining recovers. Mayo Clinic lists stent placement as a routine step after ureteroscopy and notes that stents are sometimes placed before a definitive procedure to relieve pain or infection when a stone is blocking urine flow.

Other situations include a ureter narrowed by scar tissue, pressure from a tumor or enlarged lymph nodes, blockage during pregnancy when the growing uterus compresses the ureter, and protection of the ureter after reconstructive surgery. In each case the logic is identical: keep urine moving so the kidney does not sit under pressure.

Who is usually asked to wait, or who does not receive one at all? Many people with a small stone and an uncomplicated ureteroscopy now go home without a stent. Guidelines from several urology bodies allow stentless discharge when the stone was removed cleanly, the ureter was not dilated or injured, and there is no infection or single kidney to protect. A stent is far more likely when the procedure was difficult, when there is an infection, when the person has one functioning kidney, or when a second procedure is planned.

People who have had a stent placed as a temporary measure for infection with obstruction are asked to wait before the actual stone treatment. The infection has to be treated first; operating on an infected, blocked kidney raises the risk of sepsis, a life-threatening whole-body response to infection. In that scenario the stent buys time, and the delay is the safe part of the plan rather than a failure of it.

Why living with a ureteral stent feels the way it does

The bladder is an unusually sensitive organ. Its lining detects stretch, chemicals and friction, and it reports all three to the brain as a need to urinate. A stent curl sitting against that lining is interpreted as a persistent low-grade irritant, which is why urgency and frequency top the symptom list. The tube also crosses the trigone, a triangular patch near the bladder neck dense with nerve endings, and irritation there produces a burning or pressure sensation that people sometimes mistake for infection.

Flank pain during urination has a different mechanism. Normally the junction where the ureter enters the bladder acts as a valve. With a stent holding it open, the pressure generated when you empty your bladder is transmitted straight back up to the kidney. The result is a brief ache or sharp twinge in the side that peaks as you finish urinating and fades within a minute or two. It feels alarming. It is expected.

How common is all this? In a study published in the Journal of Urology using a validated stent symptom questionnaire, more than 80 percent of people with an indwelling stent reported stent-related symptoms affecting daily life, including urinary symptoms, pain, and reduced work and general activity (Joshi et al., PubMed). If you feel the stent constantly, you are the majority, not an outlier.

Symptoms vary enormously between individuals. Stent length, how far the lower curl crosses the midline of the bladder, how active you are, and your own pain sensitivity all shift the experience. Two people with identical stents can describe very different weeks. Neither is imagining it, and neither should assume something has gone wrong simply because a friend had an easier time.

How much should you drink with a ureteral stent?

Fluid does three jobs while a stent is in. It keeps urine flowing freely through and around the tube, it dilutes blood so hematuria (the medical term for blood in the urine) looks less dramatic, and it reduces the chance of debris settling on the stent. It also flushes stone fragments and lowers the concentration of the minerals that form new stones.

There is no stent-specific fluid prescription in mainstream guidance. What exists is the stone-prevention target. Mayo Clinic recommends drinking enough to produce roughly 2 liters, a little more than 2 quarts, of urine a day for people prone to stones, and the NHS similarly advises drinking enough that urine stays pale and clear. For most people that works out to sipping steadily across the day rather than gulping large volumes at once.

Steady is the operative word. A big drink produces a big bladder fill, and a full bladder presses harder on the stent curl. Smaller, more frequent drinks keep urine pale without the urgency spikes. Many people find it helps to taper intake in the evening so the bladder is not waking them every hour, then catch up in the morning.

Water is the sensible default. Caffeine and alcohol are mild bladder irritants and diuretics, so they can amplify urgency; you do not have to eliminate them, but cutting back for the stent period is a reasonable experiment. Citrus in water is fine. Avoid the temptation to drink less to reduce bathroom trips. Concentrated urine irritates the bladder more, shows blood more vividly, and lets sediment accumulate on the tube.

Anyone with heart failure, advanced kidney disease or a fluid restriction from another condition should ask their clinician what target applies, because the general stone advice does not override those limits.

Blood in the urine with a stent: what is expected and what is not

Almost everyone with a stent sees some blood. The tube rubs the bladder lining and the ureter, both of which are richly supplied with tiny vessels, and a few drops of blood turn a whole bladder of urine pink. Cleveland Clinic lists blood in the urine among the most common stent effects, along with urgency, frequency and flank discomfort (Cleveland Clinic).

The pattern matters more than the color. Expected bleeding is intermittent. It is often worse after a long walk, a car ride on rough roads, sexual activity or a day on your feet, then settles overnight. It ranges from a faint rosé tint to something closer to cranberry juice, and it may bring an occasional small clot or stringy fragment, particularly in the first days after a stone procedure when the kidney is still shedding debris.

Unexpected bleeding looks different. Urine that stays dark red or brown continuously, clots large enough to make urination difficult or stop the stream, or bleeding accompanied by dizziness or a racing heart are signs to call the same day. So is a sudden switch from pale urine to heavy bleeding without any obvious physical trigger.

Two practical points. First, blood-thinning medicines change the picture; if you take one, the team should already know, and any decision about pausing or continuing it belongs to them, never to you alone. Second, fluid genuinely helps here. Drinking more dilutes the blood and reduces clot formation, which is why the advice to sip steadily comes up again and again.

Bleeding usually tapers within the first one to two weeks and often flares briefly again around removal. Persistent bleeding well beyond that timeline deserves a conversation, not because it necessarily signals a problem, but because the team may want to check stent position or look for another cause.

Ureteral stent pain when walking, and how to sit with a kidney stent

Is it normal to hurt when you walk? Yes, and there is a mechanical reason. A stent is anchored at both ends, but the body between those ends bends and twists with every step. The lower curl shifts against the bladder wall, the upper curl nudges the kidney’s collecting system, and with each jolt a small burst of signals reaches the pain centers. Activity also increases hematuria for the same reason. People frequently report that a brisk half-hour walk produces more discomfort and pinker urine than a day of light movement.

That does not mean stop moving. Gentle activity keeps the bowels working, lowers clot risk after anesthesia, and protects mood during a frustrating period. The realistic approach is to scale intensity down rather than to zero: shorter walks, flatter routes, and a pause on running, cycling, heavy lifting and high-impact exercise until the stent is out or the team says otherwise. Cleveland Clinic advises avoiding strenuous physical activity while the stent is in place and returning to normal activity once it is removed (Cleveland Clinic).

Sitting is the question people are almost embarrassed to ask. There is no medically proven best position, and no evidence that any posture damages the stent. What people describe is that sitting bolt upright on a hard surface, or sitting for hours without changing position, increases the sense of bladder pressure, presumably because the pelvic floor and bladder are compressed against the lower curl. Reclining slightly, using a cushion, shifting position every twenty to thirty minutes, and standing to stretch during long drives are the low-tech adjustments that many find helpful. Slumping is not harmful. Neither is lying on the stented side.

If a particular movement produces sudden sharp pain that does not settle within a few minutes, note it and mention it at follow-up.

Urgency, leaking and incontinence with a kidney stent: is it normal?

Leaking urine with a stent is common enough that it should be on every discharge sheet, and often it is not. The mechanism is urge incontinence: the irritated bladder contracts before you reach the toilet, and a small amount escapes. This is different from stress incontinence, the leak that happens with a cough or sneeze when the pelvic floor is weak. Stent-related leaking is almost always the urge type, it tends to happen when the bladder is fairly full, and it is triggered by the same friction that causes frequency.

For most people it is a small volume and a few episodes, worst in the first week and improving as the bladder adapts. Absorbent pads or liners make the period manageable and are not a sign of weakness. Timed voiding, meaning emptying the bladder on a schedule every two to three hours rather than waiting for the urge, keeps the volume lower and the curl under less pressure. Cutting back on caffeine, artificial sweeteners and carbonated drinks reduces the chemical component of irritation.

Nighttime is often the hardest stretch. The bladder fills while you sleep, urgency wakes you, and the walk to the bathroom triggers the flank twinge. Reducing fluids in the last two hours before bed, while keeping the daytime total up, is the standard compromise.

Leaking is expected. Leaking that is continuous and heavy, that started only after a fall or a hard tug on a stent string, or that comes with fever, is not, and warrants a call because it can signal that the stent has migrated downward. A stent that slips so the lower curl sits in the urethra can cause constant dribbling and a strong sensation of something being in the way; that needs prompt assessment rather than patience.

Is it normal to have trouble pooping after a ureteral stent?

Constipation after a stent procedure is common, and the stent itself is rarely the cause. The tube lives in the urinary tract, which does not share plumbing with the bowel. What does slow the bowel is the combination of anesthesia, which quiets gut movement for a day or more; opioid pain relievers, if any were prescribed, which reduce bowel contractions as a direct effect; less walking than usual; and, in many people, drinking less because every glass means another bathroom trip.

There is also a pain-avoidance loop. Straining on the toilet raises pressure in the pelvis, the bladder presses on the stent curl, and the flank twinge fires. People learn to avoid pushing, stool stays longer in the bowel and hardens, and the next attempt hurts more. Breaking the loop early is easier than fixing it late.

The evidence-based basics apply. Fiber from fruit, vegetables, legumes and whole grains adds bulk that keeps stool soft. Fluid, which you are increasing anyway for the stent, lets that fiber work; fiber without water does the opposite. Walking, even short and slow, stimulates the gut. Sitting on the toilet with feet raised on a small stool relaxes the pelvic floor and reduces the need to strain. MedlinePlus resources on kidney stones repeatedly emphasize fluid intake, which conveniently serves both organs.

If a stool softener or laxative seems needed, ask the prescribing clinician rather than guessing, especially if you were sent home with opioid pain medicine, because the two are often planned together. Do not stop a prescribed pain reliever on your own to fix constipation; discuss the trade-off with the team.

Constipation accompanied by severe abdominal swelling, vomiting, or no bowel movement for several days despite these measures should prompt a call.

Ureteral stent side effects at a glance: expected, worth mentioning, or call now

Most stent problems sort into three tiers. The first is ordinary stent life, uncomfortable but expected. The second is worth raising at your next contact or a routine phone call. The third needs same-day attention. The table below reflects the symptom patterns described by Cleveland Clinic and the infection warning signs in NHS guidance; your own team’s instructions override any general table.

Symptom	Usually expected	Mention at follow-up	Call the same day
Urgency and frequency	Frequent trips, small volumes, worse when active	Not improving after two weeks	Unable to pass urine at all
Blood in urine	Pink to red tint, comes and goes, worse after activity	Persisting beyond two weeks	Continuous dark bleeding, large clots, dizziness
Flank or side pain	Brief ache or twinge during or just after urination	Constant dull ache that limits daily life	Severe pain not relieved by prescribed medicine, or with fever
Burning when urinating	Mild, without fever or cloudy urine	Getting worse rather than better	Burning plus fever, chills, cloudy or foul-smelling urine
Leaking urine	Small urge leaks, mostly when bladder is full	Frequent leaks disrupting sleep or work	Constant dribbling after a fall or tug on the string
Fever	Not expected	Low-grade and brief, resolved within a day	Temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or above, shaking chills

One symptom deserves a note of its own. A stent that has partially slipped can cause a sudden change in the pattern of symptoms, often a jump in urgency, a new sensation of something in the urethra, or a change in the character of the flank pain. Any abrupt change from the pattern you have grown used to is worth a call, even if no single item on the table is dramatic.

Medicines clinicians sometimes use for stent discomfort, and how they work

Some people manage a stent with nothing more than fluids, pacing and an over-the-counter pain reliever chosen with their clinician. Others are prescribed one or two medicines specifically aimed at stent symptoms. Knowing the classes and mechanisms helps you understand what each is for, though the decision to use, continue or stop any of them belongs to the prescriber.

Alpha-blockers are medicines originally developed for blood pressure and prostate symptoms. They relax smooth muscle in the lower ureter and bladder neck, reducing the spasms that produce flank twinges and the sense of incomplete emptying. Urology guidelines from several bodies list alpha-blockers as an evidence-supported option for reducing stent-related symptoms, and Mayo Clinic notes the same class is used to help stones pass by relaxing ureteral muscle (Mayo Clinic). The common side effects are dizziness on standing and, in some people, changes in ejaculation. They are typically used for the duration of the stent and stopped afterward.

Anticholinergic medicines and a related newer class calm the bladder’s involuntary contractions, which targets urgency, frequency and urge leaking. Their trade-offs include dry mouth and, notably, constipation, which is one more reason bowel habits need watching. Older adults are sometimes steered away from anticholinergics because of effects on memory and alertness; the prescriber weighs that.

Anti-inflammatory pain relievers reduce the swelling in the ureter and the prostaglandin signals that drive bladder irritation. They are not suitable for everyone, particularly people with reduced kidney function, stomach ulcers or certain heart conditions, so the choice is individualized. Bladder analgesics that numb the urinary tract lining exist too and can turn urine orange.

Antibiotics are generally reserved for confirmed or strongly suspected infection rather than given routinely for the whole stent period, though practice varies with individual risk. If you are unsure why a medicine was prescribed, ask.

What the days and weeks with a ureteral stent usually look like

The first 48 hours are typically the roughest. Anesthesia is wearing off, the ureter is freshly bruised, stone fragments are still moving, and the bladder has not yet adapted to its new tenant. Expect the fullest version of every symptom on the list: frequent trips, visible blood, flank twinges with each void, and a general sense that something is not right. Rest, fluids and whatever pain plan the team gave you are the tools.

Days three through seven usually bring a noticeable step down. Bleeding fades to occasional pinkness, urgency settles into a pattern you can plan around, and many people return to desk work or light routines. This is also the stretch when people overdo it on the first good day and pay for it with a flare of blood and pain the next morning. Activity that produces a flare is not harmful, just informative.

Week two and beyond is the adaptation phase. The bladder lining becomes less reactive to the curl, and symptoms plateau at a lower, if not zero, level. Cleveland Clinic describes the typical stent duration after a stone procedure as a few days to a few weeks (Cleveland Clinic), so for most people the finish line is in sight during this phase. Those with longer-term stents for narrowing or external pressure usually find the plateau becomes their new normal until the scheduled exchange.

Around removal, expect a short encore. A day or two of urgency, a little fresh blood and a brief flank ache as the ureter closes down are common. Most people describe relief within a few days, and Cleveland Clinic notes that symptoms typically resolve after removal.

These are ranges, not schedules. Recovery that runs slower than this sketch is not a failure. Recovery that reverses direction, with symptoms suddenly worse after a period of improvement, is the pattern worth reporting.

Ureteral stent removal and the follow-up visits that matter most

Every stent comes with a deadline. That is not bureaucracy. Urine carries dissolved minerals that crystallize on plastic, and a stent left months past its planned life can become so coated that it acts like a stone itself, sometimes requiring a far larger procedure to extract. Urologists refer to this as a forgotten or retained stent, and it remains one of the most preventable complications in the field. Cleveland Clinic states plainly that stents should not be left in longer than recommended and that long-term stents need exchange every three to six months (Cleveland Clinic).

The follow-up visits that matter usually fall into a small number of categories. The first is the removal or exchange itself, whether by string in clinic or by cystoscopy. The second is imaging: an ultrasound, X-ray or CT after removal to confirm that the kidney is draining, that no fragments remain, and that swelling in the kidney, known as hydronephrosis, has resolved. The third, for stone formers, is a metabolic review, sometimes with a 24-hour urine collection and stone analysis, to work out why the stone formed and how to lower the odds of another. Mayo Clinic describes this preventive workup as part of standard stone care.

Practical protection against the forgotten stent is simple. Keep the stent card or record where you can find it, put the removal date in a phone calendar with a reminder a week ahead, and if life intervenes and you miss the appointment, call to rebook rather than assuming it can wait. If you move or change clinicians while a stent is in, tell the new team on the first visit.

Removal itself is quick. Most people describe a strange pulling sensation and a brief sting rather than pain. Ask beforehand whether you will need someone to drive you home; for clinic removal under local gel, usually you will not.

What people often get wrong about living with a ureteral stent

The first misconception is that pain means the stent has moved or failed. In the overwhelming majority of cases, discomfort is the stent working exactly as designed while the bladder objects. Position problems announce themselves with a change in pattern, not with the ordinary ache that has been there since day one.

The second is that burning when urinating equals infection. Stent friction on the bladder neck produces burning without any bacteria involved. Infection tends to bring fever, cloudy or foul-smelling urine, and a general sense of being unwell, as outlined in NHS guidance on urinary tract infections. Burning alone, especially if stable, is more often mechanical. That said, distinguishing the two sometimes needs a urine test, and asking for one is reasonable.

The third is that drinking less will calm the bladder. The reverse is true. Concentrated urine is more irritating, shows blood more vividly and encourages sediment on the tube.

The fourth is that sexual activity is off limits. There is no medical prohibition for a stringless stent once you feel comfortable, though it may increase hematuria and urgency briefly afterward. With a string in place, ask the team, since the thread can be dislodged.

The fifth is that the stent can be felt from outside or is visible. It cannot and is not. What people feel is bladder and ureter irritation, not the tube pressing against the skin.

The sixth, and the most consequential, is that a stent that stopped bothering you can be left in until it is convenient. Symptoms fading is adaptation, not permission. The deadline on the card stands regardless of how you feel.

A final one: that everyone with a stent suffers equally. The evidence shows a wide spread, and a rough week is not a sign that anything was done badly.

Questions to ask your care team before you go home with a stent

The best time to ask is before discharge, while the person who placed the stent is still in front of you. If that moment has passed, most of these can be asked at a follow-up call. Write the answers on the same sheet as your stent record.

• Why do I have a stent, and what will decide when it comes out?
• What is the planned removal or exchange date, and who is responsible for booking it?
• Does my stent have a string? If so, how do I protect it, and who will remove it?
• How will the stent be removed: in clinic with gel, or under anesthesia?
• What imaging or tests are planned after removal to confirm the kidney is draining?
• Which of my symptoms should I treat as expected, and which should trigger a call?
• What is my fluid target, given any other conditions I have?
• Which medicines have been prescribed specifically for stent symptoms, what does each do, and when should I stop them?
• Should I continue, pause or adjust any blood thinner or other regular medicine while the stent is in? (Follow the team’s answer, not the internet.)
• What activities should I avoid, and for how long?
• Can I have sex with the stent in place?
• If I develop a fever, whom do I call, and what happens after hours?
• For stone formers: will I have a metabolic evaluation, and is my stone being analyzed?
• Is there anything about my anatomy or my procedure that makes my stent different from the general description?

A clear answer to the second question is the single most protective thing on this list. A stent with a named person and a booked date almost never becomes a forgotten stent. If the answer is vague, ask again until it is not.

When to call your doctor: red-flag signs with a ureteral stent

Most stent symptoms are uncomfortable rather than dangerous, and most days you will simply get on with them. A short list of signs, though, should not wait for the next scheduled appointment. Call your treating team the same day, or seek urgent care if you cannot reach them, for any of the following.

Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, shaking chills, or feeling suddenly and severely unwell. A kidney with a stent in it is still vulnerable to infection, and infection behind any degree of obstruction can progress quickly to sepsis. The NHS lists fever, chills, pain in the side or back, and confusion among the signs that a urinary infection may have reached the kidneys or beyond.

Pain in the side or back that is severe, escalating, or not controlled by the plan you were given. Expected flank pain is brief and tied to urination. Constant severe pain can mean the stent has shifted or blocked.

Inability to pass urine, or passing only a few drops despite a strong urge, particularly with lower abdominal swelling. Continuous heavy bleeding, large clots, or bleeding with lightheadedness or a fast heartbeat. Nausea and vomiting that stop you keeping fluids down, since dehydration makes every other stent problem worse.

Any sign the stent has moved: a new sensation of something in the urethra, sudden constant dribbling, or the stent or a length of string visible at the opening. Do not pull on it. If a string has come partly out, tape it loosely to the skin and call.

And the quiet emergency: realizing your removal date has passed and no appointment is booked. That is a call to make today, not next month. The treating team makes every decision about what happens next; your job is to make sure they have the information in time.

Frequently asked questions

Is it normal to have trouble pooping after having a ureteral stent?

Yes, constipation is common in the first week or two, and the stent itself is rarely the cause. Anesthesia slows the gut, opioid pain relievers reduce bowel contractions, people move less and often drink less, and the fear of straining because it triggers flank pain compounds the problem. Fiber, the fluid you are already increasing, gentle walking and raising your feet on the toilet help. Ask your prescriber about a softener rather than stopping pain medicine on your own.

How do you sit with a kidney stent?

There is no proven best position and no posture that harms the stent. Many people find that sitting upright on a hard surface for long stretches increases bladder pressure against the lower curl, so reclining slightly, using a cushion, shifting position every twenty to thirty minutes and standing to stretch on long drives tend to feel better. Lying on the stented side is fine. Any position that causes sharp pain lasting more than a few minutes is worth mentioning at follow-up.

Is it normal to experience incontinence after having a kidney stent?

Small urge leaks are common with a stent because the irritated bladder contracts before you reach the toilet. It is usually worst in the first week and improves as the bladder adapts. Timed voiding every two to three hours, cutting back on caffeine and pads for the stent period make it manageable. Constant heavy dribbling, especially after a fall or a tug on a stent string, is different and should prompt a same-day call, since it can signal the stent has slipped.

Is it normal to experience ureteral stent pain when walking?

Yes. The stent is anchored at both ends, and every step shifts the curls against the bladder and kidney lining, which produces pain and often more blood in the urine. Gentle walking is still encouraged because it helps bowels, circulation and mood; the practical adjustment is shorter, flatter walks and a pause on running, cycling and heavy lifting until removal or until your team clears you. Sudden severe pain that does not settle is the version to report.

How long does a ureteral stent usually stay in?

After a kidney stone procedure, a stent is typically left for a few days to a few weeks, according to Cleveland Clinic. Stents placed for longer-term blockage from scarring or external pressure are exchanged roughly every three to six months because urine minerals coat the plastic. The exact duration is set by your treating team based on why the stent was placed, and the removal or exchange date should be written down and booked before you leave.

What does ureteral stent removal feel like?

Most people describe a strange pulling sensation and a brief sting rather than real pain. Stents with a string are drawn out in clinic in seconds; stringless stents are removed by cystoscopy, a slim telescope passed into the bladder under local anesthetic gel, which usually takes only a few minutes. Expect a day or two of urgency, a little fresh blood and a brief flank ache afterward as the ureter settles, with most symptoms easing within a few days.

What are the most common kidney stent side effects?

The most common are urinary urgency and frequency, blood in the urine that comes and goes, a brief flank ache during or just after urination, mild burning, and small urge leaks. A validated study found more than 80 percent of people with a stent reported symptoms affecting daily life. Fever, severe uncontrolled pain, inability to urinate and continuous heavy bleeding are not typical side effects and should prompt a same-day call to your treating team.

How much water should I drink with a ureteral stent?

There is no stent-specific target, but stone-prevention guidance from Mayo Clinic and the NHS is a sensible guide: enough fluid to produce roughly 2 liters of pale, clear urine a day, sipped steadily rather than in large gulps that fill the bladder fast. Tapering intake in the evening can reduce nighttime trips. People with heart failure, advanced kidney disease or a prescribed fluid restriction should ask their clinician what target applies to them.

Can I have sex with a ureteral stent?

For a stringless stent there is no medical prohibition once you feel comfortable, though it may briefly increase blood in the urine and urgency afterward. If your stent has a string attached, ask your team first, because the thread can be accidentally pulled and dislodge the stent. Any sharp new pain, heavy bleeding or fever after sexual activity should be reported rather than waited out.

What happens if a ureteral stent is left in too long?

Urine minerals gradually crystallize on the plastic, and a stent left months past its planned date can become encrusted like a stone, sometimes blocking the very kidney it was meant to drain and requiring a much larger procedure to remove. Urologists call this a forgotten or retained stent, and it is one of the most preventable complications in the field. If your removal date has passed without an appointment, call your team today to rebook.

References

• NHS: Kidney stones: Treatment
• NHS: Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• MedlinePlus: Kidney Stones

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a qualified doctor about your individual situation.