Bladder stones - Symptoms, causes and treatment

Bladder stones or bladder calculi are stones that form from mineral deposits in the bladder. When bladder stones block the ducts urine, there will be complaints in the form of difficulty and pain when urinating, even bloody urine (hematuria).

Bladder stones can happen to anyone, including children. However, the disease is more common in men over the age of 52, and the risk of bladder stones increases if men have an enlarged prostate.

Symptoms of Bladder Stones

Bladder stones may not cause any complaints or symptoms. New symptoms appear when the stones that form block the urinary tract or injure the bladder wall.

Symptoms that can arise when this condition occurs include:

  • Pain and burning sensation when urinating
  • Bloody urine (hematuria)
  • Urine is more concentrated and dark
  • Difficult to urinate
  • Not smooth or halting when urinating
  • Discomfort or pain in the penis, if it occurs in men
  • Pain in the lower abdomen
  • Constantly feeling the urge to urinate, especially at night
  • Wetting the bed more often, if it occurs in children

When to go to the doctor

Immediately see a doctor when the symptoms mentioned above appear. Early examination is necessary to prevent complications due to bladder stones.

Regular checkups with your doctor are necessary if you are diagnosed with bladder stones. The doctor will monitor the progress of the disease and your body's response to treatment.

Causes of Bladder Stones

Bladder stones occur when the bladder cannot expel all the urine that is stored in it. This causes the minerals in the urine to settle, harden, crystallize, and become stones in the bladder.

Conditions that can trigger the formation of bladder stones are:

  • Inflammation due to bladder infection
  • Inflammation due to radiation therapy (radiotherapy) in the pelvic area
  • Enlargement of the prostate
  • Use of a catheter (urinary tube)
  • History of kidney stones or surgery on the bladder
  • Diverticula (pouches that form in the bladder wall)
  • Cystocele (descending bladder)
  • Diseases that affect the innervation of the bladder, such as diabetes, spinal cord injury, and stroke

In addition to the above conditions, frequent eating fatty, sweet, or high-salt foods, prolonged dehydration, and a lack of vitamin A or B can also trigger bladder stones.

Bladder Stone Diagnosis

In diagnosing bladder stones, the doctor will ask the patient's symptoms and ask about the patient's medical history. Next, the doctor will perform a physical examination, especially in the lower abdomen to see if the bladder is full or not.

To help diagnose bladder stones, the doctor will perform the following investigations:

  • Urine examination, to assess the content and components of urine, including to see the presence of blood, crystals, and leukocytes (white blood cells)
  • X-ray examination, to detect the presence of bladder stones
  • Pelvic ultrasound examination, to find bladder stones
  • CT scan examination, to find bladder stones that are smaller in size
  • Cystoscopy examination, to see conditions in the urinary tract

Bladder Stone Treatment

Treatment of bladder stones depends on the size of the stones. If the bladder stone is small, the doctor will usually advise the patient to drink more water. The goal is that the bladder stone can be carried out by the urine.

However, if the size of the stone is large enough, treatment steps that can be taken to remove bladder stones include:

  • Cystolitholapaxy

    In this procedure, the cystoscope is inserted into the patient's bladder. The cystoscope has been connected to a special instrument that can emit laser light or sound waves to crush the stone into small pieces.

  • Operation

    This procedure is done if the size of the bladder stone is too large and too hard, so that it cannot be removed by means of cystolitholapaxy.

Bladder Stone Complications

Bladder stones can cause serious complications if not treated immediately. Some of the complications that can occur are:

  • Blockage of the flow of urine due to bladder stones stuck in the urinary tract (urethra)
  • Urinary tract infection

Bladder Stone Prevention

Bladder stones can be prevented by:

  • Drink more water, which is 2-3 liters per day
  • Do not eat foods that are high in fat, sugar, or salt
  • Don't hold your pee often
  • Have regular check-ups with the doctor if you have diseases that can increase the risk of bladder stones, such as prostate enlargement, diabetes, and stroke