Robert G. Pugach, Medical Director
VOTED AMERICA'S TOP PHYSICIAN

Specializing in Minimally Invasive Treatment of Urologic Conditions
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KIDNEY STONES

Passing a kidney stone is usually an extremely painful experience. In fact, it is said that the only pain that is worse is childbirth! Kidney stones can develop at any age in both men and women. They range in size from a pinhead to ones that measure 4 inches or more in length and fill an entire kidney.  The most common type of kidney stone contains calcium.

When a kidney stone moves tries to move out of a kidney and travels down the ureter to the bladder, several things happen. The first is pain, which can range from mild (rare) to severe (more common). Pain typically is located in the middle or lower back area and may move to the side or lower abdomen.

The stone may cause a blockage to the flow of urine which results in kidney swelling that can lead to permanent kidney damage. There may be blood in your urine. Many patients experience nausea and vomiting. You could develop a urine infection which causes a fever.  If the pain is too intense, or if nausea and vomiting prevent you from drinking liquids, then you may need to go to a local hospital emergency department.

How do you diagnose a kidney stone?

There are a variety of methods to diagnose a kidney stone. Basic testing includes a physical examination, an ultrasound to help locate a stone or area of blockage and a urine analysis to look for blood or an infection. A CT scan or other x-rays that maybe needed to help find a stone.

What can you do if you develop a kidney stone?

Drinking extra liquids to help to flush the stone out and using pain medication, are two of the most effective and time-tested methods available. If the pain is too intense, or if nausea and vomiting prevent you from drinking liquids, then you may need to go to a local hospital emergency department.

Most small stones will pass spontaneously. Larger stones, or ones with rough, jagged edges, may become lodged in the ureter. If that happens, it may be necessary to have surgery. This is usually done through a very thin telescope that is inserted under anesthesia. The telescope is passed up the ureter to locate the stone. Then, using a laser probe, the stone can be fragmented and removed. A small piece of plastic tubing may be left in the ureter to allow it to heal. It can be removed 1 to 2 weeks later. Some ureteral stones, and most kidney stones, can be fragmented with shock waves. The fragments will then pass out in the urine over the next several weeks.

Does diet/nutrition help prevent kidney stones?

Perhaps the most important part of stone treatment is to determine why a stone develops. While most stones are made of calcium, there are many other substances and reasons for stone formation. Dr. Pugach, Medical Director of Pacific Coast Urology Medical Center, provides thorough, painless testing to determine why a stone develops so that he can recommend changes in you diet or medications to help you prevent making more stones in the future. In fact, we offer the services of a certified nutritional counselor to work with our kidney stone patients.

Dr. Pugach and PCUMC's certified clinical nutritionist recommend one basic step to help prevent the reoccurrence of kidney stones: drink more water! Try to drink 12 full glasses of water a day. It has been demonstrated that drinking adequate amounts of water helps to flush away the substances that form stones in the kidneys.  Also, we recommend that you limit your coffee, tea, and cola to 1 or 2 cups a day because the caffeine may cause you to lose fluid too quickly.  Further recommendations may include:

  • Cutting back on certain foods. For example, if you have a uric acid stone we may recommend that you limit your meat because meat breaks down to make uric acid.
  • If you form oxalate stones (calcium), we may recommend that you limit foods hight in oxalate; such as, spinach, beets, and chocolate.

This is another example of the comprehensive approach we take to ensure your urologic health – now and in the future!  Contact us for more information on our nutritional counseling services.

If you have a question about a service or procedure, please email us or call our office at (888) 735-4336.

UPDATES

Did you know that most stones can now be prevented? There are many new methods for treating stones that avoid surgery, such as lasers, and shock waves.

Dr. Pugach is skilled in these techniques. Most important, stones can be prevented with some very simple tests. At Pacific Coast Urology Medical Center, we can help!

CALL TODAY!

 

 

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Appointments with Dr. Robert Pugach, Medical Director of Pacific Coast Urology Medical Center, can be scheduled at our offices located in Los Alamitos, Huntington Beach, and Beverly Hills, California (CA).  Offices are freeway accessible for residents of Los Angeles and Orange Counties. 

3801 Katella Avenue
Suite 110,
Los Alamitos, CA 90720
562-594-0860
16843 Algonquin Street
Huntington Beach, CA 92649
888-735-4336
 

436 North Roxbury Drive Suite 117

Beverly Hills, CA 90210 888-735-4336

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Pacific Coast Urology Medical Center, under the medical direction of urologist, Dr. Robert Pugach has offices conveniently located in Los Angeles and Orange Counties, CA. The main office in Los Alamitos, CA (90720) has an advanced urodynamics laboratory and state-of-the-art procedure rooms which has a large flat screen television mounted on the ceiling! The main office is located on the campus of Los Alamitos Medical Center. Satellite office are located in Huntington Beach (Huntington Harbour), CA (92647) and Beverly Hills, CA (90210). Main office is located Close to the 405 and 605 Freeways with convenient access to Los Angeles and Orange County communities.

Residents of neighboring communities of Rossmoor, Lakewood, Cerritos, La Palma, Seal Beach, Cypress, Buena Park, Stanton, Anaheim, Westminster, Huntington Beach, Garden Grove, Costa Mesa, Santa Ana, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Tustin, Villa Park, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Carson, Hawaiian Gardens, Norwalk, Whittier, Los Angeles, South Bay communities  (Torrance, Palos Verde, Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach,) and other cities can conveniently schedule an appointment at
888-735-4336.
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Dr. Robert Pugach and his professional staff our on the forefront of new, innovative and minimally invasive treatments for your urologic conditions. If you are looking for advanced urologic diagnosis and treatment that is faster, less invasive and more convenient for your active lifestyle, Dr. Robert G. Pugach and his expert staff can help.

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