Doctor removes a massive 400-gram urinary bladder stone from a patient

A urinary bladder stone as huge as a fist, weighing 400 grams, grew inside a woman’s urinary bladder and tormented her for years.

According to Kuya Kim’s report on “Dapat Alam Mo” Monday, it took urologist Dr. Rogelio Varela Jr. some two hours of open surgery last August to remove the stone.  

“Massive yung stone niya and the only option that we have nung time na ‘yon since nagre-recurrent and umiihi ng dugo is to do an open surgery,” Varela said.

They suspect the stone had started growing inside 44-year-old Marilou Caguirhab some 10 years ago.

“Kapag umiihi po ako, nagtutuwad-tuwad po ako para lang lumabas yung ihi ko. Nanginginig po ako sa sakit. Tinitiis ko po ‘yon,” she said.

“Masakit po yung balakang ko, saka po yung puson ko po, para pong talo ko pa ang manganganak.”

According to the report, urinary bladder stones are minerals that form inside the kidney. 

“Ang ihi natin diba is liquid form and kadalasan dito, ‘pag tayo’y dehydrated, less ang fluid natin, less ang ihi natin, nagkakaroon tayo ng solutes,”the urologist explained. 

“Yung mga salt formation, yung mga protein formation, nagdidikit-dikit ito,” he added.

Valera said urinary bladder stones are common in Filipinos because of diet and dehydration. He said this can be avoided by drinking at least three liters of water daily and avoiding salty food.

While she's free from the urinary bladder stone, Marilou will still have to see the doctor yearly as there is still a chance for the stones to form again.

But this is definitely a start to recovery.

“Ang sarap sa pakiramdam pala umihi nang normal, yung walang nakabara na pakiramdam ko po ay may nakabara sa ihian ko na ang sakit sakit kapag umihi,” she said. — LA, GMA News