Here is some very good advice on what causes them, and how to never have any again.

Funny thing is I only drink water 95% of the time. NO POP of any kind unless it's a diet sprite. ZERO caffine. I drink 6-9 bottles of water everyday !! But Dr says could be adrenal glands or 7 or 8 other things. I do eat a lot of chicken . So too much protein may be the culprit. After labs and 24 urine collection hope to know more. Just mowed the yard HOPING to make it move. First time I ever mowed with a bite stick in my mouth. LOL

Thanks Yukon !! My magnesium was low on my lab work last month !!

There are a couple different types of stones, my urologist made me do some lab work and test the stone too see, well I had to change all kinds of things in my diet, we was all good until he told me no potatoes... I said doc I can't do that. Also had me on some supplements, but I hate pills so ive stopped those as well. When I feel it coming on I just start chugging water.... Eventually it comes out or goes back to hiding. Last one I had got stuck and the pressure put a small hole in my kidney put me in the hospital for a little bit.

Yes there are bad signs of non passing, continued high pain, infection from non passing is a very large one, as backed up urine is quite nasty after a while.

I stopped all carbonated drinks, cold turkey best thing I ever did for this aliment, lowered my red meat intake, severely increased my water intake to the brink of to much then backed off a bit, that stopped them from a monthly event to once or twice every two to three years now, which is a blessing. I do take a lot of cranberry juice and natural lemonade which helps size wise.

I know right away now when one is passing as I get blood in my urine if larger than usual and also that immediate uncomfortable tagging of pain when they are moving, some times they move all day and I will take extra strength pain pill over the counter, however I know when large ones are moving due to the extra bit of pain they cause.

I've passed smooth ones as well as very cactus looking nightmares, large ones and small ones, never seems to be a model of size either.
Now I'm just used to it being part of my life, known lots of people who have had to have them blasted, and probably should have had that done a couple of times as well, cost and no insurance made my tolerance higher I suppose !!

Passed a 12mm one one my own. It’s at the taxidermy now. I’m getting it mounted. I feel your pain

Man, I'm so sorry for you. I know when I had them, It was lucky I couldn't crawl to my gun safe.

Dont blast them anymore "New Procedure " Stents and mine was 4mm and they lost it . Bad deal for me all around .They say blasting them is to hard on you .Took two days to get rid of mine including stent removal at home