Having kidney problems, everyone blaming homebrew

So for the past few weeks I've been having pain in my kidney. After several tests, no one can determine quite what it is, but it may be an embedded kidney stone.

What was surprising is that everyone (who isn't a doctor) is blaming this on my homebrewing. When I first told my parents about it, they immediately pointed the finger at "that beer you make!!". Now as much as I love my folks, they're not exactly cultured people and they know nothing about beer. I had to try and convince them time and time again that there's no germs that can hurt you in beer, and how crazy you're required to be with sanitation. My co-workers had a similar response (with less accusations) asking if it's homebrew that caused my kidney issues.

So I gave in and asked my doctor, and they politely told me homebrew isn't a culprit whatsoever, especially considering how little beer I actually drink weekly. Has anyone else ever had someone blame homebrew for their health issues?

no can't say that yet but the SWMBO says beer is all I talk about lately....I have had kidney stones and man get them to deal with it ASAP, if that sucker(s) move toward coming down the old drain pipe you'll want to be dead.

brewagentjay said:

no can't say that yet but the SWMBO says beer is all I talk about lately....I have had kidney stones and man get them to deal with it ASAP, if that sucker(s) move toward coming down the old drain pipe you'll want to be dead.

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Man do you speak the truth but not as much pain as when they go in and play asteroids with the stones.


I need a beer after thinking about that.

BlueSunshine I feel for you. Good luck

They went in and played with them but I was knocked out I went to sleep after mr count to 10 left and woke up feeling like somone ran over my mid section with a tractor trailer....no joke but oh the drugs I had for a while..... They had to use some sort of ultra sound or something to break them up into dust in order for them to pass....

Still going to the ER that day they moved and logged in the drainage pipes was so bad yes I do need a beer or two now.....It took 3 shots to get me to be in happy land at the ER but what ever that stuff was I want more cause I swear I saw pink elephants after teh 3rd shot kicked in

BlueSunshine said:

What was surprising is that everyone (who isn't a doctor) is blaming this on my homebrewing.

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Haha- you know what's funny? MILK (in people who are susceptible to kidney stones) causes kidney stones. It's the calcium content. So, just politely tell them you drink way too much milk. That's actually pretty rare- but it's more much plausible than it being from homebrew!

I have no health problems, so many people are actually starting to ask me if homebrewing is healthy.

When I told my supervisor I was retiring this year, though, she informed me that if I retired I would just brew more and become an alcoholic, so she was denying my request for retirement since she had my best interests at heart. She didn't want to see me be forced into alcoholism due to lack of work. (Plus, then I'd stop bringing her beer).

After I got done laughing, she offered me a pretty good package to stay. So, I've delayed my retirement for a while. Brewdays will continue to be on Wednesdays.

So, aside from gaining a few pounds this winter, no one has blamed my homebrewing on any health problems.

I am a doctor.

I am not a Urologist (specialist in Kidney Problems)

Kidney stones can be caused by MANY things. Dehydration is probably #1. Drinking alcohol can result in dehydration - it affects how kidneys concentrate urine.

Any alcohol consumption can be a risk factor that increases "renal calculi" or kidney stones in laymans terms.

I would not equate homebrew consumption to a causative relationship to your kidney stones. It may be contributory, but would be difficult to prove it is causative.

Analysis of the actual stones themselves, should you be able to recover one, would be helpful in determining how to prevent them.

Some folks have coexisting medical conditions that are contributory to developing Kidney Stones. Hereditary factors, dietary factors, coexisting medical conditions, medications are all considerations.

My advice is to drink plenty of water and avoid dehydration, and ask your urologist if there are any dietary changes that would reduce formation of stones. Try to obtain a stone for analysis if you can.

Good Luck.

TD

Tell your parents the doctor said the home brew saved your life because it flushes the kidneys.

Seriously, it is human nature to 'know'. If we don't know we simply make it up to fill in the gap. Your parents feel better thinking it is the home brew because that is something that can be controlled.

Trust the Doc, I was told this stuff and it turns out I can thank my parents and theirs and so as mine are Hereditary issue.

My yearly bout with one or two kidneystones is largely hereditary also, it does not help matters that it is 110° at my toolbox all summer long here, I enjoy 9-10 hours of that heat every day. The first stone felt like I got stabbed with a long wooden stake, being slowly pushed through you from your lower back towards the front. However, after passing 3-4mm stones for the past 6 years I dont even bother taking advil, let alone percocet. I guess I am used to the pain by now.

azscoob said:

My yearly bout with one or two kidneystones is largely hereditary also, it does not help matters that it is 110° at my toolbox all summer long here, I enjoy 9-10 hours of that heat every day. The first stone felt like I got stabbed with a long wooden stake, being slowly pushed through you from your lower back towards the front. However, after passing 3-4mm stones for the past 6 years I dont even bother taking advil, let alone percocet. I guess I am used to the pain by now.

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You sir are a bigger man than me

azscoob said:

My yearly bout with one or two kidneystones is largely hereditary also, it does not help matters that it is 110° at my toolbox all summer long here, I enjoy 9-10 hours of that heat every day. The first stone felt like I got stabbed with a long wooden stake, being slowly pushed through you from your lower back towards the front. However, after passing 3-4mm stones for the past 6 years I dont even bother taking advil, let alone percocet. I guess I am used to the pain by now.

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I was the same for a 5 year stretch. I would pass 1-2 two stones a year. Then, it went away and I haven't had one now going on 6 years.

I had been trying to pass a stone for a week by popping pain pills and drinking water. It just wasn't working. I went on the the web and found a found a natural remedy that worked for me. When you feel a stone coming on, mix 3 oz of olive oil and 3 oz of lemon juice and drink it down. Then follow it up with 3-4 16oz glasses of water. I passed the stone within 2 hours of taking this and when I tried to pick it out of the screen I was using to catch it, it turned to mush in my fingers. I haven't had a problem since.

The olive oil and lemon juice does taste like crap on the way down but, it sure beat the pain of passing a stone.

That reminds me of the time, when I was younger, that my father yelled at me for eating too much mustard. He said it would rot my stomach out. I asked him about all those Mexicans that eat spicy food. "Why do you think they only live to 25?" was his answer.

A friend of mine has had them on and off for years. I finally got one about two years ago and it made me sweat and double up in bed and want to cry. When it finally passed, about 24 hours later (thank God), I managed to collect it in a filter. It was TINY. I mean, compared to the size of some others. I can't even imagine what that must feel like.

I had it analyzed and it was due to calcium. The doc said they are caused by different things and that drinking lots of water is one main way to avoid them.

That friend passed a 6mm stone. He also had one side blasted and they didn't tell him that his next passing was going to look like cherry jelly. But he said the blasting was well worth the chance of getting more stones any time soon.

I had kidney stones and the 'blasting" operation wasn't very paintful. IIRC.

But, a urinary blockage (radiation scar tissue growth) three months ago, was a BIG deal... and man, the pain level was rising and rising. The ER session to open the passage and drain-out was something. Relief, finally!

I have great respect for nurses. Be nice to them.

We managed to get a minor fender-bender (hello rate hike!) on the way there. Darn, is body work expensive on a BMW (the other party's).

Some painful stories here.

At least we know it's not from homebrew!

I've had a few kidney stones and the pain associated with them has been extremely inconsistent. First one was bad but not even close to second one. Second had the paramedics show up as I was writhing on the floor. I've had a couple since then that didn't require anything.

Had my only kidney stone last year. Sat in the ER for 5 hours, doubled over in pain waiting to get in to see somebody. Just my luck, about 5 minutes before my name was called, the pain dropped off immediately and considerably. By the time I actually met with a doctor I felt pretty much fine (just a little sore). $1500 bill to basically give a vial of blood, a urine sample and tell the doc my pain was gone. Thankfully insurance only left me on the hook for about $90 of that cost.

As for homebrew related health issues, I'm told that my slowly expanding waste line is most likely a direct result of the beer. I refuse to believe that, though.

As for homebrew related health issues, I'm told that my slowly expanding waste line is most likely a direct result of the beer. I refuse to believe that, though.

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Nah, it's not the beer it's the FOOD. Beer is food.

sorry to resurrect an old thread.

But after having done some research on this, it appears some drinks like beer (as well as wine and coffee) substantially *reduces* the risk of having kidney stones - in fact beer is leading the list of liquids that reduce the chances of developing kidney stone (41% reduction).

Soft drinks, however, increase the risks, for example.

Wait 'till you have wrist problems and see what your co-workers blame it on then...

Teromous said:

Wait 'till you have wrist problems and see what your co-workers blame it on then...

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Well then I never want Hemorrhoids!

Homercidal said:

Well then I never want Hemorrhoids!

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That right there is funny! Good one Bruce Jenner!

Back to the OP. My FIL had them and they put a stent in his urethra so they would pass. Has a string hanging out the end. Once they passed he pulled it out. Ouch. BRB. Going to drink 6-8 glasses of water that I should be drinking daily!

warriorcoach said:

That right there is funny! Good one Bruce Jenner!

Back to the OP. My FIL had them and they put a stent in his urethra so they would pass. Has a string hanging out the end. Once they passed he pulled it out. Ouch. BRB. Going to drink 6-8 glasses of water that I should be drinking daily!

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I've read this is another of those well misapplied research quotes. Supposedly the original research had that slated as total liquid intake and said that most people got this without having to drink additional water.