ESWL Kidney Stone Blasting

I was on leave yesterday from work as I accompanied my husband to the Urology Center of the Philippines (UCPI) at Quezon City to undergo a medical procedure to remove his kidney stone that has been causing him pains and discomforts lately.

The medical procedure was called ESWL (Extracorporeal ShockWave Lithotripsy) or other termed as " Stone Blasting". ESWL uses shockwaves (machine) that pulverize kidney stones into sand-like material. The waves hit body to travel through the skin and body tissues until the waves hit the dense stones. The stones become sand-like and are easily passed through the urinary tract in the urine. The patients are given anesthesia and are asleep during the procedure.
Depending on the size of the stone, some other patients requires 2nd treatment. But with my husband as its the size of the tip of the smallest finger, we hope that it is already pulverized.

Most common after effects of this are:
-blood in the urine for 1-2 days
-fever which must not be higher than 38 degrees.
-Fragments of the stones passing through the ureter during urination causing some discomforts

Recovery time is short. When my hubby was already awake and vital signs were in order and he was able to stand without dizziness, we were already discharged. Doctor advised that after 24 hours normal activities can be resumed.

ESWL Stone blasting cost PHP 45,000 here in the Philippines. I just don't know if there is a public medical service for this that would cost lesser.