What to expect on the day of your treatment

Before you arrive

• We'll give you instructions about eating and drinking beforehand — usually nothing to eat or drink for a set window before sedation.
• Arrange a ride home. Because you'll have sedation, you can't drive yourself afterward — and if you need it, we can help arrange a ride.
• Bring a photo ID, your insurance card, and a list of your medications.

At the office

• Check-in & prep. We confirm your details, place an IV, and review the plan with you.
• Sedation. You'll receive IV sedation so you're comfortable and relaxed throughout. You won't be navigating pain during the treatment.
• The treatment. About 45–60 minutes. We target the stone with imaging and deliver the shock waves; many people describe only a tapping sensation.
• Recovery. 30–60 minutes in our recovery area as the sedation wears off, then home.

The next few days

It's normal to experience some of the following as fragments pass — they usually settle within a week:

• Blood in the urine for a day or two.
• Mild soreness or bruising over the flank where the waves entered.
• Brief episodes of mild colicky discomfort as fragments move and pass.
• Drink plenty of fluids unless told otherwise — it helps flush fragments through.

When to call us

Reach out promptly — and if it's an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest ER — if you develop a fever or chills, can't urinate, have uncontrolled pain, or can't keep fluids down. These can signal a problem that needs prompt attention.