How do you know if you've passed a kidney stone?

If you went from crying on the bathroom floor in agony to suddenly feeling completely normal, congratulations, the stone has likely made its exit. You might also hear a tiny click in the toilet bowl. Just don't celebrate too much before the doctor confirms with an ultrasound.

When my stone passed, the sharp pain in my side completely disappeared, and I noticed a tiny hard crystal in my urine. I immediately went to my urologist at the hospital, and he did an ultrasound to verify that the kidney was completely clear. I suggest you do the same.

When the severe pain in your back and lower abdomen stops suddenly, it usually means the stone has passed out of the body. Drinking barley water or coconut water helps flush the system, but you must consult your doctor to ensure no blockages remain.

The simplest way to check is to urinate through a strainer if your doctor recommended it, so you can catch the stone when the pain suddenly stops. Once the intense pain disappears, get a basic ultrasound done at a local lab to be 100% sure it hasn't left any fragments behind.

You will know it's gone when you suddenly stop praying to every god for mercy because the stabbing back pain vanishes! Sometimes you might even see the little culprit in the toilet. It's a huge relief, but just get a quick checkup to celebrate safely.