Last updated: October 21, 2026. This guide is for general information only, not a substitute for medical advice. If you have urinary symptoms, see a doctor — and always follow your doctor's advice.

Bladder Stone Symptoms: 3.1 kg Record Stone Removed in Sri Lanka

Doctors in Sri Lanka have removed a bladder stone weighing 3.1 kilograms (6.8 pounds) from a patient — believed to be the biggest of its kind on record. Most bladder stones are tiny by comparison, but they are more common than people realise and their early signs are easy to ignore. Here is what they are, the symptoms to watch for, and how they are treated and prevented.

Bladder stone symptoms in the news: the Sri Lanka case

According to reporting by BBC News Urdu, surgeons at a hospital in Trincomalee, in eastern Sri Lanka, operated on a patient last week and removed a single bladder stone weighing 3.1 kg (6.8 lb). The medical team believes it is the largest bladder stone ever recorded. Bladder stones normally measure millimetres or a few centimetres, so one this size grows slowly over a long time — a reminder that untreated urinary problems can become serious.

What are bladder stones?

Bladder stones are hard deposits of minerals that form inside the bladder. They develop when the bladder does not empty fully: minerals in urine left sitting in the bladder crystallise into a stone over time. A person may have one stone or several. Left in place, stones irritate the bladder lining, obstruct urine flow, and make infections more likely.

Bladder stone symptoms: what to watch for

Very small stones may cause no symptoms at all. As a stone grows, typical bladder stone symptoms include:

• Pain in the lower abdomen that comes and goes
• Painful, burning urination
• Frequent urination, including several times at night
• A stream that stops and starts, or difficulty starting urination
• Blood in the urine, making it look pink, red or cola-coloured
• Cloudy or dark urine, sometimes with a strong smell
• Repeated urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• In men, discomfort or pain at the tip of the penis

These symptoms overlap with other conditions — urine infections, prostate problems and kidney stones among them — so always get them checked by a doctor.

Causes and risk factors

Most bladder stones form because urine stays in the bladder too long. Factors that make this more likely include:

• Enlarged prostate (BPH) in older men — the most common cause of incomplete emptying
• Dehydration — not drinking enough water concentrates the urine, so minerals crystallise more easily
• Repeated urinary tract infections, which encourage stone formation
• Long-term catheter use, which irritates the bladder and raises infection risk
• Nerve-related bladder problems (neurogenic bladder), for example after a spinal injury or stroke, or with diabetes
• Bladder diverticula — small pouches in the bladder wall where urine collects
• A diet very high in salt and animal protein, with low fluid intake

Bladder stones are far more common in men, mainly because of prostate enlargement with age — elderly men in particular should never ignore urinary symptoms.

Diagnosis and treatment

A doctor will take your history and examine you. To confirm a stone and see its size and position, a doctor may order urine tests and imaging, such as an ultrasound or CT scan. Treatment depends on the size of the stone:

• Small stones: Sometimes pass naturally when you urinate; plenty of fluids, as your doctor advises, can help.
• Larger stones: Usually broken into pieces or removed through a thin scope passed into the bladder (cystolitholapaxy), often using laser energy.
• Very large stones: May need open surgery through a small cut in the lower abdomen — as in the Sri Lanka case.
• Treating the cause: The underlying problem — an enlarged prostate, repeated infections, or a bladder that does not empty — must also be treated, or stones tend to form again.

Only a doctor who has examined you can say which treatment is right — never ignore a blocked urine flow.

Prevention: keeping stones from forming

• Drink enough water so urine stays pale — concentrated urine is the biggest everyday risk
• Do not hold urine in for long periods
• Treat urine infections promptly instead of letting them recur
• Manage prostate problems — older men should get urinary symptoms assessed, not accept them as "just age"
• Eat a balanced diet and go easy on salt

Home care after treatment or surgery

Recovery usually continues at home, and good home care makes a real difference — especially for elderly patients. Doctors commonly advise:

• Rest and gentle movement: Rest at first, then walk a little more each day as strength returns
• Fluids as advised: Drink the amount your doctor recommends; urine may look pink briefly after a procedure — tell your doctor if it does not clear
• Catheter care: If you come home with a catheter, keep the area clean, wash hands before and after handling it, and keep the drainage bag below bladder level
• Wound care: After open surgery, keep dressings clean and dry and follow the schedule your doctor sets
• Medicines on time: Take them exactly as directed, and finish antibiotic courses in full
• Watch for warning signs: Report fever, a blocked catheter, no urine output, increasing pain, or heavy bleeding to your doctor promptly
• Attend follow-up visits so healing and the stone's cause can be reviewed

How Fatima Home Nursing Care can help at home

Many bladder stone patients are elderly men, and the days after surgery can be hard for families to manage alone. Our trained nurses and caregivers support recovery at home in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Hyderabad:

• Catheter care and hygiene support — correct cleaning and bag handling to lower infection risk
• Dressing changes and wound care after open surgery, done by a trained nurse
• Monitoring — temperature, fluid intake and urine output recorded for the family, so changes are spotted early
• Medicine reminders and help following the doctor's routine
• Mobility and daily-living support — bathing, dressing, toileting and safe movement for elderly or weak patients
• Night and 24-hour attendant options for patients who should not be left alone

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the symptoms of bladder stones?

Common symptoms include lower abdominal pain, painful urination, frequent urination, a stream that stops and starts, cloudy or dark urine, and blood in the urine. Very small stones may cause no symptoms.

What causes bladder stones?

Bladder stones form when the bladder does not empty completely, so minerals in the urine crystallise over time. Causes and risk factors include an enlarged prostate in men, dehydration, repeated urine infections, long-term catheter use, and conditions affecting bladder control.

Can a bladder stone pass on its own?

Small stones sometimes pass naturally when you urinate, especially if you drink enough fluids. Larger stones usually stay in the bladder, keep growing, and need medical treatment. If you cannot pass urine at all, or have severe pain or fever, seek care urgently.

How are bladder stones treated?

A doctor may order urine tests and imaging, such as an ultrasound or CT scan, to confirm the stone's size and position. Small stones may pass with fluids; larger ones are usually broken up or removed with a scope procedure, and very large ones may need open surgery. The underlying cause also needs treatment.

How can home nursing help after bladder stone surgery?

After surgery, a home nurse can help with catheter care and hygiene, dressing changes, tracking fluid intake and urine output, watching for fever or other warning signs, and supporting elderly patients with mobility and daily routines. WhatsApp +92 308 3688218 to arrange a certified nurse.

Medical disclaimer

This article is published by Fatima Home Nursing Care for general information only. It is not medical advice and does not replace consultation, diagnosis or treatment by a qualified doctor. The news item is summarised in good faith from BBC News Urdu reporting. If you have urinary symptoms or any urgent warning signs listed above, consult a doctor promptly, and always follow your own physician's advice.