Being the Patient, not a Kidney Stone Patient

When you have a kidney stone, what do you need quick? Alleviation from horrifying torment, isn't that so? Pete* was the same. Ordinarily nice, with a prepared funny bone that easily finds its way into regular conversation, Pete laughs when he says, "I was fortunate I never had a kidney stone — and I was unfortunate that I got a kidney stone."

To say the least, Pete's peppy demeanor endured a brief shot due to his frightful stone.

Like everyone burdened with a stone, Pete worked the phones to find help. He called kidney stone doctors in his healthcare provider's network but was frustrated by the response he got from the initial several practices.

"I would try to schedule a meeting with a specific specialist," Pete explains. "They'd say, 'He's not available.' So then I'd ask which care providers were available, but they'd never tell me. They said I had to give them a specific doctor's name, but I couldn't because I didn't know the names of all their doctors. It was frustrating. I was thinking, I'm in pain, I need help. They need to figure out who's available to help me."

Help at Last

Pete's luck changed when he called Urology Accomplices of North Texas. He was impressed with Urology Accomplices' appointment desk.

"When I talked with the scheduling desks at other practices, they didn't really connect with me or try to understand my pain or prioritize it. Urology Accomplices was entirely different. They didn't say this doctor isn't available, and so on. They did their best to find someone who could see me quickly."

Pete was quickly sent to see Dr. Zachary Compton.

The Compton Connection

Pete was impressed with Dr. Compton immediately. "He was different from the other doctors," he notes. "He was friendly, empathetic, and understood my pain. He didn't treat me like I was one of 6,000 patients. He connected with me. He looked at my X-ray and clearly outlined my treatment options in detail, along with the pros and cons of each."

Dr. Compton recommended extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy — a minimally invasive procedure that uses very mild shock waves to break the stones into small pieces without an incision or intrusive device.

"He explained the procedure and drew diagrams," Pete adds. "I appreciated that he explained what needed to be done in a friendly manner that was on my level and that I could easily understand."

After his exam, Pete thought he'd have to wait at home for news about his procedure date and time.

"I didn't realize Dr. Compton was personally talking to the scheduling office to ensure I got an appointment as soon as possible. His schedule was booked, but he didn't want me to wait in pain, so he found the next available UP doctor and also time for me. I was actually leaving when he rushed to the elevator, pulled me out, and asked me to hold on while they booked an appointment for me right then.

"I've never seen a doctor go the extra mile like Dr. Compton did. It was remarkable. Bottom line, when I left the clinic, I knew the proper setting for my lithotripsy and had medications to help me manage the pain until my appointment. That was the wow factor for me."

Pain-Free at Last

Two days later, Pete's lithotripsy went off without a hitch.

"I didn't feel a thing. Since then, I've had zero pain. I'm back to normal and feel great. I call it my unique vacation," he jokes.

Two weeks later, Pete got some advice during his follow-up visit with Dr. Compton. "He said, 'I will give you a prescription, and the good thing is you don't ever need to refill it. Follow it and you'll never need to see me again. Drink plenty of water.' He gave me a few other tips, too, to help me avoid another stone."

Pete laughs as he remembers the last thing Dr. Compton said to him: "I hope I never see you again."

As much as he likes Dr. Compton, Pete admits the feeling is mutual. "It was a very nice experience, except for my pain," he notes. "It was really the first time I had a good experience with a doctor who connected well with me. We all want that from a doctor: Don't treat us as a patient — treat us as a person, not like one of hundreds."

Do You Suffer from Kidney Stones?

Let Dr. Compton and the experienced kidney stone doctors at Urology Accomplices of North Texas help you live pain-free. Call 866-367-8768 or schedule an online appointment.