My dad had one while on the road trucking. Like another said, not life or death, but it sure felt that way!

My husband's small medical device company is making a tool that will push the stone to one side of the ureter so that liquid can pass during the wait for removal. Since it's not life threatening, you usually get pain killers and an appointment (or "wait for it to pass"). If doctor's had the new device, they could easily push the little stone enough to let liquid pass painlessly until removal. A lot of the pain is the ureter swelling up like a lemon when it should be a cocktail straw. Ow.

Hang in there!