Your Recovery
A ureteral (say "you-REE-ter-ul") stent is a thin, hollow tube that is placed in the ureter to help urine pass from the kidney into the bladder. Ureters are the tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder.
You may have a small amount of blood in your urine for 1 to 3 days after the procedure.
While the stent is in place, you may have to urinate more often, feel a sudden need to urinate, or feel like you can't completely empty your bladder. You may feel some pain when you urinate or do strenuous activity. You also may notice a small amount of blood in your urine after strenuous activities. These side effects usually don't prevent people from doing their normal daily activities.
You may have a thin string coming out of your urethra. Your urethra is the tube that carries urine from your bladder to outside your body. This string is attached to the stent. Try not to pull on the string. It will be used to pull out the stent when you no longer need it.
After the procedure, urine may flow better from your kidneys to your bladder. A ureteral stent may be left in place for several days or for as long as several months. Your doctor will take it out when you no longer need it. Or, in some cases, it may be taken out at home.
This care sheet gives you a general idea about how long it will take for you to recover. But each person recovers at a different pace. Follow the steps below to get better as quickly as possible.
Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse advice line (811 in most provinces and territories) if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.