Anyone have any experience with shockwave lithotripsy?

[Guest guest]

I told my surgeon that really I did not want the gallbladder removed

(I have a stone with a 1.8cm diameter) so he suggested to do

shockwave lithotripsy. Apparently I have to lie in a bath of water

and be bombarded by radio waves which (hopefully) will break up the

stone. This is done under anaesthetic. Afterwards, I would have to

take medicine for about one year to disolve the remaining pieces of

gallstone still left in the gallbladder.

I thought of flushing but my doctor (Chinese doc) does not want me to

do this if the stone is over 1 cm in diameter. She has meds I can

take with smaller stones to flush it out, she says, so I'm thinking

this would be a good thing to do once the stone is shattered by the

treatment.

I'm thinking this sounds pretty good so I'm wondering if there is a

catch?

Any info or suggestions are welcome.

anja