End of Kidney Stones?

I went to a Nephrologist on Friday.  He told me what I already knew:

1. I get kidney stones
2. The kidney stones are calcium oxalate stones
3. The amount of oxalate my kidneys excrete is normal
4. The amount of calcium my kidneys excrete is high
5. The amount of calcium in my blood is normal
6. My parathyroid hormone level is normal

He told me that the urologist's idea of trying a restricted calcium diet had a very very small chance of actually working.  My kidneys are genetically programmed to do what they do, and mine just like to filter out calcium.

Fortunately, the Nephrologist had a better plan.  I'm on a tiny pill called Hydrochlorothyazide.  It's a blood pressure medication that has a side effect of causing the kidneys to output less calcium.  There are a couple of other side effects that are less common: dizziness (too low blood pressure), heightened sensitivity to the sun, and hyperglycemia.  It's also a mild diuretic, which is also not bad for kidney stones.

After two months on this "water pill," I'll do another 24 hour urine study (this one analyzed by a different lab and much more in depth), and if the calcium levels are low or normal, this will be the solution to my particular problem and I shouldn't get any more kidney stones.  Hooray!