Dexamethasone vs. DexamethasoneDexamethasone for Ureteral STent Symptoms (DUSTS)

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age 18-70 years old
2. Patients who are undergoing unilateral retrograde ureteroscopy (semi-rigid or flexible) with planned ureteral stent placement for treatment of renal/ureteral stones
3. Patients who can read and understand English
4. Patients who can follow up post-operatively within 7 days at Houston Methodist Hospital

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Untreated UTI
2. HbA1c ≥6.5 on preoperative testing
3. Patients with prior diagnosis of any type of diabetes mellitus
4. Patients with immunosuppression, including chronic corticosteroid use
5. Patients with bleeding disorder
6. Patients with chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, and liver failure.
7. Patients taking strong CYP3A4 inducers or inhibitors within two weeks of screening
8. Chronic opioid analgesic use
9. Congenital renal abnormalities (e.g. pelvic kidney, ureteric duplication) that may impair stent placement
10. Concurrent genitourinary malignancy
11. Urinary diversion
12. Renal transplantation
13. History of interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome, prostatitis, pelvic pain due to other conditions (e.g. endometriosis)
14. Neurologic disorder (e.g. spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, spina bifida)
15. Pregnant or breastfeeding
16. Patients with cognitive impairments or untreated psychiatric illness