From what I've gathered, (this is the ironic part/sad part that makes my wife still give me crap) the tea caused ones are very similar to the low acid.
If your urine is acidic enough, it will dissolve the deposits that the tea, coffee and other beverages cause. Tea is the worst by far. (Most of this comes from a college buddy that's a Dr. Unfortunately, when we hang out, we might have 1 or 2 beers, so things might get blurred.)
My parent's neighbor back in Va was put on some pills that are basically the same thing that I have to give my dog.
I'm a stubborn bastard and refuse to pee into a fish net from walmart, well mainly I refuse to walk around with a fish net I pee through all the time.
The mineral type from tap water build up tends to be a much slower build up. BUT they are "more painful" because the tea deposits tend to break apart on their own a bit easier. Think of like sandstone versus granite.
Now I'll be happy if I never pee either of those out again? But I CAN see how the other might be more painful?
Best kidney stone story I've heard was a coworker in Hungary. He gets to Budapest, gets stones, goes to the hospital, they couldn't find a translator, Dr came in held up a knife, and a beer. Said, "You want cut .... drink?"
Coworker was NOT comfortable at first, then the translator got there from our plant. Dr was basically saying, they can try and do the surgery, but if he just drinks some beer and water, he'll probably just pass it on his own.
