Kidney Problems-Need to Vent & Advice | Arthritis Information

Hi,

I started antibiotics last week for a UTI, but developed bad abdominal and back pain even though there is no evidence of infection now. Just took my last dose of the antibiotic. I had a CT to rule out diverticulitis on Friday. Now I am having kidney spasms and pain continues to worsen. My dr has been out and Friday the dr I saw said there is no longer any sign of infection. When I called today complaining of worsening symptoms he said I need to finish the antibiotic and "see what happens".

If I don't have an infection, why is he waiting for me to finish the antibiotic? This is miserable. I haven't gotten a full nights rest or a full day of work in a week now. I am thinking of planting myself in the waiting room first thing in the morning so they will see me. My husband wanted to take me to the ER tonight, but I convinced him not to. It really worries me a bit as vasculitis can cause kidney damage. Anyone know if a kidney stone would show up on a CT? I have pain on both sides so I suppose that is unlikely.

Laker

Laker,

Gosh, I'm sorry your in so much pain!!!! As if we weren't already!!!!

Kidney stones do show up on a CT, I had 5 that showed up!!!

Heres hoping you feel better really soon.

Hugs

ya know I would go to the ER and get a good night sleep. The doctor did not want to deal with you so he is making you wait.

Yep you need to get that looked out before any damage has occured. I hate that you are in that much pain. Take care.

How fast do kidney stones pop up? Cause it does sound like that's a possibility. Laker, where is your pain located?

The pain started on the lower left side and then started low back pain. After a couple days I started having low back pain on the right and then abdominal pain on the right Now I have pain widespread in my abdomen and it is tender all over. BUT, I took a vicoden before bed which worked wonders with the pain. It is much less severe. Still had to get up every 2-1/2 hours though. My dr. should be in today and I'm going to make sure I get an appt with her and ask about the lab work. I am also thinking of calling the rheum since I don't know if I should restart my meds yet.

Lorster,

Thanks for the good advice. I do eat yogurt every day but will increase. I also used to take probiotics but that went by the wayside somehow. I will see if I can start them again. I felt they were very helpful when I was taking them. The reprieve from the pain is incredible. I really needed a break from it.

Laker

This might be 'out there', but there is an FDA warning about an MRI contrast agent, Gladolinium (?) causing a very serious kidney-related disease in patients who had MRIs when they already had kidney issues.

I am keeping an eye on this, because I think it is only a matter of time before they discover it can cause lesser issues in healthy kidneys, too (my opinion).

It seems most people with RA (including my daughter) get this agent at some time during their dx. She's had it twice, but I would not be open to her getting it again unless there was no other option.

Had my appt with my primary dr and she thinks I have interstial cystitis. I've had six supposed UTIs in the last 9 months, but they found no bacteria in the cultures. It sure seems like they could have figured this out sooner.

I have an appt. with a urologist in mid-November. That is way too far away considering how I feel. I called my rheums office to let them know and they asked me a lot of questions and said they would call me back. My primary was not encouraging. She said it is very unpleasant to have and difficult to treat. Just what I need. I'm sure a bunch of you have this, can you point me in the direction of a good website?

Laker

Oh Laker I am so sorry to hear of your pain. And the amount of time you have to wait while it isn't getting any better.

I have never heard of interstial cystitis so I am sorry I can't be of any help there.

Hang in there and keep us posted. I would like to hear more on this.

Ask your doctor about phenazopyridine hydrochloride. It is sold over the counter as Uristat and Azo-Standard (100mg tablets) and by prescription in 200mg tablets. The brand name for the 200mg RX tablets is Pyridium. It is a urinary tract analgesic. My father took it for 3 months when he had a kidney stone that they could not remove due to an abdominal aortic aneurysm. They had to fix the aneurysm first, because they didn't want that to blow when they tried to blow up the kidney stone. The pyridium really helped him. It will turn your urine orange and will stain anything your pee comes in contact with. It will also stain your contacts orange (no, your eyes won't be orange

Yep Laker! I know the pain you are going thru. That is what I was battling since Oct of last year! I just got the possible DX of IC, which my GP seems to think it is since the Amitriptylin works. I go to the pee pee dr again in November, and probably get scoped EWW!!! to see if the DX my GP gave me is correct.

I feel your pain, and I know I thought I had something wrong with my kidneys and at one point that I had a kidney stone passing that is how Horrid the pain I was having was. At one time I was about to have hubby take me to the ER and I am not one to go to the ER for pain. I was doubled over and crying, and it felt like my IUD was stabbing thru my uterus. But the next day went to GYNO he checked my IUD and said it was in place and that I had a little bit of bacteria in my urine and said i had a bladder infection and then he sent me off to the urologist and he DXed me with over-active bladder, but I knew that was not what I had, but took the DX anyways... as after that bout it stopped until the next month

For the pain, try a heating pad and 800mg of IBU. Mine usually goes away after about 45 mins to 1hr of laying down and resting with the heating pad and when teh IBU kicks in. I am just a little sore in the lower half after a bout of it.

I hope you get it all straightened out soon. Good Luck!

Hi again,

The heating pad was at least comforting and the pyridium is helping some. My dr said I could take a vicodin at bedtime and that seems to be helping quite a bit with the pain. Unfortunately I still feel miserable and am starting to feel just plain exhausted and sick the way I did when I was at my worst last summer. Oddly, my joints are not bothering me at all. Maybe my body is too busy attacking my poor bladder. It sure feels like an infection. Still waiting to hear back from my rheum's office. I called about a med question but the nurse said she would see if they want any other tests etc. I am hoping they have some amazing idea that will help. My rheum is on leave so some poor dr is probably still wading through my huge file trying to figure it out. My head is killing me too. I think my body hates me. I'm going to take a nap.

THanks for the advice.

Laker

Hope it eases up soon for ya, Laker.

Huggs