UTI from hell...is it in my Kidneys? Argh...

[lovelark.livejournal.com]

I've never dealt with UTI's until this past year when the docs put me on a regimen of medicine for a bunch of specific problems, ranging from pain management to neurological medications that I take twice a day. They warned me to drink lots of water. I thought I was. Since starting this regimen though, I've started to get UTIs regularly. The first few went away after a day or so, just after drinking alot of water or juice. But, they've been increasingly more vicious.
I lost my insurance though, and so haven't been to a doc since the beginning of the summer.

This one has been particularly vicious...I keep thinking "ok it went away" when my symptoms get a bit better for a few hours..and then I'll wake up in the middle of the night with it. These past couple days it's been increasingly bad, and last night it pushed me past the breaking point- no sanity.
My urine- I noticed the foul-smell before, has never been quite this potent. No blood though. Good sign.
I CONSTANTLY feel like I need to pee, and when I stop peeing- that's the worst. I can't describe the sensation, but it's....awful.
Last night, the most alarming thing was that I was getting pain, alternating between stabbing pain and aches in my abdomen and my lower back on mostly one side.

I gave it a CRANBERRY BOMB. Two of those cranberry pills, half a package of dried cranberries, a glass of cranberry juice, and a bottle of watter. This morning, all symptoms have lessened a bit, but have not gone away. I was sort of under the impression that once a UTI spread to the kidneys, it was too late for the cranberry stuff to be of any assistance, but then again I could be a complete moron since I'm really new to the whole UTI thing. Maybe my kidneys AREN'T infected, and you jut get lower-abdominal/flank pain with a really severe UTI.     I really don't have the time to go to the doc (first day of classes today) or the money...but I recognize that I probably really DO need to go. Can I wait untill I'm done with class at 6:00 to figure it out?

Thanks gals...you're all AMAZING.

Comments

[celticdaisy.livejournal.com]

Even though you said you know you need to know...but go to the doctor, now!

[oceanica.livejournal.com]

Absolutely what celticdaisy said. Go to the doctor ASAP. Kidney infections are nothing to mess around with. Even a UTI isn't, really, but DOCTOR DOCTOR DOCTOR. Your kidneys are something you need to have in good working order.

[lovelark.livejournal.com]

I'm sufficiently scared now, so don't thik I'm trying to push it here, but just out of curiosity- what happens when your kidneys AREN'T in good working order? What do they do if you're a moron and permanent damage happens?

[oceanica.livejournal.com]

Well... your kidneys (just in case you never got this lecture) are what filter all the bad shit from your body and put it in your urine so it can get out of your body. So if you fry them to a crisp with infections, you'll end up on dialysis (where they hook you up to a machine several times a week to do the job your kidneys should be doing) and that's pretty non-fun. Your body gets two kidneys in case one goes kablooie, but if both of them get roasted, you're kinda S.O.L.

Not to scare you or anything. I had a kidney infection a little over a year ago, and a good strong course of antibiotics, a week of bed rest, and a little TLC all combined to give me a complete recovery. So don't be too worried, but get your ass over to a doctor so you can get the pills quick-like.

I have evil kidneys

[thegoddesskali.livejournal.com]

i had a similar situation last year...and it turned out to be a really bad kidney infection. I waited until I was basically near death(it felt like it anyway,fever, chills, vomiting, pain, passing out in my car for several hours) until I dragged my arse to the er. They had a shit ton of people waiting, but rushed me right in right after they did my blood test. Damn near wanted to give me a spinal tap. Luckily it didnt come to that, and they treated me with cipro(I believe one of the strongest antibiotics out there)and two other iv bags of some wahtever they were willing to charge me for....
I guess what I am trying to convey to you is don't wait until you are passing out from pain...go to the dr...find a sliding scale clinic.... Save yourself some pain, grief, and ER bills.

Re: I have evil kidneys

[lovelark.livejournal.com]

...that's scary. OK. I'm convinced. I'd rather not pass out while behind the wheel. Actually, I was sort of hoping that I was being paranoid, and that people would be like "oh shit, I get these all the time..it's NOTHING, just drink lots of water and cranberry juice. So your kidneys are a little inflamed. whatever"

but...everyone seems to agree I should not be fucking around...

[bluegrrl314.livejournal.com]

Definitely get to the doctor ASAP!!! I've had too many UTI's so if I wait even a day, it threatens to head to my kidneys. That is the worst... My last one, I tried hitting it with the cranberry pills as well, and it didn't work at all. I ended up leaving work to head to the doctor as I had fever, chills, pain in the back, etc. I was okay at the doctor, but when picking up my prescription at Walgreens, I ended up puking all over myself on the way to the bathroom, and because my bladder wasn't the strongest, I peed myself as well. Go.to.the.doctor!!!!

(Yes, super embarrassing to piss/puke yourself at Walgreens...don't recommend it!!!) :)

[lovelark.livejournal.com]

crap...I didn't know it could get THAT bad...eep.
I call doctor now.

[tirlasutaa.livejournal.com]

Call the doc & see if they'll phone in a prescription. (Personally, I also get a diflucan script at the same time to head off any yeast infection that may be caused by the antibiotics.)

[bluegrrl314.livejournal.com]

My doctor would never call in the script for me, as they said they needed proof that's what it was. Sucked majorly once, as I knew it was a UTI, but the lab came back negative, even though 2 days later it reared its ugly head...

[jacquelinewas17.livejournal.com]

Sheesh. I hate doctors with their heads up their own butts. Yeah, they've got urine containers to send to the lab and dipsticks, but WE'RE the only ones that can tell you if we're having pain upon urination and that foul "UTI smell". I hate hate hate people that brush that aside! Gah! Sorry for that little rant.

[tirlasutaa.livejournal.com]

I've got a great doc who actually listens to me, so calling in requests isn't a huge deal. When he retires in a few years I don't know what I'll do to find a new one I get along with as well as him. Perhaps, since you said you had classes (college?) you could call the campus health center or just walk in if that's more convenient/cheaper.

[pirogoeth.livejournal.com]

If there's even a slight concern that it's travelled to your kidneys, go to a doctor/ER ASAP. Kidney infections are not fun and not to be toyed with (though I think you know that ;)).

[rearrangedfaith.livejournal.com]

i don't know if this will help you......


but when i have had uti's, i had lower-abdominal/flank pain a LOT.

the first time i chucked it up to a kidney stone, but the second one was just the uti.

but either way, if you haven't already, you should get it checked out.

and with your meds that tell you to drink lots of water, it's recommended that you drink 8 ounces of it with the pill, so it metabolizes correctly.

[lilacsandwiches.livejournal.com]

One thing, that I've just thought of: if it's on one side, it could be your appendix too. Either way, go to the doctor! Kidney infections _and/or_ appendicitis = no fun. Good luck.

[honeyassassin.livejournal.com]

I just wanted to say...I feel your pain. I suffer from UTI's at least every 6 months and they are so painful. Yours sounds very bad though, and i hope you went/are going to go to a doctor!!! Drink a TON of water and cranberry juice, make sure it is 100% all natural (if it tastes good, it isn't 100% cran, lol)

[whoa-breathe.livejournal.com]

*waves*

I already left you a pretty useless comment in your journal, but I just felt the random urge to say hi from VP. Hope you're feeling better soon!