I have a kidney infection and I'm on antibiotics but the pain keeps getting worse!?
Last month I was hospitalized for a kidney infection, and I am still home recovering. Kidney infections can take a while to heal, depending on the severity. And it's hard to wait it out, because of the pain. I don't have a desk job at work...my job is very active and intense, so I have not been able to work in a month now. But if your symptoms are getting worse and not better, your antibiotic might not be working. Did they culture and isolate your infection so they know which type of antibiotic you need? I would check with your doctor if your symptoms are not improving. They should check your urine for infection. I would be especially concerned if you are running a fever. You can drink more than water. But I would avoid citrus, caffeine, and high sugar foods/beverages. I have been taking Flexeril for muscle spasms. Kidney pain can cause muscle spasms in the lower back area. And hydrocodone for the pain. I'm feeling better enough now that I've stopped the hydrocodone, I just take the muscle relaxer. I also alternate Tylenol and Advil. My CT scan at the hospital came back negative for stones. But three weeks later I was still in pain, and had been on two different antibiotics and my infection was not clearing up. My DR sent me to a urologist. The urologist ordered an IVP (they inject you with dye and xray to check for stones) test for me to double check for stones. The urologist also switched my antibiotic. I am finally (cross fingers) on the right antibiotic, as the kidney pain is lessening. I will have a follow up with the urologist and will be recheck me for infection near the end of my course of the antibiotic. I am sorry you are having kidney pain. Believe me, I feel your pain. Please call your doctor if you are not feeling better.
How can I tell if i have a kidney infection?
Ok, first of all, "Yes" a bladder infection (cystitis) can turn into a kidney infection (pyelonephritis). If an infection is not treated properly, the infection may progress upward to the ureters or kidneys. Just b/c you were treated with antibiotics for the bladder infection, doesn't rule out kidney infection. You get an A+ for finishing your antibiotics, but it may just be that the antibiotics prescribed were not the ones needed to combat that particular infection. Many times a provider is so used to treating everyone with the same antibiotics, that it just becomes second nature to write out the script for the same drugs. I'm not saying that your provider did that, but i'm just saying that it DOES happen. Also, the length and type of treatment is depends on the location and severity of infection. If the provider didn't realize that your infection was already in the ureters, then he/she may not have prescribed the right drug. If you truly have pyelonephritis, you may require IV antibiotic therapy for several days followed by a 7-14 day course or oral antibiotics. Second, for the tests performed, the doctor will definitely need a urine specimen. Possibly a sterile one, which would require him/her to place a small catheter in the bladder to drain the urine out. The urine would be sent to the lab for further testing. I can't think of anything else that would be necessary for identification of a kidney infection. Finally, if you really think you have an infection that has spread to the kidney, you'll experience the normal signs/symtoms of urinary tract infections but with the addition of back pain. The provider will tap on your back, kind of by your flanks, and if it elicits pain then it means that there is some inflammation around the kidney. Here are some signs/symptoms of a urinary tract infection: Urinary frequency, Urgency, Foul-smelling urine, Pus-filled urine, Blood-tinged urine, Swelling, Bladder spasms, Chills, Fever, Back pain, Nausea and Vomiting If you truly think that you have a kidney infection, you really need to be seen immediately. Serious irreversible damage can occur if it is not treated. Take care of yourself!
Do I have a kidney infection or a stubborn UTI?
I felt symptoms of a UTI 8 days ago, took an Azo test strip which tested positve for leukocytes (white blood cells i think), I don't have insurance, so I went to the Walgreens clinic, and they confirmed it and prescribed me Bactrim for 7 days. I finished yesterday, and I still have it. I retook an Azo test and it was still a purple color (positive for leukocytes). I called the clinic and they are giving me another script for another antibiotic (Cipro) My question is, could a test strip show positve even if it is a kidney infection? Would the Cipro cure that too? I just wonder if it is a kidney infection and I should go in to a dr. (would have to pay out of pocket, but I don't want to get a kidney infection worse) My symptoms are back ache, muscle aches, headache, burning in bladder area. Feel worse at night. Right now I feel horrible. Thanks for all your ideas.
Urinary Track Infection / Kidney Infection?
I went to the doctor yesterday and was diagnosed with a urinary track infection. I was prescribed Nitrofurantoin (Macrobid) and it said to take with food, so I waited until I ate to take the medicine. By this time my back started hurting and I didn't think anything of it. Before I took my first dose of medicine it started hurting extremely bad. The pain's between my ribs and hurts when I gently touch my back or ribs. I believe it's in the kidney area. It hurts so bad to breathe deeply or lift my leg to put on clothes. I researched on kidney infections and the medication I'm taking and I don't think the antibiotics my doctor gave me are going to help. Any ideas on if this is actually a kidney infection and if would it cause this much pain? Also, what should I do for now (the doctor doesn't open for 5 hours and I'll probably just have to leave a message with her nurse)?
Urinary Tract Infection Back Pain?
I have had lower back, abdominal, and side pains for the last week. I went to the doctor yesterday and she said I had a bladder infection. Now I am on antibiotics called Macrobid, and started them yesterday. Now, my pain seems to not go away, but be even worse to the point where i need to take tylenol. It hurts so bad for hours, and I don't know why. Could it not be a urine infection? I also have the urge to need a bowel movement, but nothing really comes out. It's killing me, PLEASE help! What do I do?
KIDNEY INFECTION URGENT please help me.?
I'm not a doctor, but have a history of kidney infections. She needs to go to the hospital right now! Her temperature is really high (it's the body's way of trying to kill off the infection). If allowed to get higher or continue at that temp for a prolonged period, she could suffer brain damage (the temperature literally cooks the brain). If she has a kidney infection, she'll have tremendous, acute pain in her back right below the ribs, and on both sides of the spine. (It's in the soft, fleshy waist area around the back.) She may have pain only on one side, but I think typically infections this bad attack both kidneys. She's most likely experiencing burning when she pees. I'm not surprised she's vomiting...the pain really does get that bad. She probably can't sit upright or stand for very long, if at all. I couldn't walk when mine would get bad. The only thing that will kill the infection and get rid of the pain is antibiotics, specific to this type of infection (I was on ampecillan, but they may use something different these days). That fever MUST come down immediately. Use washclothes; soak them in cold water and put them on her pulse points: inside wrist and elbow, under arms, behind her knees, on her forehead and around her throat. You'll feel the heat of her fever transfer to the washclothes. When this happens, flap the wet cloth in the air til it cools down again and keep applying them to these points. This is not as quick as a cold bath, but it isn't as traumatic to the child. But get her to a hospital emergency room NOW! P.S. To avoid future infections, she needs to learn to wipe after the bathroom from front to back. This is the most common cause of kidney and bladder infections in children. Also, certain types of bubble bath can irritate and cause minor infections. She may also be genetically predisposed to kidney infections (as I am). One of the things that has helped me tremendously is drinking cranberry juice. (Not the kind that has two flavors, like cran-raspberry. Just straight cranberry juice...Oceanspray is good.) You can have her drink that now. She'll have to drink a lot of it over the course of the next week, but it will help flush out her system and keep her hydrated, as well.