Problems with kidneys... again...

Hi chloesnavy. Have you been checked for interstitial cystitis?

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@Chloesnavy believe me when I say I feel your pain - I am also currently on my 8th course of antibiotics in 7 months for recurrent UTIs which like trying to chew on my kidneys! It feels horrendous, and sometimes the side effects from the antibiotics just make things worse, particularly to start off with.

Have you requested referral to a urologist? I think @Lynz84 s suggestion of interstitial cystitis is definitely something worth exploring, but is also something not likely to be diagnosed at the point of GP care. Don't give up - I know it has such a destructive impact on your life, but there is an answer out there, and sometimes as patients we have to advocate for ourselves forcefully in order to get it.

In the meantime, I hope your antibiotics can give you some relief, at least *hugs*

Hi chloesnavy and ellskbells. I know this may not be helpful but....a few years ago I went through all youre going through now. Antibiotic after antibiotic etc. Docs wouldnt listen so I made a private referral. Turns out my urethra was too narrow and this is why I kept feeling the pressure but my urine was mostly clear. Might be an idea to speak to a urologist if you can. Nearly 8 years later and after having my urethra stretched ( yes its painful but worth it!) Ive not had even 1 uti. X

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Let me think here.........8 courses of antibiotics didn't do squat. I know what: let's use antibiotics again! Has anyone considered that this pain in your side has nothing to do with your kidneys? Does a pain in one's side mean there's a UTI 100% of the time? Maybe your "kidney pain" is something else, not a UTI. Have you seen a urologist yet?

I remember she had some ultrasound after a couple of antibiotic courses. But I don't recall she's seen a specialist/urologist or gyn specialist yet. Maybe suggesting that might be a good idea at this point isn't being helpful, sorry. It seems hard to get a referral around there.

My pain which they thought UTI was kidney stones. Just saying....

They finally found them but were huge. Blocking my ureter and my kidneys weren't draining. Put a stent in. Antibiotics and finally blew them up. So far so good. Knocking on wood

Hugs, @Chloesnavy . Ditto the suggestions to seek a urology referral.

In terms of helping in the prevention of future infections - and I don't for a second think you don't do this already, and of course this is only sometimes the reason UTIs take hold, and there are plenty of other reasons, and please please accept my apologies for getting personal, but do do do make it an absolute priority immediately (as far as is possible) after every time you have intercourse to go for a wee straight away.........

So sorry to be graphic!

This was advice that I was emphatically reminded of by those treating my own horrendous kidney experience - and indeed it is something I have always paid attention to in my own, erm, activity.

Hugs hugs hugs.

Contralto said:

so how did that go?

Fortunately, they found them. The microcalcifications I had were but an early warning system but even with abnormal labs, I had to beg three months for the sonogram allowed by my insurance while doctors played who writes the Rx.

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I think she said she did have a "scan" in December, I assume it was an ultrasound looking for stones. The problem is stones can pass through the ureter/bladder/urethra and reform again, blocking urinary flow from the kidneys again. I'm not sure what it takes to get to see a urologist there using NHS. Maybe you have to pay out of pocket? She seems to have a recurrent problem that has yet to be diagnosed IMO. (I don't profess to know what it is)