kidney infection???

[sxyduckies05]

I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this but any helpful responses would be greatly appreciated.  This morning I woke up and my left side below my ribs in my back is aching pretty bad and if I tap it with my fist it hurts worse.  A few years ago I went to the doctor with what I though was a UTI but when they checked my urine there was no sign of an infection so they gave me medicine and told me if it happened again that I may have to see a urologist.  Well that was the 2nd time I had went in and needless to say I haven't been back even though it has happened a few more times.  But now this morning my left side is aching and I am wondering if I could have a kidney infection?  I'm not feeling that great but it is also (not to give tmi) that time of the month so I'm not feeling well anyways.  I am going to call the doctor but they don't open for another half an hour so any advice/help would be appreciated.

[ramar]

Hey there,

I read thru you older post about being checked for UTI's and having them come up clean. This may be way off, but have you ever researched Interstitial Cystitis??  This is a condition/disease of the bladder.  Very painful, varies with each person.  It is ulcerative,/nonulcerative of the bladder wall, irritation occurs with maybe spicey foods, alcohol, acidic drinks like OJ, you get the point...  I went for years and years undiagnosed.  Before i had insurance, i would go into walk-in clinics,  and they would quit treating me bc every time they did a UA it was clean, but i had ALL the symptoms of a UTI, burning, spasms, pelvic pain, discomfort, urgency, frequency, it was terrible. Finally i got a job with great medical insurance and went to my family doctor who insisted on doing several test before sending me to specialist, Urologist.  Anyway, checked for kidney cancer, bladder cancer, all kinds of things, ended up referring me to Urologist, he did Cystoscopy/bladder distention, and diagnosed me with IC, put me on medications and my life SIGNIFICANTLY improved.  Anyway, i just thought maybe i could be of some help, if not, sorry for such a long message:-)  take care...

[Vanessa Lacuesta]

Hi,

Is this pain present at all times or are there specific triggers for the pain like food intake, temperature or certain position,exercises or activities?

Are there any associated symptoms like changes in urinary patterns, pain in urination,change in urine character?

At this point, a kidney infection is usually established through a urinalysis,urine culture and clinical presentation.If a kidney infection is present, urinalysis may show red blood cells, casts and bacteria. It may show some urine protein.In your case,these were not present.Kidney infections may also present with nausea, vomiting and fever.In your case, has this occurred?

Aside from a kidney infection ,other probable differentials will be musculoskeletal pain and kidney stones.You may discuss this with your physician and do not hesitate to state your concerns also.