Abdominal Pains, help please

[jaime310]

Hello, i have been having this abdominal pain/discomfort for about three weeks now. Sometimes it feels like a stabbing pain and i have had some pain in my back as well. I've had dark colored urine and the pain/discomfort usually is on the right side of my abdomen (not appendicitis) and has just recently traveled to my lower right abdomen. It's started feeling hot to the touch and i do get tired faster that usual. i don't know what this is because i have not been to a doctor due to the fact i can not afford health insurance because of a low income job, i am 20, single with no kids therefore medicaid is out of the question i believe, can anyone tell me what they think this might be or what i should do please i would appreciate the help please

[jemma116]

With the pains and symptoms you are describing, you have a severe kidney infection and possibly kidney stones.

You need to be medically examined as soon as possible and given an antibiiotic.

As you have had the pains on the right, it appears that it is your right kidney that is not well, the stomach pains, could be renal colic.  When a stone starts to come down the urinary tract there is a lot of pain and sometimes visible blood in the urine, sometimes you may have a cloudy, smelly (like kidneys), green gunge and lots of sediment when you urinate.

I suggest every time you pee, do so into a clean container and look at it, sometimes kidney stones are so small like grains of sand and they cause irritation when they pass down through your urethra.  

You will also have been feeling unwell generally with possible confusion, this is the poison that gets into the system.  The kidneys are filters and if they are not working properly or compromised you will feel unwell.

Like the previous posters have said, you need to drink plenty of water.

You may find that your symptoms will subside and then flare up again.  If that happens you will know that it is a kidney stone making its way down.

There are 4 different types of kidney stones.  If you have one, I suspect it is likely to be a calcium oxalate stone (these are quite common and these usually show up on xray and ultrasound).  Hopefully you will be able to pass it out without surgical intervention.  But if  the stone gets stuck in the urinary tract you will need some form of help to get rid of it.  

You can take painkillers to relieve the pain.

Hope you are better soon

Best wishes

[whatsthematterwithme]

Hi Jamie. I suggest you drink cranberry juice. That can take care of a urinary tract infection, but if it is kidney, then you will need antibiotics. This can be serious, but without a fever, I really question that as a diagnosis.

You could have kidney stones. You could have IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) even without loose stools. You need to see a doctor. Sorry.

If it does not go away, and especially if it gets worse, you get a fever, get seriously contstipated, please see a doctor, money or not.

As I understand it, if you go to ER, they have to see you and will work out payment arrangements with you or put you on emergency medicare status. You would still need to pay some.

Also, many doctors will work with you. Look for ones that are part of an HMO. Good luck. Really hope it helps.

[jaime310]

Thank you, that does make me feel somewhat better and hope it could be something not too serious

[Diamond301983]

I had the same pains u are describing on and off for a few years and finally after this last time they did a ultrasound and i had lots of gall stones and a inflamed gall bladder and i had to have outpatient removal and it wasn't too bad. It hurt but i feel so much better now that it has been taken out and that was last may. I hope u go to the hospital yes they will bill you but at least u will know what it is but i am pretty sure it is going to be your gall bladder my middle sister had to have hers removed and a few of my friends as well so it is very common and the doctor told me technically after the age of ten u don't even need your gall bladder so i hope this helps and keep us posted on the outcome.

[jaime310]

My urine does seem to be very cloudy and it does have a little bit of a sting/burn not any pain too serious when I do urinate

[sprinkles77]

It sounds like a kidney infection which will require antibotics.  It is better to go to a doctor than let it get worse.   Definetly drink tons of water and very little caffine.  Cranberry juice is good too.  I know money is an issue but better to go to a doctor  miss work a few days beause you are too sick.

[narelle907]

Hi there, can I ask if you have any discomfort when urinating? Also have you been increasing your water only intake? Im suspecting a bladder or kidney infection. You could go to the pharmacy and tell the pharmacist your symptoms as you can buy over the counter preparations like ural which are effective for bladder infections, however you may need to see a doctor if your symptoms persist after taking this aswell as increasing your water intake to 8 litres daily as you may need antibiotic therapy if you have an infection that has travelled to your kidneys.