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reflux in an incomplete double ureter
by ellajayne, Jul 19, 2008 01:37AM
I'm a 26 year old female with a complete double ureter on her left side and an incomplete double ureter on her rightside. About 6 months ago I started getting severe shooting flank pain, side pain and lower abdominal pain (at the same time.) The bouts of pain would last 20-60 minutes, and occur 4 or 5 times a day. Because I'm an English-speaker living in Korea, getting to a doctor was a little difficult, but I eventually got an appointment with a urologist who did a urine test and took x-rays with dye (both still and moving x-rays.) He said he wasn't sure exactly what was causing the pain, but he treated me for a kidney infection. The anti-biotics didn't really help, but after a month the pain faded away.
Then, about 2 months ago, the same pain came back exactly as it had been before. The first urologist refered me to a more specialized urologist who ran a urine test, did an ultrasound and did a fasting x-ray with dye. (He is the one who verified my complete and incomplete double ureters.) His conclusion was that I was experiencing yo-yo reflux, which- from what I understood from the translator- was that my urine was circling back into my kidney, via one ureter flowing up into the other. And he said that the pain was from the pressure of the urine changing directions in my ureters. What I also understood the doctor to say, via the translator, was that a) it's not serious b) nothing can be done about it c) it's a pain that I'll have to deal with by taking over-the-counter painkillers, and d) there's no way to predict when it will happen because the urine will circle back for no reason at all.
Since then, I've constantly been taking ibuprofen (which has stopped relieving the pain), and I've also tried acupuncture and acupressure from traditional Korean doctors for lack of other options. The traditional medicine seemed to help for awhile (placebo effect?), but now, the pain has come back worse than ever and has been lasting non-stop all day.
So, my questions are-- does it sound like yo-yo reflux? If so, is there anything I can do to stop it or treat it? How much pain is acceptable, I mean-- at what point do I go back to the doctor? I often double-over in pain, but the doctor told me that it's normal for my condition. And if I can't fix it, then what is the best way to deal with the pain? And, is it possible that any of my personal habits are making the situation worse (exercising, eating certain foods, etc.)?
Thank you.
Then, about 2 months ago, the same pain came back exactly as it had been before. The first urologist refered me to a more specialized urologist who ran a urine test, did an ultrasound and did a fasting x-ray with dye. (He is the one who verified my complete and incomplete double ureters.) His conclusion was that I was experiencing yo-yo reflux, which- from what I understood from the translator- was that my urine was circling back into my kidney, via one ureter flowing up into the other. And he said that the pain was from the pressure of the urine changing directions in my ureters. What I also understood the doctor to say, via the translator, was that a) it's not serious b) nothing can be done about it c) it's a pain that I'll have to deal with by taking over-the-counter painkillers, and d) there's no way to predict when it will happen because the urine will circle back for no reason at all.
Since then, I've constantly been taking ibuprofen (which has stopped relieving the pain), and I've also tried acupuncture and acupressure from traditional Korean doctors for lack of other options. The traditional medicine seemed to help for awhile (placebo effect?), but now, the pain has come back worse than ever and has been lasting non-stop all day.
So, my questions are-- does it sound like yo-yo reflux? If so, is there anything I can do to stop it or treat it? How much pain is acceptable, I mean-- at what point do I go back to the doctor? I often double-over in pain, but the doctor told me that it's normal for my condition. And if I can't fix it, then what is the best way to deal with the pain? And, is it possible that any of my personal habits are making the situation worse (exercising, eating certain foods, etc.)?
Thank you.
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