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Thread: Bad Kidney Infection :(

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    Veteran Member circe221's Avatar
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    Default Bad Kidney Infection :(

    Well I ended up in the ER last Thursday with what both my family doc and I thought was appendicitis. Turns out it is a bad kidney infection/UTI. I have never had either of these before.

    I am on like 3 different meds: Cipro (antibiotic), Percocet (painkiller) and something calle Ondansetron for nausea/vomiting. Since then I have been just drinking lots of H2O/cranberry juice and eating those Pedialyte freezer pops. By the time I got to the ER I was completely dehydrated, and I have to keep flushing my kidneys and stay hydrated.

    Has anyone ever had one of these before??? My dr. wants me to follow up with an MRI on my kidney and a visit to a urologist, so I am somewhat worried.

    Also, I have like no appetite. What foods can I eat that won't upset my stomach? I am losing weight like crazy, and I am worried that I'm not getting enough nutrients.

    Thanks!
    "The winds of Heaven are those which blow between a horse's ears."
    ~Arabian Proverb


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    Veteran Member naughty_princess's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bad Kidney Infection :(

    This same thing happened to me! Except I've gotten a kidney infection twice.

    The first time I had it, I went to the doctor in the worst pain of my life, and they were going to hospitalize me but just gave me pain killers and antibiotics (pills and shots). After about a week I think I was feeling better.

    The second time seemed even worse, but I recognized the symptoms right away. They gave me shots and the same deal. But the antibiotics were having no effect, even after multiple shots, I was still shaking and felt TERRIBLE.
    They said since they antibiotics were having no effect it might be appendicitus and took me to the ER in an ambulance. The MRI showed it wasn't, and they just sent me back home with even stronger pain killers. Waste of time!

    tips:

    I had really bad chills the whole time that alternated with high fever. I found that using a heating pad/ electric blanket really made me feel better.

    Drink A TON of WATER.

    To prevent them from happening you have to go pee within 15 minutes after having sex. Ive done this since my second infection about a year ago, and havn't had any problems. It can also be caused by bacteria from having anal sex, but I dont do that so I know it wasn't that.


    I had no appetite either, but your body has a reason for doing that. All your energy is going into fighting the infection, digesting and processing food uses a large amount of energy, and if you eat something unhealthy then it makes it even harder for you body to fight the infection. Eat only small amounts and your body will heal faster, I was eating fresh fruits, vegtable both/organic soups. Make sure the cranberry juice you are drinking doesn't have any added sugar.

    Also know that by having one infection you are more suscpetible to getting them again, so be careful. There can be permanent damage done.
    Last edited by naughty_princess; 02-26-2007 at 01:51 PM.

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    Veteran Member Hot2Trot's Avatar
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    Lightbulb Re: Bad Kidney Infection :(

    Hi circe221. I am sorry you are feeling sick (Hug!) .

    *This is long sweetie, but contains a lot of info. (Sorry, I just really wanted to share as much medical info as I could, since I know that the last generation of "doctors" are a "Wham-Bam-Pay Me-Hurry Up & Get Out-NEXT!" society that doesn't discuss / explain things to their patients. Perhaps this will help you.*

    A UTI (urinary tract infection) can be caused by a couple of things:


    • 1) It can occur when the urethra is irritated due to too much friction (i.e. sex), tight pants, change in pH levels caused by diet, holding your pee in, which a lot of people (particularly women) often do.

    • 2) It can also occur when E. coli (part of the normal flora of feces ) travels up through the urethra (i.e. <pardon the term> "double dipping") during sex, thongs (not the most hygenic underwear available) and wiping from back to front. Basically, your run-of-the-mill, inadvertent pathogenic microbial transfer.

    • 3) Another potential cause of UTI is urethral inflammation as a result of not flushing your kidneys / bladder enough by not drinking enough water, hence, not peeing enough.


    A kidney infection is when a UTI has been undetected or left untreated and the bacteria ascend (go up) past the bladder and into the kidneys.

    At this point, the infection is considered aggressive, but treatment is simple enough with antibiotics and you should be feeling better soon, if not already.

    The best advice I can give you is:

    • 1) Continue to flush your system out with liquids. Lots of water!!! It might hurt / feel uncomfortable (I am so sorry sweetie), but in all reality, the more you pee, the quicker you will clean your system out.

    • 2) RESIST THE URGE TO HOLD YOUR PEE IN!!! 1) Your bladder releases the waste product ammonia, which is converted into urea by your liver. When saturation levels of uric acid in the blood occur, the **uric acid crystallizes in the kidney causing a type specific kidney stone, hence the precautionary order for the kidney MRI (just to make sure that’s not it).** If you hold your pee in becasue you are concerned about sanitary conditions in the bathrooms, carry a bottle of Purell with you, but "If you gotta go, GO!!!" You don't want a kidney /liver problem because you held your pee in too much (not saying that you do, but just in case)

    • 2a) In addition to ^the above^ 2) As urea decays in the body (i.e. holding your pee in), the body's pH rises due to the formation of hydroxide ions. It is well known throughout the medical community that high pH is a breeding ground for bacterial infection, since slightly alkaline pH cannot support pathogenic bacteria. In other words (I cannot stress this enough), pee, A LOT. Simply peeing will change your body's pH after a few hours and allows your immune system to be much healthier, thus stronger and effective.

    • 3) Exercise. Since (some) urea is excreted through sweat, it is a way you can help your body perform its functions, now that your immunity is temporarily compromised. Just remember to re-hydrate yourself after your workout.

    __________________________________________________ _____________

    And now, to address your question:

    1) The antibiotic may be partially responsible for your lack of appetite.
    2) Another factor may also be the fact that your pH is wonky right now and you have a little war going on inside of you:

    Your Immune System (YaY!) Vs. The Infection (BOO!!! LoL).

    Your lack of appetite may indicate that your body is asking to be flushed or "purged" of toxins that your kidney / bladder / urethra may not be able to handle all that well right now.

    Personally, I have found that when I have lacked an appetite, fruits, to the rescue:

    • 1) Fruits (cantaloupe, honeydew, grapes, berries, bananas, etc.), fruit cups / fruit salads. They will help your body clean itself out while simultaneously providing hydration (2-for-1; Nice). Eat them slowly however, as you may feel nauseous with a lot of fruit in your stomach.
    • 2) Eating 1 whole raw carrot a day can boost your immune sytem and help it do its job.

    • 3) You might also like crackers and cheese with the fruits so it's not so bland.

    • 4) Applesauces.

    • 5) Soups.

    • 6) Yogurts (which are very good at balancing the natural microflora of the body).

    • 7) Light foods, like wraps (Turkey & Cheese Wraps, etc.), granola - Nothing too heavy that will create more toxins that your body will have to stress itself to excrete.

    • 8 ) * Stay away from alcohol, caffeine, salty, acidic (i.e. orange juice) and spicy foods, , foods high in starches and complex carbohydrates a.k.a. sugars * until you get better. These substances can further irritate your urethra and aggravate your body's pH level, which is currently trying to balance itself. *I would even recommend that you follow this nutrition path for at least another week after symptoms disappear, since UTIs can be persistent, linger and repeat.

    • 9) * Stay away from thongs * (until you get better). Wear cotton briefs / boyshorts until this passes, and if at all possible, sleep without panties (let "her" "breathe"; LoL)!!!


    Following these suggestions will allow you to Help your immune system Heal you .

    As for the kidney MRI, I wouldn't worry too much. It sounds like a standard screening routine for a patient presenting with aggressive UTI / bladder infection symptoms as a precaution. Since some UTIs / kidney infection can be caused by improper renal conversion, and **crystallized uric acid could cause kidney stones (as explained in #2 of the "Best advice" section above), there is a correlative value that is not to be overlooked. However, from your explanation alone, I suspect that in your case, kidney stones are not the cause of your discomfort.

    I hope that you Feel better soon!


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    Veteran Member Hot2Trot's Avatar
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    Arrow Re: Bad Kidney Infection :(

    Quote Originally Posted by naughty_princess View Post
    I had really bad chills the whole time that alternated with high fever. I found that using a heating pad/ electric blanket really made me feel better.
    I second naughty_princess on this as well (helps relax the irritated bladder and with involuntary urethral cramping). P.S. Fever is a sign of infection, so it's normal for this scenario, just as long as it doesn't spike.

    Quote Originally Posted by naughty_princess View Post
    To prevent them from happening you have to go pee within 15 minutes after having sex.
    I second that as well. It clears out the urethral passageway and any bacteria that were trying to make their way up there will be flushed out into the toilet!

    Oooh hoo waaah ha ha ha ha! (LoL).


    Quote Originally Posted by naughty_princess View Post
    It can also be caused by bacteria from having anal sex, but I dont do that so I know it wasn't that.
    Again, second that.

    Quote Originally Posted by naughty_princess View Post
    Also know that by having one you are more suscpetible to getting them again, so be careful.
    True & second.

    Quote Originally Posted by naughty_princess View Post
    There can be permanent damage done.
    Sadly, True:
    If persistent and untreated, permanent damage to the bladder, kidneys and eventually, the liver (liver damage is mostly irreversable, slowly degenerative and inevitably fatal).

    No reason to freak out though girl, just keep your fluid levels up and sodium down (since BOTH sodium and caffeine are dieuretics, and you want to maintain yourself well hydrated!!!) .

    We tend to take better care of our cars than our own bodies!

    Our bodies are machines and we must service them, MORESO than we do our cars, with fluid "checks and changes," if you will.

    Because if not, like our transportation, our bodies will "break down" so to speak. So if we take care of our bodies, they will take care of us .



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    Default Re: Bad Kidney Infection :(

    I have had a UTI and swollen kidney.. I cant stay long so I will chime in later. In the meantime you have been given good advice.

    Just wanted to add though, that I hope the cranberry juice you are consuming isn't the regular juice you get at a regular store. If so stop. It is loaded with sugar which will work your kidneys too hard and supress your immune system. Cranberry juice is great but it should be NATURAL cranberry juice. You can buy it as health food stores... wholefoods stock it.

    Feel better soon.


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    Veteran Member Hot2Trot's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bad Kidney Infection :(

    Quote Originally Posted by seraya View Post
    Just wanted to add though, that I hope the cranberry juice you are consuming isn't the regular juice you get at a regular store. If so stop. It is loaded with sugar which will work your kidneys too hard and supress your immune system. Cranberry juice is great but it should be NATURAL cranberry juice. You can buy it as health food stores... wholefoods stock it.
    I second seraya on this as well. It is best to give your system a little down-time / break for some time by keeping your diet as simple as possible until your body could more properly process refined foods.


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    Veteran Member circe221's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bad Kidney Infection :(

    Girls....thank you so much....just reading your replies gives me some comfort. I have never been this sick before, and I was starting to get a little scared.

    I am drinking 100% cranberry juice - not a blend. I am mixing it 50/50 with water, and am drinking it pretty much round the clock, which means I am peeing round the clock.

    Hot2Trot - thank you so much for your information, especially about the eating part. That is one of my main concerns. I mean I have NO appetite. Today my mom made me some pastina in broth (little star pasta) and I had a few spoonfuls of that, I had a piece of wheat toast and some applesauce. The antibiotic might be the culprit, because I have had diarrhea too, and that sometimes happens to me when I take antibiotics. I might try the yogurt to see if that will counteract some of the havoc the antibiotics are wreaking on my digestive system right now.

    As to how I got it...I have no clue. I don't have anal, and always try to do the "wipe front to back" thing. I have been having more sex lately, perhaps that is it? But I am definitely going to try to pee afterwards every time now.

    Again, thank you all so much. I go to the urologist and for the MRI later in the week. I'll post an update then.

    Thanks again!!!
    "The winds of Heaven are those which blow between a horse's ears."
    ~Arabian Proverb


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    Default Re: Bad Kidney Infection :(

    All the advice that has been given above is awesome. I had a kidney infection so bad when I was 20 that I ended up in the hospital for almost 2 weeks. I thought I had the flu because of the nausea, fever, loss of appetite, etc., but it turned out it was a kidney infection. Be thankful that you got to a good ER and they knew what was wrong with you, I was in a military hospital and they couldn't figure out what was going on. The diagnosis went from the flu to encephalitis to a kidney infection, and a million other stupid things in between. The time they wasted trying to figure out what was wrong only made me sicker.

    When they admitted me into the hospital my temp was 104, and it took them forever to break it. I was on IV fluid for quite some time, but as they started to take me off of it, they would give me 5 giant bottles of water, and they would tell me the time period I had to finish them. Doing it that way made it easier for me to get all my water needs for the day, because I could see how much I needed to drink. I wasn't hungry at all either, but they made me eat. I had alot of applesauce, pudding, fruit salad, bananas, and soup. The better I felt each day, the easier heavy food was to eat.

    Get better!

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