Should I go back to GP or ride it out?

[Snowscene14]

Sorry for posting in chat but I’m hoping for more traffic here as I’m feeling awful and am hoping someone medical can help.

Around 22nd or 23rd Dec I noticed my back was hurting, around the waist area from the back wrapping around and out on the left hand side. I have had spinal surgery for disc issues in the lumbar region around 8 years ago and this felt like the similar nervy pain radiating out as that although higher up the spine.
It was during the nights that the pain seemed worse, which ever way I lay I just could not get comfortable, during the day it was manageable by taking ibuprofen and moving around seemed to help it.
On the 24th I also had burning abdominal pain, fairly low down but as my period was due on the 25th I thought it was that.
The 25th my period came, my stomach and back felt quite painful and I struggled to eat much food, I drank a few glasses of Buck’s Fizz in the morning but had no more in the afternoon and evening as I wanted to take painkillers to go to bed.
Since, the Period was as usual short, heavy and painful, lasting about 4 days but the pain is terrible in my back and the whole of my abdomen feels bloated and burning sore. I am burping all the time. The pain when I lay down is awful and I just cannot get comfortable at all to sleep. I am utterly exhausted. I went to the OOH on Thursday evening as by then I was getting worried it was something serious but the GP thought it was inflammation of the stomach from taking painkillers and he prescribed an antacid. My vital signs were all normal and urine clear apart from a trace of blood which may be because my period was just finishing.
Last night was the worst of all. I had stabbing and shooting pains in my left back and whichever way I lay I just couldn’t get pain free at all. My whole abdomen feels sore and burning on the inside. I feel better sitting up, just feel a bit sick but whether that’s due to the fact I’ve not slept now for about 6 nights I don’t know.
No fever, passing water and bowels seem ok, just this relentless pain and discomfort, much worse when I’m laying down.
Should I go back? I don’t want to waste anyone’s time and be told it’s my stomach, can the stomach be causing this back pain and shall I just keep taking the antacids for a few days more? Or can nerve pain from a disc problem be causing the stomach issues?
If anyone can advise, I’d be grateful.

Kidney stones? Kidney infections?

You should definitely go back

Kidney infection.

I had one a few years ago and it took a week before the GP would give me antibiotics because my urine was clear and I had no urinary symptoms such as burning when passing urine. I couldn't lie down without the pain becoming unbearable.

Go back to your GP again ASAP. X

Oh and go get some paracetamol/codeine mix painkillers, they should help the pain.

Definitely go back.

Sorry meant to say - ask directly about a kidney infection and ask for antibiotics, it's been a week and you are no better, so time to get pushy.

Thanks for the replies, it could be a kidney issue I guess, even when I lie very still I can have a bubbling, sharp pain in the area so unless it a nerve firing off or a muscle spasming it could be a stone trying to pass or as you say maybe infection.
Surely with infection though I’d be feeling unwell and be hot? Sorry for the TMI but since last night I’ve been weeing into a glass to check it’s clear and free from blood. It looks ok, it is a little smelly though but it is FMU so maybe that will pass though the day.
We are on the weekend now so any GP visit will be OOH again and I don’t want to be a nuisance.

abouttime

You can't just diagnose OP with a kidney infection and tell her to demand antibiotics simply because you had a kidney infection

Definitely go back to the GP, but I disagree with pp whose advice was to “get pushy” for antibiotics. There are all sorts of possibilities and only your doctor will be in a position to narrow them down to a diagnosis. As it happens I currently have very similar symptoms due to complications of diverticulitis. Ovarian cysts can also cause abdo & back pain. Etc etc.

Hope you’re able to get some relief soon.

Kidneys was my first thought too in reading your post.

Sorry - which means go back to GP - as that isn’t going to clear on its own.

Absolutely go back. This sounds awful. Definitely don’t “push” for antibiotics though

I've had a kidney infection and the pain on urinating was akin to advanced labour. I was also feverish and bed bound. Which is not to say this isn't a kidney infection or kidney stones, but it doesn't immediately shout it to me. I would definitely go back to the OOH though. It doesn't sound like something that can be left.

Honestly go to the out of hours.

Shingles?

She's been to the GP and out of hours and been told that the excruciating pain is due to the pain killers she is taking - she's only taking them because of the pain!

I'm not diagnosing a kidney infection, I'm suggesting it. She should also raise the issue of antibiotics.

My experience with my (very good) GP practice, is that sometimes they are so keen to reduce the overall use of antibiotics that a patient who is not assertive and asking direct questions about antibiotics, can often be overlooked until it gets much worse.

A GP isn't going to prescribe antibiotics unless they consider it necessary, so no harm in asking the question.

How are you doing, snowscene? I hope you're ok

Thank you Jolly, my stomach pain has settled quite well however I still have back pain, it’s a feeling of ‘fullness’ in my back which may be muscular.
I didn’t go back to the GP yesterday, I just stayed in bed and rested and ate very little to give my stomach a chance to settle and along with the antacid it seems to have done the trick, it seems that the awful stomach pain really was due to the painkillers irritating it. I slept much better last night so I think I’m feeling generally better today because of that.
I’ll visit the GP after the holiday if the back pain hasn’t cleared in a few days.