Severe Kidney Infection

[BakewellTart01]

Hi,

Sorry if the post is long I need some advice.

On Dec 13th I developed a UTI. Given it was a busy time and I am a stubborn idiot I decided to try drink water and flush it out. Bad mistake. It ended up spreading to my kidney.
I got progressively worse and the kidney infection caused cold sweats, fatigue and sickness. Unfortunately my first antibiotics my body was resistant to. The second dose were the correct antibiotics but the infection has taken such a hold I couldn't keep them down from vomiting.

I finished the dose of antibiotics on 27th Dec. I improved enough on the antibiotics from approx 24th.

Unfortunately my infection returned yesterday. I attended out of hours Dr and was given new antibiotics.

However today I have again got progressively worse. Same cold sweats, same vomiting.

My question is do I push on. I have anti Sickness medicine to take before my antibiotic but it isn't helping. My poor GP is at his wits ends with me. Do I call again tomorrow and ask for a new antibiotic? Do I ride it out again?

Thanks if you managed to read all this. All advice greatly received.

I had a bad kidney infection last Christmas. It took three months and six lots of antibiotics but I did finally get rid of it. I would give the new antibiotics a couple of days to see if you see any improvement and if not go back again. I hope you feel better soon.

Thank You Ragga. I can't believe I feel this bad. In my entire adult life I have only been this ill with pregnancy.

This is madness. Can I ask if your antibiotics worked even with the sickness? I am concerned I am not keeping them down long enough to do me any good. So sorry you had this for so long. I would wish it on my worst enemy.

I can't take anti sickness tablets because I react oddly to them, but the antibiotics still worked in the end. I wasn't convinced I was keeping down enough of them to work, but thankfully I was wrong!

DD gets this and has been admitted for IV antibiotics when she can’t keep tablets down. Last time she was in for 24 hours then IV as an outpatient for a few days.

I would try for another antibiotic but keep seeking medical advice if no progress in case IV is the answer.

Thanks Raga and Backing. I feel like such a wuss. My GP was tapping my back to ascertain the pain level and I started to cry.
I was quite surprised at my reaction to be honest.
My GP did suggest IV antibiotics but given it would have had me in over Christmas I declined that option but perhaps it would help this time. I have taken two full days of antibiotic this time but unsure how much I have kept in.

Thanks for the replies. I might try sleep this evening and assess it in the morning. So sorry your DD has had this also Ragga. I hope this isn't reoccurring for her.

I was told that our local NHS trust doesn't admit adults for IV antibiotics anymore for a kidney infection unless their kidney function drops below a certain level. Mine was above the level so I couldn't have IV antibiotics despite having kidney reflux and scarring, and a neurogenic bladder. When I saw my bladder consultant a couple of months after I finally got rid of the infection she wasn't impressed by this policy, but I suppose the NHS has to save money somewhere.

If you have the option of IV antibiotics I would definitely take it. Much quicker and easier :)

I spent 4 days in hospital on IV antibiotics a couple of years ago. They kicked in so much quicker and I started feeling better after a couple of days.

I was just like you, resistant to the first batch of antibiotics and couldn't keep the stronger correct ones down long enough for them to work.

You have my sympathies, kidney infections are rotten.

Oh raga I didn’t know that. Not good. DD was only 10 when admitted but has a long history of this so there was no fight for admission. Awful that this is not readily available for adults who have the same problem - kidney damage is really not something to muck about with

Raga, that makes sense as to why we have tried so many antibiotics and anti sickness with the antibitoics.
My GP did mention it as a last resort but it wasn't a promise of admission he was going to send me to A&E with a letter.
I will give it another day and see if the antibiotics start fighting.
On a different note. Any other advice for the kidney pain? I have am trying a steady dose of paracetamol and a hot water bottle. At this stage I am thinking only my right kidney is sore and perhaps I could function on one.
Thank you all for the sympathy. I have had two hyperemesis pregnancy and I can honestly say this infection is on par with how shit that was.

Not for the pain but have you tried d-Mannose as an ongoing treatment ?

I was lucky enough to be able to take tramadol with mine which helped a lot. Would be worth asking your GP for some painkillers too.

Backing I haven't heard of that. This is my first kidney infection so will add this to the ever growing list for DH to fetch me.
Raga I will give them a call tomorrow. Paracetamol isn't making a dent and I was told not to take ibrophen as that could make the kidney worse.

Your OP could have been written by me! Although, I've had 7 kidney infections in the last 2 years. I have the greatest sympathy for you! Was trimethoprim the first thing you were prescribed? I can no longer be given these for UTI's as I'm resistant (which scares me!) and the last two times even with different antibiotics, I've got another one with within a week.
Keep drinking lots of water and avoid ibruprofen, but I would call GP tomorrow if pain is still awful. It should have died down by tomorrow. Sometimes with mine the first day or two I'm given the antibiotics on IV, and then sent home for the rest of the treatment. Perhaps this could be an option?
I hope by tomorrow that you are feeling much better!

I think you should give it until the morning and if you've seen no improvement go back to the gp and ask for the letter to take to a&e to be admitted for iv antibiotics.

I had kidney surgery a few months ago and had an awful kidney infection a few weeks later and I stupidly thought that because it didn't hurt when I wee'd that I'd caught a sickness bug instead. I felt so so so shit. The gp wanted to send me off to a&e (seems mad that the gp can't send you to a specific ward or just somewhere else) to be admitted for iv antibiotics but i'd been in for 10 days after the op and had no desire to go back! I was lucky as the tablets kicked in quickly (promised to go in the morning if they hadn't) but if I were in your position I wouldn't hesitate and get the iv.

MrsKnackered it was the first one! But all that did was allow the infection to fester for another few days.
Thank you all for the advice. I am feeling so very sorry myself. The pain is not easing and the sickness is pretty consistent but I had seen improvement in the pain going when I urinate. I was believing that was me improving. I am also very frightened by the resistance to the antibiotic. I will ride it out tonight and give the GP a call again tomorrow. I am sure he missed me over Christmas calling and making appts!!

Definitely call the Dr first thing. I put it off and only got an appointment after I had cold sweats and honestly felt like if I went back to sleep I wouldn't wake up. Got sent straight to hospital and told to call an ambulance if I got worse on the way! Turns out it had developed into sepsis. Straight on IV, think it they got to the third type of antibiotic before they worked :0(