Hydronephrosis of kidney

[Crushedvelvetcouch]

Hi I'm just looking for some advice from somebody who knows about these things.
I had been sufferimg from recurrent UTIs, I had a cystoscopy (normal) and an ultrasound of my kidneys which showed a normal left kidney but mild hydronephrosis and a small cyst on the right.
I am really panicking that my kidney is not working properly. Since the scan results I have been feeling pain in the right side around my waist on some days, if I press though it appears to come from the muscle and i'm not tender underneath the ribs where kidney lives. Perhaps I am over thinking/ worrying.
I'm not due to see the consultamt until 19th June but I suffer from awful health anxiety anyway so I will probably work myself up in the next month.
Has anybody else ever suffered anything similar and what was the treatment, if any?
I am having bloods for kidney function on monday so hopefully they will reveal something more either way.
Thanks in advance for any replies.

Dont panic. If your kidney isn't functioning properly it's not the end of the world honest. One of my kidneys is completely non functioning due to kidney stones. I'm prone to infections but overall it's fine. If yours is maybe just not functioning as it should itll be fine.

Chances are itll be nowhere near that severe and totally treatable

Thank you for replying to me, sorry to hear about your kidney but glad that the other one has taken over for you
Are you in a lot of pain or constant antibiotics? Do you know of any dietary changes I can make to help my kidneys along a bit?
The US report says that my left kidney looks completely fine which i'm sure is positive, Im just so worried. I can't really afford to be ill, time off work etc.

My left kidney is perfect my right is unrecognisable as a kidney on scans.

I only take antibiotics when I have an infection otherwise it's just pain management if required. I'm in varying degrees of pain. Sometimes none at all. It's mostly manageable though & thankfully I'm not off work much.

Drink loads. I've increased my fluid intake considerably. I like to keep my healthy one working well

The fear of a diagnosis is probably worse than the actual diagnosis. Dont worry too much.

Ultimately my kidney will need removed but tbh thatll make things a lot easier

I think you have a great attitude tbh.
I have been comforting myself with the fact that i only need the one
I'm just a bloody worrier and I drive myself mad, I just wasn't expecting the UTIs to lead to a kidney issue I suppose.
I test my own urine all the time now and theres rarely any blood, protein or other nasties in it and if there is I know that means I have an infection and I start the antibiotics quickly.
When will you need to have your kidney removed? Has your right kidney always been troublesome?
I have had a couple of bad kidney infections over the years but nothing else. I haven't neen the best at drinking water, always preferred coffee or sodas
Also have you had to give up alcohol?
I don't drink much now but looking back to my twenties I am a bit and wonder if I have perhaps brought this on myself as I drank a lot, socially.
Sorry to bombard you with questions but I don't know anybody else with experience of this so its helpful to speak to somebody who does.

It's not all been plain sailing I've been in hospital a couple of times and spent a week getting pumped full of antibiotics but that's happened an average of once a year. So I can cope with that.

My problems only started a few years ago. I didnt have a UTI I had a pain in my side which just wouldn't go away. Blood tests showed an abnormality then I went for various scans before they got to the bottom of it.

At the moment I'm considered to be 'managing my condition' so they wont rush to remove it yet.

I dont drink much alcohol but I've cut back. My kidney can play up in various ways so I dont like drinking too much. (Says she who spent an afternoon drinking prosecco last week )

I've found a fruit squash that I like so I drink lots of it and that helps.

I'm happy to answer any questions I can

Sorry to hear it can get problematic form time to time, I suppose you never get used to having to live with something chronic, no matter how well you are managing it.
Do they think that your kidney has always been a bit damaged and it only showed up as an issue in adulthood?
I ask because of how prone I have been to kidney infections at young ages (teens and twenties) and am wondering if Ive always had a dodgy kidney or if the infections have damaged it. I was hospitalised when I was nineteen but I had been ignoring a UTI and going out drinking at college so just always put it down to that really.

I think I am going to give up alcohol until I see the consultant, I like the odd wine or two but im not bothered if I need to knock it in the head now at the ripe old age of thirty six.

Do you cut down on protein and dairy? I read they can cause issues for kidneys too.

Thanks for answering my questions, its really helpful and I do feel a bit calmer now.
Previously I had been imagining dialysis wards and transplants dramatic.