Can’t shift kidney infection- when to go to hospital

[PoeticLicense6]

I’ve had a kidney infection for around 3 weeks that I just can’t shift. I’m on my 4th lot of antibiotics. I briefly felt better after my second round of antibiotics but the infection never fully cleared and came back as soon as I stopped.

I feel like the GP doesn’t know what to do, I’ve seen 4 different GPs who have all said different things, and there’s been many errors in sending off samples in the wrong bottle and mis reading results.

I’m really feeling poorly now, my head is throbbing like a migraine, I’m vomiting and my back is agony. I asked whether I should go back to hospital, but my temperature and pulse are within the normal range so the GP said not to as they wouldn’t do anything different.

Im just feeling very helpless at the moment, I’ve got 3 small children to look after. Anyone got any tips regarding how I can get rid of this infection?

So sorry to hear what you're going through @PoeticLicense6 - kidney infections are agony!!

Have you tried different antibiotics, or has your GP prescribed 4 lots of the same antibiotic? I used to have ciprofloxacin but eventually that stopped working and now I have nitrofurantoin (I'm allergic to some antibiotics too, not sure if that makes a difference). Apparently you can become too used to an antibiotic and need something else occasionally!

Other than that, I drank litres and litres of water and also lemon barley water, which did help a bit. Plus took all the painkillers going could you perhaps try 111 rather than going to hospital? If you're given the same advice there you know to save yourself a trip... but on the whole what you've been told is what I was told too, if your temperature etc is normal and there's no additional symptoms (such as blood in your urine) it may just be a question of waiting it out. Which sucks anyway but especially with small DC around...

Sending for a quick recovery!

Awful. Unfortunately I had to have intravenous antibiotics to shift mine. I was in about a week.

OP, I think it depends what you mean by vomiting. With a previous kidney infection I had 2 different rounds of antibiotics - woke up vomiting one day part way through the 2nd round, unable to keep even a sip of water down - at that point my GP sent me off to the medical admissions unit. I needed 2 or 3 days of IV antibiotics and then discharged home to finish the course orally. If that's how bad you are I think you probably need to get on to 111.

Hope you start to feel brighter soon

Go to hospital. X

Thanks, I’ve tried cefalexin, co-amoxiclav, cipro and now back on the co-amociclav. Feel absolutely shocking though, like my head is in a vice and struggling to keep the antibiotics down. I’m going to ring the GP again when it opens

I don’t think I’m quite that bad. Can keep a bit of water down, just not much. It’s more my head that is the issue, it feels like it’s in a vice. I’m going to call the GP again this morning

GPS often don’t know how to manage severe kidney infections - I have had a similar experience, I have lupus and often have recurrent UTIs and kidney issues. I’m actually under a urologist for it all now. I take daily long term antibiotics and amitryptiline and other drugs to help manage it all.

I think you are actually at risk of sepsis if you let things continue like this. Get yourself to A and E and get some iv antibiotics and lots of iv fluids.

If you’re not keeping much water down and you’ve got an infection the headache will be due to dehydration.

I'd go to urgent care if you have one. Kidney infections can be nasty and turn septic if you're not careful. Hope you get sorted.

Go now.

Please get yourself to hospital OP. I had similar happen to me, fobbed off with antibiotics over 4 weeks, and none of them worked. I got worse until eventually I collapsed in my bathroom one evening. My then 3 year old DS had to call his Grandma (my DM) because I was unconscious. The infection turned to sepsis and I was incredibly poorly. Please go to hospital and get some IV antibiotics, once they start to take effect you'll be able to finish the course orally at home. Hope you feel better soon.

You sound very dehydrated due to not drinking enough. If you can’t drink more you need to go to hospital for IV fluids .
Have you had imaging to see what is going on - perhaps stones as a focus for infection?

You need specialist help either by your GP referring you into hospital or by you going to A and E.

I’m a doctor.
The only reason not to get help today is if you have already have had imaging and can drink >2l of fluids in the next 24 hours.

I’m really feeling poorly now, my head is throbbing like a migraine, I’m vomiting and my back is agony. I asked whether I should go back to hospital, but my temperature and pulse are within the normal range so the GP said not to as they wouldn’t do anything different.

I am not an HCP, but I think you need a blood test and possibly an ultrasound of your kidneys. My dd had a UTI that didn't quite shift. After 3 rounds of oral abs she was still under the weather, but the only significant symptom -to the GP - was backache. No temperature, no raised pulse. I made an 'I know my child' fuss and she was sent to hospital for a scan, which found an abscess in one kidney. Emergency admission and 5 days of IV abs. The only sign of infection were some raised markers in her blood test. Nobody could believe she was seriously ill, as she didn't appear ill enough. Unlike you, who does!

But with the state of A&E, you need the GP to refer you straight into the correct department.

Sounds like you need iv antibiotics and fluids, get yourself seen to op

Just been to the GP. They are waiting for my latest test results to come back before making a decision. I’ve been given some anti sickness tablets to try keep some liquids down as it looks like I’m dehydrated causing the headache.

Our local hospital have told the GPs not to send patients down unless it’s urgent!

How did this turn out in the end?