I have had a bit of a week of it!! I started feeling unwell and totally off my food.My urine was also dark. A few days later I developed a fever.The Health Centre sent me up to A&E with a suspected kidney infection. They said up there that it was a urine infection and sent me home with Trimethoprim. I had a reaction to it and came out in a horrific rash.My GP then put me on Macrobid and I developed awful chest pains. Had an ECG and blood tests were done.My kidney function was much reduced.Last night (still with awful chest pain) I was up at the local hospital undergoing lots of tests ( ECGs.Chest X Rays.Blood and urine tests etc etc.The consultant there diagnosed a chest infection plus kidney problems which are to be investigated. He has put me on Omeprazole as a stomach protector,Clarithromycin and Prednisolone for a week. I never take medication and always feel worse with it, I am terrified by it! What are your experiences? I have promised him that I will take them but feel nauseous after just two antibiotics. I start the Predisnolone tomorrow.
Medication: I have had a bit of a week... - Lung Conditions C...
Medication
Dear Aingeful .
How dreadful for you. Did the doctor advise you to keep very hydrated? To drink water to help your kidneys? If it is indeed a kidney infection, you must drink lots of water and avoid caffeine and absolutely no alcohol. Apples are good, they are anti inflammatory and have high acid content that may help the kidneys to maintain acidity in the urine and may help the kidneys to heal. Use a heating pad for pain of you have any.
It is very important that you take the antibiotics. The full course. If for some reason you feel ill after taking them ring the doctor. You can't just stop, they may be able to give you an alternative. But please don't discontinue them without consultation. Kidney infections are serious. Please take the advice of your doctor. I hope you feel better very soon.
Thinking of you,
Cas xx 🌼🌱
P.S. I drink three to four litres a day of water because my anti rejection medication can cause severe damage to my kidneys. Normally this would be too much but it's what I've been advised to do for the sake of my kidneys. You won't need to drink as much as this but I am just trying to emphasize his importance of drinking water where kidneys are concerned.
Thanks Cas. He thinks it's a chest infection.He asked for all my history since my IPF diagnosis.I said that I was also seeing a Rheumatologist who was trying to find a link with my immune system and the IPF. He drew a blank with this,even though he has tried for two years! The Consultant last night thinks he has got it wrong,he thinks I do have an auto immune disease that attacked my kidneys which in turn has damaged my lung.This turns the whole thing on its head! It is mainly the Predisnolone that I am scared of,I have never taken it.x
I know the feeling well. When I first started the dreaded Methotrexate for my autoimmune disease and eventually steroids I was scared too. But they are a necessary evil for us. Whether it is an infection that has gone from lungs to kidneys or an autoimmune disease attacking your kidneys, the truth is your kidneys are suffering. You must be very careful now to try and get them well again. Kidney failure is extremely dangerous and life limiting. So please take the Predisone with plenty of water. I shall hold your hand ✋😁 . The first time is always scary. Like my anti rejection meds. But if I don't take them.... I will be gone by next Friday. 😐 Take courage Aingeful . xx 🍀🌱
Hello Aingeful I'm sorry to know you've been so ill. Taking a lot of medication can be worrying especially when you don't normally. If you take the dreaded Pred with breakfast it will help to minimise the sleeplessness. Pred can cause what I call Pred Tummy and if you're already feeling nauseous maybe take Caspiana's advice and ask your doctor if you can switch to another antibiotic as they too can be quite unpleasant for the stomach. But now you've started the course of antibiotics you must continue it so if you can change to one that suits you better that would be good. Wishing you all the best and hoping things will start to improve for you soon 💐
Thanks HH. I react to most antibiotics badly except Amoxicillin. However this is now useless I believe!
I know how you feel. The first time I was prescribed predisnolone I did not take it. Needless to say I did not feel any better. I had to return to the GP and acknowledge my fears. He told me ‘we prescribe it for new babies’. I took it and hey presto improved. I have had to take it many times in the years since.
Yes....had it, agree....water,water, and even more....it helps a lots, but you also pee a lot...but that is good!
Agreed! My anti rejection meds are brutal on the kidneys. I had to drink 4 litres a day. Now down to 3. WATER!!😄😃😅
Just sent my granddaughter out to buy me a case of mineral water,our water tastes like cat pee!!🥺
Just adding my water intake, I Buy Fruit Flavoured Still Water in packs of 4, (£1 per pack)I drink Them everyday all day,always with me at Home and the Exercise Classes. Better than Boring Water, I drink 3/4 packs over 1 week, No added Sugar. Hope your feeling Better Today Aingeful. XXX C
Thanks.My granddaughter has just brought me my water supply! She is training to be a dietitian! I do not like anything flavoured unless it is flavoured by the fruit itself and nothing else. I can only eat plain crisps, nothing like doritos or any other of the weird snacks. I am lucky in this way.I dont like sweet things or processed stuff either. It's been a massive help to me over the years.Take Care.xx
Need to start that ASAP!!
May I suggest a hot water bottle on you tummy and some fluid to get you urine to be more alkaline....it takes away the sting....remember to take unflavored yogurt with your meds....it keeps the natural state of your tummy balanced and intact....antibiotics tends to destroy it....taking antibiotics may lead to a runny tummy and I am sure that we do not want to go there......all of the best !
Thanks! Funnily enough I've just filled a hot water bottle.Its heaven! I've also got a large pot of yoghurt in the fridge. 
x
Yes...good....some hot tea, as well....lovely...not coffee, of course it will just worsen it....
I drink coffee rarely and not at home.I keep coffee in for visitors. However, I drink tea by the bucketful!😂x
In my part of the world there's a wonderful tea called ROOIBOS tea....translated as REDBUSH tea...absolutely no caffeine....and delicious!
I have had it and also have Pukka 3 ginger tea,peppermint tea, green and white tea...However good old black tea is my most frequent drink.😀
Hi, sorry that you are so ill. You may find that eating something before taking the antibiotics helps. Also definitely eat something before taking the prednisolone.
I have had both in the past and have taken them about an hour apart. I don't eat breakfast but find that a biscuit or a slice of toast and a glass of milk help to stop stomach irritation.
As others have said the meds are important in treating the infection and inflammation as is drinking a lot of water.
I hope that you soon begin to feel better.
I've had a dish of porridge to take everything but am not feeling well at all.As someone who has avoided medication all her life my body is saying What the Hell.......!!
It is very possible that the illness is making you feel very unwell and not the medication.
Unless they are making you vomit, persevere. Antibiotics and prednisolone take about 3 days to start having an effect but you should then feel a gradual improvement.
That said, be prepared to feel 'washed out' and tired even after the infection has gone; it takes a while for your body to recover completely. Best wishes
The Omeprazole is to protect you from excess acid in the stomach, a side effect from taking Prednisolone, causing reflux. Try to eat little and often, avoid big meals.
You might want to explain to your nearest and dearest that you might get mood swings as another side effect of Prednisolone. I can get very "ratty" and bad tempered whilst taking Prednisolone.
Thanks 2 greys,I dont have a nearest and dearest and live alone!😁
You might need to tell yourself, too, to help you understand any mood swings, which can feel like depression or worse 😕 They’re a powerful means to an end!
Like you, I react to a lot of medications. Have had no problems with omeprazole, but plenty with antibiotics, especially trimethoprim which triggers migraines and messes up my blood pressure. As tothers have said, it is important to continue with antibiotics and only stop with the support of your doctor.
So far, I have not had to take prednisolone, but my previous husband Bob did, and at first they just energised him and made him feel his old self. Towards the end of hisral days he developed aggressive dementia, which may well have been linked to that medication as well as his peripheral vasculitis.
Hoping that your consultants will resolve your diagnosis and find a way of improving your two conditions.
Scary about your husband? I have only been given 7 days worth and have a telephone appointment with my GP. Hopefully that will be the last of it and I can get back to my Holistic life!!
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