KIDNEY PAIN Ignored by Doctors

[MountainBiker]

Hello all! Just joined, as I am beyond frustrated with docs Gaslighting me. Had right kidney pain, severe edema "overnight" and very unwell for 5 months, went to GP twice. Twice nothing detected. Finally, after 5 months of much suffering I went to the ER due to pain from kidney causing severe RIB pain right where my kidney is. Also, making trips to the restroom EVERY 2 hrs while trying to sleep was getting old. ER doc said I have a UTI, gave Bactrim. I know it is kidney issues. I still have pain in the kidney. Unwell symptoms abated after Bactrim for 1 week. Kidney pain and Unwell feeling are returning. Still taking trips to the restroom EVERY 2 hours in the middle of the night. I saw a Urologist after ER visit. He did a CT with and w/out Contrast. Also did a Cystoscopy - he viewed the bladder literally less than one minute. I have never had bladder pain or discomfort, ONLY Kidney and Rib Pain! He said it is not my kidney. I know for a FACT that it is my kidney. I am super bloated, still. The pain and unwell feeling is worsening. Anyone have any ideas any more tests that can be done? Thanks for reading : D

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador]

Hi MountainBiker,

Has anyone done labs on your kidney. The tests are pretty conclusive if there is an issue with the kidney. I have a link for you to look at. But they detect kidney function with GFR and creatinine levels. If yours are normal, then it may not be the kidney. They did not find any stones either I am assuming when they did the CT.

A UTI is nothing to dismiss. It can cause a lot of other issues, including getting the infection in the kidney. Did you finish all the antibiotic? You said one week and antibiotics are usually for ten or more days. UTIs are pretty nasty and can be resistant. Do not wait to go back to the PCP and say something.

Kidneys themselves rarely cause pain. Stones in them can. Infection can. But kidney failure and decline usually does not, which is why it often goes undetected.

Let us know how you make out.

kidney.org/atoz/content/kid...

[Bet117 NKF Ambassador]

Hi MountainBiker,

Glad the Cystoscopy and CT were negative. They were part of my primary diagnosis.

If you are feeling unwell, please make an appointment with a nephrologist and partake of their expertise.

Take your labs and copies of both the write up of your Cystoscopy and a disc of your CT to the appointment ( unless they have access to this information) so it can be viewed. Also a notebook with questions and a spot for answers. My husband attends with me to hear what is said and scribe for me.

Doctors are paid well to see to your care. If you feel that they are being dismissive, not listening etc. communicating and working with you and other members of your health care team, then it may be time to part company and seek another opinion; someone who will be attentive to your symptoms and needs.

It is not simple, but as many members of the community can attest, they have done the same thing as we have to be our best advocates.

Please take care of yourself and let us know the outcome and how you are feeling.

You are among friends here.

Bet. ☺

[WYOAnne NKF Ambassador]

My nephrologist has told me many times, that the kidney on it's own can not cause pain. That is why CKD is so hard to detect, because you have no symptoms. You only get kidney pain if you have an infection, a kidney stone, a blockage, polycysts in your kidney, etc. You have not said anything about results from blood and urine tests - what is your creatinine and GFR? As Bassetmommer said an infection in your kidney is nothing to take lightly. When I have had an infection I am usually on antibiotics for 10 days and a week after I finish, my urine is retested to make sure my infection is gone. Are you finishing all of the antibiotics? Do they retest to make sure infection is gone? Maybe you are not getting rid of the infection!