Final Update on Kidney Infection

[Yasai]

I wanted to give my final update on the annoyance that was my kidney infection.

I finished my course of Co-Amociclav on Christmas Day. The kidney infection has gone, thank goodness - the majority of the infection was in my right kidney and the back pain became entirely localised to the right side of my back. It feels more like the right side of my back is bruised or sore, understandably so as the right kidney was the worst affected. It isn't painful enough to need paracetamol anymore but it is still early days and my right kidney likes to very clearly tell me if I've been sitting down or standing up for too long!

The side effects of Co-Amociclav have not been enjoyable at all. The worst one was the nausea which hit me a few times while I was at work and was made worse by talking, something I have to do when serving or helping out customers. I am particularly sensitive to strong smells like cigarette smoke and deodorant/perfume when I get sick and many customers I would serve at work would smell, to me, very strongly of something like cigarettes or aftershave and I would have to try very hard to not vomit. Being as stubborn as I am with working I wouldn't allow myself to go home early so I would spend 2 hours of every shift trying to not vomit on the floor. I noticed that the nausea got worse just before I had to take my next dose of Co-Amociclav or if I hadn't eaten, and managed it by eating something small and plain before I took the Co-Amociclav which sorted that right out.

Another unenjoyable side effect was that Co-Amociclav deeply upset my IBS and I had to manage both the kidney infection and the IBS at once. My meals were, and still are, small and fairly plain. I'm looking forward to when I can properly enjoy spicy food again. I found it hard to not eat as many salty things because my palette is far more savory but I'm now feeling well enough to enjoy the occasional packet of crisps and not be in pain afterwards!

I'm going to arrange a blood test to check what my kidney function is doing after all this. I'm sure it will be fine but I am concerned it's done something to my kidney function due to the fact the infection was left to it's own devices for a week and left me in a lot of pain. I've never had to spend so many hours talking to 111 and GPs, let alone go to Urgent Care twice in a short amount of time.

I'm looking forward to bouncing back from this at a pace that my body finds acceptable. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and has a very happy new year! 🙂

[userotc]

Thanks for the update and best wishes to you.PS Maybe drop the crisps from your diet?

[Yasai in reply to userotc]

You're very welcome! I have a hard time deciding what I want to eat in general - after being unwell in November and again this month it's messed with my appetite a bit and I prefer salty foods like crisps.

The kidneys however do not like it and I have to be mindful of that. I'm planning to drop them out of my diet for a bit and try them again slowly in a few months and see how everything goes!

[userotc in reply to Yasai]

OK. Reasonable plan but maybe consider a relevant naturopath in future for overall better health including improved diet and wellbeing (not just the crisps!)? Stay safe.

[Yasai in reply to userotc]

I was discharged from a dietitian before the first national lockdown (I moved). She gave me some really helpful advice in terms of portion control as I will easily put too much of a food group on my plate and my body will react accordingly.

I'm thinking about going down that referral road again for a dietitian where I live now, but at the moment I've got a few things to manage before I can get around to asking for that referral.

I run around a lot at work but I've been considering starting to go running/jogging (not sure about a gym subscription yet). The best way forward for me is to take little steps at a time, especially the diet changes and exercise. 😊

[userotc in reply to Yasai]

There is a difference between a naturopath and a dietician but good luck with your plan. 👍