UTI and/or Kidney Infection?
Well it’s been awhile since I’ve posted in this subreddit, but I’m currently dealing with what I thought was a horrible flare, but I’m now thinking it’s an actual uti or kidney infection. This past year, I’ve been dealing with horrible symptoms, such as urgency, frequency, and some occasional abdominal and back pain. When this started, I thought I had a UTI but after multiple dip tests and cultures, trips to different specialists and all that jazz, my urologist diagnosed me with IC. Since then, my symptoms have been more manageable with drinking more water and less caffeine and alcohol and taking Benadryl. But I still get flares where I’m peeing 24/7 or feel the urge to pee 24/7.
These past few days, I thought I was in a horrible flare. I had a constant urge to pee, but I assumed it was from drinking too much coffee and taking excederin migraine multiple days in a row (lots going on and I was very stressed lol). Then yesterday when I was at work, I went to use the bathroom and felt a sharp pain in my side. I suddenly felt incredibly lightheaded and nearly passed out! Thankfully, the lightheaded feeling didn’t last too long and I was able to go home and rest, but I still had a lot of pain in my right side and an almost bloated feeling in my bladder.
After resting and not getting much sleep last night, I decided it couldn’t hurt to get seen, so I called my urologist and sent in a urine sample, which showed signs of infection (trace bacteria, high wbc, trace leukocytes). My doctor put me on Macrobid and I’ve taken one pill so far, but the pain in my right side and back is just getting worse. Now, I feel like I can’t even pee because I feel so bloated. I also get a jabbing pain in my side when I pee.
I’m starting to worry that this uti may have progressed to a kidney infection and the Macrobid won’t be able to help. Or I’m worried I have a kidney stone which may be causing the uti. Either way, I’m just freaking out and in a lot of pain. I hate having IC because it makes it so difficult to tell whether it’s a flare or not, and it’s not super easy for me to get to a doctor all the time. I’m considering going to an urgent care to get my kidneys checked, but I’m not 100% sure of what to do. Ugh this just sucks.