Kidney Infection

[SheSpeeds]

My immune system has not been good to me in the last 6 months, so it was no surprise that after a round of antibiotics for a sinus infection I tried to kick for 3 weeks naturally, that a UTI showed up.  I haven't had one in a decade, but my body seems to be finding creative ways to throw me curve balls lately, despite my best effort.

The purpose of this post is to say that the Health forums have once again steered me in the right direction with good information and emotional support.  Between baking soda beverage, straight cranberry juice, rest, tons of liquid, this morning after several days I felt like I was on the mend.  Additionally, when I got this pain in my back that came on suddenly this morning, I didn't hesitate to go get checked for a kidney infection, based on information I read on here.

I do know that this is a forum of like minded people, and not health care professionals, and that the advice is not subject to medical evaluation (thankfully).  So I use this forum responsibly and with that in mind.  But it also satisfies the need for relatable information, like what can I do before I go to the doctor, how to know when to give up the good fight and heed medical and pharmaceutical advice.  What I can continue to do to support my immune system even while on pharmaceuticals to improve their effectiveness and avoid relaps.  But above all, it serves as emotional support, the others on this forum typically ask the same questions I have, thus affirming from my belief system the next step I should take.

So, the kidneys are on your side, between your ribs and your hip.  The pain came on suddenly.  Rocky recovering from a fight came to mind, having been punched in the back.  The pain was between a 4-6 where 7 is an inability to speak and 10 is the peak of a labor contraction.  It went through phases of regular pain, to that area feeling icy cold, to low pain but a wash of nausea.  I also had pain going from my kidney down the inside of my hip bone.  I know I caught this early and the pain could have been much much worse. (also that I can treat at home rather than in a hospital means I caught it early).  Fever and chills are not a common symptom I have with infections, so that was not a factor, but can be.  Having known I had a UTI was the difference between infection and stones prediction.  About 8:00 this morning is when I had the first signs of tenderness.  By 11:00, the pain was consistently 6 to 6.5.  I took the antibiotic and by 5:00 now, I'm able to move about and be a mommy again.  For all the busy-ness I had over the weekend, that this 3-hour window occurred at a time where I had support to get to an open doctors office was pretty impressive, and I'm thankful for that.  A hospital might have kept me a little loner to monitor, rather than sleeping in my own bed on a heating pad.  I find when your body really needs straight cranberry juice, it's not that hard to swallow.

Hopefully this information proves valuable to others searching for info on the same ailment.