Pain, Bloody Urine, More Pain

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Hi. I am new here. I found this forum while trying to research my symptoms. I'm 47 years old, female and have suffered from UTI's ever since I can remember getting on average about two a year. When I was about five years old I was hospitalized because of a bladder infection. Since last spring I've been to the doctor three times with what appears to be kidney problems. The first time I thought I had a regular UTI but it was more painful than normal. the second time I am sure I passed a kidney stone - it felt like I was peeing out a razor blade and there was a lot of blood with a big clot that plopped out of me. It freaked me out. I've had tiny bits of blood before but this one was really thick and hard to pass. I felt better after a day or two.

This time is different. It started two weeks ago with brownish pee, some cramping in the lower abdomen, pain in my back, groin and legs. The pain kept getting worse and worse to the point that I couldn't sit, stand, lie down or walk...I could not find any relief. I've never had a UTI act like that before. That went on for about five days before I started peeing blood and I peed blood ALL day long! It didn't even look like there was pee in it, just bright red blood with small lumps, none of them hurt like that first one did, perhaps they were smaller and softer. Anyway, I freaked. Blood kept coming out of me for several days even when I was not peeing - it looked like I was having a period only the blood was coming from my urethra! Totally creepy.

I went to the doc that Monday, showed him four jars full of bloody pee and he prescribed anibiotics and pain meds. He said I had kidney stones. Since I have no insurance and not much money he did not order lab tests nor an ultrasound, he went by symptoms and the bloody pee. Well, a week later I am no longer bleeding but I am still in pain. Not as bad as the few days before the blood but enough to prevent me from my usual activities. Sometimes the pain is a dull throb, sometimes there is a stabbing sensation, sometimes it is cramp-like. The pain moves around from one side of my back to the other and from my upper back to lower back. Then it'll hurt in my groin, then my coccyx bone, urethra, etc. I am fatigued, irritable, head-achy, nauseaous, depressed and have to force myself to eat. Sometimes I get chills and that makes my back hurt even worse. I haven't shown a high temperature although sometimes I feel "feverish". Sometimes my back feels very warm, like the sun is shining on it. My husband can even feel the warmth to touch.

Is this typical of kidney stones? Could the continued pain mean I still have a stone or stones to pass? Could it be something else? I've decided that if I am not feeling better by time I finish my antibiotics I should go back to the doc. I am taking a sulfa antibiotic, and drinking about 3 to 4 quarts of water a day.

Thank you in advance for any input anyone can give me.

[Beth Witten MSW ACSW]

You need a thorough evaluation of your kidney and urinary tract that is more extensive than looking at bloody urine in a bottle, guessing what is causing the blood, and prescribing an antibiotic that might (or might not) work. What is the cause of the bloody urine, pain, and other symptoms? What is the appropriate treatment for it?

Based on your symptoms, I would bet that you have a kidney infection. The antibiotic you're taking may not even be the best one for the type of infection that you have. You could have one or more kidney stones that are too large to pass without being broken up by a procedure called lithotripsy or removed surgically. If you do have kidney damage, you want to treat the condition causing it so it doesn't get worse. Your kidneys are too important to let lack of insurance keep you from getting treatment.

In fact, doctors and health providers generally will treat people without health insurance and will set up payment plans with them. Did your doctor offer that option to you? Is your doctor a kidney specialist? If not, because you have a history of kidney stones and you now have symptoms that seem to be related to your kidney(s), it would be best if you went to a kidney doctor (nephrologist).

So far as free or low cost care, is there a health clinic in your area that treats people with no or limited health insurance? Your health department or National Kidney Foundation affiliate may be able to advise you on this. You can find your local NKF office at:
http://www.kidney.org/about/offices.cfm

With your health history, it will be invaluable to have health insurance so you don't have to worry as much about whether you can afford regular assessment of your kidney function. Can you get health insurance through a job (yours or family member's)? Are you eligible for state medical assistance (Medicaid or MediCal)? Have you talked with your state insurance department about options for individual coverage in your state? Have you applied for coverage and been denied because of your kidney history? If so, your state insurance department can advise you about high risk health insurance? Although high risk insurance is expensive, it could make it possible to get the ongoing medical care you need to avoid further kidney damage and possible kidney failure.

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Thank you Ms. Witten. I have a couple more days of my antibiotic (a generic for Bactrim DS) to take yet I am still having a lot of discomfort. Every day is slightly different. Today the pain is concentrated about where my appendix used to be. The urine is no longer bloody red but is just slightly brownish and walking is difficult. My first inclination is to go back to my doctor but after reading your post I think I'll go elsewhere. There is a "free clinic" in our area that I have heard of run by voluteers from the local hospitals. I tried to buy health insurance about two years ago but I was rejected due to other health issues - this was after months and months of research trying to find an insurance plan that I could even remotely afford.

Thank you again,

Rene.

[Beth Witten MSW ACSW]

I'd call the free health clinic today and find out what tests they can do for you and how quickly. I'd ask to be seen right away to find out why your symptoms haven't improved on antibiotics and why you're experiencing new symptoms. You may have to go to another clinic that offers more extensive testing, but if you can get some testing free, it will save you that much money.

I'd advise you to finish the Bactrim, but you might want to read it to see if any of the new symptoms that you have are in this list:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/202781.html