Hey wise people and nurses - what on earth is this? (Maybe TMI)

[angelaartsstudent]

Hi All

About 3 weeks ago I felt a twinge of pain when I wee'd (internally...not actual burning when I wee'd) - I thought I was getting a bit of a UTI. A couple of days after I felt this twinge the pain got worse and spread. It started low down and spread all up my abdomen to my stomach and around my lower back, up to just under my ribs at the back.

I have a good pain theshold and it takes a LOT to bother me, but this really bothered me. It feels like there is a stabbing fire trying to burst out of my gut and upper back.

It came in waves...on a scale of 1 to 10, the base scale would be a six...a constant burning pain then would suddenly go up to a 9 or 10 and I'd be writhing around for about 30 secs to a minute while it calmed again. When the pain got to it's worst, I would end up vomiting. As well as the pain I felt feeezing cold, weak and shakey.

This was on a weekend, so I went to an after hours Dr the next day and she did a wee test and said it showed nothing expect lots of white blood cells. She gave me a script for antibiotics anyway, probably just to shut me up. After finishing the whole course I felt a lot better.

This Thursday, it started again. Just the tiniest UTI type twinge, hardly noticable. By Saturday morning though, I was hurting alot again in the same way - up to my tummy and around up my back.

I was at home by myself in the morning and the pain got so bad that I was seconds away from calling an Ambulance for myself. As I said, I have a high pain threshold, but I would rather go through 10 more 36 hour drug free labours than feel what I felt then.

Again, the pain got worse as the day went on and I ended up puking, shaking, cold and weak. DH was working a late night shift, so my Mum stayed with me until he got home. I don't feel nauseous as such, I just vomit violently when the pain is very bad. But there is no morning sickness-type long lasting nausea.

I had a repeat script from the last lot of antibiotics, so have started taking them, just in case.

I have my first antenatal check at the hospital on Tuesday morn with a midwife. Should I bother telling them about it? The Dr I saw said there was nothing nasty showing in my wee (as stated above), so I doubt the midwife is going to take me seriously...I am just another paranoid pregnant woman, right?

[Lulu]

of course you should tell them about it! You might need your liver checked. It sounds terrible, I hope it resolves itself soon.

[Little Chicken]

Have you had a lot of morning sickness? It could be kidney stones. They are meant to be more painful then labour! If it happens again, maybe go to the hospital.

[~Gee_Whizzy~]

Definitely tell your Middy about it!! sounds like it could be kidney stones?

[appletree]

Wow, scary. Definitely something you mention. I would go to another GP asap first though, that does NOT sound like something related to pregnancy. I was thinking a kidney infection or similar.

[Little Chicken]

Did the GP actually send a sample of wee for testing?

[Ilithyia]

You should definately mention this to your care provider.

From the information you've described it sounds very much like either Galls Stones or Kidney Stones like others have said.

I've cared for a Woman on the Antenatal Ward who had Gall Stones and she was in a huge amount of pain and the pain was coming in waves like labour contractions. She would also vomit when the pain was there.

If you don't feel "listened to" by your current care provider, I would be finding another Dr very soon.

Good luck!
x

[angelaartsstudent]

Yeah she sent it off to testing and I never got called back. The policy at that particular surgery is if the results are clear, they don't call with the results. Which is why I only go to that particular surgery when I have no other choice...they're open Sunday mornings so we only go to them if we need to see a Dr on weekends (for things that can't wait until a weekday).

The nearest I can see my actual GP is Tuesday the 23rd (they're very good...so very busy), so I have an appointment for then. But as I said, I see a midwife this Tuesday morning at hospital for my 1st antenatal check.

However, this is the same midwifery clinic who didn't diagnose my Pre-Eclampsia (it was diagnosed during labour) when I was preg with Palmer and had v high bp, swelling, pitting, protein in my wee (you self-test there) and bad headaches. They told me to "take a Panadol". So, you see, I am a bit jaded becuase of that, and not sure I'll get taken seriously. It's a very busy clinic, they see hundreds of pregnant women a day, and are always tired and grumpy.

[angelaartsstudent]

Sorry Sara - you posted just as I was typing the above.

Yes!!! It comes in waves just like contractions!

[TaRhLi.]

Definately tell them about it. It is quite common for pregnant women to get Gall Stones due to the increases levels of hormones.

[Ilithyia]

Sorry Sara - you posted just as I was typing the above.

Yes!!! It comes in waves just like contractions!

This is something I just Googled but gives you an idea.

I would definately mention this to the Midwife this week. If you have an "attack" in the mean time, go to the Hospital.

I hope you get the right diagnoses soon so it can all be sorted out for you!

[Little Chicken]

I see the King Eddie clinics have not changed a bit then I would call the GP tomorrow and get the results confirmed so you can tell your middie at your appointment. I have known GP's to get positive urine cultures before and not bother to ring and tell because you are already on antibiotics.

[Lulu]

oh dear - I have liver on my brain lately. Yeah, kidneys - a GF of mine used to have the same symptoms and she had kidney issues.

[angelaartsstudent]

I see the King Eddie clinics have not changed a bit then

Indeed! :-D

[Mother Goose]

sounds more like kidney stones than gall stones. Gall stones is higher up and hardly ever that low down. Both gall stones and kidney stones will come in waves much like contractions. Definitely chat to your care givers about it. There are treatment options available and they can certainly help with pain relief.

MG

[mrsmac]

Kidney stones are THE worst pain I have ever experienced, the reason it comes in waves is because your kidneys are trying to get rid of them and they are moving around hacking up the inside of your kidney. My urologist said they are like those spiky medieval metal balls IYKWIM. I had renal colic when I had kidney stones which is when they are moving around.
You have my every sympathy- there is no worse pain I don't think.

[sasha]

Oh, this sounds horrible. Hope you get some relief for it soon, whatever it is!