What to do when you're concerned but the doctor isn't?
April 13, 2011 8:25 AM Subscribe
Should I be worried about my split urine stream and side pain, even though my urologist isn't?
I'm a 21 year old woman with a history of UTIs (about 8 in the past 12 months, 4 of those in the past 3 months) that happen whether or not I have sex. I saw a urologist yesterday, but he didn't think my split, sometimes weak urine stream and constant side pain in the left kidney area were major concerns. He confirmed that I currently don't have a UTI and performed an ultrasound on my kidney, which looked fine. He put me on low-dose antibiotics for two months to help with the UTIs and said to come back if I have a break-through infection or my other symptoms don't go away, in which case he'll do some investigating in the pipes.
Thinking back, I feel a little weird having left the office hoping the pain and crazy stream will go away sometime in the next two months. Is the wait-and-see route normal in this situation? If you've experienced this before, how did it turn out? Permission to stop stressing out, please? I'm probably going to get a second opinion, because hey why not, but I'd like to know if I'm overreacting.
I'm a 21 year old woman with a history of UTIs (about 8 in the past 12 months, 4 of those in the past 3 months) that happen whether or not I have sex. I saw a urologist yesterday, but he didn't think my split, sometimes weak urine stream and constant side pain in the left kidney area were major concerns. He confirmed that I currently don't have a UTI and performed an ultrasound on my kidney, which looked fine. He put me on low-dose antibiotics for two months to help with the UTIs and said to come back if I have a break-through infection or my other symptoms don't go away, in which case he'll do some investigating in the pipes.
Thinking back, I feel a little weird having left the office hoping the pain and crazy stream will go away sometime in the next two months. Is the wait-and-see route normal in this situation? If you've experienced this before, how did it turn out? Permission to stop stressing out, please? I'm probably going to get a second opinion, because hey why not, but I'd like to know if I'm overreacting.
I don't think you are over reacting at all. Especially if you are in pain. Did he try to say it was just a coincidence with the UTI and split stream? Did the ultrasound go all the way down so it could see a kidney stone if it was in your ureter or urethra? I hate it when docs just act so casual about something that is causing you worry. I hope your second opinion doc gives you some more time and attention.
posted by dawkins_7 at 8:58 AM on April 13, 2011
posted by dawkins_7 at 8:58 AM on April 13, 2011
I'd change doctors or get a second opinion. It's your body, and you need to trust that you know when to be concerned.
posted by questionsandanchors at 9:21 AM on April 13, 2011
posted by questionsandanchors at 9:21 AM on April 13, 2011
Best answer: As somone who has recently had a kidney stone, these symptoms sound similar. Granted I am a dude. So YMMV.
posted by te1contar at 9:26 AM on April 13, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by te1contar at 9:26 AM on April 13, 2011 [1 favorite]
Never, ever feel bad about seeking a second opinion.
posted by Silvertree at 10:19 AM on April 13, 2011
posted by Silvertree at 10:19 AM on April 13, 2011
Best answer: Kidney stones run in our family. (Lucky us!) As a teen, my brother was rushed into surgery and operated on for OMG OMG something that is not kidney stone (he knew he had a kidney stone) only to have the doc say, "Well, I guess it WAS a kidney stone."
He now says that the worst thing about kidney stones is the doctors will try to kill you to prove that you don't have a kidney stone.
TL;DR: Second opinion.
posted by cyndigo at 11:18 AM on April 13, 2011
He now says that the worst thing about kidney stones is the doctors will try to kill you to prove that you don't have a kidney stone.
TL;DR: Second opinion.
posted by cyndigo at 11:18 AM on April 13, 2011
I'd be concerned about the repeated UTIs. The antibiotics will make a dent in the infection, but why are you getting repeat UTIs? And he gave you antibiotics after confirming that you didn't have a current UTI? Seriously?
Try cranberry juice. And lacto-bacillus, to help replace good bacteria killed by the meds.
And seconding the second opinion.
posted by Xoebe at 11:26 AM on April 13, 2011
Try cranberry juice. And lacto-bacillus, to help replace good bacteria killed by the meds.
And seconding the second opinion.
posted by Xoebe at 11:26 AM on April 13, 2011
I think the urologist did the right thing initially by performing an ultrasound on your kidney and giving you the antibiotics, but I also agree that the pain of kidney stones is horrendous and if you have them you do NOT want to wait two months!
The thing is, you just saw him YESTERDAY. So while I agree that second opinions are usually a good idea, and you could certainly consider an internist or GP for that, is the pain so bad that you cannot wait a couple days to see if the antibiotics help? It might not be kidney stones at all.
If the pain IS that bad, go to the ER.
If not, schedule an appointment for an internist or GP as soon as you can get it, and follow the regimen your urologist has prescribed until you get in. You can always cancel the other appointment if the antibiotics kick in and start working for you.
posted by misha at 11:30 AM on April 13, 2011
The thing is, you just saw him YESTERDAY. So while I agree that second opinions are usually a good idea, and you could certainly consider an internist or GP for that, is the pain so bad that you cannot wait a couple days to see if the antibiotics help? It might not be kidney stones at all.
If the pain IS that bad, go to the ER.
If not, schedule an appointment for an internist or GP as soon as you can get it, and follow the regimen your urologist has prescribed until you get in. You can always cancel the other appointment if the antibiotics kick in and start working for you.
posted by misha at 11:30 AM on April 13, 2011
Best answer: Xoebe, it's a common practice to put people who get frequent UTIs on prophylactic (preventative) antibiotics. I'm assuming the OP has already tried the common preventative and home remedy options - prophylactic antibiotics are usually a last resort.
dawkins_7, ultrasounds of the kidney are not looking for the stones themselves, they are looking for swelling of the kidney called 'hydronephrosis' that can result from having a stone that is blocking urine flow to the bladder (or any other obstruction of flow).
posted by treehorn+bunny at 1:36 PM on April 13, 2011
dawkins_7, ultrasounds of the kidney are not looking for the stones themselves, they are looking for swelling of the kidney called 'hydronephrosis' that can result from having a stone that is blocking urine flow to the bladder (or any other obstruction of flow).
posted by treehorn+bunny at 1:36 PM on April 13, 2011
If you are concerned, get a second opinion. If you are in VA or Arizona, MeMail me and I can give you the name of some fantastic urologists.
posted by SuzySmith at 3:21 PM on April 13, 2011
posted by SuzySmith at 3:21 PM on April 13, 2011
Response by poster: @Misha - These antibiotics are a low-dose version of macrobid, which I finished a 10 day course of the morning I saw the urologist.
posted by plaintiff6r at 6:26 PM on April 13, 2011
posted by plaintiff6r at 6:26 PM on April 13, 2011
split urine stream is common for both men and women, pain is not. So you are not over-reacting. I Nth going to see a doctor
posted by easilyconfused at 8:55 PM on April 13, 2011
posted by easilyconfused at 8:55 PM on April 13, 2011
Response by poster: A quick follow-up, in case other people experience this problem...
The low-dose antibiotics didn't work out. I continued to develop UTIs almost like clockwork. I scheduled a cystocopy and found that my urthea was too narrow, so the doctor widened it. As I understand it, narrowing can occur because of scar tissue buildup due to repeat UTIs. It's been two months and I'm still problem-free, so here's hoping.
I'm still struggling with side pain. It's quite severe at times, then gone the next day. It moved to my back one day, tortured me for a night, and disappeared. My primary doctor suspected kidney stones and wanted to do a CT scan, but then the pain went away. I'm supposed to reschedule when it comes back.
posted by plaintiff6r at 10:08 PM on July 26, 2011
The low-dose antibiotics didn't work out. I continued to develop UTIs almost like clockwork. I scheduled a cystocopy and found that my urthea was too narrow, so the doctor widened it. As I understand it, narrowing can occur because of scar tissue buildup due to repeat UTIs. It's been two months and I'm still problem-free, so here's hoping.
I'm still struggling with side pain. It's quite severe at times, then gone the next day. It moved to my back one day, tortured me for a night, and disappeared. My primary doctor suspected kidney stones and wanted to do a CT scan, but then the pain went away. I'm supposed to reschedule when it comes back.
posted by plaintiff6r at 10:08 PM on July 26, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:25 AM on April 13, 2011 [3 favorites]