Possible kidney infection

Hi guys,

I've just started to feel really poorly today and called my sister who's a doctor but in America. She told me to go to the doctor and get some antibiotics because my symptoms matched with a kidney infection. I've tried ringing the surgery I'm registered with but nobody is picking up. What do I do? I'm not sure if this is an emergency since I can walk. I'm just in a lot of pain. Is there anywhere I can go? thanks!

It's an emergency. Go to A&E if you can't get into your GP.

Yup, go to A&E if you can walk.
If you don't want to go to A&E, find an A&E with a drop in clinic and go there but you'll just end up being seen by the A&E people anyway.

Go to A & E or a clinic.  Do not leave it. Kidney infections are indeed very serious if untreated and need medical attention. I speak from experience, I am afraid.  

You need antibiotics, water and rest.

((Hugs))

ETA: And please let us know how you get on.

If you're unsure where to go, you can always call NHS Direct in England or Wales/NHS 24 for those of us in Scotland

NHS Direct in England, NHS Direct in Wales, and NHS 24 in Scotland are amazing resources -you can find health information on the web, you can call up and talk to nurses and see if you need urgent treatment or can wait, and they can arrange NHS services for you in an emergency.  I have used NHS 24 several times for a variety of issues - last time for a septic infection in my fingers and they're just brilliant!

0845 4647 for you Gibbygab


Ouch, I deseperately HATE kidney infections,so poor you, I'm sending you lots of fast healing vibes and that its not too painful- I hope you feel better soon xx

Thank you so much everyone!

I called my gp's surgery one more time before trying the A&E and someone finally picked up. I was there in less than 30 minutes and they already had my antibiotics prescription written out and I went next door to the pharmacy to get it. That was really painful but I'm okay now since I've been taking the antibiotics. I appreciate all your quick replies and help.

On a side note, I hate my gp office. The receptionists are rude. There is no privacy. I had to tell them everything (embarrassing symptoms) at the front where everyone can hear me and I had to give them a urine sample at the front reception too. Also I was in a lot of pain and it was pretty obvious in my face but they just engaged me in stupid small talk. "Oh so you're studying psychology? Don't they have universities in America with the same degrees?"  . The doctor didn't come out to see me but I suppose he spoke to me on the phone so didn't need to? I just found it so different to the states. That was pretty much my first time at the doctors for my own problems so I just found it weird. Also, because they kept talking to me for no reason, I was late to the chemist but thankfully they let me in anyway.

I'm thankful that my gp visit was free and my medication cost me £7.65 . I love the NHS!

You can rate your GP (or any other NHS service) and give feedback:
http://www.nhs.uk/servicedirectories/Pages/ServiceSearch.aspx?ServiceType=GP

I find the information from other patients on that site invaluable.  We have a surgery fairly close, and when we moved it was the obvious choice for us.  I am glad I looked at this page first because the issues people had with them (some of them not subjective like opening hours) would definitely not do for us.  We chose a GP further away.

It's not always an option for people to shop around, but at least the feedback is there for both the surgery to review and higher ups to see.


ETA: Kidney infections suck.

Ah thank you for the link, Omphaloskepsis.

Is it possible to sign up with a different surgery even if we haven't moved? I just realized the one I have signed up with which is in apparently the same building as the other one I was trying to sign up with does not have out of hours appointments which is really horrible for DH since he works at the hours they have open and can never see a dr.

Yeah kidney infections do suck. I should be doing my uni work but I feel really sluggish and am getting stupid side effects from the pills I've been given. So I'm like halfway between okay and not okay so have no excuse to not finish the essay  .

Is it possible to sign up with a different surgery even if we haven't moved?

Yes, you can change surgeries whenever you want to (i.e. you don't have to move house to be able to change) - no need to stay with the same one if you're not happy with the services.

As long as you live within the catchment area of the new surgery you want to sign up with, then it's not a problem .

thanks Ksand!

Glad you're feeling better. I'm dealing with a UTI which I wanted to treat as quickly as possible so it wouldn't move into the kidneys. Kidney infections are WAY more painful!

Glad you got treated, GibbyGab! I hope you're now on the mend. I've never had a kidney infection, but I can't imagine it's at all pleasant.  Just wanted to add that I too have had some issues with "rude" receptionist at surgeries since I've been here. I'm wondering if the job here is more stressful or if I've been ignorantly committing some major faux pas when I've come into contact with them. At the surgery I'm presently registered at, there is one really nice receptionist and one stern receptionist, so I decided to go with them. I've only been over there twice (once to register and once to be seen) and so far, I'm happy. So, I would recommend "shopping around" if at all possible.

CharmCityGirl, ugh! UTIs blow. I've had three this past year, so you have my deepest sympathy.

CharmCityGirl, have you tried asking for the low dose antibiotic that they give for UTI prevention? It's useful if you get them after intercourse often.

Plainpearl, I don't think they're rude because they work too hard. I was stood there in horrible pain and they just kept chatting to me, each other, the cleaning ladies. Every gp office I've been to, the rude ones seem to always be doing nothing. I've had a similar experience at about 4 surgery's unfortunately.

GG, glad you got your meds and you definitely should change surgery if you are not happy with their service. You might want to consider a doctor's note if you'd like an extension for your dissertation.

Other things to consider for prevention:
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Kidney-infection/Pages/Prevention.aspx  

[quote author=GibbyGab link=topic=74806.msg1026914#msg1026914 date=1334157456 Plainpearl, I don't think they're rude because they work too hard. I was stood there in horrible pain and they just kept chatting to me, each other, the cleaning ladies. Every gp office I've been to, the rude ones seem to always be doing nothing. I've had a similar experience at about 4 surgery's unfortunately.
[/quote]

Yeah, my experience has been that they generally seem like "ugh, why are you bothering me? Can't you figure this out for yourself?" Why I don't know. So, I was wondering if there is often behinds the scenes drama at surgeries that the patients aren't aware of since it seems to be pretty widespread and that's why they're miserable.  

My mom works in a doctor's office in the US and it's always fraught with drama behind the scenes. The office manager is basically a menace and the doctors worship her and people are constantly quitting, so it's generally a very unpleasant environment to work in, but the people at the front desk would be fired if they were ever rude to a patient. So, I approach all doctor's offices with this in mind. That and my mom is always encouraging me to give people the benefit of the doubt. Oh, mothers.