Weird Kidney Infection related issues.. Thoughts?

[Rora]

**Before anyone tells me to go see a Doctor and stop asking the DIS, I have already seen a doctor and am just looking for opinions, stories, thoughts, etc from my DISers!

For the past two days I have been getting up in the morning, getting ready to go to work and then promptly passing out (I really don't dislike work THAT much ). I went to the doctor yesterday and he said that I just had a viral bug and that the passing out was probably just from being tired. He took blood and said my white blood count was normal but I was borderline anemic. The doctor told me to come back if I didn't feel better today. So, I went home, and slept the whole day.

Today, I woke up, made my bed, got ready, etc and then passed out AGAIN. I went back to the doctor, he took more blood (lab results on Friday), an EKG (normal) and a urine sample.

Apparently, I have a kidney infection, a fever, and a viral bug. He said that it is very common for people with kidney infections to pass out randomly. He put me on an antibiotic. I am seeing him again on Friday to get lab results back for glucose levels and whatnot but my question is: has anyone who's ever had a kidney infection passed out and felt achy/weak/cold the entire day? I know this sort of thing affects people differently but I have had a kidney infection before and it was nothing like this.

Any thoughts, opinions?

 

[TaraPA]

I've had 7 UTI/kidney infections this year (and yes I'm seeing a specialist at the moment for this!) and many over the last 10 years, however I've not ever had the symptoms you are describing. I've been bordeline anemic and hypoglycemic - and passing out is definitely a symptom of those for me. Like you said though, everyone reacts differently to infections, so this may be the way your body if fighting it.

The only time I've ever had the symptoms you describe are when I was pregnant !!

Hopefully they will figure it out soon - good luck!

 

[Rora]

Thank you for your reply!!

Yes, my first thought was pregnancy... I hope not!

I guess I will just wait and see what the doctor says on Friday! Thanks for the get well wishes!

 

[KAMLEM]

I read your post too quickly, I thought you said you had been passing out for the past 2 YEARS! I haven't had those symptoms, but I hope you feel better soon. That must be pretty scary.

 

[Rafiki31]

That sounds scary! How is your blood pressure? Do you take BP meds? Could one fo the meds for the infection be lowering your BP?

Please DO NOT drive! It is not safe to drive if you are passing out!

 

[Rora]

I read your post too quickly, I thought you said you had been passing out for the past 2 YEARS! I haven't had those symptoms, but I hope you feel better soon. That must be pretty scary.

Thank goodness this hasn't been happening for 2 years!!
I'm concerned that the doctor might have disagnosed me incorrectly as I feel Kidney infections have nothing to do with passing out but hey, I don't know anything about medicine!

That sounds scary! How is your blood pressure? Do you take BP meds? Could one fo the meds for the infection be lowering your BP?

Please DO NOT drive! It is not safe to drive if you are passing out!

Apparently, my blood pressure and blood sugar is normal. I just started the antibiotic today so I guess that isn't the reason for passing out. I don't take any form of medication for BP regulation.

Thank you for the advice on not driving! Thankfully, I've been lucky enough to stay home these past few days but I will have to go back to work tomorrow. I will have to get DFiance to drive me. I didn't even think about not driving!

 

[minkydog]

I don't know that passing out is necessarily common with kidney infections, but it certainly could happen. You have a lot going on there. It is very common to have fever, chills, and body aches with kidney infections. They can make you very sick sometimes.

 

[pl71]

Yes, I passed out when I had a severe kidney infection. I also had a high fever, blood in my urine and was in a LOT of pain when I tried to pee. I was put in the hospital for two days.

I've had regular UTIs many times which were not in the kidney and those didn't make me pass out.

After the kidney fun, I make sure I checked for a UTI at the first sign of problems, I never want to go through that kidney stuff again.

 

[Rora]

I don't know that passing out is necessarily common with kidney infections, but it certainly could happen. You have a lot going on there. It is very common to have fever, chills, and body aches with kidney infections. They can make you very sick sometimes.

Thank you for the information! I guess I didn't realize they could make you so sick..

Yes, I passed out when I had a severe kidney infection. I also had a high fever, blood in my urine and was in a LOT of pain when I tried to pee. I was put in the hospital for two days.

I've had regular UTIs many times which were not in the kidney and those didn't make me pass out.

After the kidney fun, I make sure I checked for a UTI at the first sign of problems, I never want to go through that kidney stuff again.

I am relieved to hear that you passed out too with the infection. Wow, your situation sounded awful.

I do have a fever but really no pain with peeing and normal UTI symptoms.
Thank you again, you have put my mind at ease, I was worried that there was maybe something more wrong with me than the Doctor noticed.

 

[pilesoflaundry]

Kidney infections are more serious than an UTI and the combination of being anemic, virus and KI is probably just too much for your body while trying to get work done. I would rest as much as you can. Good luck!

 

[golfgal]

I would take a home pregnancy test just in case.

 

[Rora]

Kidney infections are more serious than an UTI and the combination of being anemic, virus and KI is probably just too much for your body while trying to get work done. I would rest as much as you can. Good luck!

You're right about rest- I should be in bed but the DIS is just so compelling. I really do need to get my butt to bed.

I would take a home pregnancy test just in case.

****A LITTLE TMI TO FOLLOW....****

I am supposed to be getting my period on Friday. Last week I was spotting (maybe it was from the UTI turned Kidney infection?). Does anyone know if kidney infections affect the menstrual cycle? I am on the Pill (which apparently is ineffective for the next month due to the antibiotic I am on).

Golfgal- I will take a pregnancy test just to be safe. Knowing my luck I'm in that .01 % of people that can get pregnant while on the Pill!

 

[golfgal]

You're right about rest- I should be in bed but the DIS is just so compelling. I really do need to get my butt to bed.

****A LITTLE TMI TO FOLLOW....****

I am supposed to be getting my period on Friday. Last week I was spotting (maybe it was from the UTI turned Kidney infection?). Does anyone know if kidney infections affect the menstrual cycle? I am on the Pill (which apparently is ineffective for the next month due to the antibiotic I am on).

Golfgal- I will take a pregnancy test just to be safe. Knowing my luck I'm in that .01 % of people that can get pregnant while on the Pill!

The pill can be ineffective if you miss a day or don't take it at the same time each day too. The spotting could be implantation bleeding too. Not to scare you or anything but I would want to know before I started taking any medicines.

 

[teacups]

Never heard of pasing out while a kidney infection... but if the doc says so.... But then again, I never passed out when pregnant either.

 

[teacups]

(I dont know if this helps or not, but this is what I Googled...)
Fainting or feeling faint is caused by not enough oxygen getting to your brain. Passing out for a very brief period, coupled with a quick recovery, is medically termed syncope.

And having a syncope moment will suddenly happen at some point in the lives of about a third of the population. Fainting or passing out can even can happen to those in good health.

An isolated “pass out” event is typically nothing to worry about. It’s those repetitive fainting episodes that require further health investigation.

Before you faint, you probably experienced some of these symptoms:

nausea
feel weak
ear ringing
warm feeling
profound fatigue
sudden yawning
lightheadedness
cold, clammy sweat
pale skin appearance
surrounding noise fading
Then when you actually faint, you lose control of your muscles. Thus, falling is a likely scenario.

Reduced brain oxygen causing syncope is due to a sudden drop in blood flow to your brain. This may be caused by:

drop in blood pressure
changes of blood volume
changes in blood distribution
irregular cardiac rate or rhythm
Numerous causes can be behind your feeling faint or fainting symptoms. Some harmless or expected pass out triggers include:

fasting
stretching
blood loss
severe pain
intense fear
extreme heat
over exertion
sight of blood
breath holding
prolonged bed rest
fear of bodily injury
coughing very hard
having blood drawn
hot, crowded areas
drop in blood sugar
taking a hot shower
wearing tight collars
standing up too rapidly
sudden change of position
extreme emotional distress
turning your head to one side
defecation, urination straining
standing for long periods of time
rapid breathing ~ hyperventilation
vagus nerve stimulation ~ slows heart rate & dilates blood vessels
In some cases, especially for the elderly, heart rate and blood vessels don’t react fast enough to their brain’s need for oxygen.

Some health conditions that can cause or contribute to a pass out:

stroke
angina
seizure
hypoxia
epilepsy
diabetes
head injury
myocarditis
hypotension
heart murmur
hypoglycemia
cardiomyopathy
heart pump failure
vascular problems
Addison’s disease
inner ear problems
Parkinson’s disease
previous heart attack
ventricular dysfunction
coronary artery disease
slow heart rate ~ bradycardia
rapid heart rate ~ tachycardia
fibrillation ~ rapidly chaotic heartbeat
narrowed heart valves ~aortic stenosis
Cardiovascular caused syncope are the most serious types of fainting disorders. If you should suffer from any of these forgoing conditions, all of your fainting episodes call for a visit with your health care specialist.

Your taking certain medications can be a cause for passing out or feeling faint symptoms. Making a fainting contribution are common drugs used to treat:

anxiety
allergies
nasal congestion
high blood pressure
Alcohol, cocaine and marijuana use can be pass out causers as well.

When you feel like you are going to faint, then lie down and elevate your legs. In the alternative, sit down and put your head between your knees until the faint feeling passes.

A couple of feeling faint or pass out prevention measures are:

increase salt intake
elevate your head in bed
move legs & feet prior to standing
avoid alcohol & large carbohydrate meals
consume caffeine or lie down after heavy meals
avoid your triggers ~ smells, tight collars, rapid neck movements
Fainting is often not a major cause for concern. However, if your are a multiple fainter, then a trip to your health care provider is a health promoting formality.

 

[Rafiki31]

Check the side effects of the prescriptions they gave you to TREAT the kidney infection, and see if any say SYNCOPE. If they do maybe they can give you another?

 

[Disneylover79]

I had a very bad kidney infection 4 years ago..it was so bad.. I was so achy and had a high fever (103.9) I was very close to being admitted to the hospital but I made myself hydrate at home. I do remember that I was in a lot of pain. I am not to sure about the passing out though.. maybe you have something else going on...I hope you feel better soon

 

[Rora]

The pill can be ineffective if you miss a day or don't take it at the same time each day too. The spotting could be implantation bleeding too. Not to scare you or anything but I would want to know before I started taking any medicines.

This is very true. Thanks for the advice!

Check the side effects of the prescriptions they gave you to TREAT the kidney infection, and see if any say SYNCOPE. If they do maybe they can give you another?

The passing out occured before I was on the antibiotic but I did check and it didn't say syncope. Thank you though!

I had a very bad kidney infection 4 years ago..it was so bad.. I was so achy and had a high fever (103.9) I was very close to being admitted to the hospital but I made myself hydrate at home. I do remember that I was in a lot of pain. I am not to sure about the passing out though.. maybe you have something else going on...I hope you feel better soon

Wow, thankfully you didn't have to go to the hospital!! I've been drinking a ton of water. Hopefully I don't have anything else going on but I guess I will find out on Friday when the labwork comes back.

Teacups: thank you so much for the google info!!!!

 

[cocodog]

I have had kidney infections that mimiced flu... body aches, fever, etc.