Right Lower Back Pain (Kidney?)
Discussion
Hi everyone,
I have a very annoying health issue.
Whenever I drink alcohol (anywhere between half a pint and 3 pints, it varies), I get an intense pain around where my right kidney is, maybe just above it, it's hard to tell, but it's definitely on the inside.
I have now been for many blood tests, which all came back fine, I have had a urine test which was fine and now today, I had an ultrasound which was also fine (albeit I haven't been to the GP yet for the results, but the person doing the ultrasound said they didn't see anything amiss).
It is very annoying, I have never been a heavy drinker and most of the time go for a couple of weeks between drinks. I usually only ever drink water and tea day to day.
I have no idea what is wrong, but occasionally when I have decided to have a drink or two anyway, the pain has been so intense I've almost gone to A&E, but it always subsides and I carry on.
Does anyone have any ideas? Because All the tests seem to indicate I'm fine, but the pain says I'm not.
I have a very annoying health issue.
Whenever I drink alcohol (anywhere between half a pint and 3 pints, it varies), I get an intense pain around where my right kidney is, maybe just above it, it's hard to tell, but it's definitely on the inside.
I have now been for many blood tests, which all came back fine, I have had a urine test which was fine and now today, I had an ultrasound which was also fine (albeit I haven't been to the GP yet for the results, but the person doing the ultrasound said they didn't see anything amiss).
It is very annoying, I have never been a heavy drinker and most of the time go for a couple of weeks between drinks. I usually only ever drink water and tea day to day.
I have no idea what is wrong, but occasionally when I have decided to have a drink or two anyway, the pain has been so intense I've almost gone to A&E, but it always subsides and I carry on.
Does anyone have any ideas? Because All the tests seem to indicate I'm fine, but the pain says I'm not.
Ultra sound doesn't rule out stones completely, although it doesn't sound like kidney stone anyway from what you've wrote.
I have no idea but just as a random stab in the dark:
How soon after drinking do you get the pain?
Ever notice a red tinge in the colour of your urine? Even if just for a couple of days?
The urine you gave for testing, when did you give it? (When you were in pain/several days after pain/soon after drinking alcohol)
The reason I ask is that I seem to remember years ago a renal consultant told me alcohol can bring on IgA nephropathy. Might worth having a read.
Also, thinking outside of the kidney, may be your pancreas doesn't get on with alcohol? or could it be that you have a gastric ulcer?
Easiest thing to do for now is to stop drinking! (Easier said than done I know, but it's your body and as you don't have a diagnosis yet, you never know what kind of damage is being done.)
I have no idea but just as a random stab in the dark:
How soon after drinking do you get the pain?
Ever notice a red tinge in the colour of your urine? Even if just for a couple of days?
The urine you gave for testing, when did you give it? (When you were in pain/several days after pain/soon after drinking alcohol)
The reason I ask is that I seem to remember years ago a renal consultant told me alcohol can bring on IgA nephropathy. Might worth having a read.
Also, thinking outside of the kidney, may be your pancreas doesn't get on with alcohol? or could it be that you have a gastric ulcer?
Easiest thing to do for now is to stop drinking! (Easier said than done I know, but it's your body and as you don't have a diagnosis yet, you never know what kind of damage is being done.)
mosc7pc2 said:
Ultra sound doesn't rule out stones completely, although it doesn't sound like kidney stone anyway from what you've wrote.
I have no idea but just as a random stab in the dark:
How soon after drinking do you get the pain?
Ever notice a red tinge in the colour of your urine? Even if just for a couple of days?
The urine you gave for testing, when did you give it? (When you were in pain/several days after pain/soon after drinking alcohol)
The reason I ask is that I seem to remember years ago a renal consultant told me alcohol can bring on IgA nephropathy. Might worth having a read.
Also, thinking outside of the kidney, may be your pancreas doesn't get on with alcohol? or could it be that you have a gastric ulcer?
Easiest thing to do for now is to stop drinking! (Easier said than done I know, but it's your body and as you don't have a diagnosis yet, you never know what kind of damage is being done.)
Actually, I just spoke with the doctor, they actually lost my Urine sample! So I'm going to give another one tomorrow. The reason I said it was already done and clean was because they said they would phone me straight away when they got the results.I have no idea but just as a random stab in the dark:
How soon after drinking do you get the pain?
Ever notice a red tinge in the colour of your urine? Even if just for a couple of days?
The urine you gave for testing, when did you give it? (When you were in pain/several days after pain/soon after drinking alcohol)
The reason I ask is that I seem to remember years ago a renal consultant told me alcohol can bring on IgA nephropathy. Might worth having a read.
Also, thinking outside of the kidney, may be your pancreas doesn't get on with alcohol? or could it be that you have a gastric ulcer?
Easiest thing to do for now is to stop drinking! (Easier said than done I know, but it's your body and as you don't have a diagnosis yet, you never know what kind of damage is being done.)
I do drink very rarely anyway, it would just be nice to have a pint every now and then with friends. I will read up on IgA nephropathy. I don't get a noticeable tinge in my urine. The time after drinking to pain can vary, but usually I can start feeling a dull ache within about 10-15 minutes of drinking. I will look up some of your suggestions, thanks!
This isn't going well.
I've had a urine test, no blood in my urine or anything else wrong according to the dip thing.
ultrasound scanned my kidneys/liver and abdomen, and everything was clean. (Although she never went as far as the spot where the actual pain is but she went close).
I've had a blood test as said above and nothing was found in that (I'm not sure all the tests but there were a lot of them)
I just had a stool sample checking for H. pylori bacteria and that came back clean.
I'm now taking a Proton Pump Inhibitor to reduce the acid in my stomach in case its an ulcer.
I've also stopped drinking entirely.
I just don't even.
I've had a urine test, no blood in my urine or anything else wrong according to the dip thing.
ultrasound scanned my kidneys/liver and abdomen, and everything was clean. (Although she never went as far as the spot where the actual pain is but she went close).
I've had a blood test as said above and nothing was found in that (I'm not sure all the tests but there were a lot of them)
I just had a stool sample checking for H. pylori bacteria and that came back clean.
I'm now taking a Proton Pump Inhibitor to reduce the acid in my stomach in case its an ulcer.
I've also stopped drinking entirely.
I just don't even.
Dolf Stoppard said:
I'm not a Doctor, but if all of the tests are clear and you have no other symptoms, is it perhaps ''just one of those things"? Alcohol also now affects me in ways it never previously did, as does coffee. All part of getting old(er)?
No, the pain is crippling after half a pint, in a very specific place, it's definitely not normal. I wasn't drinking even before the doctor told me I couldn't as when I do I have to go home almost immediately.It comes on worst/fastest with beer, I could get away with a bit more wine if I drank slowly but I can feel it started almost as soon as I have any alcoholic drink.
I've tried various other things like drinking lots of coke but nothing else sets it off except alcohol.
Have a look at this. Won't necessarily show on US scan.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC286333...
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC286333...
I'm not a health professional, though I have had 2 CT scans. The first showed up a large cyst and calcification in/on my pancreas...the second, some months later, showed the cyst had gone.
What was interesting was that the stomach was all blacked out ( this is due to gas ) and that's why an endoscopy was also needed to look and film the insides of my stomach.
I'm not sure how it works - perhaps a doctor could explain - but a computer programme diagnoses what's wrong with you.
What was interesting was that the stomach was all blacked out ( this is due to gas ) and that's why an endoscopy was also needed to look and film the insides of my stomach.
I'm not sure how it works - perhaps a doctor could explain - but a computer programme diagnoses what's wrong with you.
condor said:
I'm not a health professional, though I have had 2 CT scans. The first showed up a large cyst and calcification in/on my pancreas...the second, some months later, showed the cyst had gone.
What was interesting was that the stomach was all blacked out ( this is due to gas ) and that's why an endoscopy was also needed to look and film the insides of my stomach.
I'm not sure how it works - perhaps a doctor could explain - but a computer programme diagnoses what's wrong with you.
so you are randomly suggesting that people demand investigations without a clue on the clinical question to be nswered, and if the imaging modality is the most appropriate ... What was interesting was that the stomach was all blacked out ( this is due to gas ) and that's why an endoscopy was also needed to look and film the insides of my stomach.
I'm not sure how it works - perhaps a doctor could explain - but a computer programme diagnoses what's wrong with you.
contrary to popular belief, plain films and Ultra sound aren't used becasue they are cheaper than CT or MRI they are used because they are the most suitable imaging modalities or provide the answer suffiiciently frequently to avoid exposing people to the extra radiation of a CT scan - a legal requirement under IR(ME)R.
computer programmes are notoriously poor at interpeting test results ( so poor that many cardiologists and emergnecy medicine consultants have med physics turn the interpretation mode, that so many manufacturers like to put in, on 12 lead machines Off ) , which is why medical imaging is interpreted by Doctors, Dentists, Nurses and radiographers looking at images either on film or more commonly now on screen and reported by Radiologists and 'reporting Radiographers' again looking at the images .
A CT is not unreasonable thing to ask. Indeed, the gold standard test for kidney stones is a CT scan. (I don't know if you can have kidney stones without blood in the urine though)
Anyhow, if your GP has tried his best but can't work out what's going on, why not raise the question with them about a referral to a specialist?
Edited to say that I've just had a brainwave when I was in the shower (as you do) : acute intermittent porphyria. Doctors love testing it (for ego sake), it never comes back positive. But there are cases out there. Just throwing it out there really! Have a google about it if you are interested!
Anyhow, if your GP has tried his best but can't work out what's going on, why not raise the question with them about a referral to a specialist?
Edited to say that I've just had a brainwave when I was in the shower (as you do) : acute intermittent porphyria. Doctors love testing it (for ego sake), it never comes back positive. But there are cases out there. Just throwing it out there really! Have a google about it if you are interested!
Edited by mosc7pc2 on Saturday 10th May 13:54
drmark said:
Have a look at this. Won't necessarily show on US scan.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC286333...
Just had a Mag3 Renogram to test for this, its looking likely, I'll find out on Wednesday.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC286333...
Just the diuretic injection caused the pain.
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