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"Finally, A Diagnosis!"

By Nicki (Submitted May, 2006)

My name is Nicki and I just went through one of the most frustrating medical things I have ever been through!! Back around November and December of 2005, I started noticing these white flecks in my urine. Not having any other symptoms, I just thought maybe it was some sort of female discharge and thought nothing of it. They kept coming though, more and more. So February 2nd I went to my primary care Dr. and told her I was peeing out these things and thought they should be checked. She sent me to the lab for blood work(?) Why, I'm not too sure. Well, the next day I woke up with TERRIBLE back flank pain and was awake from 3 am on. I called the Dr and they told me to come in to pee in a cup. I did and they said I had a bad Kidney infection. There started my nightmare!!!

Four days into the antibiotic I called and told the dr. that they were not working, I still had horrible kidney pain. She sent me for a CT scan and an IBP. Both were negative for any problems (stones etc.) Still in tremendous pain for about a week at that point, she sent me (after tearfully begging for help!) to a urologist.

The urologist said too that I had a bad kidney infection and needed more antibiotics...3 weeks worth! I tearfully said "I don't think this is an infection." He responded smugly, "Well then what is it?"!! I COULD HAVE SCREAMED!!! Nothing better than getting a non-sympathetic doctor!!

Three weeks after the antibiotics, I went back with the same symptoms. He then said, "Oh, it's such a terrible infection you need to be on Cipro for a month!" I was SOO annoyingly frustrated, but didn't know what else to do. Any other specialist would have taken over a month for me to get into and with the pain and sleepless nights, my hands were tied.

One week into the Cipro, he calls and tells me that a urine culture came back and that I had some rare type of infection that can not be treated with oral antibiotics. He ordered 14 days of IV antibiotics. I got a pic line inserted in my arm and there I was at the hospital everyday for 14 days!! I was hopeful that maybe he did actually figure it out. The last day though of my IV treatment, March 29th, I called my Dr's office in tears saying that I still had the pains.

They ordered me to be admitted into the hospital. The first few days I was there they were sure bound and determined to get rid of this "infection." I was on two antibiotics at a time around the clock.

Monday April 3rd was my day of reckoning! The doctor did a Cystoscopy. And there it was, a nasty case of IC! After almost 7 weeks since my original appointment and 7 antibiotics later!!

Because I didn't have the normal symptoms, an infection was all that made sense to the doctors. They said the flecks in my urine were actually pieces of my bladder lining. I later found out that neither one of my doctors actually tested the flecks in my urine. If they had, they would have been pointed in the right direction.

I am still having horrible pain and am hoping to soon find a more knowledgeable doctor in my area. At least now I can sleep at night knowing I have a diagnosis!!!

I am really thankful for being able read other stories and am very thankful to have my husband and family to have supported me in my ordeal!! I am 26 and still am trying to have a good attitude that I can get over this!

Nicki R.

Revised: 05/05/06 - kj