I have an infection.

Afraid I might have a kidney infection, but diagnosed with a UTI.?

• I saw my doctor a few days ago and she said I had a full-blown bladder infection that was so bad, if I'd let it go on any longer without seeking treatment I would have needed hospital treatment. She did all the usual stuff, felt my sides and my back, and my abdomen and asked if they hurt. She took a sample of my urine. She gave me a 10 day course of bactrim to take in conjunction with another tablet called Pyridium to ease the symptoms. I have been taking this antibiotic for 3 days now and it stopped my urine from smelling bad, and I'm no longer uncomfortable when I urinate (my urine is orange because of the red Pyridium tablet I'm taking to make my urine more alkaline, and the doctor warned me it would turn that color). I'm scared because my sides and back are now aching and I'm sure that's a sign of a kidney infection, in which case I heard the Bactrim wouldnt work. Can the doctor tell instantly whether its a UTI or if its a kidney infection from just dipping a dipstick into my urine? How did she know it was only a bladder infection and not a kidney infection? If I had a kidney infection, would I have more symptoms than my sides aching and would my urine contain blood and have a strong odor? Would I be needing to urinate non stop with a kidney infection? Surely since i have been taking medication, that should have STOPPED me from having a kidney infection. It cleared up my other symptoms. But I also really wanna know if it's possible the doctor could tell that i didnt have a kidney infection just by the results of putting the dipstick into my urine.

• Answer:

  If it stopped some of your symptoms then I doubt it's turning into a kidney infection. Doctors are usually right when they diagnose people, so if she was afraid it was going to turn into a kidney infection she would have had you hospitalized. If you had a kidney infection it would be the nonstop burning when you pee, but as you said that's clearing up. I have a UTI right now and I'm on bactrim, but I stopped taking the pyridium because the orange yellow and red were getting all over my underwear and it was grossing me out...haha Your sides aching could be from multiple things. If you had a kidney infection it would be your very lower back on the right side that would hurt because that's where your kidneys are located. The dipsticks test leucasites and your glucose levels and such so yes she would have been able to tell if it was more serious. Take all the medicine she gave to you and when the meds are gone, see if it still hurts. If it does then call your doctor, but I'm sure your fine.