[Dmom3005]

My daughter-in-law ended up at the hospital on Thursday night for I'd say 7 hours finding out she has a kidney infection. Here is the problem.
She is on medicaid, first and has a doctor that wont refer her to other
doctors. If anyone knows someone in Indiana, that knows something
about medicaid and how to get around this, help, the hospital doctor told her one of her kidneys is very small, and she needs to see a specialist.

She needs a referral. And to get this its almost impossible.

The other thing is she is allergic to almost all pain medicines but aspirin.
The medicine that she was given for pain, has caused her to throw up
4 times last night. So she called the hospital doctor, he told her that
she can't take the pain meds then, if the pain is really bad to take 1/2
the med. But I think she is afraid to do this even.

I want to help her but don't know how. Other than taking the kids
so she can sleep. Which I did yesterday, and my husband had them
while she and her mother were at the hospital.

Any one have a clue about what might help. She is drinking sprite.
It was okayed. Any other clues would be appreciated.

She keeps getting these kidney infections, so the specialist is needed
immediately.

So if you know someone from Indiana that knows medicaid tell them
to IM me or email.

Donna

[BlueMajo]

Wish I could help more dear Donna...

Drinking Gatorade might help too...

Do you know what is she allergic too ?? so I can think in any other pain killer that doesnt have that and cause her problems....

Sending prayers her way.

(can I vent a little ? I hate that we (because in my country is the same) need referrals.... )

[bizi]

I am sorry that I can't help you...am sorry for this to have happened to her.
I don't understand why her gp won't give her a referral?
that doesn't make any sense.
bizi

[Abbie]

Have her drink 100% Cranberry Juice.... It can be mixed it with the Sprite. (Recommend Diet Sprite so there is no added sugar)

Cranberry Juice -- has been shown to help with Kidney and Bladder infections. There is something (I can't remember what it is) that encapsulates the infection and helps to flush it out of the body.

[Mari]

Hi,

Is she getting anti-biotics now?

Take her to ER again -- her own mdoc won't cooperate with her and she needs to be seen and treated.



Here is what Mayo Clinic says:

Severe kidney infection can lead to life-threatening complications.
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience typical kidney infection symptoms combined with bloody urine or nausea and vomiting.

Here is what Mayo Clinic says about home treatments while in recovery from an infection:

* Apply heat. Place a heating pad on your abdomen, back or side to reduce feelings of pressure or pain.
* Use pain medicine. For fever or discomfort, take a nonaspirin pain reliever that contains acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) as directed by your doctor, or take a prescription medication that he or she provides.
* Stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of fluids will help to flush bacteria from your urinary tract.
Avoid citrus juices, coffee, alcohol and soft drinks with caffeine until your infection has cleared.
These products can aggravate your frequent or urgent need to urinate.

M.

[befuddled2]

Donna,

At one time I too could not take pain meds because they would make me throw up too. My dentist though knowing this gave me something for pain that has something in it for naseua also. I was fine with that medicine but don't remember what it was. Perhaps if your d-i-L asked for pain meds that have something in it for nausea she'll do fine like I did.

I don't know anything about Medicaid in Indiana so I can't help there.

[waves]

Dear Donna

i am afraid i can't give specific advice... going to the ER again does sound sensible if her GP won't refer her... i don't know anyone in Indiana either...

mostly i just wanted to let you know i am here and sending good thoughts for your sister-in-law

and some s to you.

~ waves ~

[Dmom3005]

Thanks everyone.

I will have her use the heating pad. I may have to get her one.

I also will get her the cranberry juice. I know she knows about
that, but didn't like the taste last time. But I think with the
sprite she might.

Donna

[Mari]

Donna,
Blueberry juice works too, but it does not taste much better than cranberry.
The heating pad should help.

M.

[Koala77]

Donna, please be careful giving diet sodas unless your daughter's a diabetic, or you're deliberately limiting her sugar intake.

Diet drinks are usually sweetened with Aspartame, and given all the information we now have about it, I'd be very wary about giving it to a child unless there were no other choices.

The idea of using Cranberry or any other berry juice, is to make the urine acid, and bacteria don't like an acid habitat. If she won't drink one citrus juice, try another and if all else fails, there are always chewable VitC tablets.

If you're still concerned, do ask mrsD in the medication forum. She's bound to be able to suggest something suitable.