Well, I had my first painless night in over a year, and it feels GREAT! Unfortunately, I did so many things for it yesterday that it is impossible to pin down which of them (perhaps all?) were responsible for the improvement. Here is a list:
I should mention that the constant feeling that I need to urinate has subsided dramatically as well (at least for now).
At this point I would recommend to anyone just finding this thread to do the last three things on the list first (vitamin D, cranberry juice and LOTS of water w/lemon). They are very easy to do and may be the key. I will keep posting updates as things change or I learn more, and if anyone tries something on the above list with success, PLEASE post it here. Thanks all![/list]
- Reflexology w/cupping (itmonline.org/arts/cupping.htm)
Back rub with olive oil
All-fruit smoothie with olive oil
Lots of cranberry juice
One vitamin D tablet (sublingual)
Lots of water w/lemon
I should mention that the constant feeling that I need to urinate has subsided dramatically as well (at least for now).
At this point I would recommend to anyone just finding this thread to do the last three things on the list first (vitamin D, cranberry juice and LOTS of water w/lemon). They are very easy to do and may be the key. I will keep posting updates as things change or I learn more, and if anyone tries something on the above list with success, PLEASE post it here. Thanks all![/list]
Hi, my name is Amber i was just diagnosed with lupus nephritis about a year ago. I am 30 years old. I too wake up with this pain. Some times it's just on one side other times it's on both. I have noticed that the longer I sleep the worst it gets, but as the day goes on it tends to get better sometimes. The doctors and articles that I have read say you don't have pain in the kidneys with lupus nephritis, but I beg to differ. I am still trying to find what is causing this because my nights can be long at times trying to fing a position that is comfortable. It is going on nine days now that I have had this pain this time. I will probably go to the doctor again soon have my labs drawn. They will give me pain meds and round and round I will go. I just wish I could find an answer not only for myself but for any of you with this same problem. Stay Tuned!!
I found this board while searching for causes of my pain. It's all the same as what others have already posed, i.e. pain in morning, seems to be in kidney area, gets better after using the bathroom.
I've noticed that the only time it seems to be happening to me is when I have Pop (oops, sorry, I'm from the north...Soda), or any drink with artificial sweetener. It seems to be much worse if I have a dark soda vs. light colored, and isn't as bad if I drink 12oz. of, say, Crystal Light, vs. a can of soda.
I have also noticed that if I drink a bunch of water during the night, it's not quite as bad (usually 16+ oz.)
has ANYONE else experienced/noticed anything similar to this?
I've noticed that the only time it seems to be happening to me is when I have Pop (oops, sorry, I'm from the north...Soda), or any drink with artificial sweetener. It seems to be much worse if I have a dark soda vs. light colored, and isn't as bad if I drink 12oz. of, say, Crystal Light, vs. a can of soda.
I have also noticed that if I drink a bunch of water during the night, it's not quite as bad (usually 16+ oz.)
has ANYONE else experienced/noticed anything similar to this?
I've posted here a couple times, and you can read my other posts, but so far nothing is really known. It is not kidney stones or kidney infection according to both an ultrasound and blood tests. As I have said before, I also have elevated levels of protein in my urine, and have been waiting to get to the kidney doctors to see what they want to do about it. Appointment is in a little less than 2 weeks, so I will update again after. Don't give up! We need to be our own guinea pigs and keep trying things.
In the morning (with pain) if I lay on my back and kind of scrunch up my knees toward the sky that alleviates much of the pain for a while.
In the morning (with pain) if I lay on my back and kind of scrunch up my knees toward the sky that alleviates much of the pain for a while.
After suffering through a couple nights of back pain and googling this topic, I find myself with the same answer to this question I've always known - but like to forget. I have a problem with Chronic Candida yeast overgrowth. When I do not manage my diet properly I end up in this predicament again. Unfortunately it is a balancing act to get to the proper diet that is most compatible with your system. That involves getting off processed sugars and sugar substitutes. Once your system is "clean" you can add some simple natural sugars in small quantities - but thisis a difficult process. When you cut out sugars you will have a 'die off" effect with the yeast which will make the symptoms flare up. You need to keep hydrated - drink lots of water. ]
I have used water fasting throughout the years to balance my system at times as it's the fastest way to restore balance - but this is difficult. The first several days you will feel like you have the flu or fever and chills...it's a difficult habit to break when you are used to sugar in your diet. That sugar can come in the form of juices and other things that are not "sugar" also.
Thanks for all the responses that only serve to remind me that this condition needs to be addresses again. Oh...and alcoholic beverages such as beer are THE worst for this condition as they are extremely high in carbohydrates.
I have used water fasting throughout the years to balance my system at times as it's the fastest way to restore balance - but this is difficult. The first several days you will feel like you have the flu or fever and chills...it's a difficult habit to break when you are used to sugar in your diet. That sugar can come in the form of juices and other things that are not "sugar" also.
Thanks for all the responses that only serve to remind me that this condition needs to be addresses again. Oh...and alcoholic beverages such as beer are THE worst for this condition as they are extremely high in carbohydrates.
Wow I cannot believe so many other's suffer with this too.
I have felt this over the last several weeks more so on weekends when I sleep longer.
Ususally wake up about 5am needing to pee & my back area right where your kidney's are on both sides for me is aching & urinating helps a bit but sometimes I find it hard to get back to sleep because the dull ache is still there like this morning it happened but all week when I got up for work between 6:30-7am no real issue unlike this weekend where I slept till 9am & it came back again.
After about an hour of being up & peeing a couple more times it starts to subside but I can still on some days feel that slight ache around the kidney area in my back.
This just started a couple months ago on & off so I will try some of the recommendations from this site since I do not drink nearly enough water & do like my coffee & tea & can have several cups a day.
I have felt this over the last several weeks more so on weekends when I sleep longer.
Ususally wake up about 5am needing to pee & my back area right where your kidney's are on both sides for me is aching & urinating helps a bit but sometimes I find it hard to get back to sleep because the dull ache is still there like this morning it happened but all week when I got up for work between 6:30-7am no real issue unlike this weekend where I slept till 9am & it came back again.
After about an hour of being up & peeing a couple more times it starts to subside but I can still on some days feel that slight ache around the kidney area in my back.
This just started a couple months ago on & off so I will try some of the recommendations from this site since I do not drink nearly enough water & do like my coffee & tea & can have several cups a day.
I too have a similar morning lower back pain, and this is a 2nd occurance. The last time I had it, I was told by a friend that I was drinking too much diet Coke. I switched to club soda and a splash of OJ as a mixer (I am a 2-3 drink/day + 2 cups of coffee/day) and had not been having any problems untill this week.
I have been working out on my Wii 3-4 times per week, and have modified my diet to include lots more veggies and bananas. The weight loss has been great, but all of the sudden, the kidney pain returned! I thought maybe it was the OJ, or the club soda, but started reading more about foods to limit on Kidney.org, and sho nuff, Bananas and potatoes can lead to too much potasium, celery is to be limited (I've been eating lots of celery to avoid late night snacking of other bad things) Peanut butter and Tomatoes are also on the list. I'm a good water drinker, and always bring a glass to the nightstand, and will go with the gallon per day (1/3 at night) to see if I can get this over with quickly, and substitute apples and carrots for the bananas and celery. Wish me luck!!
I have been working out on my Wii 3-4 times per week, and have modified my diet to include lots more veggies and bananas. The weight loss has been great, but all of the sudden, the kidney pain returned! I thought maybe it was the OJ, or the club soda, but started reading more about foods to limit on Kidney.org, and sho nuff, Bananas and potatoes can lead to too much potasium, celery is to be limited (I've been eating lots of celery to avoid late night snacking of other bad things) Peanut butter and Tomatoes are also on the list. I'm a good water drinker, and always bring a glass to the nightstand, and will go with the gallon per day (1/3 at night) to see if I can get this over with quickly, and substitute apples and carrots for the bananas and celery. Wish me luck!!
Just an update for everyone. I've discovered a few things since my last post.
First, I had my appendix removed about a year before this chronic pain started. So it can't be an inflamed appendix (though it's possible it's a lingering problem from the surgery, since the pain is on my right side). Also, I have low blood pressure, unlike a previous poster who mentioned having high blood pressure.
Over the past 7 months, I've made changes to my diet and lifestyle. I now drink much less caffeine, and stop well before bedtime. I eat a variety of healthy, fresh foods. I am active daily, though not exercising. In this time, the kidney pain has lessened in frequency and intensity. There has only been one night where it was bothersome enough to keep me awake for an hour while I tried to walk it off.
I have a doc appointment this weekend and will be investigating this further. A previous poster mentioned the possibility of having an obstructed ureter, which is vey intriguing.
I'll post an update in the near future.
Best of luck to all of us.
First, I had my appendix removed about a year before this chronic pain started. So it can't be an inflamed appendix (though it's possible it's a lingering problem from the surgery, since the pain is on my right side). Also, I have low blood pressure, unlike a previous poster who mentioned having high blood pressure.
Over the past 7 months, I've made changes to my diet and lifestyle. I now drink much less caffeine, and stop well before bedtime. I eat a variety of healthy, fresh foods. I am active daily, though not exercising. In this time, the kidney pain has lessened in frequency and intensity. There has only been one night where it was bothersome enough to keep me awake for an hour while I tried to walk it off.
I have a doc appointment this weekend and will be investigating this further. A previous poster mentioned the possibility of having an obstructed ureter, which is vey intriguing.
I'll post an update in the near future.
Best of luck to all of us.
Also, forgot to add:
Urination does NOT relieve the problem in my case. It may simply be the act of sitting or standing up that relieves the pain, and we are conflating it with urination. I found during the one bad episode I had in the last 7 months, relieving myself did not help.
Also, another time, I had another mild ache come on when I was laying prone in a dentist's chair for several hours in the middle of the day. (Very still, unmoving.) So, it definitely seems to be linked to the position and stillness of the body in my case, not the time of day.
It seems that only sitting, or better, standing up relieves the pain.
Do others find this true for them, as well?
Urination does NOT relieve the problem in my case. It may simply be the act of sitting or standing up that relieves the pain, and we are conflating it with urination. I found during the one bad episode I had in the last 7 months, relieving myself did not help.
Also, another time, I had another mild ache come on when I was laying prone in a dentist's chair for several hours in the middle of the day. (Very still, unmoving.) So, it definitely seems to be linked to the position and stillness of the body in my case, not the time of day.
It seems that only sitting, or better, standing up relieves the pain.
Do others find this true for them, as well?
Question for everyone. Do you go to the bathroom right before bed, or not? In the past I have tried to drink less towards bedtime, and go to the bathroom right before bed, to somehow maybe stop a block of urine in the kidney. (not that I have any idea that would work) Then I notice that I am usually pretty dehydrated in the morning and it seems to hurt worse.
So what I am asking is: what is your pre bedtime routine?
So what I am asking is: what is your pre bedtime routine?
I have the same problem and Ive been to the doctor, he says everything is normal, so I tried paying attention to my activities when I have the pain, and I think I know why I get it, its from drinkin too much diet coke, does anyone who has this pain drink diet coke?
Well, many people seem to have the same problem. I too have this, it is on and off for me and mainly only ever on my right side. What I began to notice in the morning though is that it is debatable if the pain subsides with urination or the passing of gas. Normally as I urinate I notice too that I pass gas every time I wake up with this pain. The pain becomes sharp when I take a deep breath. I think it is Gas but exacerbated further if you need to urinate because sometimes I do not drink water or anything before bed, upon waking I feel the pain, not very sharp and when I visit the bath room, I urinate what little I have and pass gas.
I have this kidney pain for more that 3 to 4 years and now I only get the pain in the middel of the night or early in the morning it hurts so bad some time I have a hard time to breath for a few minute but when I go to the bathroom it goes away not sure why this is the pain is on my right side and even when I drink alchol sometime or when I drink soda and that is not that often. So i drink alot of water all the time. I am just so tired of this pain what could this be?
Okay guys, I might have a prognosis. If you have been following this thread I have been trying to keep everyone updated on my journey to find out what is going on.
Here is a quick recap:
Ultrasound on the kidneys and bladder. (All functioning normally)
Lasix Renogram (injected with a diarhetic and watched the kidneys drain) --found a possible delayed drainage
Went to a Urologist: said that it is a duplicate right kidney. Meaning that I was born with an extra kidney on top of my right kidney. The extra one is about 1/3 of the size of a regular kidney, and doesn't really have that much function. Each of our two kidneys have two tubes that drain urine down to the bladder, but the extra little guy has two tubes as well. The flow inside those tubes is weaker because it produces less urine. The problem comes in when I sleep for extended periods of time. (more than 8 hours or so).
The reason behind this is because when we are younger, the natural rhythm of our bodies will tend to wake us up at around 6-7am. Then after we reach puberty, the body tends to want to sleep for longer periods of time. So when we sleep for longer periods of time, the pressure inside of the two extra tubes builds up and causes pressure and pain. That pain will tend to cross the lower back, and that is when you sometimes get pain on both sides. Only when we relieve that pressure (ie go to the bathroom) does it feel better.
The Doc. said that he doesn't think this should be a huge problem down the road because our natural rhythms reverse themselves and as we get older we get up earlier again. He also said that surgery wasn't necessary as long as the pain was still bearable.
Now, what I can do to try to mitigate the pain. I don't know about the rest of you, but I go long periods of time per day without going to the bathroom (I go like 2-3 times a day). Doc says that I should go every 4 hours to prevent a build up of pressure over the day. In terms of diet, he said to try and avoid caffeine and alcohol, and become a water drinker.
I know that when the Doc. was explaining it to me it made perfect sense. If you are experiencing extreme pain I would try to go to a kidney specialist or a urologist. But if you can manage, just try the couple of suggestions above for a while and see how it goes. (I just found all this out yesterday and drank plenty of water and went to the bathroom like 5-6 times and voila no pain in the morning.)
So I hope that this helped some of you. If you have a question, just respond to this post and I will try to answer.
Here is a quick recap:
Ultrasound on the kidneys and bladder. (All functioning normally)
Lasix Renogram (injected with a diarhetic and watched the kidneys drain) --found a possible delayed drainage
Went to a Urologist: said that it is a duplicate right kidney. Meaning that I was born with an extra kidney on top of my right kidney. The extra one is about 1/3 of the size of a regular kidney, and doesn't really have that much function. Each of our two kidneys have two tubes that drain urine down to the bladder, but the extra little guy has two tubes as well. The flow inside those tubes is weaker because it produces less urine. The problem comes in when I sleep for extended periods of time. (more than 8 hours or so).
The reason behind this is because when we are younger, the natural rhythm of our bodies will tend to wake us up at around 6-7am. Then after we reach puberty, the body tends to want to sleep for longer periods of time. So when we sleep for longer periods of time, the pressure inside of the two extra tubes builds up and causes pressure and pain. That pain will tend to cross the lower back, and that is when you sometimes get pain on both sides. Only when we relieve that pressure (ie go to the bathroom) does it feel better.
The Doc. said that he doesn't think this should be a huge problem down the road because our natural rhythms reverse themselves and as we get older we get up earlier again. He also said that surgery wasn't necessary as long as the pain was still bearable.
Now, what I can do to try to mitigate the pain. I don't know about the rest of you, but I go long periods of time per day without going to the bathroom (I go like 2-3 times a day). Doc says that I should go every 4 hours to prevent a build up of pressure over the day. In terms of diet, he said to try and avoid caffeine and alcohol, and become a water drinker.
I know that when the Doc. was explaining it to me it made perfect sense. If you are experiencing extreme pain I would try to go to a kidney specialist or a urologist. But if you can manage, just try the couple of suggestions above for a while and see how it goes. (I just found all this out yesterday and drank plenty of water and went to the bathroom like 5-6 times and voila no pain in the morning.)
So I hope that this helped some of you. If you have a question, just respond to this post and I will try to answer.
I hat to break it to you, but some (iced) tea and soda can have more caffeine than coffee...