Okay, before you even answer, I know I need to see a doctor. First thing in the morning, I'm there. I'm not, however, going to go spend hours and an exorbitant amount of money to have them tell me I have a kidney infection (I'm 99% sure, based on symptoms) and then have to pay even more to buy the antibiotics at the ER because they don't want to send them out to a pharmacy in the middle of the night (can you tell I'e had a bad experience with the local ER?)

With that said, I am in a LOT of pain. It's not L&D levels, or kidney stone levels, but it is pretty owie.

What can I take, OTC, to just get me through to morning that won't actually make things worse long run?

Can you take aspirin? It's actually a better pain reliever than Tylenol, and the coated pills don't cause much heartburn. Washing it down with cranberry or kiwi juice will help flush the kidneys, too.

Lots and lots of water. Avoid caffeine at all costs. Alternate Tylenol and Motrin every 3 hours. You can take 800 mg of Motrin at a time.

I don't think I have any Motrin, but can send the hubby out for it. I've been drinking water, but also coffee (I've dumped my cup out, J, don't yell at me!).

Thank you. I'll be at Urgent Care when they open at 7 tomorrow. I just need to get through tonight.

Not advice to offer, but lots of sympathy... Hopefully you get over it fast.

Thanks Smoothy. Me too! My wedding anniversary is tomorrow---I don't think it's going to be very romantic.

Have you heard of AZO? I've used it before. It's a homeopathic remedy (temporary) for kidney infections. They sell it at the grocery store on the "ladies" aisle.

So it's not a kidney infection--placement is wrong, and my white cells aren't up and there's no bacteria in my urine (I think that's how the doc phrased it). Some blood draws, some x-rays, and some poking and prodding later, she thinks it may be my gallbladder. She sent me home with anti-b's (because while white counts aren't up, there are more of the kinds that fight infection in my blood) and painkillers, and I have an ultrasound tomorrow at the hospital.

Even though I've been drinking water like mad, my urine was really concentrated, which concerned the doctor.

She's also waiting on some cultures and some blood stuff and they'll get back to me if they find anything.

Thanks for all the help, everyone.

What are your symptoms?

Pain in my side, kind of right under my ribcage. I mean, not UNDER my ribcage, but between my ribcage and my pelvic bone, high on the right side. Random nausea. Random fever--I almost wish that were more constant, as my temp at the doc's this morning was 97.1. Body aches all over. Headache and tired eyes. There is NO pain when urinating. I'm not even uncomfortable. Also, my pelvic area is pain free.

I'm very tired. I could probably sleep for about 20 hours straight right now.

Mostly it's the pain in my side--it waxes and wanes, but deep breaths, sneezes and coughs aggravate the heck out of it. If I try to do anything energetic, I end up VERY out of breath (nothing in my lungs that she could hear).

I can't think of anything else right now--I'm going out to dinner while I'm having a good spell :)

Yup, sounds more like gallbladder than kidney. Kidney has more back pain.

Get some rest, don't eat spicy foods, no caffeine. Hope you feel better soon Sis. Love you!

That is kind of sounding like what my wife had before they removed her gallbladder. Good luck! Hopefully you won't need surgery.

Just got the results of the ultrasound: Completely normal gall bladder and kidney.

TBH, the pain in that area is pretty much gone today. Now I just have incredible nausea and am so tired.

I'm probably just sick with some virus at this point.