[KatiInCT]

Well here I am at the 20 week mark and I am beyond frustrated with the 2nd trimester. I was so lucky to have sailed through the first trimester with ease but these last 2 weeks have been horrid.

I have been having back pain on my right side since July 3rd. It started with just bothering me at night. I did go into the ER (which then sent me to L&D) on July 4th at 11:30pm because I was having sharp pain on my right side and was concerned. I went in and got hooked up to check for baby's heartbeat and contractions and gave a urine sample. A few hours later I was told it was just normal back pain and to stay hydrated.

I went to work all that week with discomfort during the day and getting 1/2 hr to 1 hr stretches of sleep at night (totalling about 4-5 hrs per night). I bought a pregnancy body pillow in hopes that it would help but still had little relief. The only relief I could get was with ice packs on my back. I gave in and took a sick day and called the doctor on July 13th (Monday) saying I was still in pain. I saw the nurse (OB was on vacation) and she poked my back and said it was normal and gave me a script for physical therapy. On a pain scale I was only about a 1 or maybe a 2 while I was in the office but the pain sessions that I had been having which last about 30 minutes I would easily rate up at a 7 and a few 8's.

I went into work on Tuesday (Jul 14th) and made it through the day only by cycling ice packs. I broke into tears twice but was able to make it through. Working with a bunch of male engineers they all kindly pointed out to me that I still have a long way to go to be complaining already...

Tuesday night I was in pain and called my stepmom (licensed massage therapist) since I needed someone to bring me back down to earth during the pain and Nick was out watching Harry Potter. Since I could not drive the hour to her office and she didn't have an opening until Thursday anyways she gave me the number of another LMT who did pregnancy massage up near where I live.

Wednesday I called out sick again. The only comfort I could get was from being in a lying down position. Standing up or sitting up for any extended length of time sent sharp pains in my lower right back. The thought of driving 40 minutes into work just wasn't something I could consider at that point. Physical therapy was scheduled for Thursday morning and I was hoping to get some relief. I also called the massage therapist and got an appointment for Thursday night. I also got a call (Jul 15th) from my OB's office that my last urine sample (not sure if it was from my appt on June 30th or from the hospital on Jul 3rd but I did not give a sample on Jul 13th when I was in last) came back positive for a UTI but they hadn't seen the lab report until then since the doctor and his secretary had been on vacation. So I started a 7 day treatment of Macrobid.

Thursday morning I went to PT and was easily able to do all the stretches asked and was in minimal discomfort until she had me lie on my left side and she poked my right side. Ow! She had me lie on my back on a heating pad for 15 minutes and then showed me some exercises. I really don't think she has dealt with many if any pregnant women but I will leave that for another post. I have another session with her this Tuesday (have 4 more sessions, 2 per week for 2 weeks) and will give her a second chance before I pass judgment.

Thursday after PT I was feeling somewhat better and decided to try to go into work for the last half of the day. I made it 30 minutes before I got light headed and was in stabbing pain. A coworker drove me and my car home from work with another coworker following to drive her back to the office because they wouldn't let me drive in the condition I was in. As much as I complained at the time this was probably a smart idea as I spent most of the drive cringing and trying to breath through the stabs in my side. Thursday night I went to the massage therapist and was only able to lie on my left side which sort of limited what she could work on but lying on my left side would have been painful. She gave me some recommended stretches/exercises and showed me some things DH could do to help release the tension in my back.

Friday I once again called in sick but began to feel awful about using all this sick time this early. I called into work and was able to get them to email me some stuff to work on from home which made me feel at least a little productive. Friday night I called the on-call doctor because the right back/side pain was now tightening my stomach, she had me head back into L&D. No contractions, no fever (but very clamy), and baby was fine but I was severely dehydrated and had keytones in my urine. They said the right side/back pain was probably just the UTI and gave me 2 bags of IV fluids and sent me home.

So here it is on Sunday. I am still having right back/side pain which is worse when I am sitting up for an extended period of time. I have been staying VERY hydrated though and have been able to eat again (have been having problems with appetite). I really, really want to go into work tomorrow but I am afraid that if my back acts up I won't be able to do anything to relieve it while in the office since there is no where that I can lie down other than on the floor. *sigh*

If you made it through all of this I am impressed. I have PT this Tuesday and Thursday. My next OB appt isn't until the 28th. I just want to understand why my right side is in such pain. Two more days of UTI meds but really have noticed very little change since starting them. Blah! So that's my update.

[niknok]

I'm sorry sweetie. Are you running a fever? Have they considered pyelonephritis? Your UTI may have moved on to your kidney, and that does cause extreme pain. Normal preggo pain shouldn't be as bad as what you are describing.

[Missitta]

Have you tried one of those pregnancy belts for the back pain? Those things saved my life while I was pregnant with DS. Also, I used one of those back support contoured pillows at work which helped a ton. I had horrendous back pain during the whole 2nd and beginning of 3rd trimester until he dropped and those both helped a ton. Not sure about the right side pain but hopefully those things will help a little. Getting up and walking around every hour or so helps as well.

Hope that helps a little.

[alicenwonderland]

I agree with Nikki. Yikes! Sounds like it could be pyelo. Hope you start to feel better soon!

[~*Bethy*~]

I say its a kidney infection! if you have the UTI, your not far off!! Get back there asap!! Hope it gets better!!

[~*sierra*~]

*hugs* i hope it gets resolved soon.
i think it sounds like a kidney infection, or maybe a stone?
my sister had kidney stones recently and she described it similar to how you are describing your pain, could be worth mentioning at the next appt.

[KatiInCT]

I don't have a fever. Is there a urine or blood test for pyelonephritis? They took a blood sample and urine sample while I was in the hospital on Friday. Ultasounded baby but did not look at kidneys.

[chellerenee]

I also think it sounds like a kidney infection or stone. My SIL had kidney stones and they acted up worse during her pregnancy. I would definitely see about getting tested for both and what Nikki and Alice said too. I have no experience with pregnancy, but it doesn't seem like the normal pains preggos have to me.

[Mod-LadyCoconut]

I have no idea what it could be, but you sound absolutely miserable and I am just so so sorry. :grouphugs: I hope you get some answers and a real fix soon!

I'm really surpised that they didn't look at your kidneys when it was shown that you had a UTI. It sounds like that may be the culprit. That kind of pain is not common in pregnancy, as you know. I highly doubt its pregnancy related. I hope you get back to your doctor ASAP to have a look at your kidneys.

[Kristen_at_the_lake]

I hope you get some answers and help soon. *hugs*

[..Penelope..]

I was cringing reading your post. I'm so sorry, hon, and I really hope that you get some relief soon.

[KatiInCT]

Owwwww! 9am not coming soon enough!

Sweetie Im so sorry your still in pain!! Im wondering too myself if your UTI has moved to your kidneys? I hope not but it might just be!!

But if not seriously look into a maternity belt. If you want, Im finished with mine. Ill gladly send it to you bc it helped sooooo much!! And if you have one of those exercise balls, try sitting and boucing on that!! It always helps me when my back hurts. Or try a warm bath, although be careful with the warm bath, whenever I did that it just made me feel worse..

I really hope you start feeling better!! Cuz seriously (at least for me) I LOVED the 2nd trimester, then the 3rd comes and its no fun anymore!!

[Adriana's Mommy]

I'm sorry your having such a horrible 2nd trimester.. I am too, but mine is due to me being high risk.. oh the joys..

But..... I had really bad back pain when I was pregnant with Adriana, it lasted through my first and second trimester and it mysteriously disappeared in my 3rd trimester.. I never saw a DR. for it, I just sucked it up and it helped to walk it out even though it was vary painful.. Even now I get an occasional shooting pain on my right hip.. I'm guess the baby is hitting my sciatic nerve..

I hope you feel better soon..

[KatiInCT]

I have a phone call into the doctor and am waiting for a return call. I have had 4 sessions of pain in my side since midnight (one every 2-3 hrs), each lasting 40-60 minutes and I would rate each at least an 8 if not a 9 on a pain scale for that full length of time. I am just about to finish my 3rd 24oz cup of water today so I am definitely staying hydrated.

If someone can suck it up and deal through this pain they are a stronger person than I.

[♥Ashley♥]

Wow it sounds like your going through alot Kati! I hope it starts to feel better very soon!

[Adriana's Mommy]

Originally Posted by KatiInCT

If someone can suck it up and deal through this pain they are a stronger person than I.

Each pain is different. Yours is probably more intense then mine was. Unfortunately, I can't take any time off of work or that means less time on maternity leave and no money coming in.. I just limped everywhere I went..

But I hope the Dr. can give you some answers..

[CandaceDianne]

I hope you feel better soon!!! It sounds like kidney to me too.