Ouch, hope your week gets better, Suz.

Nicole, why do you think it's a kidney infection? Have you had one before?

I'm not disagreeing with the go-to-the-hospital chorus, but I don't think something like that would even occur to me if it were me in your sitch. I wouldn't have any better ideas, mind, I'm just curious how common something like this is.

ETA: Yay for half-way! (Also, when does PoTC open again?)

Nicole -- and I apologize if I skimmed and you already said this -- do you have a fever? (And don't EVEN tell me you don't own a thermometer....)

Except I parked the car last night.

So the question is: do YOU remember where you parked it?

Man, SF is *such* my ideal city, except the parking hassles are Dante's 7th ring o' hell.

Thanks Brenda - just the usual 1000 mph around here. While it was a bummer that the girls lost early today, it got us home early and I get to veg out some.

Nicole, as someone in your exact position last week with regard to all my invisible friends telling me to go to urgent care, I would say listen. There may be something about being in pain and alone that makes us not want to go, but I think I could have avoided 3 days off of work, one day at work with a foot the size of Texas, and a still swollen foot a week later, had I gotten immediate assistance.

So I would get immediaite assistance.

You all are very sweet. I got nothing but love for you guys and gals. Whatever this is, though, I doubt it's life threatening. The pain might intensify with waiting but I can't find an urgent care that takes my insurance and paying money today when treatment tomorrow is free... well, tomorrow sounds like the better option.

Nicole, why do you think it's a kidney infection?

I'm just guessing it's something to do with my kidneys since the pain is primarily on my right side, toward the back, above the hip and just below the rib cage. Also the added fun of dreading having to empty my bladder. I don't have chills or nausea, though. Not sure if I have a fever.

eta:

(And don't EVEN tell me you don't own a thermometer....)

Um... I don't.

I finished the external radiation a week ago Friday, will be done with internal on 6/16, then I start my last four rounds of chemo - that'll take me through the end of August (they're scheduled three weeks apart). But, half way there and still piratey, you know?

Jen, are the last four rounds internal or external?

While it was a bummer that the girls lost early today, it got us home early and I get to veg out some.

Did they get disqualified from any tournaments due to the losses?

Man, SF is *such* my ideal city, except the parking hassles are Dante's 7th ring o' hell.

Not at Deb's house. It's only really a pain when I get back from one of the schoolday commutes and can't find anything for 40 minutes. That's rare. A normal amount of grump will come from a 15 minute parking hunt. Generally I can swoop in and get something on the first pass, though.

(And don't EVEN tell me you don't own a thermometer....)

Um... I don't.

Sweetheart, I love you but -- if you're old enough to live on your own, you should have a thermometer. (That goes for all of you reading this.) A fever generally means an infection, and it's good to have all the data you can about what's going on in your body.

Nicole, if it hurts when you pee and your kidney is also hurting, you have a UTI that has traveled all the way to your kidneys and need AB's as soon as is humanly possible. I get the insurance thing--if you feel you have to wait until tomorrow, than you do--but in the meantime drink a ton of water and cranberry juice. If you're really desperate, you can use Uristat to at least help with the pee-pain; just keep in mind that it can interfere with the urinalysis they'll do tomorrow.

I get chronic UTI's, but a few months ago was my first encounter with a kidney infection. It was horrific, and I was sick as a dog for more than a week. Please just promise that you won't put it off past tomorrow.

NIcole, if it helps you figure things out, one of the symptoms I associate with kidney infections (as opposed to UTIs) is lower back pain. So if your back aches, I'd be thinking kidneys.

I dreamed that I had a baby. I mean, I dreamed about giving birth. And then I had no fucking clue what I was supposed to do with a baby. I mean, a BABY. Mine. I was terrified.

This probably doesn't matter since it was only a dream, but I kinda felt the very same way when I gave birth to Frances.