Hi all,

I am a little nervous as I have been experiencing some lower abdominal pain, lower back pain, frequently urinating, and pain bearing down while I go potty. Anyway, I went to the doctor last Friday because I thought I had a bladder infection, but it's not that. They found some ketones in my urine (obviously from Atkins) and she thinks maybe it's irritating my bladder/kidneys. She prescribed phenazopyradine which I had to take 3 times a day for 3 days for the pain, I had to take 1000 mg of Vitamin C/day, and drink 2 GALLONS of water/day for 3 days to flush out my kidneys. She said I don't have to go off Atkins yet and said to call her on Tuesday (today) to let her know how I am feeling.

Well, here it is.. Tuesday.. the abdominal pain is gone; however, the lower left part of my back is aching sooo bad and when I bend over when sitting, it feels more swollen than the other side. I am so scared that I damaged my kidneys!! I called the dr back today and I have another appt this afternoon.

Atkins is the only WOE that has really worked for me!! I have been on it for almost 1 1/2 yrs off and on, and have never had any problems; however, I have been struggling with Atkins the past couple months and have been bouncing back and forth with Atkins, off, on, off, on, off... I think I damaged myself. I just want to cry.

Has anyone else experienced these problems?

Thinking this one through but in in absence of other problems, Atkins isn't going to hurt your kidneys. Which isn't to say that it will prevent other forms of kidney problems, either.

However: Kidney pain is high--above the waist tucked under your ribs. Lower back pain is usually something else. Any chance you've made some change in your life--painting, new shoes, new exercise routine, caring for someone else's baby--that's affecting your body?

I would second this opinion. Kidney pain is high, the cause of lower back pain could be something else: strain injuries, muslce spasm, fractures, etc. The good news: there are very effective physical therapy methods to ease the pain, to heal the back. I am sure that the next visit to your doctor would ease your anxiety.

Take care:

Eva

I'd get a new Doctor.

Jeff

I would definitely try to relax until you know for sure what the problem is - you don't have a diagnosis yet. Abdominal/pelvic symptoms can be so many things, you are right to pursue it until you get an answer. And I agree that a second opinion is not a bad idea, maybe depending upon how the next few days go.

Please keep telling us how you're doing.

Hi everyone and thanks for your concerns, knowledge, and opinions. Much appreciated!

Well, I went to the doctor today and she too said my kidneys are up higher than where I am experiencing my lower back pain. She did say that there are tubes that come down from the kidneys about where my pain is, and said I could be having spasms. There wasnt blood in the urine sample they took on Friday, so she said there wouldnt be kidney stones. She also said I was not drinking enough water. Anyway, she ordered some more lab work done on my kidneys to make sure they are ok, and I'll get the results tomorrow. If I dont hear anything from her, then all came back normal. Hopefully, I wont hear from her.
In the meantime, she is treating my back pain as muscular and said to rub Aspercreme on my lower back several times a day and take 2 Aleve a day. This has already helped. Yes, I did start a part time cleaning job not too long ago, but I dont think this has anything to do with the pain, as I was having abdominal pain as well which is now gone.
My doctor thinks Atkins is hard on the kidneys if you do it long term, and kept talking about me trying Weight Watchers instead. (I have and I was always hungry on it). She said she isn't going to tell me its ok to stay on Atkins or to stop doing it, but she thinks WW's is better. She did say to stop going off/on/off/on plan. This I know already, and I have been cheat free for a week now.
Ok, that's the update. If I hear anything tomorrow, I'll let you know.
Thanks again everyone!!

I'm sorry that you are having porblems. Not only would I get a second opinion but I would get yourself to a ob/gyn to make sure there isn't anything going on with your ovaries or uterus. Lower back pain can be your ovaries.

I'm not doing Atkins but have been on south beach since the end of april. In the beginning of July, I got very ill with a UTI that was not from ecoli and was not in my bladder. I had blood work and a urinalysis which showed crystals in my urine, calcium oxaylate crytsals(protein) to be exact. I had NOT been drinking all my water, stupid me. That was why I had gotten sick!

I hope you are OK and that you find out what the lower back pain is about!!

By the way, I just found out from a friend who is a WW leader, that their new no counting plan is a plan similar to South Beach. They give you a core list of foods to choose from that you can eat. The only things you have to count are the grains and starch that you eat. She told me they give 35 points per week for this category. I don't know how this breaks down but it does put a boundary on carbs. Not telling you to go to WW as I personally don't like it there but I just wanted you to know about their new plan.

Hi..

Just wanted to reply here..I would get another opinion before you go off Atkins..I have found that all docs have different opinions about this and other diets..PERSONAL opinions I think and not the best MEDICAL opinion..just keep that in mind..

Good luck..you have done so well it would be a shame to give up on it based on misinformation..

Thanks everyone.

My doctor's nurse called me today to let me know all my tests came back normal! My kidneys are A-OK. My back is feeling much better too. The Aspercreme is really helping. I must have just pulled something. I decided to stay on Atkins!

Thanks all!

I like these stories with happy endings. I'm glad things turned out good.

Hurray! Thanks for letting us know!

Thanks Dodger and tortoise!