[Rupeviv]

I would worry if you have high fever and/or chills; an upset stomach; cloudy, bloody or really stinky pee; pain with urination; AND are peeing a lot. And you will pee often without much output - like a feeling of urgency with just a few drops of pee. If you are having those symptoms (those are of an ordinary UTI) along with really really high levels of pain, then you could have a kidney infection, and you should definitely call your doctor. (You should call your doctor anyway, if you do have the symptoms of just a UTI - some antibiotics will fix you right up!)

If you are only having some lower back pain with no other symptoms, then I would think it is more likely to be muscular or skeletal. You don't mention any other symptoms except back pain, so I wouldn't fret too much.

I've looked at the possible side effects from HCG, and I don't see any correlation to kidney issues (or pregnant women would have tons of kidney issues, from the massive amounts of HCG that are secreted by the placenta). There are a few people who think that the formation of actual kidney STONES may be worsened by a low-carb diet, but this would take more time than 40 days of eating reduced carbs, if that hypothesis is true. I have seen no correlation to bladder issues, at all.

The best way to treat a simple UTI is by drinking water - lots of it - to plus any bacteria out of your bladder and urethra before it enters your ureters and can travel to your kidneys. If you want to neutralize the acidity of your urine (gives bacteria a less hospitable place to live!), then dissolve a tsp of baking soda in your water (this should be ok on protocol, except it is HIGH in sodium). Also cut your caffeine.