Sick of constant kidney infections and antibiotics

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I'm 23 and have had trouble with Kidney infections all my life.

When i was little i had trouble with wetting the bed until i was 8years old.

All my life i've had infections, some urine but mostly kidney. When i was 20 I developed acute pyloneprhitis which overnight turned into septicaemia and i was rushed into theatre with suspected internal bleeding.

I've seen specialists in Dorset, Somerset and Gloucestershire and have had loads of scans and xrays which all confirm there is nothing wrong with my kidneys.

The only symptoms i get are pain (always always my left kidney only) and cloudy urine. I seem to get these about once a fortnight - i'm so sick of antibiotics (which dont even work that well anymore) that i've stopped going to doctors and just try to cope with it on my own by drinkingloads of water and taking painkillers.

Its been suggested that i take a permanent antibiotic which i take everyday for the rest of my life - but i'm only 23 and i hate taking drugs for anything.

I worry that when i'm older i will get kidney failure. I just CANNOT beleive that a normal healthy person can get this many infections and nothing be wrong? Or that there is nothing that can be done about it. The specialist in Gloucestershire told me \"It's very common and unfortunately technology hasnt advanced enough to deal with the disorder, so theres nothing we can do\".

I feel sick, tired and emotional everytime this happens and its so hard to cope with work, university, keeping a house and being a single mum to a 2year old when i feel this ill. I manage but it makes me cry a lot.

There must be some explanation or solution???

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  • Posted

    Omg I can relate to your problem. I am 26 and just under 2 yrs ago I got a pain in my ribs front and back, when I went to the docs they said I had a viral infection in the cartilage below my ribcage I was told 2 go home rest up and in about 6 weeks I would be completely pain free. Six weeks went by and my pain was getting worse I'd lost so much weight so went back 2 docs. They finally decided to do blood tests and a urine test. The results came back and they discovered that I had a kidney infection they prescribed antibiotics and painkillers and sent me home telling me in a week I would b completely symptom free. I finished the course of antibioctics and was still in pain, the docs once again tested my urine but this time I was infection free docs were confused and so was I this went on for about 6months I would b free from infection 4 a few days but then the infection would once again b present in my urine. I finally got refered to specialists at Royal Gwent Hospital Newport had no end of tests but everything comes back clear apart from the urine tests which is always showing infections. I have been admitted to hospital twice this yr due to the infections. I have tried a long term antibiotic which doesnt work because I was still getting infections while on it, i've increased my fluid intake, make sure I pass urine regularly and after intercourse. I have also been prescribed an antibiotic 2 take after sexual intercourse because they say its a high risk cause of infection but they dont work either. I am also so fed up of antibiotics, painillers dont work. I am in constant pain every day which gets so much worse when the infection is present. I am unable to work because of this and struggle to live a normal life. I am very emotional due to this and have lost 3st in weight. I just wish the docs could find a miracle cure and I could have my life back.
    • Posted

      I have the exsact same as you I have had urine infections for 14 year since I had my daughter but recently it's just getting worse and worse every time I drink fizzy juice I it gets worse to I'm sick of taking antibiotics every week I have been on a long term one to but nothing is working I'm just back from the doctors today I'm so sick of it now stood this morning crying my eyes out cause I just want this to go away Xx

    • Posted

      Hi,

      i was just wondering if you've found any relief? I had a bad kidney infection 2 weeks ago and here it is back. I can relate to everything you said....I just want it to go AwaY. I don't drink fizzy drinks, try to drink a lot of water...etc

    • Posted

      Hello

      Did you ever find a solution ? Or reason ? I am the same as you nothing shows up on scans but constant urine tests showing infection , antibiotics not working ect , including ones after intercourse . 

      Any insight is helpful ( I also only have one kidney ) kind regards 

  • Posted

    I'm going through a similar experience , with 6 kidney infections in 6 months. Was just wondering, if you were still having these problems now?
  • Posted

    Hi I am 29 year old from Brisbane, Australia and I was googling how to stop these infections.  I don't even get frequent Urinary Tract like burning etc.  But immediately always goes straight to my kidneys.  The only symptom i get is bad smelling pee.  Also I complained alot of my kidneys being sore until end of last year I fell extremely ill.  They found 2 lumps on my right kidney which made me critically ill with extreme fevers.  I was in hospital for a month and now i have to have on going tests.  They found 2 abcesses on my right kidney and they were large and full of pus and infection.  My body was shutting down.  They had to drain them.  Now about 2 months on, they scanned again and found its grown back.  So this Saturday I have to have an MRI which they now are going to check the flow from the Bladder to the Kidney. 

    Since I was a kid I have always had trouble holding my bladder, as soon as I need to pee - I urgently need to pee.  Even as an adult.  I am 30 in May and they still don't know whats wrong (I guess until I became very ill with lumps on my kidney) but they do not know why and how to stop this.

    They told me those lumps on my kidney was rare.  And it would be extremely rare for them to ever come back.  And whats happened within 2 months after being in hospital for a month somethings come back.

    And right this instant I feel like I have an infection again, sharp pain in my kidney and bad smelling pee and soreness in my bladder.

    • Posted

      Hi, I have exactly the same symptoms and experience having 4 infections in the past year, have been put on a different antibiotic by a Uroligist but it doesn't seem to be doing much and pretty fed up.

      Just wondered if you have managed to discover anything that helps? Every time I have an ultrasound they say my kidneys look fine!!

    • Posted

      Hello i hadn't updated in a while I ended up needed a kidney operation back in October 2015. They diagnosed me with a rare birth defected kidney at age 30. It was a good year battle from the start of my kidney symptoms which landed me in hospital for a month and off and on for the year with constant utis. It caused me to get septicaemia. My condition was called Cayceal Diverticulum.

      After the op I continued for a few months to get utis and then I found out I was pregnant. Had my baby girl in sept in which we both almost died. I was rushed off from a placental abruption cause due to severe pre-eclampsia and hellp sydrome only found after all occurred which needing an emergency general anesthetic csection. Was rough. Here I am now uti infections clear, occasional I feel a little flank pain. They have just recently done a Radiation Scan to check the flow of my kidney (they could not do while I was pregnant). I actually get my results on Tuesday but I'd say i am officially normal again I hope.

      How are you going?

    • Posted

      sorry to hear u have been through so much, but im glad they could find whats wwrong and fixed it. which test eventually found the condition? 

      i am not so good myself, been suffering with utis since january, been hospitalised 3 times for kidney infections, just discharged from my last admission a week ago and still suffering flank and back pain, feels like my kidneys are sticking, im at rock bottom honestly.

  • Posted

    I can completley relate, my parents took me to the dr because I was still wetting the bed at 10, when I was 14 I had pyelonephritis I was in hospital for 3 weeks and they never sent me for a scan, when I was 16 I was refered to a nephrologist who sent me for scan after scan after scan, I had chronic kidney infections but because only a handful of the urine tests were possitive I was put on massive doses of antibiotics to the point where I am now allergic to all antibiotics, if I get a kidney infection now I have to be admitted to hospital and given antihistemines with antibiotics to try and prevent a reaction, it was only when I turned 20 and was so ill it was effecting my job, I was on the verge of being fired for having so much time off that my drs did anything, I was sent for bladder scans and every other scan imaginable, finally they injected me with dye and took regular xrays of my abdomen which showed that i have 3 kidneys (duplex kidneys) i have 2 seperate left kidneys with 2 seperate tubed which interlink causing kidney reflux and that my right kidney is enlarged and I have a narrowing of the tube as well, it is ridiculous because it took 20 years for me to be diagnosed with something I was born with, I suggest you ask for the test I had done because nothing showed up on any other test, the duplex kidneys themselves dont cause that much trouble its the tubes coming from them because they cause kidney reflux. I highly advise against the antibitoics every day as thats how I became allergic to all of them, go to your GP and ask to be refered for an Intravenous Urography as this may show if you have a narrowing of the tubes causing something, I completely understand how frustrating it is, Dont worry about kidney faliure either has I have suffered for 22 years and my kidney function is perfect its just the tubes from my kidneys causing a problem, I also suggest trying cranberry extact tablets, they have significantly reduced my infections I havent had an infection for almost a year now, all down to these tables, you can get 3 months supply from tescos, thats where i get mine and they really do help, I Hope everything works out for you with this smile
    • Posted

      Hi, just googled kidney infections that last for months and came across this thread and read your post. 20 years ago the hospital discoved I had a duplex kidney on my right side with a squashed tube. I only had a couple of infections up until 9 years ago then I started getting pain in my right side through to front every now and then. I thought it may be muscular as it kept coming and going with no treatment. A couple of times I've had to get urine checked as pains been bad and it was infection. Recently the pain just wouldn't go away so Dr sent me for scan (ct) and full blood tests, which were clear. Then she tested m urine which again showed infection. I may have to go for further testing. After reading your post I'm thinking now its the tube causing all the problems because its not straight. I'm going to mention this to my Dr next week. I've been so worried myself over kidney damage but they said its functioning fine. How are you doing now? Hope you're well xx
    • Posted

      Hi pauline95899 iv just read your post and wonder if you are any further forward? I'm 34 was also diagnosed at a young age with duplex kidneys my life for the last 5yrs has been a living hell, hospitalised many times, constant kidney infections every few weeks without symptoms just straight to my kidneys, endless supply of antibiotics and pain killers,iv had, CT, bloods, urine tests, ultra sounds & x rays all clear had a stone removed in surgery but still keep getting infections, iv tried cranberry pills & juice, green tea, loads of water you name it iv tried it, I'm seriously worrying myself sick that there's something serious that they are missing I'm at my wits end x
  • Posted

    Hi

    That's horrible, I am glad they know what it is now and can treat it.

    I have just had an mri and they found that my kidney seems fine but in the last 3 weeks I've already had another 2 infections. Now they are now considering the bladder. I now have to go for a cystoscopy so they can run the dye through like you mentioned so they can see it through the tubes because something isn't functioning right. Let's hope this is the end of it.

  • Posted

    I can relate totally to all these and am at the end of my tether totally. I lost my NHS Job in 2010 because of constant Kidney infections and this has been a continuous thing every couple of months until Oct 2014 and I have had kidney stones, and constant kidney infections.  I have just changed my doctor because I am constantly put on antibiotics which make me very ill or just don't work.  Since October 2014 I have passed out several times after feeling very dizzy & sick and have been to my local A&E so many times. I passed a few kidney stones November 2014 (have had these before) and on a visit to A&E following another collapse,  I was given an MRI scan on both kidneys. It was discovered that my left kidney was very swollen and urine was not passing through to the bladder but was backing up to the kidney.  I was sent home following this and told to go back to my GP and again I was given more antibiotics.  Later on visiting another GP at the practise I was given an internal when it was discovered that I have a slight prolapse which I believe was caused because I am in constant pain when I wee and I have been pushing my wee out.  I am in constant pain and for months now I only manage to pass a small amount of wee. I constantly feel like I need to wee and that my bladder is full and my abdomen has been swollen up for months now.  Four days ago the pain in my right kidney was unbearable and I also had shooting pains up my left arm and heart palpations.  I collapsed and was taken to hospital by Paramedics.  Because of NHS cutbacks I did not get the ECG or Kidney scan in this hospital as it was not my local hospital as that one and the next one had closed their A&E departments because they were too busy.  This hospital took no observations whatsoever in the 7 hours I waited on a trolley in the hallway but they did do two urine stick tests (the first one disappeared in the hospital somewhere) and a blood test for glucose. The medic told me in the hospital "We suspect you have a kidney infection again as there is blood in your urine" I was given antibiotics yet again and now 4 days on I still feel no better although I guess I need to give them time to work. They may work but I will still have the problem trying to force my wee out and the constant back pain and nausea and dizzy spells when I have finished taking them.  I asked about having an ECG and kidney scan and was told they were too busy and I would have to go back to my GP and request these tests.  I actually collapsed 5 days ago late at night but decided not to call an ambulance since I had my fiance with me so he kept watch over me whilst I slept.  I phoned my GP's surgery at 8am 4 days ago and requested a phone call back after telling the receptionist what happened the night before.  I am still awaiting that return phone call.  7 hours after the request to my doctors for a call back, I answered my front door to a delivery guy and then collapsed, hence ending up in a nice ambulance and being taken to hospital. I telephoned my GP the next morning again requesting a telephone call back, to explain what had happened and request the ECG & Kidney scan, I did not get a return call yet again.  I expect to lose my current job also because of these problems and i am no longer being paid sick pay anyway.  I cannot live like this and am now becoming very depressed.  What kind of a life is this to be constantly needing to wee (although I don't ever leak if I cough), being sat on a toilet for more than an hour trying to wee, having constant back pain, feeling nauseas, having headaches and dizzy spells?
    • Posted

      I know it makes no sense but it could be your spine, if your l4/l5 disk is buldging out pressing on the nerves then it effects your bladder and bowels, after collapsing you could have damaged the disk and you could have no other side effects, I didn't, it was a freak chance it was discovered i knew I had a bad back and had a prolapsed disk l5/s1 but I had no symptoms of the other disk and it was only discovered when I had a nasty fall and ended up in hospital because I couldn't walk where they did an MRI and it was picked up but it had never been picked up in any other scans, it's worth asking as you could have no pain what so ever and no other symptoms but if you have fallen and now you can't pee it's a possibility, it doesn't help the kidney problems but could be an answer to the bladder problems if antibiotics haven't started to work after 4 days, hope you get some help soon
    • Posted

      I done some research and have come across a natural way to help kidney infections. It is called D - Mannose. Anywhere I read on the intenet, all the reviews are all positive. They're are reviews by people who have suffered like you and it has near enough cured them. Im going to buy this product soon and hopefully it works for me too. Thought I would mention this just in case it helps you and anyone else.
    • Posted

      Thank you so much Trudi30077 I looked it up and it's getting good reviews so I think I ill join in in buying it now to find a stockist!  Lets hope it works ok for us x
    • Posted

      Philomena you must address your vitamin d deficiency. Umpteen systems in the body function badly with low vitamin d and having a good level can make you feel generally more healthy and able to cope with specific health problems. Supplements are available from Boots and on the internet. The UK recommended levels are woefully low and you need to take sufficient to get them up quickly. There is lots of info on this on the net.
    • Posted

      Thank you madge07350, you hit the nail on the head totally.  My new doctor discovered I had no vitamin D at all in my body. Because I have had stage 3 skin cancer, I only go out with layers of suncream and sunblock on, plus with being ill I hadn't been outside my door other than hospital appointments or doctors for around 7 months.  I now have increased vitamin D in my diet eating shitake and portobollo mushrooms and take vitamin D supplements.  I am feeling much better.  I also take organic cider vinegar, lemon juice and a teaspoon of manuka honey with boiled water every morning first thing.  This seems to wake up my system and I am not having so many problems with kidney infections. I stopped caffeine for it seemed to irritate my kidneys so drink lots of water and only freshly squeezed juices throughout the day.  Thank you for your advice xxx
    • Posted

      You need to take at least 3000iu a day in supplements in order to get it up quickly. There is very little in mushrooms and it is vitamin D2 not D3 which our skin makes from the sun. Your level should be about 100- 125 nmol. Even on 3000iu a day it will probably take months to acheive this level without sunshine. You should take magnesium alongside. Sometimes large doses of D3 can make you jittery and constipated. The magnesium prevents this.
    • Posted

      Hi Madge I clearly haven't been taking enough vitamin D at all which is why I still feel so tired and ache so much.  I have spent a bit more time without sunscreen walking to work (I have been back at work 3 weeks now) so am topping up a bit but the doctor told me to take 2000iu daily.  I haven't noticed any difference in my tiredness or aches in the 6 weeks I have been taking them.  Thanks for all your helpful advice xxx
    • Posted

      2000iu is not enough, but it is the recommended upper limit in the uk so your doctor is unlikely to say take more. I live in France and was given a loading dise of 600, 000iu when ny deficiency was diagnosed. I do not think these high dose ampoules are available in the UK. You need to insist on another test to see how your level is coming along and adjust your dose accordingly.
    • Posted

      Hi Philomena,

      Did the D-Mannose work for you? I am desperate for a cure for this agonising nightmare.xxx

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