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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???

4 likes, 59 replies

59 Replies

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  • philomena54
    philomena54 Guest

    Posted

    Thank you Lowri79390 you could well be right. I was attacked several years ago and my lower back was damaged but as that was 20 years ago I had no treatment. I have also had two falls on my back a few years ago and that was when the kidney problems got worse.  I have arthritis anyway and have had back pain for as long as I can remember.  I am seeing my new doctor soon as he receives my records so will mention this.  Thank you so much, this could well be the answer.  I already have a walking stick because there are times I just cannot walk at all or very far with the pain in my back and stairs are usually not even managable. I also do have bowel problems my old doctor thought I had irritable bowel.  I really appreciate you taking the time to reply and hope that you are well yourself now. Have a great day x 
  • peter39930
    peter39930 Guest

    Posted

    Hi, im a 40 year old male whom has had two years of problems with urological issues and infections and having antibiotics after antibiotics. The recent kidney infection happened in sunday and had to phone NHS 24 (dial 111) and they sent me to the out of hours GP and she did a urine test and showed infection present. I also had a pain in my right side like a sore back and within 2 hours of taking the antibiotic the pain had gone. Further blood tests being conducted.now, will know next week what the results are.

    I would suggest that you get urine test bottles and urine test kits off ebay and do the tests yourself.

    For women the infections can come from toilet seats or partners. The best thing is to disinfect toilet seats and toilets and stop having intercourse for a period to see if that helps. Women have a shorter urethra and this means that kidney infections happen alot more.

    A for hospitals. I suggest that you move address and GP practice (dont bother complaining about the GP as they are self employed!). If anything contact your local MP and get their help. If anything, it shows up hospitals unable to cope and this can mean change.

    Only by complaining or making changes will you get help.

    Also, use flash with bleach, this works great to kill germs! If you have pets, they can transmit infections to humans aswell.

  • philomena54
    philomena54 Guest

    Posted

    Hi peter39930 sorry to hear you are also having problems. I am now with a new GP & getting better.  Thankfully I can pee better now but still not fully.  I also have very bad joint pains a gluten intollerance, high blood pressure, high cholesterol & low vit D all discovered by my new doctor. I am still off work & on the verge of losing my job.  I have more faith in my new GP & even to have him listen to me, explain fully to me and not to write out a perscription for antibiotics before I even get in the door to see him has helped me mentally.  I haven't been outside my front door in nearly 7 months other than to hospitals or to see my doctors as I am constantly needing a toilet and am in too much pain.  I also get thoroughly exhausted even doing simple tasks but sleep when I can although constant pain means I don't sleep fully. I have no pets and don't have to worry about toilet seats other than my own and my doctors & the hospital's!  I do have a partner although he is more of a carer when he visits at the weekends and I have no problem with catching an infection off him as we don't have a 'normal' life & haven't had for almost 7 months now. I also don't have any pets so no worries on infections there. I do know now that there is a history of polycystic   kidney problems in the family, but my first visit to A&E determined I do not have polycystic   Keep us posted on your blood test results and hope you feel better soon.  
    • peter39930
      peter39930 philomena54

      Posted

      Hi, Im sorry to hear that you are still having problems. It does sound like the Kidney that is at fault. I had a kidney infection last week. There was a sharp pain in my right hand side, sweating, high fever etc and I had done a urine test that showed blood, protein, basically everything high. Telephoned NHS 24 and went to see the out of ours GP and this was the same result. I was given antibiotics and within an hour or two the pain in my side was gone. This confirmed it was a kidney infection and that things could have got worse.

      I have had continuous urological problems for two years, mainly due to medical incompetence and a stricture in the urethra caused by the Cystoscope procedure where they had done unneccessary surgury.

      I am to go for a Urethroplasty in the coming weeks and I hope to get the blood test results in the next few days.

      For your condition, it sounds like the kidneys are to blame and you need a referral to a kidney specialist for further tests (like I am going to get hopefully). I would not depend on the A&E departments test results as they are always rushed and not guaranteed. If you have a history of polycystic condition, then this gives you a chance of getting a referral to the specialist. Take their word for it and not A&E!

      High blood pressure is a result or can be a result of kidney problems.

       Dont be afraid to take antibiotics as this will save your life. It saved my life alot of times during these two years.

      Kidney disease is what your symptoms sound like and you need it dealt with before last stage which is Renal Failure. It is possible if you dont empty your bladder properly, then you may have a stricture in your urethra and this is causing urine to pool.

      One other thing. I would suggest that you go to Tesco and buy 1000mg Vitamin C, this boosts your immune system and also changes the PH in your urine and kills bacteria in your urethra. They dont cost much and it is worth trying.

      Also the womans Urethra is very short and an infection is quickly passed from the uretha to the kidneys in a short time, not like mens!

      My brother just died at the age of 45 of renal failure and I am hoping it is not genetic, but something else responsible.

      All the best and please keep me posted aswell!

    • philomena54
      philomena54 peter39930

      Posted

      Hi Peter39930 was just wondering how you are doing now?  I did have another kidney infection a couple of weeks ago but thankfully the antibiotics have sorted that out for me  I am having further blood tests for my calcuim and vitamin D levels as it was discovered I had no vitamin D at all.  Other than the tiredness and aching joints my kidneys do seem to be better.  
  • alisha68831
    alisha68831 Guest

    Posted

    I had very similar issues a few years ago. A family friend suggested taking ' Acidophilus ' a Probiotic vitamin. I have since then and NEVER has another problem! Take 1-2 daily. I ran out & forgot to buy more for almost 2 weeks......had to get on an antibiotic today & cannot function due to pain & illness! Def worth a shot! I have found the Spring Valley brand work best for me (walmart) Good Luck smile
  • hildy_63403
    hildy_63403 Guest

    Posted

    I can so identify with the emotional rollercoaster.
  • Nursie007
    Nursie007 Guest

    Posted

    Have you had your mares checked? Do you have problems with your sinuses? Virulent bacteria that do not respond to antibiotics can run down the back of your throat,through your G.I tract . The kidney filtration system may be getting constantly reinfected.I live in the USA, here we may different antibiotics for coloninized MRSA.
    • case79
      case79 Nursie007

      Posted

      I am from California and very interested in this. Do you have anymore information you can provide me? I have horrible sinus infectionso, mrsa and now constant kidney infections.
  • kerry57811
    kerry57811 Guest

    Posted

    Hi Trudi,

    Just wondering did the D-Mannose work fr you in the end? I have heard great reviews about it.xx

  • leanne52458
    leanne52458 Guest

    Posted

    I have the same problem as u ive being suffering from these uti infections since i was 7 years old i am now 18 trying to hold on to a job trying to being happy when i hang around with my friends and so on so on im always grumpy always in pain and i get this burning sensation in my vagina sometimes i wish i was dead with the pain it causes me
  • alexis87349
    alexis87349 Guest

    Posted

    Im not sure how old this post is but im 17 an i have had non stop kidney infections. I had kidney stones I got them removed and even before then I had kidnr infections. The doctors can't figure it out.

    • swest81
      swest81 alexis87349

      Posted

      Exactly the same as me, non stop kidney infections for years, endless pain & antibiotics then they finally found 3 stones biggest was 16ml had them removed & stents fitted & iv still had them non stop, iv been put on life time one a night time tho primary but urine is still showing blood & signs of infection they just can't seem to work out what is causing it, iv even had all tests done to rule out cancer (that was scary) but all was fine including kidney function so this tues 4.10.16 I'm going back into day surgery for a cystoscopy on my bladder to see if they can find anything in there that might be causing it so here's hoping they get to the bottom of this nightmare once & for all xx

    • abigail12749
      abigail12749 swest81

      Posted

      Hope you are ok. Just wanted to say have you tried D Mannose? It is working for me after repeated kidney infections and antibiotics only working temporarily. I buy it online from a company called Sweetcures. I use the powder form and take it in a drink of warm water every two to three hours (not more then three otherwise I get flare ups) I've been on it properly for about six weeks. I'm also avoiding acid forming foods, such as sugar, alcohol, fruit juice (apart from lemon which surprisingly is not acid forming but the opposite). I've seen a nutritionist as well who advised I avoid wheat for a while too and she's given me lots of supplements; vitamin D, magnesium, pro greens, milk thistle, echinacea, garlic and she advised I eat lots of green vegetables and warming foods like homemade chicken soup and stews. I've ordered a kidney warning tube to wear and use hot water bottles to keep my kidneys cosy.

      Hope this info is helpful for you. Take care.

    • david99439
      david99439 alexis87349

      Posted

      Very important to make sure that uti does not become kidney infection ..few things I do first change food habits and just eat some melon/cucumber at night - similar to fasting ..once symptoms subside then try to sort out my uti with natural remedies and citralka

      Unless diet change happens it would be quite difficult with these infections macrobid or antibiotics is apparently the last choice for me

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