Have you ever had UTI/Kidney infection and how to treat it?

[willow2018]

I was diagnosed UTI in the beginning of November and I had fever and shivery. I have tried 4 different antibiotics but didn't work on me. Been to A&E and out of hour GP for 2 times and seen GP for 4 times. Now I still have temp between 37- 37.4.I have pelvic pain and middle back pain which indicates kidney problems. Still feel dizzy and can't read books. If I read books I feel faint. My heart rate can go up to 120 but will drop back to 80. It just keep going up and down, which makes me feel like I am dying. The doctor did an urine test and saying it's mild infection. He just kept giving me antibiotics but I really don't see too much improvement. Is there anybody can give me some advice? Did you have similar condition and how did you manage it? Can I tell my GP I'd like something more stronger like IV drip?

[36degrees]

No advice but I'm in the same boat, had a kidney infection since the start of Oct, 4 courses of ABs and still not better. I'm going to call out of hours again shortly as the pain in my pelvis and back is ramping back up.

[willow2018]

@36degrees Yes call the out of hours asap. They may give you another ABs to try. I had the same symptoms just like you. At the beginning I only had pelvic pain but it quickly went to my back and sides.

Get well soon!

[flower11]

Op don't be fobbed off. If you feel really unwell then phone 111. I had kidney infection in March and phoned 111 they said I needed to be seen by a doctor and sent me to a&e who gave me 3rd lot of antibiotics.

Also don't want to alarm you but be alert to symptoms of sepsis. My dd ended up in HDU with sepsis from uti/ kidney infection.

[bluebluezoo]

Can I tell my GP I'd like something more stronger like IV drip?

How is an iv drip “stronger”? Do you mean iv ab’s? Or rehydration? Both of which you can do just as effectively orally at home rather than risking a hospital admission.

The last couple of UTI’s I’ve had I cba with the GP so managed them with fluids. I did a bit of research which shows that many UTI’s can be managed without antibiotics, but ab’s are “better” from a patient compliance point of view.

So drink. A lot. And then drink some more. At the least it will help the urination pain.

Nip to the chemist and pick up some of the sachets that help change urine Ph to flush out bacteria. Cystease? Or similar.

Then drink more. Talk to the chemist also about electrolyte replacement- i think you can get sachets, tablets and drinks. Obviously there’s lucozade, but i’d avoid sugar.

As much plain water as you can. The more pee coming out the more the bacteria will be washes out. Filling the bladder also stretches it and washes bacteria out.

Obviously also seek medical advice. I’ve managed with fluids only but they’ve only ever been from the sore peeing etc. If you’ve had it longer and with the back pain go with antibiotics if prescribed etc.

[hamstersarse]

I used to get recurrent UTI / kidney infections. They are awful, make you really poorly

I now haven’t had one for over 3 years. I changed my diet. I went very low carb/ keto which is a diet that reduces inflammation and a very welcome side effect was that it cured this completely

[Grinnypig]

I had a kidney infection and was in hospital on IV antibiotics for five days. This was a number of years ago and so when I have UTIs now I don’t hang around and make sure I get antibiotics straight away.
After a series of infections a couple of years ago I was prescribed a daily ab which I took for a few months which finally worked.
I now have a ‘just in case’ course of antibiotics at home so I can start them straight away with the early symptoms. If I use it I have it on a repeat prescription so I can just replace them.
GPs often prescribe a course which is just too short. 3 or 5 days.
Persevere for treatment. When it travels to your kidneys it’s dangerous.

[36degrees]

@willow2018 hope you're feeling better soon. @hamstersarse very interesting about LC - I relaxed my keto diet in Oct and think this may have done the damage.

[AccountCreateUsername]

If you FEEL dreadful OP get medical assistance as soon as possible

[hamstersarse]

I just did a google to see if there was any evidence.

And there is....from 1933 😂

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2369671/pdf/brmedj07366-0006.pdf

[hamstersarse]

Btw I agree with others that you need to see a doc, you likely need antibiotics

Looking at your diet might be more for future prevention.

[ChinesedragonTeapot]

Ask your doctor if they can send a urine sample off so they can identify the bacterium responsible and then test it to see which antibiotics it is sensitive to.

[willow2018]

@flower11 May I ask what is the sepsis like? I am worried about it as well coz I have fast heart rate and I think it is a bad sign. Did your DD have similar symptoms like me?

@bluebluezoo yes I mean IV antibiotics. I'm actually worried about going to the hospital during the pandemic. If oral abs can help then I'd like to take it at home. However, it's really annoying I've tried Macrobid, trimethoprim, cefalexin and amoxicillin but they don't really work. I'm drinking water now like a cow lol

@hamstersarse I agree with you. What you eat and drink really matters. If I stop diary and alcohol I feel much less irritation to my pelvic and stomach. So I stopped drinking wine and started to eat something low cab.

@Grinnypig How did they send you to the hospital? GP just referred you straight away or you had to wait for couple days until you have the letter?

@AccountCreateUsername yes I will speak to the doctor to see if he could give me something new. I just don't want to upset my GP coz I have been calling him for many times....

[willow2018]

@ChinesedragonTeapot My GP did it and he prescribed me amoxicillin after the urine test. It just didn't work again...I think I will speak to him again.

[Purplewithred]

I get occasional UTIs, I used to get them quite frequently but now only get the occasional mild one.

I assume samples have been sent off to be cultured?

If you are peri menopause or menopausal then look at HRT (vaginal dryness/thinning can cause problems locally)
Drink lots, always
I find constipation doesn’t help so stick to a high fibre diet
Pee before and after sex
Be very careful with front and back passage hygiene
I’ve also learned that while I can keep a UTI mild for a long time I can’t get rid of them completely, so a short dose of antibiotics earlier rather than later works for me.

Keep a diary of symptoms: maybe take temp/heart rate/pain score a few times a day at the same time and record them? See if you can spot any patterns? Some variation in temperature and heart rate are normal, but of course some are not. About the dizzy/reading books thing - that is odd, have you had your eyes tested? Do you feel dizzy at other times too?

[willow2018]

@Purplewithred Yes the urine sample has been sent to the hospital for culture. My GP has the result and he gave me amoxicillin after that. I have no idea why the abs didn't work. Maybe I'm resistant to many abs...I'm recording my heart rate and temp now and hopefully I can find something. I actually feel dizzy all the time but it gets worse if concentrate on something so I have to stay in bed most of times. I use to think I may have diabetes so I feel dizzy and then had hba1c blood test turns out I don't have diabetes. My eyes are ok. Another thing is I feel neck and should pain for 2-3 days. Is it because of the infection or sepsis?

[Grinnypig]

@willow2018 he gave me a letter to take to A and E and suggested I pack a bag as I was likely to be admitted.

[willow2018]

thanks for all of you my dearest ladies, I've called 111 and they said they will send ambulance to visit me at home coz my heart rate goes to 130... Hopefully it will be sorted out soon.

[hamstersarse]

How did you get on @willow2018?

Hope you are ok

[willow2018]

@hamstersarse thanks my darling I'm fine now. Yesterday ambulance came to my home and gave some advice. They monitored my heart rate and blood pressure, my heart rate was back to 96. They told me to see my GP on Monday coz it was Saturday even they took me to AE I can only get some normal abs. He was very nice and called someone worked at GP. Finally they believed I need another urine test called MSU to re-test my urine sample. Maybe my GP has done it but the test could be wrong. The abs I took could affect it. He asked me to finish my abs and then take the test again. And he said I don't have sepsis, which made me happy lol. I will call my GP tomorrow to see if he could let me do the MSU test. I don't want to upset my GP (he might dislike advice from someone else) but I'd like to tell him what the ambulance staff said coz it's important to find out the bacteria.

[Lostinacloud]

Looks like you might be getting somewhere hopefully op but just wanted to say that a couple of years ago i went to the GP with bladder infection symptoms and was given antibiotics. I know they need a couple of days to start working sometimes but I had taken them for about 36 hours and could just tell that they weren’t going to work and that the infection was starting to take over. For the first time ever I stood my ground and pushed past the stroppy receptionist on the phone and insisted the GP saw me again that day. I think I must have looked awful because he quickly told me to stop taking the first antibiotics and gave me some designed for kidney infection without taking any further samples. Those were the right ones as I felt them working after the first couple of tablets so it’s really important to get the right antibiotics. Annoyingly though I don’t remember what they were called. Hope you get the right treatment and feel better soon.

[willow2018]

@Lostinacloud yes I agree sometimes we have to insist on doing something which is good for us. I have the similar situation like you had. The abs I took and I am taking now definitely don't really work I can feel it after finishing the courses. If the one is the right one I would be feeling much better with in 3 days. The paramedic said cephalexin is better than amoxicillin but I have finished cephalexin it just didn't work. Sadly I am resistant to it or to many abs. Anyway hopefully I will get something new to try tomorrow from my GP.

[willow2018]

@Lostinacloud yes I agree sometimes we have to insist on doing something which is good for us. I have the similar situation like you had. The abs I took and I am taking now definitely don't really work I can feel it after finishing the courses. If the one is the right one I would be feeling much better with in 3 days. The paramedic said cephalexin is better than amoxicillin but I have finished cephalexin it just didn't work. Sadly I am resistant to it or to many abs. Anyway hopefully I will get something new to try tomorrow from my GP.

[goingtotown]

My GP prescribed 7days of Macrobid antibiotic. She also suggested to avoid caffeine especially coffee as it irritates the bladder.

[willow2018]

Dear friends, just a quick question--I've been to GP and dropped off urine test. The doctor said he didn't find anything abnormal from the dipstick. He will send it to the lab for further test. Do you know why the urine sample is clear while I still have obvious symptoms ? If the result from the lab still shows no infection what shall I do? Go to the private GP for another test?

[willow2018]

@goingtotown I agree avoid coffee I only drink water and tea without sugar and milk now lol Luckily Macrobid worked on you but it doesn't work on me...