Kidney damage from UTI’s

[vatsucked]

I’ve been having problems with my bladder for a couple of years, with it not emptying properly. I had an ultrasound last week and whilst they were scanning my kidneys, I was asked if I got a lot of UTI’s. To which I said yes, especially when younger.

I didn’t think much of it at the time, but as soon as I left I clocked the fact that my kidney must have been showing ‘signs’ of the old UTI’s. Maybe scars, damage, loss of function? I don’t get the results for another couple of weeks so I’m just guessing.

Can anyone help me understand what kind of thing must have been seen on the ultrasound? I’m especially interested as I’m Muslim and fasting for Ramadan, but I’m worried if there is any kidney damage that fasting could make it worse (no water for 15 hours) If we have health problems made worse by fasting, then fasting is not permitted in Islam.

I’d appreciate any advice - I’ll ring the GP next week too I think. Thanks so much

Have you been having treatment when you’ve had UTI’s? I have also had a lot of UTI’s previously.. I had one almost all the way through my pregnancy that was undiagnosed as a there was miss communication between midwife and doctor. Fast forward 6 month I was in agony, put it down to C section/after birth pain but it was a kidney infection that had developed because of the same infection I had during pregnancy. I had a scan and got the all clear.. and I have had quite a few kidney infections previously and even a bout of pyelonephritis. I don’t often have symptoms of a UTI though and had for a while before pregnancy but now I just pop a sample into doctors every couple of weeks.

I had a lot of infections as a child, maybe from 10 to 15 years old. I had tests done in my early twenties (scans and flow tests) and was told I had scar tissue in my kidneys but weirdly from my mid twenties I haven't had an infection but I'm now 52 and urinary stress led to me getting up numerous times during the night and having to plan days out depending on toilets being available but localised hormone treatment (vagifem) sorted that out. I certainly wouldn't be fasti g to the extent of no water for 15 hours if I'd any signs of kidney damage and I hope you don't do it either

Thanks so much ❤️

I have a duplex kidney that was picked up fairly late in life due to recurrent uti's. So could be that they have spotted something that could predispose, rather than any damage. So I wouldn't worry too much at this point.

I was told this when I had kidney stones (nervous twitch), that stones can be caused by, or cause UTIs, there is an interchange which causes damage over the years going both ways.

It worries me.

It would be scarring or narrowing they can see I think. Function is measured on a blood test instead. Try not to worry about that, it's relatively common and there are lots of treatment options to support the kidneys. However I think you should keep drinking and not fast to that extent. Your kidneys are best served by working as much as possible, lots of frequent large volume drinking, basically the more you make the kidneys do the better they do. Your kidneys are already a bit battered, they don't need any more insult.