Kidney infection, obstruction, antibiotics not working - Update: worse on new AB

[Mummy to be x]

Thank you for your input

How did they determine it was narrow? I figured they would have told me during the ultrasound if mine was...My urologist said the baby is on my kidney.

That truly does sound like hell Would antibiotics better it for the moment or hardly at all? I am unsure if for me it is just a difficult infection or if it will be a problem to the end of this pregnancy due to the baby.

Six days after given birth to my son I had an awful uti, I was in so much pain, been sick, a high fever and I went to hospital, they where treating me with antibiotics and they decided they would do an ultrasound on my stomach area to make sure there was no remaining tissue from my c-section, during that ultrasound they seen my kidney was extremely enlarged so they performed more scans and realised it was narrowed, they inserted a tube directly into my side called a nephrostomy tube to drain my kidney as it couldn't do it itself, I had that tube in for nine months (basically like a catheter but it comes from your kidney) then I finally had a scan to determine my function of the kidney, unfortunately it was 0% so the decision was made to remove the kidney! thankfully I'm doing very well now. Like you though, I had no idea of this problem I'd never had UTI problems before, and I am 26 years of age! I've been so lucky to get away problem free with a buggered kidney lol.

Antibiotics would at least kill some of the bacteria I would definitely take them for sure.

 

[Naturalmommi]

Did this happen w last pregnacy?

 

[Marumi]

Mummy to be x
Sorry I asked the question wrong, I meant to say did antibiotics do anything for you while having the kidney problem? For me they help but once I quit it comes back within a day. I have been on them for 3 weeks, 3 different types.
Next ultrasound I will ask the doctor about my kidney. I suppose it is normal size, but I'll make sure. My kidney was only grade 1 congested and kidney function is still good though.

Naturalmommi
No, not at all. Went 42+5 without any problems. Still walked around everywhere with a huge belly. I was hoping to be as active this time...

 

[Naturalmommi]

My last pregnacy I had migraines every other day during second fri. This one is skin problems and high heart rate... I just want to enjoy the pregnacy!!!! But I'm in constant worry instead.
Do you use any Essential oils?

 

[Mummy to be x]

Yes they would work but them a week later the infection would come back x

 

[Marumi]

My last pregnacy I had migraines every other day during second fri. This one is skin problems and high heart rate... I just want to enjoy the pregnacy!!!! But I'm in constant worry instead.
Do you use any Essential oils?

Sorry to hear that.. I can imagine how you feel. With this one I had a hematoma early on and worried bc of that. Aside from that I had a super easy, symptom free pregnancy though and until recently I did not feel pregnant or heavy...nothing. Then this kidney infection knocks me down. Like it is always something out of my control. Very frustrating.
I don't use essential oils. Atm I am trying to heal with the right diet (especially sugar free bc of the infection) and I started using natural remedies like GSE and D Mannose.

Yes they would work but them a week later the infection would come back x

I see, mine only better the infection. I still have leukocytes and protein in my urine though.

 

[Marumi]

Just to update on my infection. I attached a few pics.

- Like I said I have to travel lying down. If I sit or stand for a long period of time the urinary flow gets obstructed. But I can travel by train lying down fairly well. The only problem is people are not understanding at all. One woman tried to sit on my feet and everyone else thought I was just being a bum. No one asked if I am okay .

- I have been able to be up for longer with the infection bettering. I make sure not to drink at all when I am up and that I waited to pee before. After my doctor's appointment I survived a quick trip to Mango and Sushi. I got a leather jacket and cute baby sweater It was nice to do that for a change when you are on the couch all day.

- My blood work: I took a picture of the levels that were elevated...yet doctors discharged me saying "nothing was wrong"...I don't even wanna know how many patients are lied to on a daily basis not understanding blood work. The fact that CRP is still raised in my blood after almost 3 weeks of antibiotics is concerning.

- Urine Test from this morning. Protein seems to bei going down a bit since friday (it was ++) but Leukocytes are still fairly high...while drinking 1-2 glasses of water at night! So this is diluted urine.

 

[Naturalmommi]

I was trying to battle A UTI naturally at the begining of the preg w D-mannose and I think that hurt my kidneys PLUS that's when my heart first went crazy too because of my kidneys. Dmannose is sugar that they say your body doesn't recognize as sugar but I think mine did. I got super weak and things were not functioning right. It might not be the same for everyone though I just know I'm never touching that stuff again.

Have you tried changing the PH of your urine? That can actually help get rid of a infection. Lemon water, vitamin C.......Apple cider vinager worked for me when I wasn't preg Be careful w Apple cider vinager during preg though because I noticed it can stop a heavy menstrual flow so it must do something to hormones...
Is it sunny where you live?

 

[Mummy to be x]

Oh goodness Hun how terrible for you that you've to travel laying down, you poor thing. Is this problem going to be fixed when baby is born or is it just a wait and see kind of thing?

I hope you feel better soon. I love the baby sweater, so cute!

 

[Eleonora]

I've been following your story and it is pretty scary stuff! I really hope that the worst is over. I was also looking at the blood test result you are concerned about and I think I have an explanation. The reference values that those computer tests spit out are usually normal ranges that don't take into account the stage of pregnancy that you are at or even that you are pregnant at all. I found a site that breaks down the numbers by trimester and it might be useful. https://www.perinatology.com/Reference/Reference Ranges/C-reactive protein.htm
In case the link doesn't work, it indicates that 2nd trimester C-reactive protein values can range from 0.4-20.3 mg/L which means your number is well within normal range after all.
I didn't know Mango had baby stuff!

 

[minties]

Wow, so angry for you that you were told everything was ok when you still have some raised levels.

Having to lie down most of the time must be so hard, and boring.

I hope I don't sound creepy but you are cute as a button!

 

[Marumi]

I was trying to battle A UTI naturally at the begining of the preg w D-mannose and I think that hurt my kidneys PLUS that's when my heart first went crazy too because of my kidneys. Dmannose is sugar that they say your body doesn't recognize as sugar but I think mine did. I got super weak and things were not functioning right. It might not be the same for everyone though I just know I'm never touching that stuff again.

Have you tried changing the PH of your urine? That can actually help get rid of a infection. Lemon water, vitamin C.......Apple cider vinager worked for me when I wasn't preg Be careful w Apple cider vinager during preg though because I noticed it can stop a heavy menstrual flow so it must do something to hormones...
Is it sunny where you live?

My urine is tending more towards acidic but when the problem started no ACV or Vitamin C helped. I am a big fan of natural remedies and have cured most of my problems also with the assistance of natural measures...but that is IF there is time. And sadly this infection worsened with the speed of light. And my fpctors told me to disregard early symptoms as "baby on my bladder".
D Mannose seems to be helping. I have been having bladder cramp free trips to the bathroom. My bladder just emptied itself without discomfort or pressure like it would pre pregnancy

It is "anti sunny" in Germany atm.

 

[Marumi]

Oh goodness Hun how terrible for you that you've to travel laying down, you poor thing. Is this problem going to be fixed when baby is born or is it just a wait and see kind of thing?

I hope you feel better soon. I love the baby sweater, so cute!

Supposedly this will be solved once the baby gets off my kidney. He is to the far right with his back permanently now and the right side has less room due to an artery and the digestive tract, so these sort of kidney problems in pregnant women tend to happen with the right kidney. It could get better if he moves, it could get worse if he doesn't and grows. But for sure within 2 weeks after delivery things should normalize if the kidney isn't very damaged.

I've been following your story and it is pretty scary stuff! I really hope that the worst is over. I was also looking at the blood test result you are concerned about and I think I have an explanation. The reference values that those computer tests spit out are usually normal ranges that don't take into account the stage of pregnancy that you are at or even that you are pregnant at all. I found a site that breaks down the numbers by trimester and it might be useful. https://www.perinatology.com/Reference/Reference Ranges/C-reactive protein.htm
In case the link doesn't work, it indicates that 2nd trimester C-reactive protein values can range from 0.4-20.3 mg/L which means your number is well within normal range after all.
I didn't know Mango had baby stuff!

Yes that could be a reason they disregarded it! But according to several other doctors I have spoken to (Internal Medicine, My Urologist, a Naturopath) it is wrong to disregard it given the situation and history. If it randomly pops up in bloodwork of a pregnant woman with no signs of a bacterial infection, no complaints, I am sure it could be ignored.
But if someone comes to the ER with symptoms of kidney failure and pulmonary embolism, protein and leukocytes in urine, other markers in the blood for an infection, having been on antibiotics for a confirmed kidney infection for 3 weeks without success and a diagnosed chronic kidney congestion, plus being a high risk patient because of pregnancy....they should have been all over me and conducted more blood work to figure out what the problem is. There are several more values that can be checked in the blood to see what is going on. Yet they did the smallest blood panel available.
Days after their results I still have double positive leukocytes in my urine, plus protein...like no...these doctors are negligent af.

Mango has a lot of cute baby items! Sort of like H&M and Zara, very lovely style.

Wow, so angry for you that you were told everything was ok when you still have some raised levels.

Having to lie down most of the time must be so hard, and boring.

I hope I don't sound creepy but you are cute as a button!

My body is really achy from resting all day :/ I basically can only get up to pee or wash myself and sometimes to grab food. But oftentimes I have to ask my husband for help because if I overdo it my kidneys immediately hurt and I can not pee. So I am not sure this will be much better once the infection is gone.

And thank you not creepy at all.

 

[6lilpigs]

Just wanted to wish best of luck with this, I hope it clears up somehow for you, feeling ill is awful! xx

 

[laila 44]

You poor thing. What do your Drs say? Are you being followed super closely? Is the infection something that will just keep coming back? Do they advise staying on antibiotics the entire pregnancy? I had some sort of hydronephrosis my first pregnancy. It was picked up on routine scan. Swollen right kidney. Didn't cause any issues and disappeared after baby was born. I hope the same goes for you xx

 

[Marumi]

Just wanted to wish best of luck with this, I hope it clears up somehow for you, feeling ill is awful! xx

Thank you!!

You poor thing. What do your Drs say? Are you being followed super closely? Is the infection something that will just keep coming back? Do they advise staying on antibiotics the entire pregnancy? I had some sort of hydronephrosis my first pregnancy. It was picked up on routine scan. Swollen right kidney. Didn't cause any issues and disappeared after baby was born. I hope the same goes for you xx

Well there is one group of doctors, mostly ER doctors that basically called me crazy for thinking I have anything. I was sent away so many times with a "it's ligament pain", "the baby is growing" etc. that this was not treated in time. And even after finding my kidney is congested they said "It will go away, the antibiotics are taking care of the UTI".
Other doctors, like my MD are shocked that nothing has been done so far. Thanks to Social Media I also know doctors and naturopaths online and they have spoken to be about the problem saying it is unbelievable how I have been treated despite such a dangerous infection.

I am supposed to have blood taken every 2 weeks and get a kidney US. But I am not being followed super closely, just at home and trying to deal with it.

Whether I have to be on antibiotics depends. The infection could stay away, or maybe because of the obstruction of the urine it will keep coming back. It is hard to tell really. Minor hydronephrosis without an infection is even common in pregnancy and won't cause any issues. I am hoping to get to that point.

 

[Marumi]

3rd day on D Mannose and Grapefruitseedextract completed. I am off antibiotics. This morning the infection was gone according to my stix and I have felt normal for the past 2 days, even have been able to pee some after standing up. Though I still lay down after every fluid intake and wait 1-2 hrs to pee.

Now the only question is - will it stay away? Or is it truly that the baby in my kidney/ urinary tract causes a constant reinfection?

 

[Ganton]

I'm glad you're starting to feel better. I hope the relief you've had over the last couple of days is a sign that your condition is improving for good.

 

[Mummy to be x]

If the baby is blocking the urine exiting the kidney then yes, it will cause infection Hun x

 

[Qmama79]

Glad it settled! Must be a relief that it's improving. I really hope pressure is down & your pregnancy will be uneventful til the last weeks! Fingers crossed!!