slow burn kidney infections recurring

[qwes]

Hi, Im 48 and until recently very healthy (professional choreographer). 2 yrs ago got an acute kidney infection ( high fever, blood in pee, the works) which was treated with augmentin. since then, I keep getting less acute infections and they come back every 3 months. Low fever, very tired,  abdominal swelling (a lot), back pain, urine strips show white blood cells and protein and occasionally nitrates. I had a hysterectomy 4 weeks ago (large broad lig fibroid) and I hoped that might make a difference. last week got an infection, was given augmentin for 7 days (again) and 2 days after finishing the course, it is now back again. Heavily swollen, very tired, uristrip showing white blood cells, protein, cloudy pee.

I questioned my doc as to why they keep coming back and she says she doesn't know, she is not a 'clever doctor', and just keeps giving me 7 days augmentin. (Im allgeric to doxycyclin and trimethaprim). My question is, what tests can I ask her to run, what concerns should I have and how would you treat this?

Because the first one was so dramatic, it was easy to spot. But now, it creeps up, I just start slowing down and getting very tired, my back and groin will ache, nausea, no real fever but uri strips will show white blood cells and protein. So it can take a while before my doc decides something is wrong. I have lost a lot of work because of this and really need to get a handle on it. I would appreciate any advice or direction to help me be able to address this properly. thnx

[qwes]

thanks so much guys for great advice. They tested the sample for bacteria and it came back neg, which has happened before, and yet I get very ill and the antibiotics fend it off for a few months. Im beginning to think it may be a mycoplasm infection, so I am going to go back and ask them to test for that. Im now finishing the 3rd week of augmentin and it has helped a great deal. But I know it will be back in a few months and it will start all over again.

[lindahand]

I agree with Marina that a referral to a specialist is in order. As well one week's worth of antibiotics isn't very much. When I get a bladder infection I need two weeks worth of Cipro (allergic to sulpha drugs - which are the best for urinary issues). Cipro is a harsh drug, but it works well to clean out tough infections. (too if you are exposed to anthrax you'll be fine because that is the drug they use to prevent anthrax infections. useless bit of information for you. lol)

Other than that you may want to pick up some cranberry tablets at the drug store. They won't help in the kidney's but will help in the bladder and if it is bladder infections leading to kidney infections it may help. The juice isn't that great. It is high in sugar, and not nearly as strong as the pills. Cranberry makes the bladder slippery so the infections can't stick to the walls of the bladder. Another tasty option is real dried unsweetened (or sweetened with applejuice cranberries. They are found at health food stores and cost a fortune but they are so gooooood. Craisins are just candy. They are so processed I doubt there is anything real in them.

Do insist on a referral to a specialist though. This is beyond what a normal doctor should deal with. And you don't want to develop Chronic Kidney Disease. You should ask them to do kidney function tests and not just urinalysis. Creatine, urea, and the like. A GFR rating is helpful and is the cumulation of a few different tests that estimate the level of kidney functioning. On many websites this is the number they refer to in discussing kidney functioning.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[Marina_busybee]

I'm so  sorry  you're  dealing with  the  recurring  UTI's.        
   Can you  ask  your  Dr  for  a  referral to  a nephrologist  or  a  Urinologist?              I  really  do  think it  would  be  beneficial to  see  a  specialist.
Does your  Dr send your  urine  to the  lab before  giving you augmentin ?
When  UTI is  present the  lab  automatically  does  a   drug  reaction  test  to  see  which   antibiotic  will  work  better  for the  type of  infection you  have.
Also  if the  same  drug  is  been  given  without  success, could  be  that  the  body  has  become  immune  (or the  bacteria  has  become  resistant)  to it.  

When  I've  had   UTI's  I've  been  given  CIPRO  (ciprofloxacin hydrochloride),  and  it  works  quickly.

My  best  advice  for you is  to  go  see  a  specialist,  since  recurring  UTI's  can  lead  to  kidney  famage  and   eventually  kidney  failure.

Take  care!  :)

Marina