Recurring Kidney Infection

Hello N.,

has your sister been checked for any abnormalities in her kidneys? There are many physical reasons why people are more prone to those infections, other than not drinking enough, and many are either genetic or congenital.
I have PKS (Polycystic Kidney Syndrome) running in my family, with my mom, my sister and several of her children affected (I do not have it myself). It is a genetic condition that can go undiagnosed for decades, my mom was well into her 40ies when she was diagnosed even though she had had two kids and a few abdominal surgeries, ultrasounds and x-rays. Both she and my sis are very susceptible to kidney infections that skip the usual UTI stages.
I would suggest that she sees a specialist to get thoroughly checked.

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Just to add to other things to check, right before my Mom was diagnosed with Rhematoid Arthritis, she had several kidney infections...and apparently there is a relation. From what I understand, there are other auto-immune disorders that could also manifest this way. So, whatever else she does, she should be sure to talk to her doctor about whether there are other things that could be the under-lying cause of these infections.

Good luck!
K.

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Been there done that! I've had bladder and kidney infections chronically since birth....had a bladder surgery when I was 23 so now the infections go straight to my kidneys. The doc said that it could be "silent" when its in the bladder. I make cranberry juice a regular part of my diet. I am not a big water drinker either but I will drink flavored water..anything that doesn't have sugar or caffeine counts as "water"

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been there done that. make sure that cranberry supplements are a a reg part of her daily diet! She will feel so much better.

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My mother-in-law nearly died a few years back when her kidneys basically shut down. She has had trouble with them much of her life. Your sister should really start taking care of herself. Dialysis is no fun. A naturopath could help her get her body back to health and wellness.

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In addition to what others have posted, she really does need to drink more water. I had bladder and a kidney infection when I was younger. Once I started drinking more water, I didn't have these problems again.

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I would also say cranberry juice, a lot! She needs to talk with a specialist plus a homeopath. There are wonderful homeopathy remedies that will help her to prevent the next infection and heal the present one. Good luck!

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It hasn't happened to me, but I just recently heard that dark colas can be a culprit in kidney problems. Is she a drinker of coke or pepsi or a generic version? They can double your risk of chronic kidney disease. :(

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/22/health/nutrition/22real...

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My daughter had the same thing. She had three serious ones in one winter and her left kidney is now not functioning. We took her to a (not sure if this is spelled right) Nephrologist, Dr Gittomer, in Anchorage. He ran a bunch of tests and said she had some reflex in that kidney. He put her on anti-biotics for 6 months, she has been off them now for a long time and has been fine. Dr Lund is good out here as well. I hope you get some help, it is super hard to watch them go through it. My daughter was 5 at the time of hers.

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cranberry pills or called cranberry fruit you can get from walmart take a couple every night plus water of course but they really help

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Yep, going to the hospital was definitely the right thing to do. It's not wise to mess around with kidney infections. I've also had two kidney infections and both times I had a bladder infection but they were both asymptomatic so I didn't know I had them. I've also had quite a few symptomatic bladder infections so I definitely know what the symptoms feel like (horrible!).

During my second pregnancy (first child) was when I had my two kidney infections and I pretty much had an asymptomatic bladder infections the whole time. The only two months I wasn't on antibiotics were the two months I got kidney infections, and I'm not one to use antibiotics unless absolutely necessary (especially during pregnancy).

Thankfully I changed my diet to a more whole-foods centered one and started drinking more water so I actually haven't had any problems with my bladder or kidneys since then. Thank goodness!

I hope your sister feels better soon and is able to make positive lifestyle changes to minimize the chances of this happening again. It's no fun.

Best wishes!
~B.

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It might not hurt to ask the Dr. about sponge kidney. My daughter had lots of bladder infections and kidney stones before she was diagnosed at 28. I had never heard of it and all the Drs. as she was growing up missed it.
K.

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