Chronic Uti/kidney Infections

some doctors will say to drink a beer, but others will tell you to stay completely away from alcohol. I had a bad UTI when I was carrying my middle child and the doctor said to drink 8 ounces of beer every day and it would help keep my kidneys flushed. It did the job. Did not need antibiotics. I know you said you were staying away from pop, but what about tea or coffee? My granddaughter gets a UTI every time she drinks anything with caffiene in it, including chocolate. She will drink clear sodas or grape or orange and they do not affect her. Also, stay away from baths, you can take a shower but no baths. My granddaughter gets a UTI and yeast infection when she takes baths.

I have a bladder condition called Interstitial Cystitis which was just diagnosed by a urologist about a year and half ago - just a few months prior to my last conception. The way I understand it, my body is essentially "allergic" to my bladder, thus it is usually a bit swollen and easily irritated, and an irritated bladder means bladder infections, UTI's and kidney infections. (I passed kidney stones at 16 wks with my first baby. You really don't want to do that.)

First of all, DONT DRINK CRANBERRY JUICE! It's an old wives tale and compounds UTI's. It's a very acidic juice and the more acidic the product, the more it will irritate your bladder and urethra and compound your problems. Other dietary restrictions with a UTI include but are not limited to, citrus (fruit and juices), ANY caffeine (coffee, tea, pop, chocolate, etc), nuts (except almonds)....some restrictions are more intuitive than others....

Because of the IC and my prevalence toward UTIs, bladder infections, and kidney infections, I was put on Nitrofur - an antibiotic strictly for the UT region - through the length of my last pregnancy, as well as continuing the Uresed - antimicrobacterial with an added numbing agent to deal with the pain - I take regularly.

I would first and foremost, talk to your OB. Secondly, see if you can't get a referral for a urologist. (Btw, most urologists I've met are nasty-tempered men who think women can't wipe right and that's where all their problems come from. Plus, I've decided they probably only seek a specialization in urology bc they can't hack it elsewhere but have to use their medical degree somehow - yes, the urologists I've encountered are that bitter and obviously hate what they do. That said, if you can get a consultation, they'll want to run all sorts of not-so-fun, but necessary tests.) Third, don't have sex until you get this thing cleared up. Sex will make it worse too. Also, glad that you're drinking water, but that's ALL I would drink. Maybe some milk. But drink at least 100 oz of water/day. During my pregnancy I had to drink 160 oz/day...

Lemme know how it goes and if you get it cleared up....what works.

My mom, who grew up extremely poor, will sit on the toilet with at least one gallon of water and drink the whole thing while she sits there and reads. She swears by it. She claims it flushes everything out of there. I've never had a problem with infections, so haven't tried it, but it sounds like it would work if you can stand drinking that much water

I had chronic UTI's for about a two-year stint (of course i wasn't pregnant at that time), but if they won't stop I would see a urologist ASAP.

That seems very strange that it would be so severe to kick you into preterm labor... it wouldn't happen to be something else that is being masked by UTI symptoms? My first thought was Diet pop--but you said you were staying away from that. My body is allergic to the nutrasweet in diet pop so when I quit drinking it I never had another UTI again (after having chronic issues with them). I agree with some of the others. Make sure you urinate after intercourse, stay out of the tub (no bubblebath), etc. Now, as for the meds not working--your body has probably built up a tolerance to the meds. This is a shame and there's not much that can be done about it. I am so very sorry you are having to go through this. Keep doing what you are doing and take care. I will say a little prayer for you and baby to make it as close to term as possible!

Stay away from baths. No caffeine at all, no carbonation at all.
Lots and lots of water. Also go to the bathroom before and after you have sex.
I get them all the time.

Stay away from coffee and refrain from sex for a while. also, ask for the steroid shot. i have had 3 preterm births! It is scary and I have 2 living children that were preemies, my twins died. My son who is now 6, I had the shot and he did wonderfully! Good luck!!

I have a history of problems with UTIs as well and when I start to feel like I am getting one I start to take cranberry pills. I learned about them when I was pregnant and it was taking a long time to get the results from the lab test. My Aunt told me about the cranberry pills and I started taking them right away, by the time I heard that I had a bad UTI I was already feeling beter. They had me come back in just to make sure the infection was gone, and it was! I have been using the cranberry pills since (about 7 years). Both my sister and sister-in-law have also had UTIs that have been cleared up this way. You can find cranberry pills in the pharmacy section with the vitamins and supplements. There are some that are mega potency that have seemed to work really good and fast for relief.Best thing is they are just a fruit so you don't have to take medicine if it works. Just take with a lot of water to get quickest results. Good luck.
A.

I have a friend who is 36 weeks with the same issue. Her ob told her to get these uristat pills you can buy them in the pharmacy area and she swears they worked miracles...

There is a product called UT Vibrance made by a company called Vibrant Health. It is mainly D-Mannose, which is the polysaccharide that makes cranberries so effective with UTI's. It is excellent. It comes in powder or capsules, although I've only used the powder for my daughter's recurrent UTI's. I've also mixed a probiotic with the UT Vibrance during a particularly nasty infection. I have had a 100% success rate with it. It is expensive, though (34.99). You can get it for sure at Wild Oats or check their website for other stores.

my dr actually told me to drink one can of beer a month & as much yogurt as I could handle, something about the yeast in it was helping me out.

I feel for you. I had them quite a bit in my first pregnancy. The only other things I can remember reading is 1) avoid sugar at all costs.... which it sounds like you are doing with the pop, and 2) avoid tight-fitting or synthetic pants. Good luck, and I hope they go away SOON.

I would recommend eliminating all caffeine and sugar from your diet until the UTI clears up completely. No coffee, no black tea, no soft drinks or sweetened drinks of any kind - just water & cranberry juice to drink. I get UTI's every once in awhile & dropping the caffeine & sugar from my diet (along with drinking quarts of cranberry juice) is the only way I ever get rid of them.