Chronic UTI's in Children - Page 2
Thank you for all of your responses. I am really grateful for the first hand accounts of experiences. It is so frustrating for the doctor to tell me everytime to wipe front to back. I know that. But I also know that that does not solve the problem.
I agree about the VCUG. I think I cried almost as much as she did. Mine was about the same age when she had hers done..she is almost 5 now. She has been so traumatized about the whole situation (in addition to IV's and such when we first found the problem.) I haven't tried the d-Mannose for the same reasons. In fact, that was the main reason that I posted, to get some feedback about it. She shows no symptoms until the infections are out of control. We have started measuring her pH levels in her
urine to see if there are any fluctuations that might signal that something is going on and she is on a standing order for urine cultures. I just feel so bad for her. Have you
put your daughter in preschool? Mine is due to start kindergarten and I haven't gotten her started on preschool yet because of the hygiene issue. Thanks again for your feedback.
Answers:
My Daughter started Preschool last year. Her situation began because she was on an antibiotic for Strep which two weeks later led to a yeast infection which then led to UTI because she was holding back. Things have never been the same since. I spoke with her teacher so that they could watch her and let me know if they felt there was a problem. Also, I was nervous that she would start telling her friends about her procedure. Fortunatley her teacher was aware of the procedure because she had the same thing when she was a child I don't know how you feel; but the description of the procedure from a little one could lead someone to think something else. She was so traumatised that if she even thinks there's a problem she doesn't always tell me out of fear of having to go back to the doctor. I have had the most stressful year of my life. My daughter with her recurring UTI's and my son 2 years is probably autistic just waiting for the official dx. Hopefully they will out grow this before they enter kindergarden. If not all that can be done is mention to the teacher the problem so that they can make sure she is okay. How often do her infections happen? My daughter who will be 5 in July has been on about a three month cycle since her first one.
Answers:
I am making myself late for work in replying to this but I have been reading this post and thinking about how much this is me.
My daughter is going to be 5 in July also and will be entering Kintergarden in the fall. She goes to a wonderful pre-school right now.
About 2 months ago she was admitted to the hospital because of a uti. She had never gotten one before. She was there for 4 days before they got her fever down. While there she had an ultrasound and a vcug done. They both came back normal in the kidney area.
About 12 days ago (meds just ran out) she got another one. They prescribed her amoxcillen(sp?). It obiviously is not working just like last time. I do not want her to end up in the hospital again. They have her right now on milk of mag for three months and we have a follow-up in 3 weeks.
My question is what do I do now? What tests do I need to demand? She is off the meds they gave her and she still has the uti. We're going to call her ped this morning and I seriously am so angry!!! I want my daughter to get better and not end up in the hospital again. If we have to be on constant meds so be it.
I am so glad that I found this board and know that there are other moms that are experiencing the same thing I am.
Mom of 2 girls
Answers:
I am so sorry for taking so long to respond. Somehow, your post didn't show up as a new post for me.
Anyway, one thing that helped with my daughter was I had her put on a
standing order for a urine culture. I didn't have to wait for a doctor to order it. I could take a specimen to the lab anytime I felt she was even beginning to show slight symptoms.
Also, they can run tests to see exactly what strain of bacteria your daughter has AND what antibiotic it is sensitive to.
One thing that helped my daughter was to involve her. I explained everything that she could understand. And I made sure that she knew that her "pee was sick" and not her. She is involved in her treatment and I think that helps her a lot.
They put my daughter on a preventative antibiotic of amoxicillan and she got another infection during its' use. The tests showed that she had built up an immunity to that antibiotic. They prescribed Keflex/cephalexin so many times and I would tell them that it didn't work.
My best recommendation is to see a specialist. We finally got help from a Pediatric Nephrologist and a Pediatric GastroEnterologist. Don't let them tell you that it isn't necessary. It is. Pediatricians can help with the occasional UTIs. I don't think they can handle chronic infections.
I wish you lots of luck in this and PLEASE know that my thoughts and prayers are with you and your daughter.
p.s. I meant to ask you, how do you get your daughter to take the M of M?
My daughter hates it!!!! Thanks. Ms T.
Answers:
I know this has been a long thread but I want to report some happy news for a change. My daughter has been infection free for almost 5 weeks. The longest that she had been without one (since December '03) was 10-14 days. I hope I am not jinxing her with this post. Since I have been able to get her to take the Milk of Magnesia everyday her UTI's have stopped. I was worried that the occasional accidents would undo the progress because the bacteria would be "right there". So far, it hasn't been the case. The doctor said that it is the blocking of the urethra that is the culprit and that as long as she is able to empty the bladder completely that the bacteria isn't the problem.
By the response to my original post, I know that we aren't the only ones who have experienced the Chronic UTI's so I am writing this to let you know to
hang in there and be sure to look at constipation as a possible cause. Good luck all and May God Bless our Children. Ms Twiddle
I agree about the VCUG. I think I cried almost as much as she did. Mine was about the same age when she had hers done..she is almost 5 now. She has been so traumatized about the whole situation (in addition to IV's and such when we first found the problem.) I haven't tried the d-Mannose for the same reasons. In fact, that was the main reason that I posted, to get some feedback about it. She shows no symptoms until the infections are out of control. We have started measuring her pH levels in her
urine to see if there are any fluctuations that might signal that something is going on and she is on a standing order for urine cultures. I just feel so bad for her. Have you
put your daughter in preschool? Mine is due to start kindergarten and I haven't gotten her started on preschool yet because of the hygiene issue. Thanks again for your feedback.
Answers:
My Daughter started Preschool last year. Her situation began because she was on an antibiotic for Strep which two weeks later led to a yeast infection which then led to UTI because she was holding back. Things have never been the same since. I spoke with her teacher so that they could watch her and let me know if they felt there was a problem. Also, I was nervous that she would start telling her friends about her procedure. Fortunatley her teacher was aware of the procedure because she had the same thing when she was a child I don't know how you feel; but the description of the procedure from a little one could lead someone to think something else. She was so traumatised that if she even thinks there's a problem she doesn't always tell me out of fear of having to go back to the doctor. I have had the most stressful year of my life. My daughter with her recurring UTI's and my son 2 years is probably autistic just waiting for the official dx. Hopefully they will out grow this before they enter kindergarden. If not all that can be done is mention to the teacher the problem so that they can make sure she is okay. How often do her infections happen? My daughter who will be 5 in July has been on about a three month cycle since her first one.
Answers:
I am making myself late for work in replying to this but I have been reading this post and thinking about how much this is me.
My daughter is going to be 5 in July also and will be entering Kintergarden in the fall. She goes to a wonderful pre-school right now.
About 2 months ago she was admitted to the hospital because of a uti. She had never gotten one before. She was there for 4 days before they got her fever down. While there she had an ultrasound and a vcug done. They both came back normal in the kidney area.
About 12 days ago (meds just ran out) she got another one. They prescribed her amoxcillen(sp?). It obiviously is not working just like last time. I do not want her to end up in the hospital again. They have her right now on milk of mag for three months and we have a follow-up in 3 weeks.
My question is what do I do now? What tests do I need to demand? She is off the meds they gave her and she still has the uti. We're going to call her ped this morning and I seriously am so angry!!! I want my daughter to get better and not end up in the hospital again. If we have to be on constant meds so be it.
I am so glad that I found this board and know that there are other moms that are experiencing the same thing I am.
Mom of 2 girls
Answers:
I am so sorry for taking so long to respond. Somehow, your post didn't show up as a new post for me.
Anyway, one thing that helped with my daughter was I had her put on a
standing order for a urine culture. I didn't have to wait for a doctor to order it. I could take a specimen to the lab anytime I felt she was even beginning to show slight symptoms.
Also, they can run tests to see exactly what strain of bacteria your daughter has AND what antibiotic it is sensitive to.
One thing that helped my daughter was to involve her. I explained everything that she could understand. And I made sure that she knew that her "pee was sick" and not her. She is involved in her treatment and I think that helps her a lot.
They put my daughter on a preventative antibiotic of amoxicillan and she got another infection during its' use. The tests showed that she had built up an immunity to that antibiotic. They prescribed Keflex/cephalexin so many times and I would tell them that it didn't work.
My best recommendation is to see a specialist. We finally got help from a Pediatric Nephrologist and a Pediatric GastroEnterologist. Don't let them tell you that it isn't necessary. It is. Pediatricians can help with the occasional UTIs. I don't think they can handle chronic infections.
I wish you lots of luck in this and PLEASE know that my thoughts and prayers are with you and your daughter.
p.s. I meant to ask you, how do you get your daughter to take the M of M?
My daughter hates it!!!! Thanks. Ms T.
Answers:
I know this has been a long thread but I want to report some happy news for a change. My daughter has been infection free for almost 5 weeks. The longest that she had been without one (since December '03) was 10-14 days. I hope I am not jinxing her with this post. Since I have been able to get her to take the Milk of Magnesia everyday her UTI's have stopped. I was worried that the occasional accidents would undo the progress because the bacteria would be "right there". So far, it hasn't been the case. The doctor said that it is the blocking of the urethra that is the culprit and that as long as she is able to empty the bladder completely that the bacteria isn't the problem.
By the response to my original post, I know that we aren't the only ones who have experienced the Chronic UTI's so I am writing this to let you know to
hang in there and be sure to look at constipation as a possible cause. Good luck all and May God Bless our Children. Ms Twiddle