I'm devastated, DS with multiple UTIs - Page 3

[QueenOfThePride]

I never see him playing with himself at all. I don't think he does.

[Fellow Traveler]

I've already said how I would proceed but I am not sure whether you said or not have you give Marilyn a call or had a 'foreskin' friendly urologist provide an opinion?

[QueenOfThePride]

The group we are seeing is the only such around here to take our insurance. And they are not even that close. So seeing another doctor would be hard.

[chaoticzenmom]

Could he have kidney reflux? Circumcision isn't going to help with a kidney problem. It wouldn't for a male or a female.

I just went back and read where you said he had his kidneys looked at.

My naturapath gave us a supplement called Uristatin. It contains an ingredient that kills the urinary tract infection bacteria because they eat it and can't digest it, so they die. It's Uristatin by Thorne Research. That in conjunction with concentrated cranberry supplements helped my daughters recurrent uti's.

I know you've heard it a lot, but you absolutely cannot diagnose phimosis in a 5year old. They may be saying it's phimosis, but they're saying it because they don't understand foreskins. If you're in an area where circ. is still the norm, this can be especially true. You're going to have to get a lot of information in order to keep him from being circ'd. These dr's may end up causing more harm than anything. Can you arrange a visit with a naturapathic dr?

Also, if you use soap in the bath, don't...use a gentle shampoo and no soap or bubblebath.

[ticklemegreen]

I have had a lot of problems with UTI's myself and have done a lot of research to try to figure out how to stop them! When I asked my gynecologist her only recommendation was to make sure I was wiping properly!!! (uh, thanks)

Things I've found:

probiotics (someone said that they heard yogurt is good for preventing uti's, it is because of the probiotics) You could get some keffir smoothie and make him a smoothie every morning for breakfast. You can also add leafy green veggies to it to help get more fiber)

He could take a dailiy cranberry supplement

He could take a daily fiber supplement as well (you could also try pureeing fiber-rich food and mixing it into foods he likes)

Too much sugar can cause you to be more prone to uti

Does he take baths? Maybe you should switch him to showers and use an all natural/gentle soap (including shampoo)

If he does get a UTI or feels like he is getting one (I know I can usually tell) Increase the cranberry supplement and water in-take, cut out as much sugar as possible, and cut dairy as well (although probotics are good for preventing them, if he has a UTI dairy can make it worse)

I did not read the whole thread, sorry if I repeated other suggestions! Good luck!

[tireesix]

A few years ago I had constant UTIs due to E.coli. After numerous antibiotics and changing to a low oxalate diet it all cleared up and haven't had much since.

[ursaminor]

I really dont have much info to offer, but here is a thought-

Perhaps you could find out what a treatment plan used in Europe or other non-circ countries would be. England perhaps? I wonder if there is a medical contact over seas that could provide advice? - it might be worth checking into, at least to convince the docs you are working with that circ is not the answer.

[mamadelbosque]

I'd do the VCUG. My DS (now 6 wks) had it done a couple weeks ago after having a severe UTI/kidney infection. DH took him back and said that it wasn't that bad, considering - and by the time they brought him back out to me, he was fine. And thankfully he didn't have reflux. But it was something that I would have really wanted to know about if he did.

[Equuskia]

Also consider posting in Nutrition and Good Eating and/or Health and Healing for more advice.

[eepster]

Originally Posted by QueenOfThePride

He's also had bacteria-free urine tests that contained blood. The very first time he had visible blood in his urine, I took him right to urgent care, and his urine test there was perfectly normal, so the doctor just looked at me like I was stupid, and the nurse swore up and down that it must have been red food coloring. A few days later I had a very, very sick little boy, went back to the doctor, and he did indeed have a UTI.

This makes me wonder if the blood you saw in his urine was actually brick dust (uric acid crystals, they can look just like blood) from being dehydrated and the UTI he had a few days later was caused by the dehydration and/or bacteria that got introduced during the examination.

Originally Posted by QueenOfThePride

Yeah, I asked the urologist if hormones cause the foreskin to become stretchy, because we used betamethasone cream for a while, and it worked, temporarily. She said yes. I asked her if she thought my son has an endocrine disorder. She wouldn't give me a straight answer. She said he is still young. I asked if we could just wait for his natural hormones to kick in when he's older to cause retraction. She said it might happen when he's older, but he has a tendency to have phimosis, and it might be lifelong. He might never be retractable.

When did the phimosis treatments start? Did you do the steroid cream before the UTIs started? Did the pediatrician test his retractability before the UTIs started?

If yes, then the checking and/or creams may be the cause of the UTIs.

[BlessedMommy2006]

Originally Posted by eepster

If yes, then the checking and/or creams may be the cause of the UTIs.

It's completely preposterous to diagnose a 5 y/o with phimosis or prescribe any treatment for such.

Such treatments could definitely encourage infection.

[melanie_rabbitbarn]

To answer your question about VCUG's and anesthesia; my memory as a secretary in the radiology department that did these exams is that the person had to be awake in order to urinate (void) while the doctor took live x-ray pictures (fluoroscopy). The exam is called a Voiding Cysto-UrethraGram (not sure I have the spelling right). It's not a fun exam, but as so many other Mom's have said, it is better than the alternative of permanent kidney damage.

[mistymama]

Originally Posted by QueenOfThePride

He is seeing a pediatric urologist (group) at a children's hospital. We haven't tested for kidney reflux, and I'm rather resistant to put him through that procedure. I told them I won't do it unless DS was completely anesthetized. They said it doesn't work that way, so we are deadlocked.

I just want to give some support - my ds is also having UTIs, or pain like one is coming on, then it goes away. He had the reflux test done last Thursday and I was so scared for it - but knew it had to be done. To be honest, it was not nearly as bad as I had imagined it would be. They did it at a local children's hospital and they knew just what they were doing and the procedure was very quick. They were able to look at it immediately and tell me if reflux was an issue or not.

I know it's hard to think about - but to be totally honest it was a lot less painful than a UTI.

[lunamegn]

My son also had a VCUG. It was clearly uncomfortable for him but very briefly. Hard for me to see him go through that though.

[Fellow Traveler]

Originally Posted by melanie_rabbitbarn

To answer your question about VCUG's and anesthesia; my memory as a secretary in the radiology department that did these exams is that the person had to be awake in order to urinate (void) while the doctor took live x-ray pictures (fluoroscopy). The exam is called a Voiding Cysto-UrethraGram (not sure I have the spelling right). It's not a fun exam, but as so many other Mom's have said, it is better than the alternative of permanent kidney damage.

Wow, that makes sense to me. Can't believe I didn't consider that.

[QueenOfThePride]

Originally Posted by eepster

When did the phimosis treatments start?

After the third UTI.

Did you do the steroid cream before the UTIs started?

No.

Did the pediatrician test his retractability before the UTIs started?

No.

If yes, then the checking and/or creams may be the cause of the UTIs.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

I just wanted to send and that I am sorry you are having to deal with this. For me knowing something is wrong and not knowing how to fix it for my kids is the very worst feeling on earth.

I hope that you find the thing that will put a stop to these UTI's and keep your ds safe from surgery that wont help.

[Naturalyst]

Originally Posted by KatWrangler

They should of tested the bacteria for resistance to the abx. Then they should of re-tested after the course of abx to make it was gone.

OP did they do this?

I could not possibly count the number of UTI's I had as a child and a teen! And, I was ahead of my time in terms of employing both medical and holisitic approaches - drank tons of water, ate fiber, cotton underwear, cranberry juice ... all of it!

Then, I got a very nasty tooth infection that would not go away. I was on antibiotics (three in all) for almost two months. Voila ... never got another UTI!!!

Looking back, it was clear to everyone that I actually had a chronic kidney infection that only showed when it slipped down to my bladder. And, the usual round of antibiotics (even if they were the right ones) were never taken long enough. (The course of treatment for a kidney infection is much longer than that for UTIs.)

The lesson learned is to get a culture and sensitivity test when treating an infection and test again to make sure it is clearned.

You won't "see" a kidney infection on an ultrasound, unless it has left scar tissue. And, you can't assume it's only a bladder infection just because you have bladder symptoms.

Why not try some dried fruits to relieve your son's constipation. A couple of dried apricots or prunes each day might be enough. And, instead of plain water, you might consider spritzers of cranberry juice and seltzer (carbonated water). It's more 'fun' to drink and would get some cranberry juice into his system too. Also, know that cranberry extract is available in capsules ... can he swallow a capsule?

Whatever you decide to do, I hope your son feels better soon.

[QueenOfThePride]

Thank you, Naturalyst. That is some information that might get us somewhere.

[*Erin*]

oh, mama. i couldn't read and not send you (and your little guy) some love. big hugs. im so sorry you're both going thru this ordeal. i hope he is better soon, and you both have relief.
xoxo