Cultured UTI - Breastfeeding Toddler

[luminesce]

I apologize for the length of this...

I have a UTI. I saw the doctor on Tuesday - my urine was clear at the time but a culture grew Klebsiella. My symptoms have not improved though, honestly, I don't feel as terrible as I have in the past with a UTI. Although, I used to get them frequently, it has literally been 10 years since I had one.

I HATE the idea of taking antibiotics but I had a kidney infection when I was seven years old and I *still* have memories of that horrible time. I do not want to end up with this progressing. I haven't taken antibiotics in a nearly a decade but I think I likely need them now. However, I'm still breastfeeding my self-weaning toddler (38 months) once or twice a day so I'm concerned.

The bacteria was susceptible only to Cipro, Augmentin, Cefazolin (injection) and Sulfa. I'm allergic to Sulfa and Augmentin was the last antibiotic I took about 9-10 years ago. It *really* messed me up; my stool turned pale, I had palptiations, anxiety, ended up with a terrible yeast infection and my liver enzymes were elevated (investigation into the pale stools.) That experience opened my eyes to the terrible side effects of antibiotics particularly since no one listened when I told them the side effects were bothering me. I'm not wiling to take Augmentin again. And finally, since the injection isn't indicated, that leaves Cipro.

My experience with Cipro, which I used to take all the time for UTIs (before I wised up and figured out how to prevent them) was more positive. I just got a slight headache with it. I'm not completely comfortable with taking it during breastfeeding, however. BUT the AAP has now approved it, along with Dr. Hale, although it is listed as L3. Has anyone else taken Cipro while breastfeeding? Given my DS is only nursing one or two times a day (I could probably easily limit him to once during treatment) and because I always had low supply issues with IGT (I never fed more than 1-2 ounces at my peak production) I doubt he even getting much milk. I'd guess a couple ounces a day at best.

Sorry this is so long - I'm just frustrated that I have to take anything but I am happy I'm not faced with the decision while exclusively breastfeeding an infant!

Thoughts? Opinions? Experience with Cipro?

(There is a little tiny part of me that thinks my body might be able to clear this on its own, since I don't really feel WORSE but I really don't want to risk it and I'm not entirely sure how I feel is indicative of severity of infection. My mother ended up with a terrible UTI with lots of blood in her urine and she didn't really feel bad at all.)

[goodygumdrops]

I'm sure you will be fine. Take the medication...you need to be healthy mama! Your son will be fine since he's so old and only nurses twice a day. It will likely not even phase either of you.

[PatioGardener]

nak

for what it's worth, i'd take cipro in your circumstance. hope you feel better soon!

[pbjmama]

tmax (time to peak plasma level) is 0.5 to 2.3 hours, you could nurse right before you have to dose?

[luminesce]

I wanted to update this thread because my experience with healing from this UTI was interesting. By the time the culture came back, we figured out what antibiotic to try and I got the lower dosage pill that I wanted --- I started to feel better. All I was doing was drinking plenty of water and eating some foods that would acidify my urine (like meats and cheeses.) I talked to my family doctor (instead of the urologist) and we decided since I was feeling better that we'd go with the flow, so to speak, and see what happened. Well, I went back for a urine culture a week later and it was clear! About 10 days prior I had a full-blown (over 100,000 colony count) UTI and my body fought it off without antibiotics. I did have a trace of blood in my urine but the family doctor said this was normal given the infection. That has since cleared up.

Now - I certainly don't recommend this course to others because I know first hand that a kidney infection is not something you want to have. I avoid the use of antibiotics unless absolutely necessary but a confirmed infection of that severity in a urine culture is one such instance.

All that said, I found the natural healing process completely refreshing. I already had faith in my body's abilities but this definitely renewed it. It also makes me a little less likely to so aggressively treat a UTI in the future as long as I keep a very close eye on my symptoms.