UTIs

FlowersGal,

Normal urine pH ranges from 4.5 to 7 or above. The lower range in some individuals decreases the likelihood of UTIs but the higher end decreases the likelihood of kidney stones.

Yes I keep those little brown tablets on my nightstand.

My pH used to be at 7. Consistently.... No kidney stones. Then had surgery and catheter.. recurrent UTIs started. Then menapause. Simple explanation which should be correct but not thorough...Menapause caused less lactobacillus and it changed my urinary biodome. Taking estrogen causes post menopausal women to have a lower pH than they normally do plus more lactobacilli thus fewer UTIs. If you have a higher pH balance in your urine estrogen will usually lower it to around the 5 mark. When you get a UTI it usually raises to the 7 mark. But these are my numbers. Your numbers might be different. To chart ours we went thru my urinalysis tests thru Labcorp... It was a PITA but worth it. The "yearly well person" was what it was when well .. the UTI testing signified that. I made an Excel sheet to chart and keep track of. They make pH strips so you can test at home so you have an idea of what's going on. I start getting uncomfortable now at 7 and run at 5 usually.

D-Mannose... Use the Powdered kind. Minimum 2 grams 2 times daily. There are studies (and my urogynecologist stated) our bodies absorb more of it if powdered. I take it at least 2 x daily. CNPUSA has a tub that's about 25.00 for 140 servings which will last me 70 days with no UTIs. I put the tub by the coffee maker, put the 2 grams in, add coffee and I'm good for 12 hours. If I have a UTI pop up I take it every 4 to 6 hours until symptoms start resolving.

Cranberry pills... 2 pills per day... Same kind you take... Unless I get UTI.. then it's 3 to 4 pills a day or 1 Ellura and 2 generic.

On the kidney function... What's your eGfr? I've had mine drop all the way to 39. My AST and ALT are at least 25 to 27... Normal but on the higher side. Personally... I'd see a nephrologist to make sure you are getting all the help you need. Mine had us running saline along with my Remicade, she lowered my methotrexate and went thru my supplements having me discontinue some for a bit. My eGfr was 39 at one time but now it is consistently 77 or above... She was worth every visit.

I started taking 4Tablespoons of ground flaxseed in 8 ounces of diet cranberry juice plus 4 to 8 ounces of water. It was originally for my cholesterol and knees... But when I take it daily my ALT and AST drop down to 15 and 17.. (There are studies on flaxseed consumption assisting individuals suffering low kidney function. It's been awhile but Google it... My nephrologist was big into my diet/supplements...) My other blood work also improved while taking flaxseed... So my nephrologist and urogynecologist said to keep taking it daily... And that I could take it in almond milk. I'm not a fan but I do choke it down. You can also eat it like oatmeal or in addition to oatmeal with fruit in the morning but I just prefer the smoothie route.

Sorry for the delay and all. It's methotrexate days for me and I am very foggy for 2 to 3 days....

So if you have questions or I've bungled it... Just let me know.

Clo

Clo— thanks so much. You’re a big help! I will talk to my GI and see if he recommends a urologist or nephrologist. Also my pcp.

My eGFR was 58 in June. It was 75 in Feb. but has dropped to 58 twice before: April 2022 and sept 2021. In between it was always mid 60s. I never even thought to ask my dr what test showed my kidney function was down. I was shocked and didn’t think much about it until I got home. So thanks for all the info. I will try the flaxseed. I think I still have some in the freezer from when I was flaring and someone here said it was good.

I used to keep a spreadsheet on test results but after I reached solid remission I quit updating it. Will do that today, interesting about ph levels. Will go back and check what mine were during utis. I was thinking about the test strips! My dad was type 1 diabetic and used them daily to test sugar levels in his urine, I wondered if they made them for ph levels too.

No worries on the delay … I know we don’t read the forum everyday or even every other day! I knew you’d answer eventually. Thanks again — another reason this forum is so valuable!

Feeling better. Been on nitrofurantin since Thursday. Yes — large+++ leukocytes. Still waiting for culture results to post because of the weekend.

So NC have you ever investigated the hematuria? My BUN and creatinine have been normal.

P. S.

My nephrologist said that "mini" kidney infections could drive my lower kidney function/egfr and that it was very important to take my estrogen/D-Mannose/cranberry supplements every day.... She said you can get those infections and not even know it... So it's important to make sure you take the supplements and see them (your docs) regularly and catch your UTI early... That's why we charted my urine test pH... We knew when it went up I was starting a UTI. There are strips you can get at the pharmacy. I did them daily. It helped me realize what the incoming UTI felt like....

I was worked up more than once in the past for chronic microscopic hematuria. It doesn't seem a cause for great concern. Maybe a "leaky kidney", whatever than is. Maybe you had what they call an uncomplicated UTI. I like to carry a few nitrofurantoin on trips. The culture results will be interesting.

I wondered if that uqora stuff was any good. I really thought I was maybe done with UTIs after almost 2 years so had stopped being vigilant about things. 🤬

I feel tons better physically but still feeling some urgency now and then. Still haven’t seen my culture results in my portal. Today is my last day of antibiotics. We’re in Disneyland for the day and it’s warm so drinking water will be a challenge today. Will try to make up for it when I get home tomorrow.

Have always had trouble with urgency since a child so I think I equate drinking water with having to pee and being somewhere that I can’t right away and then being unable to hold it. Think that’s why I don’t like to drink a lot.