I have a history of having UTI’s and kidney infections throughout my entire life, starting from childhood. According to my mom, my first one was when I was about a year old. It seems that the older I get, the worse they become. And, every single time there is an infection in a kidney, it is always the right one, never the left. I specifically remember my right kidney being infected 4 times. These times are between age 16 and 26, with numerous UTI’s in between.

Recently they’ve become severe and frequent- a UTI in Nov 08, I was on Cipro for 1 day and it wasn’t working, turned into a severe kidney infection and sepsis within 24 hours of symptoms showing; a UTI in Jan 09 cured by Levaquin; and now another UTI treated by Levaquin for 2 days, then flank pain came on suddenly and I ended up in the ER for IV antibiotics but was instructed to continue Levaquin upon release. Hospital discharge was yesterday, and since then some symptoms have returned.

I’m seeing a urologist, for 3+ months now, and I’m so frustrated that they can’t seem to find anything wrong. It’s causing me so much worry and stress that I’ll be stuck with another life-threatening infection again. I was on Macrodantin for 2 months, and have gotten 2 UTI’s while on it. So, obviously it’s not working. I’m doing everything correctly… drinking tons of water, wearing cotton underwear only and no thongs, go to the bathroom within a few minutes after sex every time, taking cranberry pills…

So far, all of these have come back normal:
-VCUG
-Cystoscopy
-Kidney and Bladder ultrasounds
-CT scan with contrast dye
-CT scan without contrast to rule out stones
-Uroflow is scheduled for this week

So far what we’ve determined is that there are no structural abnormalities or reflux, however the VCUG showed that I didn’t empty my bladder completely. The urologist thinks that’s fine because the hospital I went to normally has patients stand up to void, but they had me stay laying down so not everything came out. As uncomfortable as this was, is this something I should ask to have repeated the other way?

Any ideas from medical professionals? I’m frustrated that it’s taking so long to find a diagnosis! Are there anythings specific that I should ask for test wise? Or anything you think it could be? Anything I can do to convey to my doctor that I can’t deal with the stress and pain any more, never mind my astronomical medical bills… I want them to move quicker on this. They seem to not want me to do testing more than ever few weeks or so. I need answers now.

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