UTI after Urostomy Surgery - Seeking Advice

Greetings,

I'm a bit over 8 weeks post-op. All has been okay, just learning about different appliances, etc. However, last week I spent 4 days in the hospital for a UTI. They say my ureters were inflamed and my WBC was 25 (should be less than 10). So I am wondering how I got this infection. Seems long enough post-op that it was not due to the surgery.

On a pain scale of 1-10, it was a 12. So I don't want to go through this again.

Is this a 'normal' thing for urostomies to get UTIs? Can the pouch be introducing an infection?

Gary

I have been having them for a long while now, one after another. I am not sure if cleaning the bag has anything to do with it or not. I try to be as careful as I can cleaning them. Best wishes and stay safe.

That is the exact truth!! And even trained educated medical professionals don't know how to take urine from a urostomy stoma. Either not trained or don't care and scared. I'm thinking of learning myself how to do it. Especially when one had a deadly infection.    

Craziness at its best

Thanks  

BAYS ;)

Hi Gary,

Sorry to hear you are sick and were in the hospital, and I hope you are feeling better.

I have a urostomy as well and I am sorry to say, but infections are still going to happen. It has only been 18 months post-op. In the first 6 months, I too was hospitalized with 2 infections, as you speak of. One was really bad; I almost died. I have two right now, and as of today, I have one. But the funny thing is, my urine looks perfect, like normal, but the results say abnormal microbio detected. Lol, guess aliens. Maybe from the stoma. Waiting on a call back from the doc.

I will say, for us with no bladder, water is a must. Hydrated, hydrated, so important. And anyway you can drink it. I like to put mint and slices of ginger and lemon in water, like a detox. Also, cilantro, cucumber, fruits. I drink alkaline water to keep the pH balance good, so my kidneys won't work so hard.

Please also share your ideas, Gary. I would like to hear, and it can be helpful too.

Feel better. Take care, all. Many blessings.

BAYS

I have been suffering from UTI infections for a long time. I have both an ileostomy and a urostomy. I'm getting bacteria in my kidneys. The doctor explained to me that it's because they used a live piece of bowel to create the tube from the kidneys to the stoma. This piece of live bowel continues to create bacteria that goes back into the kidneys. I am on a daily antibiotic for the rest of my life. In the beginning, I was hospitalized when I got an infection. The pain was unbearable - pain in my kidneys, fever, and vomiting. I have learned to recognize the signs of an infection coming on and can now treat myself at home by taking a course of more powerful antibiotics called Amoxicillin. That's what they were giving me in the hospital. Unfortunately, it's part of life for most people with a urostomy. Each time I was sick, I had a urine test which showed E. coli in my urine. If you keep getting them, talk to a specialist, urologists, about going on antibiotics. I've been on them for years. You need to do a urine test to find out what bacteria you have and get the right antibiotic. There are only four types of antibiotics that treat this. I still occasionally get a UTI if I forget to take my medication daily. Some warning signs I get are back pain, kidney pain, dark urine, red urine from blood, then nausea, fever, and vomiting. During a bad infection, my urine is cloudy or milky-looking. An infection like this cannot be left untreated. Hope this helps.

Staying Hydrated with an Ostomy with LeeAnne Hayden | Hollister

Hello Two Bags,

Thank you very much for sharing. I also have a urostomy and you explained perfectly. Now I got tips about warning signs for a UTI. This is all so new, my head spins at times. I used to know what to look for when I had a bladder, but now I'm learning all over.

My new bladder was also made like the way they did yours, Two Bags, and now our infections can go from 0 to 100 in a blink of an eye.

I have one right now and because I was sick for so long, I don't have many antibiotics left that work on me.

I have more questions, Two Bags. I would like to message you.

Thanks again.

BAYS zwj

Greetings Two Bags,

Your posting was very interesting and informative. Sorry to hear what you are going through, but I understand the pain. No one has suggested that I should be aware of potential UTIs... not my urologist or wound care nurse or any of the nurses or doctors during my recent 4 days in the hospital. This puts me to be more on guard in the future for warning signs.

I was a bit intrigued by what you said, "This piece of live bowel continues to create bacteria, that goes back into the kidneys". I assumed that once we drank a sufficient amount of fluids, the ileum would just be 'cleaned out' and then a conduit and nothing more. Can you say any more on 'how' the ileum is doing this?

Seems that, since it can be expected to happen again, I should always have a supply of antibiotics around...just in case. By the time I had arrived at the doctors after my recent episode, hours had passed and I could have at least started the antibiotics. Does this make sense?

Gary

Hi Gary, not much more information to share, just going on what the doctors told me. How does a normal bowel work? It must create bacteria to aid in digestion. It's the only explanation I was given about how poo was getting into my kidneys. I had lots of tests, thinking something inside was broken and causing cross-contamination. When changing both my bags, I always do the wee bag first, then the poo bag, so as not to get any poo on my wee stoma from cross-contamination. That's all they told me about in the hospital after my surgery. I think you're right about assuming that if you drink enough fluids, it does keep the ileum flushed out. My biggest problem is, I don't drink enough fluids. I just can't seem to get that water in me. I drink lots of other things like tea, coffee, and juice, but not much water. It will definitely help if you drink the recommended amount of water daily. Also, taking cranberry capsules can help maintain a healthy urinary tract. It's always a good idea to have antibiotics on hand, but they have to be the right ones. It's important to diagnose which bacteria is causing the infection with a urine test so the doctor can prescribe the correct antibiotic. My bacteria seems to be the same one each time. There are four types, I believe. Mine doesn't change. But after about 8 months or so, I might get an infection because the bacteria become immune to the antibiotic. Then it's time to hit the super strong antibiotics, 1000mg twice a day for two weeks. Then back to my daily 250mg antibiotic. It's difficult to get information about all this. It took me some years to figure out what was going on with me as I wasn't told anything about possible UTI infections. As well as my regular doctor, I also have a urologist and bowel specialist that I can see when needed. They are the guys that have the answers. There are other alternative or herbal remedies to help keep a healthy urinary tract. I tried some but they didn't work for me. There should be some information about that on the internet. Take care and drink as much water as you can.

Greetings Two Bags,

When I went into surgery, there was a possibility that I'd become a Two Bagger, too. I had prostate cancer some years earlier and had 38 rounds of radiation. The surgeon said that my bladder might be fused (due to the radiation) to the colon and he'd have another specialty team standing by just in case to handle the colon. But, thank goodness, that did not happen. You have raised some interesting things to think about. I'm on a two-week antibiotic stretch with Bactrim. Got some Probiotics pills today to help counter the effects of the antibiotics. I'll see about getting some Cranberry juice.

Thanks...

Gary

Hi,

Thank you for the info and you are correct especially about the drug companies. They just care about the big dollars. nbsp

Will be adding some items to market list.. Need to cut my sugars and cleanse my kidneys. nbsp

Thanks nbsp

BAYS ;)

I think they may have thought it was a threat because of the spelling. It may be a misunderstanding. You may need to get in touch and explain what you meant. I think what you meant was "insulin kills kidneys."

I have about a month ago gotten out of the hospital. In and out all the time. Bladder infections like you would not believe, I took myself to a different hospital because the one I used to go to just gave me a shot and said check with your doctor in a few days, the back pain and passing urine hurts so bad. Tramadol doesn't even touch the pain. Last two times I had E. coli 2 times all through me. So sick, infection control stepped in and they gave me a one-time med, you took it in water 8 oz and it tasted like orange. Not bad, that was on the 22nd of July. So far so good. We will see. I am 77 and it seems they don't pay attention. But this last ER was very good. Will return there for sure. That's for listening to me, go on and on, have a good day from Michigan, USA