Recurrent kidney infection not related to thyroid?

[Benji76]

Saw a doc today. This is my third kidney infection in 6 months. Never had them before. Over a year ago my TSH was 6. Doc dismissed this. Hasn’t been tested since. This is something I will push for as I have plenty of symptoms. But, I’ve read a lot that hypothyroid can increase likelihood of UTI’s. My doc says there’s no relation. Can anyone here provide me with anything that might change his mind?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Yes many hypothyroid patients find repeated UTI's are one of many symptoms

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also extremely important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or all vitamins

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random

Medichecks currently have an offer on until end of May - 20% off

thyroiduk.org.uk/index.html

If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).

About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's.

[Laundretta]

Well I had 2 kidney infections in the year or so before I was diagnosed and I’d never had one or even cystitis before that. Could just be a coincidence, but .....

[harobed1]

I had repeated UTIs for over a year, one really bad kidney infection and recurring thrush for about 15 years. Doctor didn't believe it was related to thyroid. Having read lots of information on this site, about TSH needing to be below one, I decide that I would increase my dose of levo from 75 to 100 as my TSH was always about 2. Fortunately I had some spare levo tablets which made this possible. I informed my doctor of the increased dose and why I decided to increase it. The doctor monitors my TSH every 3 months as it is now below one and is worried it might be surpressed?!. The good news is I have not had a UTI or any thrush for over a year and she upped my dose of levo.

[janeroar]

UTIs one of my main symptoms with Hashis. Since I’ve been taking D Mannose at first sign of it I haven’t had a bad episode. It’s a natural supplement. It sticks to the bad bacteria in urinary tract and it gets flushed away when you urinate. Have a look on Amazon for reviews. Definitely worth a go alongside looking at all the things slowdragon is suggesting.

[NAdge]

I suffer from Graves’ disease and was treated with radioactive iodine to kill the thyroid best thing I did at the time but still trying to get normal results my tsh has been as high as 140 which put me in hospital a few years ago all I can say is never had it I or kidney infection only heart palpitation issues. Hope this helps. I would say there is something else going on x

[Hidden in reply to NAdge]

there are so many possible symptoms for hypothyroidism that just because we get one symptom but not another means almost nothing. I haven't had any UTIs with Hashis, and very little joint or muscle problem (a common symptom) but am certainly hypothyroid!

[Hidden]

I would think the only way to ascertain if this is hypo would be to optimise your treatment and see if it resolves. I imagine it might. Not sure if any reasurch has been done on this but I will have a google. Follow slow dragons instructions and get back to us and maybe see if there is a more thyroid sympathetic doctor in your practice.

[Benji76 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks. I’m not medicated at al at the moment.

[klr31]

Your TSH is high. I believe that under medicating can lead to increased risk of infections. If you can address this and persuade your doctor to optimally medicate you, you may find your infections ease.

Karen

[Benji76 in reply to klr31]

Thanks Karen. I am not getting any treatment at present. My last GP refused to see a problem. Have just changed practices. Want to start on the right foot and go in with facts...

[klr31 in reply to Benji76]

Well that is possibly why you are getting so many infections. I found that before I was medicated. Check your blood test results yourself too.

Karen

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Benji76]

Ask new GP to test thyroid including thyroid antibodies, plus vitamins

Though NHS unlikely to test everything

[Benji76 in reply to SlowDragon]

Yep, I’m going to do it privately if they say no. My previous GP told me if I got private tests done he wouldn’t acknowledge them whatever they said! I’m hoping my new GP won’t say that.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Benji76]

If have to do private tests and show high antibodies and/or low vitamins....if GP doesn't like private testing they can repeat tests on NHS

But many GP's happy to accept private test results....tests are often done at same laboratory as NHS use

[Greekchick]

Sorry Benji,

Are you having kidney infections or UTIs? They are different. If I may ask , how old are you?

I am 63 and once I went off HRT I started getting UTIs because of the thinning of the endometrium. My GYN doctor started me on vaginal estrogen cream 2ce a week (lowest dose possible) and vaginal probiotics called PureFem (yes, a capsule inserted in the vagina) and I have not had a UTI since. I was hyperthyroid at the time.

Obviously, if you are not post menopausal, disregard this if it does not apply to you.

All the best and good wishes your way today.

[Benji76 in reply to Greekchick]

43 and definitely kidney infection.

[Greekchick]

Hi there, wish I had better advice for you - I think others in the thread seem to have more information than I do as I have not had kidney infections - just UTIs. And clearly (😉) we are nowhere near the same age! In any case, I hope you manage to stop these infections and that you feel better soon. All the best!

[Benji76]

Doc did blood tests. Not everything and I haven’t got a copy yet. Surgery just rang to say vitamin d “a bit low” tsh “just over 5” but nothing to worry about. Told to make an appointment in 6 weeks to follow up. Will take vitamin d supplements. Really feeling very frustrated by this as I feel so awful. But maybe this could all be vitamin d?

[radd in reply to Benji76]

Benji76

Adequate thyroid hormone enables the kidneys to function at a normal rate.

Creatinine is a normal byproduct of muscle metabolism that the kidneys excrete and will raise in the presence of insufficient thyroid hormone which slows the glomerular filter action rate (GFR). These will reverse when thyroid hormone is increased.

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Evidence to show your doctor.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/2...

.

jasn.asnjournals.org/conten...

.

You could ask for your creatinine levels to be tested but your TSH of over 5 sounds elevated and given your symptoms, should be immediately investigated further and not in six weeks time. For a clearer picture of thyroid function FT4 & FT3 will need testing. When doctors are uncooperative, members use private labs.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

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Your Vit D deficiency will need supplementing. If you post these results in a new post, more members will see it to comment.

[Benji76]

Good evidence, thanks. Hopefully he’ll read it and not be affronted when I present it. Docs in UK currently seem very wedded to recent guidelines stating there is no benefit of treatment to patients with a TSH under 10. These guidelines, I suspect, are purely about finance. Docs, however, seem unable to think for themselves on this point.

[Marz in reply to Benji76]

Did you have the Private Testing done ? Good advice from people in this thread 🤔

[Benji76 in reply to Marz]

Hi Marz. Well, it’s been a while since post! Sorry I didn’t follow up. I didn’t get private testing. I have been told before by GP’s that they will disregard this. I have been working with my new GP who is nice but I have to tread softly. He has not responded well to me pushing evidence for hypothyroidism at him. In essence I have been supplementing ferritin and vitamin D because I am low on these. Blood tests every 6 weeks to monitor - no change on thyroid results. Ferritin barely increasing. Vitamin D improved. I am neutropenic so doctor also looking into possible causes. That’s for another post probably. I have been generally better and feel the vitamin D in particular has been a great help. I take tonnes of it. It is likely, I know, that I am treating the symptoms, not the cause, in this way. Still, I feel better for now and the doctor seems to be “on it”. We will just have to leave him to take his time to reach the same conclusions I suppose...

[Marz in reply to Benji76]

If you have Private Testing at least you would know where your FT3 is and also anti-bodies will be tested. T3 is the most important hormone - needed in every cell of the body. If your GP ignores them then you can at least ask for a copy to be attached to your notes.

Low T3 is linked to bladder issues - something I researched for a friend ...