Hi, since the beginning of January I have had a kidney infection. I've had about 8 courses of various antibiotics, several cultures for specificity, and antibiotics changed accordingly.
As I mentioned in a previous posting, I'm currently diagnosed as MGUS, but Prof Cook requested a repeat round of bloods at the start of the infection, and they showed a rise in M-spike and sFLC ratio, but they weren't unduly concerned.
I'm thinking that the MGUS is compromising my immune system and has a significance to the kidney infection, but the GP doesn't seem too worried and neither did Prof Cook's team. I'm worried, though, that I'm deteriorating day by day and I seem to have an infection that keeps morphing and developing resistance to whatever they throw at it.
Does anyone have any advice?
Thanks
Kath. X
Forums
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Fozz - Name: Kath
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: MGUS Jan 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 44
Re: Recurrent kidney infection - any advice?
Hello Fozz,
From your postings so far, it appears that you have had at least two sets of labs measuring your paraprotein (M-spike) and free light chain levels. Have you had a new set done recently and, if so, did they show any changes in one direction or the other?
From your postings so far, it appears that you have had at least two sets of labs measuring your paraprotein (M-spike) and free light chain levels. Have you had a new set done recently and, if so, did they show any changes in one direction or the other?
Re: Recurrent kidney infection - any advice?
Hi Kath,
Are your renal markers (creatinine, BUN, GFR, etc) still normal?
If your kidney infection isn't responding to what your GP is throwing at it, have you considered visiting a nephrologist (kidney specialist)?
Are your renal markers (creatinine, BUN, GFR, etc) still normal?
If your kidney infection isn't responding to what your GP is throwing at it, have you considered visiting a nephrologist (kidney specialist)?
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Recurrent kidney infection - any advice?
Thank you for your replies, Ian and multibilly.
I've had 3 lots of bloods done for the paraprotein, the first one showed an M-spike of 14 g/l (1.4 g/dL), the second one, which was done by haematology, showed 9 g/l (0.9 g/dL), and the recent one showed 13 g/l (1.3 g/dL).
The FLC was normal up until the last one, which was above normal.
Kidney function still remains normal in the bloods.
Kath. X
I've had 3 lots of bloods done for the paraprotein, the first one showed an M-spike of 14 g/l (1.4 g/dL), the second one, which was done by haematology, showed 9 g/l (0.9 g/dL), and the recent one showed 13 g/l (1.3 g/dL).
The FLC was normal up until the last one, which was above normal.
Kidney function still remains normal in the bloods.
Kath. X
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Fozz - Name: Kath
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: MGUS Jan 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 44
Re: Recurrent kidney infection - any advice?
I read countless articles referencing studies showing how MGUS is linked to poor immunity and a high rate of infections.
Re: Recurrent kidney infection - any advice?
Thank you guitarguy,
They made out that MGUS is totally silent but I'm sure it's responsible.
Kath. X
They made out that MGUS is totally silent but I'm sure it's responsible.
Kath. X
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Fozz - Name: Kath
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: MGUS Jan 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 44
Re: Recurrent kidney infection - any advice?
Hello Fozz,
I had MGUS for 7 years and had several infections, leading to diagnosis. The infections were primarily sinus and UTI, including kidneys, but I never required hospitalization or intravenous antibiotics, which I believe are the two indicators for symptomatic disease related to multiple myeloma. However, I had progressed to smoldering multiple myeloma and I was on antibiotics 6 times a year before starting IVIG therapy, which has improved my quality of life significantly. I haven't had an infection since I started therapy in almost a year now!
Did you have a quantitative immunoglobulin level test? If so, do you have immunoparesis (suppressed non-involved immunoglobulins)? What gammaglobulin type are you?
MGUS is asymptomatic by definition only! I believe that, because multiple myeloma (at it's various stages) is a very heterogeneous disease, that some people are in fact symptomatic, and that even a small amount of plasma cell dyscrasia can be problematic, affecting quality of life. I currently have immunoparesis, but all my blood work – with the exception of M-spike – was normal when I first started getting sick.
Like the others, I suggest you follow up with a nephrologist, as there are other conditions that can cause chronic kidney infection as well.
Best
J
I had MGUS for 7 years and had several infections, leading to diagnosis. The infections were primarily sinus and UTI, including kidneys, but I never required hospitalization or intravenous antibiotics, which I believe are the two indicators for symptomatic disease related to multiple myeloma. However, I had progressed to smoldering multiple myeloma and I was on antibiotics 6 times a year before starting IVIG therapy, which has improved my quality of life significantly. I haven't had an infection since I started therapy in almost a year now!
Did you have a quantitative immunoglobulin level test? If so, do you have immunoparesis (suppressed non-involved immunoglobulins)? What gammaglobulin type are you?
MGUS is asymptomatic by definition only! I believe that, because multiple myeloma (at it's various stages) is a very heterogeneous disease, that some people are in fact symptomatic, and that even a small amount of plasma cell dyscrasia can be problematic, affecting quality of life. I currently have immunoparesis, but all my blood work – with the exception of M-spike – was normal when I first started getting sick.
Like the others, I suggest you follow up with a nephrologist, as there are other conditions that can cause chronic kidney infection as well.
Best
J
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jhorner - Name: Magpie
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 49
Re: Recurrent kidney infection - any advice?
Sorry to hear about the recurrent infections. By definition MGUS has no bearing on your organ dysfunction (CRAB*). In the past, increased rate of serious infections was an additional criteria for active multiple myeloma. This has been omitted from the most recent IMWG update for active disease.
I would make sure that there are no signs of immunoparesis, which is suppression of the non-involved immunoglobulins. For example, if your MGUS type is IgG, then you would experience immunoparesis if your IgA or IgM are below the normal range. If this is the case, you can consider IVIG (intravenous immunoglobulins). I agree with rechecking the multiple myeloma parameters; you may even want to consider a repeat bone marrow biopsy to be sure.
Further, you have to consider non-MGUS related issues. If you have been on that number of antibiotics recently, this could be related to a structural issue, which should be evaluated by a urologist and accompanied by specialized imaging of your GI tract.
Make sure that you ask what the sensitivities from the urine cultures are. There are a lot of cross-resistant bacteria in the community these days. So we have to make sure that we are getting antibiotics the bugs are sensitive too (I would assume that this is happening, but wanted to double check).
Best of luck.
*CRAB = Acronym for the symptoms of organ failure associated with multiple myeloma, including excess Calcium in the blood, signs of kidney (Renal) damage, Anemia, and Bone damage.
I would make sure that there are no signs of immunoparesis, which is suppression of the non-involved immunoglobulins. For example, if your MGUS type is IgG, then you would experience immunoparesis if your IgA or IgM are below the normal range. If this is the case, you can consider IVIG (intravenous immunoglobulins). I agree with rechecking the multiple myeloma parameters; you may even want to consider a repeat bone marrow biopsy to be sure.
Further, you have to consider non-MGUS related issues. If you have been on that number of antibiotics recently, this could be related to a structural issue, which should be evaluated by a urologist and accompanied by specialized imaging of your GI tract.
Make sure that you ask what the sensitivities from the urine cultures are. There are a lot of cross-resistant bacteria in the community these days. So we have to make sure that we are getting antibiotics the bugs are sensitive too (I would assume that this is happening, but wanted to double check).
Best of luck.
*CRAB = Acronym for the symptoms of organ failure associated with multiple myeloma, including excess Calcium in the blood, signs of kidney (Renal) damage, Anemia, and Bone damage.
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Dr. Ken Shain - Name: Ken Shain, M.D., Ph.D.
Beacon Medical Advisor
Re: Recurrent kidney infection - any advice?
Hi Fozz.
My kidneys have been damaged by light chain deposition disease and, like you, I have had a lot of kidney infections. My infectious disease doctor analyzed them to see if it were the same bacteria that was not getting cleared up, but, no, they are each different and distinct. And they do culture the bacteria before they give me an antibiotic.
Here is something I have found helps: D-mannose. "D-Mannose is a simple sugar that occurs naturally in some plants, including cranberries. Although small amounts of D-mannose are metabolized by the human body, much of it is rapidly excreted in the urine. In the bladder, D-mannose can adhere to undesirable foreign substances, preventing them from sticking to the lining of the bladder."
You can buy it in the health food store or order it online - it is available from several manufacturers. I have heard U-Tract is recommended, though I have NOW brand.
Cathy
My kidneys have been damaged by light chain deposition disease and, like you, I have had a lot of kidney infections. My infectious disease doctor analyzed them to see if it were the same bacteria that was not getting cleared up, but, no, they are each different and distinct. And they do culture the bacteria before they give me an antibiotic.
Here is something I have found helps: D-mannose. "D-Mannose is a simple sugar that occurs naturally in some plants, including cranberries. Although small amounts of D-mannose are metabolized by the human body, much of it is rapidly excreted in the urine. In the bladder, D-mannose can adhere to undesirable foreign substances, preventing them from sticking to the lining of the bladder."
You can buy it in the health food store or order it online - it is available from several manufacturers. I have heard U-Tract is recommended, though I have NOW brand.
Cathy
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antelope1225 - Name: Cathy1225
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: May 25 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 55
Re: Recurrent kidney infection - any advice?
2 more suggestions for your kidneys
1. Potassium citrate causes your urine to be less acidic. That helps with UTI's and also with kidney stones and gout
2. you can buy powdered cranberries if you do not drink cranberry juice.
1. Potassium citrate causes your urine to be less acidic. That helps with UTI's and also with kidney stones and gout
2. you can buy powdered cranberries if you do not drink cranberry juice.
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antelope1225 - Name: Cathy1225
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: May 25 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 55
10 posts
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