Thread: New Here, Need Advice Group B Strep Nighmare- Not Pregnant

it's been an absolute nightmare. symptoms started, june 2011 - no end in sight as of yet. initial symptoms, right side flank pain (kidney area) and mild fever. pain was at about an 8 when i went to the ER. they told me i had kidney stones or a kidney infection. prescribed antibiotics and told me if the pain continued to go see my family doctor. my family doctor had me do a clean catch urine test, test positive for strep b. four antibiotics later, and i'm still testing positive. the symptoms are not as bad as the first time, but there is still some amount of pain. side flank pain, sometimes left side, sometimes right side, mild pelvic pain, feeling weak and low energy. i don't even know how this happened, but i do know it's depressing. during a round of antibiotics and a little after, i feel fine and before you know it the symptoms start all over again. a little info, i'm 37 and diabetic. my sugars were out of control and they still somewhat are, but i'm working on it. the doctors seem to think that's what it is. anyone else diabetic suffering from the same thing?

Originally Posted by overwhelmed and exhausted

initial symptoms, right side flank pain (kidney area) and mild fever. pain was at about an 8 when i went to the ER. they told me i had kidney stones or a kidney infection. prescribed antibiotics and told me if the pain continued to go see my family doctor. my family doctor had me do a clean catch urine test, test positive for strep b. four antibiotics later, and i'm still testing positive. the symptoms are not as bad as the first time, but there is still some amount of pain. side flank pain, sometimes left side, sometimes right side, mild pelvic pain, feeling weak and low energy....anyone else diabetic suffering from the same thing?

Your symptoms sound exactly like mine! I've been struggling with this since mid-August. I had several nights of what I thought was back pain from a pulled muscle or something, and then the third night I realized it was internal. The pain was coming in intense, crampy waves in the kidney area, and I had fever, chills, and nausea. Prior to this, I hadn't had any signs of a UTI and, in fact, had never had a UTI. I went to my GP the next day, and since then I've been on three different antibiotics (Cipro, Keflex, and now Macrobid). Each time, I feel a lot better on the antibiotic but still have lingering pain and low-grade fever, and as soon as I'm finished with or nearing the end of treatment, it comes right back as strong as before. Every time I test positive for GBS in my urine. I've even been to the ER, where they did a blood test for sepsis (negative) and a CT scan to look for kidney stones, bladder tumors, or signs of kidney damage (all negative).

I've read that GBS infections are uncommon in otherwise healthy women who aren't pregnant but that diabetes poses a special risk. This interests me because I often seem to get problems that are said to be common among diabetics, but I've never tested positive for diabetes. However, I have a different medical condition that requires me to eat a diet that is very high in carbs and very low in good healthy fruits and veggies, and I know I must have a lot of sugar in my body as a result. I think it's interesting I never had a UTI before I had to go on this diet two years ago.

I would love to hear what ends up working for you. I'm starting to get really worried since nothing seems to be working. This last round of antibiotics has been very hard on me, causing nausea every time I take a pill. I'm losing weight, and I already have none to lose. I don't know how much more of this my body can handle. I'm taking regular probiotics, and they seem to help with the nausea but not enough. I'm thinking about requesting penicillin. As I said, it would be great to hear more about your own treatment journey since it seems like you're at a similar stage with this and we're both suffering from underlying conditions.

Originally Posted by GiftofHealth

I thought was back pain from a pulled muscle or something, and then the third night I realized it was internal.

that's exactly how it started for me. the pain was so intense.

Originally Posted by GiftofHealth

Prior to this, I hadn't had any signs of a UTI and, in fact, had never had a UTI.

same here on both counts. my gp said i had a bladder infection that went untreated (i had no symptoms) causing it to travel to my kidneys. i'm still confused by this.

Originally Posted by GiftofHealth

I've even been to the ER, where they did a blood test for sepsis (negative) and a CT scan to look for kidney stones, bladder tumors, or signs of kidney damage (all negative).

i've had blood test and an intravenous pyelogram (ivp) performed. all normal. they checked me for sepsis at the er (the second time i went in) i was negative.

Originally Posted by GiftofHealth

I've read that GBS infections are uncommon in otherwise healthy women who aren't pregnant but that diabetes poses a special risk. This interests me because I often seem to get problems that are said to be common among diabetics, but I've never tested positive for diabetes. However, I have a different medical condition that requires me to eat a diet that is very high in carbs and very low in good healthy fruits and veggies, and I know I must have a lot of sugar in my body as a result. I think it's interesting I never had a UTI before I had to go on this diet two years ago.

I would love to hear what ends up working for you. I'm starting to get really worried since nothing seems to be working. This last round of antibiotics has been very hard on me, causing nausea every time I take a pill. I'm losing weight, and I already have none to lose. I don't know how much more of this my body can handle. I'm taking regular probiotics, and they seem to help with the nausea but not enough. I'm thinking about requesting penicillin. As I said, it would be great to hear more about your own treatment journey since it seems like you're at a similar stage with this and we're both suffering from underlying conditions.

i've read the same thing. infections love sugar. currently, i'm working on my bringing down my blood sugar, drinking lots of water and cranberry juice. don't take cranberry pills. they aren't as effective as cranberry juice.

i completely understand. this last round of antibiotics was brutal. i'm looking into probiotics. any side effects? yogurt has been helping so far.

i'm going back to my gp in a few weeks, i'll keep you posted. please do the same! if you want to exchange emails message me. it would nice to have someone who can relate.

good photo however, has advertising at the bottom (edited)

Well looks as if I can be added t this list on this forum. I have had in the pass several utis and always treated with mcrobid, microdatin unfortuently I started feeling bad last week not sure if this was a vaginal issue are bladder. I went into see my gyn the only thing she could come up with was a possiable kidney stone although I requested my specimen be sent out to the lab. I was sent home with macrobid and pain meds well sure enough three days had passed and I have been in bed for two of them. I got a call yesterday and the nurse said the macrobid would not work that the urine culture grew strep. I had never heard of this before. usually about once a month like several post I have read I feel uncomfortable and have the same symptons as many on here. I am now on cipro 500 mg twice daily , I am not pregnant and when I googled strep in the urine thats about the majority of what came up. I will be gong back to the dr to repeat a lab in 5 days from all I have just read doesnt sound as if this is something simple to get over. I always thought strep was a throat issue all I know is I feel bad. I am glad I found this forum.

Originally Posted by overwhelmed and exhausted

i've read the same thing. infections love sugar. currently, i'm working on my bringing down my blood sugar, drinking lots of water and cranberry juice. don't take cranberry pills. they aren't as effective as cranberry juice.

i completely understand. this last round of antibiotics was brutal. i'm looking into probiotics. any side effects? yogurt has been helping so far.

i'm going back to my gp in a few weeks, i'll keep you posted. please do the same! if you want to exchange emails message me. it would nice to have someone who can relate.

Well, my strep B finally appears to be clear, but it looks like either the bacteria or maybe the extended antibiotic treatment may have caused interstitial cystitis. That comes with a whole other set of dietary restrictions, so it looks like my beloved cranberry juice is now out for me.

I haven't had any side effects from the probiotics. I always have to be careful with yogurt, though, because I'm somewhat sensitive to lactose.

I hope you're improving! I'll send you a PM.

Hello everyone- Im 18 years old, and was just diagnosed with Strep B in my vagina and rectum.. I have been with the same man for two years, and we have just separated. I developed this Strep B after sleeping with someone knew a few weeks ago. The doctors have gave me no advice or tools on how to take care of this problem. The hospital gave me three sets of antibiotics which are killing my body. My primary care doctor has said antibiotics won't fix the problem though..every day for the last two weeks i've been stuck in bed because the pain of my condition is so intense. I can't walk, I can't pee. I have blisters from the top of my vagina to the back of my rectum. The blisters are pussie... my skin is peeling. I have a huge cut right below the opening of my vagina that has spread to the bottom of my rectum.. the doctors has said they've only seen tears like that from child birth. They have tested me for all STDs and they ruled them all out, im clean. Wha do I do? Will I die this way? I'm only 18. Will I ever have a chance at a normal sex life again?

Hi Everyone- I am new here. I just got a call from my doc after having routine bloodwork that I have a UTI that is from Group B Strep. She called in a prescription and that was it! Should I be worried? I am not pregnant. All the web pages i have found said only people who are pregnant or who have weakened immune systems get UTIs from Strep B. Any thoughts?? I am soo freaked out! I have no symptoms!

Denamb, I have the same thing, and have also recently been on Augmentin, and then Azithromycin, and then Macrobid bc the Dr thought I had a bladder infection. I did not have this in my first pregnancy, but was positive in my 2nd and 3rd pregnancies. I received IV antibiotics in both of those labours, but still culture positive for the GBS. Recently I have developed a mild-to-moderate odour and have profuse discharge which resembles ovulation mucous: for THE WHOLE MONTH. It is inconvenient and gross!! My husband claims not to notice the smell, but I wonder if he is just being polite. The actual discharge itself does not seem to smell, but I notice a vague fishy smell throughout the day. It's not overly strong, but it smells sort of like old blood, even when I am not menstruating. The Dr said I don't have BV or an STD or anything, but that I swabbed positive for GBS. I don't know what's going on!! I also have lupus, you mentioned you see a nurse for a chronic illness - do you have an autoimmune disorder like me? I wonder if the GBS is just an opportunistic infection bc we have crappy immune systems?

Thanks, and sorry for the TMI, lol!
Holistik

Originally Posted by denamb

I have been diagnosed with Strep B as well that was originally found on a vaginal culture, they treated me w/ Amoxicillan whic did not do anything. I have severe urinary tract issues, burning, swelling, itching, etc and they cultured my urine to find the strep B there as well - they are trying to use Augmentin now to fix it, but I am not hopefull! This is very uncomfortable and never having this while pregnant w/ 2 children does not equate. I want to understand how it just suddenly comes on, and how to get rid of it. I had a nurse tell me with this type of strep untreated it can damage the heart - this is a specially designated nurse I have for other chronic illness. Anyone have advise?