Katie Newell is prescribed Cialis, typically known as an erection pill (Image: Katie Newell SWNS)Get the news presented through a female lens and a little shot of inspiration in your inbox every week with our new newsletter, GraceMore Newsletters SubscribePlease enter a valid emailSomething went wrong, please try again later.More NewslettersWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More infoThank you for subscribing!We have more newslettersShow me See OurPrivacy Notice See OurPrivacy Notice×Group 28 Get the news presented through a female lens and a little shot of inspiration in your inbox every week with our new newsletter, GraceInvalid emailSomething went wrong, please try again later.Sign UpNo thanks, closeWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info×Group 28Thank you for subscribing!We have more newslettersShow MeNo thanks, closeSee our
Privacy NoticeKatie Newell, 36, has made headlines as she claims to be the “first female in the UK” to be prescribed Cialis, typically known as an erection pill. Battling chronic kidney disease stage two and loin pain haematuria syndrome (LPHS), which causes severe unexplained groin pain, Katie has tried a range of painkillers from fentanyl to morphine but was determined to avoid dependency on strong meds. In a groundbreaking move, her GP prescribed Cialis for daily use in February 2024, aiming to ease her life by relaxing the ureter tube from the kidney to the bladder. Against all odds, Katie now celebrates a “new lease of life,” managing daily tasks with ease, from reaching high shelves to walking and even urinating without a catheter, thanks to reduced pain. The National Center for Biotechnology Information notes that Cialis can enhance liver function, though the specifics are not widely known. Meanwhile, Medical News Today highlights that the pill, while commonly associated with erectile dysfunction, can be used off-label to relax ureter muscles, aiding in the easier passage of ureteral stones. Katie, a Liverpool lass, has been taking Cialis and the only side effect she’s experienced is brief hot flushes. She hasn’t noticed any increase in her libido though. She shared: “Cialis has changed my life – it’s been absolutely incredible. I’ve been told I’m the only woman, so far, who takes it.”, reports the Manchester Evening News. “I don’t have as much pain, I can walk a little bit further – and wee without passing lots of blood. My dosage is going to be increased from 5mg to 15mg at the end of the month. I’m hoping I’ll be able to do more afterwards, like going out with my friends.” Katie first started experiencing symptoms at the tender age of 13. She’d have recurring urinary tract infections (UTIs), at least once every month. Her mum, retired nurse Maria, now 68, recognised she may be suffering from something more serious – and took her to the GP.
Katie Newell has tried a number of different painkillers throughout her life
(Image: No credit)
“My mum said, ‘This isn’t right,” Katie added. “The doctor referred me to see a urologist at Aintree University Hospital. He thought I just had an infection in my kidney.” She was given antibiotics – but her pain kept getting worse. Katie felt an intense pain in her groin, like “someone stabbing me and pulling the knife up and down.” She also noticed she was passing a lot of blood in her urine – ranging from a rose wine colour to “like I’ve literally just been stabbed.” Maria took her back to the urologist, who looked at her kidneys via an ultrasound and a CT scan. He concluded she had kidney stones – and sent her to get them lasered off. Katie revealed her health struggles, saying: “I had them all lasered, all removed. I was okay for about 18 months. Then I got an inflammation in my left kidney. I had surgery to put a stent in the tube between my kidney and my bladder.” After battling recurring kidney infections since she was 17, which once led to sepsis and a four-month hospital stay, Katie still experiences fatigue. She’s now under the care of Dr. Wong at Aintree, who has diagnosed her with stage one chronic kidney disease, indicating a decline in kidney function. “He said every time I’d get a kidney infection, my function would drop,” Katie explained. “I’ve also got a little bit of scarring from all the surgeries I’ve had. I was more shocked than anything – obviously, at 17, you think you’re invincible. It upset me, it was like my independence had gone.” By 24, Katie’s condition worsened to stage two chronic kidney disease, and she faces the risk of needing dialysis or a transplant if it progresses to stage five.
Katie Newell with mum Maria
(Image: No credit)
Her health issues include frequent kidney infections and stones, with severe groin pain managed by 12-hour ketamine infusions during each flare-up. After enduring years of hardship, Katie finally saw a ray of hope when referred to urologist Dr Goldsmith at Aintree in 2022. “I’d see him sometimes with Dr. Wong,” she shared. “But once in 2022, he just picked my notes up and asked me if I’d ever heard of LPHS. I had months of tests done – including a 24-hour urine collection and countless blood tests.” The array of tests confirmed LPHS, leading to her diagnosis in February 2024. Her medication, 5mg of tadalafil better known by its commercial name Cialis, was an unexpected choice. Opening up about her surprise, she said: “I said, ‘but I’m female’ – he was aware. He told me it’d made such a difference to his male patients’ lives.” Facing the daunting possibility of a kidney transplant, which would mean not being near her family for the operation as Manchester or Leeds are the closest options, caused her great fear. However, within just six months of starting Cialis, Katie has managed to halve her morphine intake during flare-ups, remarkably going half a year without requiring spinal nerve-blocking injections, a reprieve she hasn’t had in 19 years. Looking forward to the future, she’s optimistic. “I’m excited to see what I’m going to be able to do next,” she enthused. Anticipating normal activities like hanging out with friends again, she also took a moment to express her profound appreciation for her healthcare team, particularly mentioning Dr. Jones, who is retiring soon. She concludes with heartfelt gratitude: “They’ve gone above and beyond for me – and have made an unbelievable difference to my life.”Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnHealthWomenReal Life
