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Are the D-Mannose tablets a preventative or a cure, please? I had a UTI which started on holiday, and couldn't get anything from a pharmacist. I hadn't heard of D-Mannose, but luckily a friend had some Amoxicillin. I know you shouldn't take other people's medicines, but I am not allergic and figured it was better than risking a kidney infection or worse. I am not particularly prone to UTIs, so don't fancy taking a preventative dose of anything, but if it is a cure I would happily get some D-Mannose in case something similar happens again.

Yes, I bought thrush treatment/cannesten OTC without realising it was not advised at my age and had a terrible reaction, one of the most uncomfortable few weeks of my life. Used to find it so soothing and effective but seems something changes as you get older.

My hairdresser was telling me that happened to her mother. She was desperate so her daughter asked her what symptoms a UTi had. She then went to the pharmacy and came back with antibiotics for her mother.

You can get Sepsis really quickly. I was talking to my husband about investments one evening and he was totally alert, literally 5 minutes later he collapsed and was rushed to hospital with a 40 degree temperature. They said it was sepsis but they didn’t know why he had no infection site. Very scary for him as he has dementia. Ambulance took 40 mins to get to us and he became more and more delirious. Please always mention Sepsis if patient has a temperature and delirium.

I would lie about my age under the circumstances now I know! I used to get a lot of UTI’s until I saw a brilliant lady doctor who spent her lunch hour looking through my notes. She rang me and prescribed me oestrogen pessaries twice an a week and told me to take two d-Mannose tablets a day which I get from Amazon. This is months ago and I’ve never had one since. If only all doctors were like her.

They won't let you have anything for cystitis in case it's covering for something more sinister. They won't even let you have Cystaid over the counter if you admit to being over 64. On other hand, we know our bodies. A bad UTI can make you go totally doolally so you'd think they'd keep this in mind and prescribe the basic all-purpose UTI antibiotic.

Brought thrush cream and internal thrush cream with my online boots order no problem..

I did buy the cream and soft gel pessary from boots store last year . Big mistake the pessary is large and brown wouldn't stay in the holder in the end had to put it in myself . I would say it's only for women who had vaginal deliveries and regular intercourse . Had c sections and been widowed for 21.5 years . If you use this make sure you put a liner in your pants and I couldn't get the brown stain out of my knickers.

I had a similar experience locally. I went to see our pharmacy with ear ache, only to be told that they can only treat children with ear ache and I would need a GP appointment. No reason given.

I had a UTI last week and was given antibiotics from the pharmacist. I'm 66 and live in Scotland.

Thanks very much for the heads up regarding the age limit. I'm not a stranger to UTIs. In a mature woman there could be all sorts of reasons - fistula, prolapse . The infection, if left untreated, can go to your kidneys and yes, sepsis is possible. I don't love taking antibiotics and have been able to cut down my bouts of infection using other methods - including Ovestin, a cream inserted in the vagina to replace hormones which can cause the UTI. I knew none of this before my first mature UTI. Oh the pain! Hard to explain it to a GP - especially a guy. I drink three times the water I used to. I take cranberry extract tablets; more concentrated than juice although the jury is still out on cranberry. I take a high strength probiotic to improve the gut balance.
Most important tip I have is - get a "just in case" prescription of antibiotics from your GP in case you are afflicted on holiday or can't get to the GP etc. First, try a few sachets of potassium citrate (like Cystopurin) and/or a few glasses of water with paracetamol. I find it can help stave off a threatening infection. I hope it's okay that I wandered off the main topic but this might help someone.

Yes that happened to me away from home and looking after my young grandchildren. Consequently when I finally reached home a week later I was on antibiotics for a month. I couldn’t clear it.

Excellent idea pointing that out as most would probably find out the same way you did!

BlueBelle

I totally agree Welbeck why would you take that chance Sasta when you had been advised to ring 111
You were lucky to get the antibiotics so quickly from your GP the next morning you should have taken the pharmacists advice and rung 111

Had a nasty fall and rather than bother the ambulance service, I called 111 to see where I could go for help. Took them 40 minutes to answer and then told me they would hang up unless I could tell them my location postcode!!

Niece called them and they told her she would get a doctor call back within 4 hours - 3 days later still nothing. She took herself to A&E (on the advice of the ambulance driver who came out when she called 999)

Hi, I think this is just for the UTI prescription. I had a bout of thrush some months ago and tried to get canestan pessaries and was told the same. I don't think it applies to other forms of illness. I just went to another chemist and said it was for my daughter! took it - no problem

Chemist also can't sell Canestan to over 64s. I was advised to pick some up off the shelf and take to another counter! Go figure!

Patsy70

Thank you for this information Sasta. I recently called into my surgery to ask for a ‘health check’, as it was a few years since I’d had one. I was told that I wasn’t eligible as I’m over 74! I consider it discrimination against older people.

I had my first health check a year or so ago, never been invited for one before and was told then that because of my age I wouldn't be invited again!

Is that UK wide or just England?

My local pharmacy won't allow women 60 and over to buy Canesten in any form in case your thrush is a sign of something more serious, you have to see your Gp. I came home and ordered it from Amazon 🙄🙄

Thank you, I wasn’t aware of the age restrictions. Infections can be quite scary, glad you have recovered.

I couldn’t purchase Canestan at the Tesco pharmacy as when asked my age they said the age restriction that this post is about - and said I’d have to see my Gp…I purchased on Amazon as I’ve suffered Thrush for years and knew the symptoms and recovered the same as previously …

Yes, this happened to me last year. I thought i had a UTI , but because i was 71, they said they couldnt help. I had to go to the doctors and got antibiotics, but getting an appointment is the problem.

I found this out the hard way when I got a UTI at the weekend

It’s only UTIs and thrush that they cannot prescribe for in the over 65s

Whiff

I had cellulitis 2 months in my toe and went to the pharmacist. And he prescribed 5 day course of antibiotics. I am 67.

I realised, after posting that it is only the UTIs that the pharmacist can't help over 64s with Whiff. I posted the list of what they can do further up.

A different problem but I have sinusitis. I’ve been struggling with it for 3 weeks. The hot weather hasn’t helped. I called the GP surgery at 8am but was told that sinusitis is now dealt with at the pharmacy although the one attached to the surgery doesn’t provide this service. I went to another pharmacy who does. They offered me a nasal spray which I declined as I’ve already tried that. I asked for antibiotics and he said no. I went to another nearby pharmacy. Had a quick chat with a very kind pharmacist and have just come home with antibiotics!