Bladder Problems

I've bumped this up because I've just been given a three day course of Macrobid, having got a second bout of cystitis two weeks after the first. I remember thinking two weeks ago that this would happen and I probably should have had a longer course. Family wedding in two weeks time and do not want to find myself with another infection on that day. Have ordered some d manoose [sp] powder which should help. Was told today that, if their had been no blood in the urine sample I would not have been allowed more antibiotics even though I was in a lot of discomfort. Annoyingly have been doing [I thought] all the right things to prevent a re infection .

I read an article at the weekend about the fact that antibiotics are slowly losing the battle against most bacterial infections. No new antibiotics have been found for years.
I used to dose myself with bicarb dissolved in orange juice, lots of water and tea.

Tegan, I feel your pain - literally! For rhe last few weeks I have had an intermittent headache, 'palpitations' and been a bit lethargic/depressed. I eventually gave up expecting it to get better on its own but It never occurred to me that I had a UTI until the gp sent me out to do a sample and said that's what I had. The trimethoprim didn't work so I've been back today and got a second lot. I have gone from having no classic uti symptoms to full blown agony.

Like original poster I too suffered and suffered is the correct word from 18 to 45 with UTIs my life was limited it was painful and distressing the infection would come on literally in a minute and as soon as one had cleared another seemed to start The anti biotics gave me thrush so I was constantly on fire I used a lot of bicarbonate of soda cranberry and antibiotics and yoghurt but overnight it all stopped this coincided with both the menapause and lack of sex, both stopped at the same time I m never sure which it was but I ve only had it once in 26 years since those two things stopped

Oh, poor you kitty. I'm not really ill with it, thankfully, but it's like there's a brick on my bladder and when I go to the loo a very unpleasant 'throbbing' sort of feeling. I think this has been brewing for a long time, because it was one of the symptoms I had when atrophy was eventually diagnosed. I've been drinking a cup of water each night with bicarb in it, thinking that would prevent a re infection. Just been to Tescos and they sell the Optibac probiotics that are specifically for when you're on antibiotics, so I'm hoping that will stop me getting thrush.

Strangely, I was up half the night having been woken at 3a.m with the distinctive symptoms of cystitis - throbbing; bloody wee, etc. I haven't had it for years. I rang 111 and ended up with a doctor faxing through a prescription for antibiotics. I was panicking because I have my colonoscopy tommorrow afternoon and I didn't want to have to cancel it. I checked in with the hospital and they seemed to think it would be okay to go ahead with it. Seems to be settling down. If it's not one damn thing, it's another!

I just seem to be in a complete mess from the waist down...and not too good from the waist up, either. Which antibiotic did you get Greyduster?

Trimethaprin. It always seems to work really quickly for me and has this time too, though she only gave me three days supply and in the past I have had five. As soon as I get symptoms I usually hit the cranberry juice like there is no tommorrow, and it does help, but I couldn't this time because of the laxative I had to take - not allowed any red liquids . I hope you get some relief soon, Tegan - it is utterly miserable. ?

I only got 3 days this time instead of 5 and it didn't work so I got something different but still only 3 days worth.

GPs do not know everything, even though they like us to believe they do. Earlier this year I had a bout of cystitis and tried the chemist first (gps are so busy etc etc). The product I bought did not clear it up so went to my gp, taking a specimen with me. Was prescribed a 7-day antibiotic (can't remember the name) which didn't clear it but did cause constipation. On the 7th day I received a phone call from the surgery to say that particular antibiotic was the wrong one and to call in for a different prescription. Thankfully that cleared the UTI but I still had the constipation for several days after the antibiotic course ended

If you've been given Macrobid kitty on no account read the possible side effects . I nearly didn't take them last time when I read it. Am being very careful to space them out properly and take with a large glass of milk. Feeling much better but a bit concerned as to why the infection came back so quickly#bitofaworrier Swanny; are you sure it was actually an antibiotic you were given..usually don't cause constipation. .

Swanny - it is not a case of GPs not knowing everything (although of course they do not). Until the lab results arrive they have no way of knowing which bug it is and therefore which antibiotic to prescribe. They rightly give you the one that kills off the most common UTI bugs whilst awaiting the result.

Your GP did exactly the right thing - treated for the most common bug whilst awaiting the result, then when it turned out to be a more unusual bug, let you know straight away and changed the treatment. Three cheers to him/her to have bothered sending the sample to the lab rather than assuming you had the common bugs.

Well said, Lucky.

Tegan, I never read the side effects or I get them. If I get anything untoward occurring then I check. dh always checks in his mims but doesn't say anything! Its not Macrobad, it's Nitrofl something. This is only a 3 day course too.

I find it really difficult to take 4 tabs a day with a meal as i tend to only eat 3 times a day.

Nitrofurantoin!!!

How are you feeling this morning, Tegan?

Macrobid is Nitrofurantoin; I've got the 100mg slow release ones. Not sure if I had a 50mg one before [should have kept the box].The reason I looked it up last time was that I was given a box without instructions because they come in 14's and people are usually only given 6. Wasn't so much the instructions that I read but the reviews that came up with them that freaked me out . As before the tablets worked quite quickly but I do wish they'd sent a sample off to the lab with it coming back so quickly. I do think it's connected to the atrophy, though, because I still feel a bit uncomfortable. I've also realised [by accident] how to find out if there is blood in the urine so I may be able to monitor it myself over the next few weeks. Surgeries are now very stingy when it comes to handing out pee pots, but I always ask for one to keep in the cupboard just in case.

I've got the 50mg and as I said up there 3 days of 4 tabs - I'm definitely not reading the leaflet then. DH will have checked the formulary though - maybe that's why he keeps telling me to sit down.

It's really important to take them at the right time and with food [I have a glass of milk with mine]. It is important to know that your urine may become fluorescent though!! I haven't had a problem with them [thus far].

Fluorescent urine! That should save on the bathroom electricity bills!