UTIs

I also have had UTI"s since menopause and I have Vagifem pessaries that help lots as long as I remember to use them. If I do forget and start to twinge I take D Mannose and drink a lot of water. Although water won't get rid of an infection I do feel it reduces the ouch factor.

BTW I used to have UTI's when younger and a strict vegetarian so I wouldn't suggest that diet plays much of a part.

Do not understand how you can have ab's on standby
Different UTI infections may require different ab's
When I had my last infection I was given ab's by my GP which worked for about three days, then seemed to stop working (it was a 7-day course). When I finally rang the surgery at the end of that time, my sample result had only just been returned to them. It turned out that of the five different ab's I could have been given, the one that I was - that particular infection was resistant to. Another course of a different ab sorted it out.

harrigran---if I actually developed another UTI, I would straightaway take antibiotics, which my doctor allows me to keep "just in case" in the fridge. The regime I describe is to try to prevent another UTI developing and--touch wood--has so far been successful.

Me too blondenana.

I was also going to suggest Vagifem, after a UTI that i couldnt seem to get rid of the Dr gave me Vagifem, and if i forget to use them i know about it,
All connected with the menopause or post meno,
They make such a difference

Just a warning about self medicating for UTIs, a friend has been hospitalised with sepsis after developing a UTI whilst on holiday.

Great news! They’re definitely working for me too.
I was hospitalised last year with a serious infection, I was given antibiotics that were literally lifesaving.
It brought home the fact that too many antibiotics can create resistance! It’s made me even more determined to use alternative methods re the UTI.

Re having to buy expensive capsules of d-mannose for travelling---buy empty capsules on A*****. They are quite inexpensive and you can fill them with the powder. I find size 0 is convenient.
By the way, this is a useful wheeze if you have to give nasty tasting pills to a cat--crush them, put the powder in a capsule and smear it with something that the cat likes to eat.

I've had 7 UTIs in 5 months, treated with antibiotics but latterly returning after just a few days, so I decided to take things into my own hands . I now take d- mannose ( powder dissolved in water) plus high strength cranberry tablets twice daily, have cut out caffeine, drink lots of water and---this has made the most dramatic change--have changed to a near vegan diet. From what research I have done, the usual culprit in UTIs is e-coli which needs iron to thrive, so if you can change the pH of urine from it's normal acidic condition to alkaline, the e-coli can no longer extract the iron from urine and so die out. Meat, fish, dairy products etc produce acidic urine. To produce alkaline urine you need to eat vegetables, especially green leafy ones, fruits, nuts, seeds and pulses--peas , beans and lentils. Since changing my diet, I have now been infection free for a month, which is such a relief as the last really bad one has left me with a damaged kidney.

Well two weeks in taking D Mannose tablets and I haven’t had a UTI. As I bought 2 lots of these tablets I’ll continue and let you know how I get on. Thank you for all your support and comments.

A daily glass or two of cranberry juice.

My first ever UTI was six weeks after the birth of my first child. Christmas Day - I had no idea what it was, just kept on needing to go to the Loo and felt unwell. Hubbie had to rush me to hospital A&E. Next one was just after birth of third child, whilst still in hospital (she was premature). Very embarrassing during visiting time as I was constantly having to go past all the other beds to get to the loo. Nurse told me to drink four jugs of water, which I did, but did not help, needed AB's to clear it.
In the past, one GP actually gave me an undated prescription for AB's to use if I had an attack at the weekend. Not a good idea as there are different infections and they may need differing AB's
Had one started few years back as I was preparing to go over to visit daughter in Northern Ireland. Once there she arranged for me to have an emergency GP appointment to get AB's
I do drink loads of fluid, but now note that if I am run down in any way, I will almost definitely start one of these infections. Each time, I have to contact my GP and take in a 'sample' in order to get a prescription for AB's. Often feel so unwell.
The only time I had several years relief, was when I had suffered several attacks in a few months and a relief GP at my surgery put me on HRT pessaries. I did not believe her when she told me to do this, but they worked like a charm and kept me nearly three years infection free.
I love people who just tell us to 'drink more water', to clear this infection. It may work for those who have mild infections, but does absolutely nothing for many of us.

Beware of bicarbonate of soda if you have high blood pressure. I am on a low dose of antibiotics all the time because of infections and they work a treat. I also use vagifem which was a great relief I thought it was infections causing my soreness but it was hormone related more recently .

I had thirty plus years of urine infections and found the only help was drinking bicarbonate of soda which helped if I caught it before it took hold if not antibiotics, likewise with some cranberry fizzy tablets that I got in NZ and can’t get in this country so my daughter in law sends them if I need, however it all stopped after the menopause Finges crossed

I too have suffered endless uti's for the passed 3 years, and end up being prescribed various types of antibiotics. I have recently had another cystoscopy and ultrascan, and was told my symptoms were age related, I am now 71. I have been on vagfem for 18 months.
Nothing seems to work, so now I am waiting to see my GP to see if he will put me back on HRT, which I took until I was 60 and always felt so well, (wish I had never stopped)
I am not sure what reaction my request will have, but I am prepared to try HRT again for 4 months if he agrees, to see if the Uti's stop, and I can get a good nights sleep. It's got to be better than taking antibiotics every 8 weeks.

Sweetened cranberry juice cancels itself out because the amount of sugar in it feeds and encourages bacteria in the bladder so adding whole frozen cranberries to food works better as do cranberry tablets.

Low carb diets = less sugar in the bladder = less bacteria.

Cranberry juice has tonnes of sugar

I have never suffered from UTIs and I drink zilch else but caffeine!

I suffered with a succession of UTIs a couple of years ago. I was referred for cystoscopy and all they found was age-related change. I was given a course of Vagefem pessaries and have had no infection since.

Went to dr with severe pain in back which I guessed was kidneys, told no infection, gave sample and a week later she rang to say it was urine infection, gave antibiotics etc, so I said do you mean it was a kidney infection and she said no as I would have back pain if it was that!
So by the time I started antibiotics I'd suffered for a week extra although water did ease but back still sore.

Yes have cut out caffeine drink decaffinated tea doesn't seem to help!

At the very first twinge - drink a pint of water, and then another one as soon as you can manage it. Keep an eye on the colour of your wee, aiming for it to always be pale lemonade colour, very dilute.

Many thanks to you all for comments and suggestions. I'll look at alternative sellers and also the powder option. xx

I was on long term antibiotics as a prevention for recurrent uti s for 17 years after suffering regular uti s since childhood, until my new doctor, after she had come down from the ceiling suggested Hipprex. I found it has kept me clear for over 12 months. Look it up on the internet and ask your gp about prescribing it. It needs you to take high doses of vit c so it can work in the bladder. I get the effervescent ones from A***. Much better than the Ascorbic acid the doctor prescribes along with the Hipprex.
I found d mannose prohibitively expensive to take at the necessary dose.

I buy D mannose through Amazon
Have you tried cutting out all caffeine?

The UTIs could be linked to dry vagina if you're post-menopause. There are several threads about this, and how using a topical hormone replacement helps.
Ask your doctor.