First time posting, though a long term lurker!
I have been plagued by multiple UTIs for the last five weeks or so (and not for the first time before this). Two weeks ago it spread to my kidneys and I felt really, really ill, off work for a week. I have had courses of antibiotics multiple times, but they always come back. Seen several GPS and hoping to be referred tomorrow when I see her again. I feel a bit desperate and very run down. Worried it might be something serious. I drink loads of water and some cranberry juice. Infection has come back yet again.
Not sure anyone can give me any answers here, but any ideas, or reassurances would be nice. Am worried about cancer. I am 64 btw.
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Urine infections
(25 Posts)OH had this since March but his is his prostate (obviously not your problem) was better when they changed his antibiotics to Keflex as he had become immune to the others.Not sure if that is of any help to you but good luck at drs.
I had this problem for years!
After numerous kidney stones and serious infections I have a damaged kidney and was getting recurring UTI’s.
I decided I no longer wanted to keep taking course after course of antibiotics.
I had a few months of treatment with an acupuncturist, she worked on my spleen to fight infection among other things, it really worked.
.I also started taking D Mannose, I take 1 a day but will treble the dose if I sense an infection, I’ve been infection free for many months?
Hit the link for further information
kresserinstitute.com/treat-prevent-utis-without-drugs/
One thing it may be that I did not know about is Vaginal Atrophy, esp if undiagnosed or untreated.
Missfoodlove Great link, lots of good info there.
Very detailed article here which talks about something called biofilms. It's all quite complicated really.
www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-7420815/The-burning-question-doctors-help-end-misery-urine-infections.html
D-mannose is your friend - order it from Sweet Cures and it will arrive the next day. Expensive, but works!
Thank you, everyone, for taking the trouble to reply. I have been on the supplements for a few days, so will wait and see. I am also on yet another course of antibiotics, so what with one thing and another I feel I am rattling!
This is exactly what had been happening to me over the past few months. Even when taking anti-biotics, I could feel they were not totally working, just 'damping down. After fifth course in six weeks I demanded and received referral to urology at local hospital.
There they discovered a growth in my urinary tract. Everything happened very quickly after that. Within four weeks of that diagnosis I was in hospital having that cyst cut out, etc. Full results in a fortnight, but appears as if it was nothing more than a cyst - not the cancer, they were concerned about.
Hopefully, this should now bring an end to these continual UTI's.
I really would recommend getting it properly checked out by the medics rather than resorting to over-the-counter pills, etc. purchased on line.
A useful tip also is to use bicarbonate of soda to neutralise urine.
It’s basically what’s in the cystitis relief sachets from the pharmacy but tastes better and is cheaper.
www.healthline.com/health/baking-soda-for-uti
Interesting thread.
Until about six weeks ago, I had only had a couple of UTIs, both when pregnant (last time 37 years ago!)
Now just starting with my second infection in six weeks, so obviously wondering why, which is what brought me to this thread.
I totally understand how you feel. Four years ago I had some major pain in what appeared to be my kidneys. It eventually faded, but not before several trips to A and E on the advice of 111. After that I had two years of constant UTIs. At first it was every few months but eventually it was every two weeks. I changed doctors and had loads of tests (including one very surreal one, involving my private parts and a hunky doctor!). After that the UTIs continued and I was prescribed anti biotics to take daily. I took them for about a month but they messed my stomach up so much I stopped taking them and since then - a year ago, I've only had a couple of mild UTIs. I can only assume it was taking constant anti-biotics for a month that pretty much cleared things up.
No advice Sally but I hope you feel better soon.
I was aware of sodium bicarbonate, however a nurse told me that with the high blood pressure I suffer that bicarbonate is not a good idea. Hay, ho symptoms have receded now with latest antibiotics.
I think that germs have become stronger and can really floor one. It maybe getting older of course (!), but I often seem to go into a mild shock like state when I’ll. unfortunately I still have to work full time due to increase in retirement age, so cannot take much time off. Have another 21 months till state pension kicks in.
If infection is minor, drinking plenty of water can help. If the infection is moderate to severe treatment with antibiotics is necessary.
I think susceptibility to UTIs may have something to do with prolapsing and not emptying the bladder fully.
I have read that after urine stream finishes, it is a good idea to clench muscles for a few seconds and then relax again which often releases a whole lot more urine.
Hope you feel better again soon Sallywally, and everyone else suffering.
UTIs can quickly become kidney infection which is serious and should not be ignored.
I was getting frequent UTI's since going through menopause, quite a few of which went to a kidney. My GP suggested Vagifem an oestrogen pessary for vaginal atrophy. Absolutely fantastic. No UTI in over 18 months. Started with once a day for two weeks, then only 2 or 3 times a week seems to suit me.
If you are offered Nitrofurantin as a long term prophylactic antibiotic be aware that it can trigger auto-immune hepatitis (AIH). This happened to me and it was only discovered when I had a fall and was carted off to hospital. It’s been nearly a year since diagnosis and I have to take steroid tablets to suppress my immune system. They come with a whole host of nasty side effects with risks of damage to bones, teeth, muscles, cancer, enhanced risks of infection, to name a few - but the consultant said if I didn’t take them I’d die.
I don’t want to spread fear, because it is not certain that everyone will get AIH with nitrofurantoin but I wish I’d at least been aware of the risks, and hope this post might help someone else avoid the hazards?
I used to suffer when I was young. It was called honeymoon cystitis in those days, with a knowing look. I remember drinking 5 pints of water a day! All they prescribed in those days was Mist Pot Cit. Potassium citrate? to make the urine less acidic.
After years of trying everything going, the infections got less frequent but more recently started up again. I gave up swimming at the local pool as a result.
I believe it is now my prolapsing anatomy and if I don't wee completely, some urine remains and gets infected easily. I now spend twice as long in the loo waiting for every last drop! I have to avoid too much alcohol too. Old ladies' problems.... another reason not to get old.
I hope yours is sorted soon Sallywally there's hardly anything worse.
Good question I found a great tips YouTube to treat UTI infections click on this linkhttps://dausel.co/rRciYs then when you go on the landing page click “I am not a robot “ the you will be redirected to YouTube must watch!
dausel.co/rRciYs Go to this link to learn more about UTI the click “I am not a robot
Give me a metaphorical slap if you know about this but just in case you don't...when you wipe yourself on the loo ALWAYS wipe front to back. Don't use wet wipes, just plain water on loo paper if you need. Also drink enough water. Dehydration, even mild dehydration, doesn't help. Also always pee and wash straight after sex. We (women) have a very short urethra and it's easy for bacteria to find their way in. I had UTI after UTI for years and this helped a lot.
When I say 'helped a lot' I haven't had a UTI for over 30 years.
I attended a continence event some years back. The nurse suggested rocking back and forward and side to side whilst sitting on the loo. Barley water was mentioned. Guess YouTube will have a recipe.
If you need to get to the loo pdq go up on your toes. The nurse didn’t know why it worked but it does. Had to do that this morning!
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