So dispirited. Three courses of antibiotics and uti again.

I m not going to be much help here because it was in my younger days and I ve no way of giving you a name but when I was young and had constant UTI s I was put on a daily tablet which the doctor described as similar to a disinfectant destroying germs before they took hold It work and while I was on they tablets I didn’t have any UTI s at all
It was I suppose like a maintenance dose of something
I wonder if something like that is still an option

I have had this aand am now on prophylactic antibiotics

My doctor sends the sample off to be tested to see which bug is the culprit , he never gives me the same antibiotic after I finish the course

Keep up the fluids and get another sample sent in as soon as you can

I've had several UTIs but the GPs at my surgery say they don't recommend Trimethoprim for women over a certain age (I'm 66). I have Nitrofurantoin, 100mg, once a day for a week, and that works for me.

I don't know whether this is useful , but vaginal dryness can contribute to uti's.

I don't use Estriol (the oestrogen cream) which is supposed to be one fo the best options. I do use Yes Vaginal Moisturiser- other brands are available.

I do think it helps ward off uti's.

I was plagued by constant utis and eventually put on low dose antibiotics as a prophylactic . They worked pretty well but I was unhappy about taking antibiotics permanently. Luckily NHS authorised the prescribing of Hiprex last year. Apparently ir’s an old remedy, stops the bugs getting a foothold. I have found it’s even more effective than the antibiotics and haven’t had an acute uti for a year now.
The drinking of lots of fluid is essential though, as advised by my women’s’ health physio. I try for 3 litres a day, mainly water, some coffee, don’t count what’s in my food, e.g gravy, soup etc.
Lovetopaint I really hope those docs can sort you out pronto, best wishes. It’s not the minor complaint some might think and can make you feel really poorly, as you know.

Like PinkCosmos, I also use Yes vaginal moisturiser (they have a website), as recommended by my physio.

I had one very bad UTI about four years ago. I rang 111 as it was Christmas Eve. The doctor there prescribed antibiotics , which I could pick up immediately. But the life changing advice was to visit my GP and aak for a vaginal gel. Blissel, at the moment. This I administer twice weekly. It contains a very small dose to oestrogen. No real problems since.

My mother in law, who is 91, was recommended by one of the district nurses to take D-Mannose. I buy it on subscription with Amazon, and she says that it helps enormously.

Another vote for Estriol (the oestrogen cream). After a five week hospital spell and second aorta replacement. I was oom IV antibiotics for six weeks Developed a run of UTI one apparently contracted from a catheter in the hospital I presume my gut biome had really been messed about. Saw a different nurse practitioner and instead of more antibiotics suggested Estriol and not looked back. Been clear ever since. Such bliss
I must be easily pleased

It's miserable, I'm sorry I cannot offer much in the way of advice but I do sympathise. Other posters have made good suggestions. I hope you feel better soon.

I agree with all the above I in the same position. It’s worth reading the research of professor James Malone Lee (RIP). His son is now carrying on his work.

Also make absolutely sure you wipe yourself front to back. Otherwise you risk re-infecting yourself.

I had UTI’s almost constantly and was sick of taking anibiotocs.
First thing I did was to get a course of acupuncture to stimulate my spleen to fight infection.
I then started D Manoose, I also now use Estriol.
I have also eliminated bladder irritants from my diet; all caffeine, citrus fruits, raw tomatoes etc.
I have been infection free for 5+ years.

moggiek

My mother in law, who is 91, was recommended by one of the district nurses to take D-Mannose. I buy it on subscription with Amazon, and she says that it helps enormously.

I wouldn’t be without it. When I was going through the menopause I kept getting UTI’s and they are so debilitating. I sometimes feel as if a bout of IBS has brought me close to another UTI so I take some d mannose and it seems to nip it in the bud. I think maybe taking pro and pre biotics might help?

Thank you all. So much useful information. Wondering if Estriol is safe at my old age.im going to look for Blissel and see what that says. I have d-mannose capsules -3 a day with unsweetened cranberry. Trimethoprim sounds as if there are risks especially as I take bp tablets. Also have a very large hiatus hernia for which I am on lifetime Omerpratzole and Famotidine Also just seen Just seen Yes Vaginal moisturiser. I will have to talk to my doctor again.

I don’t think Yes is very good. It’s just a lubricant. I use Replens, which I only use these days if I think I might be getting a UTI.

Sago. Personally I did not find d-mannose of any use. I do know the principle behind it. Perhaps it is the particular infective agent. Or possibly me I have read that all d mannose is not created equal

The one I buy is from Waterfall. I do have the Holland and Barrett ones with cranberry but prefer the Waterfall ones.

have not had one since i was 18
doc that told me to drink real cranberry fresh or eat the berries
after the infection is gone
drink regularly when the bactria is gone
this was 54 yrs ago

Another thing worth mentioning is to make sure you empty your bladder completely, The Double Void I think they call it. I'm sure my bladder is now the shape of an hour glass and if I'm in a hurry I sometimes forget to wait for the second half!

Yet another fan of Estriol gel (Blissel) here. I used to have so many UTIs until a hospital consultant suggested a very low dose HRT. She assured me it is perfectly safe, apparently a years dose would be the same as one HRT tablet. The UTIs were caused by vaginal atrophy and dryness, since using the gel I haven’t had an infection.

I had several years of misery caused by UTIs and putting up with the side effects of Nitrofurantoin (the only antibiotic that worked for a few weeks at a time). I also tried regular D-Mannose, which didn’t help.

For the last 3 years I have been UTI free. I take prescription Methenamine hippurate (Hiprex) and supplement/support that with D-Mannose. (I have a regular subscription to have D-Mannose delivered - warning, it is not on prescription and quality is variable, don’t buy the cheapest.)

I was told that I could stay on Hiprex for as long as needed although there are now more treatments for chronic UTIs, including bladder instillations and a vaccine. I’m really grateful for the medical support I’ve received. There is help available.

I went through a middle-age-stage of fast and (literally) bloody UTI's , very painful etc. A seven day course of Trimetheprin worked every time. Plus drinking lots of water, and no booze, coffee curry etc until recovered.

Some years in, during a campaign to reduce antibiotic use NHS directed GP's that only a 3 day course of trimetheprin was adequate. I found a 3-ay course useless; just briefly paused the symptoms, ......only to return even worse a week later, requiring a second course for seven days .

My GP eventually wrote on my records that I should always get a full seven day course from the start.
She also knew and truste me well enough, to let me always have a pack in reserve in the house in case UTI struck at the weekend.

You probably know this.... pure cotton pants only; no tights or sweaty nylon materials in the area. At night, a cotton nightie not pyjamas. At home, go knickerless for maximum air circulation.