So dispirited. Three courses of antibiotics and uti again.

Kgmpdg....thank you

A friend has recurring UTIs of the dangerous pseudomonas. She’s allergic to many antibiotics and has twice been prescribed one which caused anaphylactic shock.
She’s been ill for four months whilst on an urgent waiting list. I think the NHS just hopes troublesome patients will die whilst waiting.

Another vote for D-Mannose. Recommended to me by a consultant urologist . Has been a game changer

Lovetopaint037

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 saw a dermatologist as my ski. was so. very dry, itching and cracking as well as I was suffering for consent UTIs. I was prescribed Hydromol ointment for washing g and using as a cream after every toilet visit. I was also prescribed Estriol for use 3 times a week more when I have a flair up. I use Lidocaine ointment twice a week and Dermovate ointment twice a week. I still burn when passing urine but there is a huge improvement since I saw the dermatologist 12 months ago. I wear a liner and change it after each toilet visit, as it makes it worse if I am the slightest damp. It is a nightmare but sadly so very common in ladies of our age.

Vagifem, on prescription (aged 77 and 2 weeks!!) works for me.

Due to having a duplex ureter on one side I was plagued by UTIs for many years. Eventually was on prophylactic antibiotics initially changed every 3 months or so. But then prescribed Nutrofurantoin and kept on it for years. This left me with peripheral neuropathy in my feet and hands. Now on Methenamine Hippurate (Hiprex) twice a day plus D Mannose and Vitamin C. Admittedly I don’t take the Vitamin C everyday as they are enormous! But have had no problems for about 2 years now.
Wishing you well.

if you can only dab then consider using a hairdryer ( at a safe distance) as wiping can make things sore.
I also repeat that weak antibiotics will seldom work - you need to have high intensity antibiotics for a short period of time

Glenroàn. To whom is your post directed?

I do sympathise- last year I had repeated uti's and then 5 weeks ago after completing a 7 day course of 100mg nitrofurantoin twice a day, my GP put me straight on a 6 month maintenance course of 50mg each evening. Fingers crossed it works, so far so good. Hope you find something that works 🙏

The poster is 84, not 4!?

I am sorry for what may seem a silly question. What is meant by wiping front to back?. Is this for urine or faeces. I am disabled and can only really 'dab' after a wee . Have been having recurrent UTI 's for 6 months .

Hi, I had UTIs monthly until my Dr reviewed my medication, I had been given canaglifloxin which is known to cause UTI’s, if you’re not on this medication check if anything other medication you’re taking can be causing the problem. Haven’t had a UTI since I stopped taking them in November!

If you are going to take a urine sample in to be tested then DO NOT drink too much water. You are diluting any bacteria and the person/machines don't actually see the full extent of the infection
Secondly am I correct in thinking you've had a weeks worth of antibiotics . If your health person will agree ask for a 3 day high intensity course of antibiotics. That was the only thing that worked for me - . Weak antibiotics will not touch any infection and you will need to have at least 3 courses . In my opinion ( please feel free to disagree) the continuous prescription of antibiotics is the reason as to why infections are getting resistant. Hit them fast and strong is my motto!#

Thirdly - as somebody has already suggested, you may have vaginal atrophy (VA) and not an infection. My VA was diagnosed when I had a UTI. Since medication I don't get UTIs ( I hope I'm not tempting fate)

finally - forgive me if this is not appropriate - but if you are still sexually active then make sure you clean any sex toys

Estriol every time 🤩

I know that when suffering from an UTI, people can become quite desperate on trying to find easy over the counter cures. As I understand it, all research has shown that drinking cranberry juice has no effect than drinking any other juices, or even plain water.
Each UTI does need a sample sent to a lap to see exactly what bug is causing it, in order to prescribe the correct anti-biotic. No one of these is a cure-all.
A preventative can be found with using per=ssaries such as Vagirux. But if one occurs it is important for the proper ab to prescribed
Sounds like the OP understand the need to keep very well dehydrated, but the idea of 'flushing it through' does not work very often with sufferers.
Six years ago I was getting really bad UTI's constantly, as one cleared up the next one started. After nearly six weeks and five different ab's. one night in hospital and a further late night trip to a Doctor i insisted my GP referred me on to local hospital urology department.
Best thing I did, a check there with a special small camera in my bladder revealed a growth. Three weeks later this was removed, stayed on low dose ab daily for a further three months, and have been totally UTI free since then/

I too have had a history of UTIs and almost constant antibiotic prescriptions which work for a week and then back comes the problem.Amazingly, I have now been without a UTI for almost three years which is because I take two D-Mannose capsules daily along with one Optibac for women.I have to be strict about taking them every morning otherwise I can get a faint signal that I am going into UTI mode.I use D-Mannose Complex high strength capsules which also have in them Cranberry extract and Vitamin C available from Amazon.The product is is made by Inspriko and is vegan.Hope this helps.

I’m afraid l’m in the same boat as you.
I have had to cancel spinal injections next week as l am on my 2nd lot of antibiotics and the wretched thing won’t go. They won’t give me steroid injections whilst l have an active infection.
I have waited over a year for the injections so feeling pretty miserable. I really do sympathise as it makes you feel pretty rotten and the antibiotics really drag you down. I do hope we both feel better soon!💐

PinkCosmos

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 use Yes as well. I don't use Vagifem as it says it may cause memory problems.....

Tgats dreadful! Has your GP not suggested Ovestin or Estradiol pessaries? This local application of hormone replacement is safe and very successful in warding off the bugs that migrate to the dry vagina we suffer from in older age.

HelterSkelter1

I have always read to avoid citric fruits nanna8. I will be interested to read what others say.

Absolutely!
Caffeine, alcohol, citrus,strawberries, raw tomatoes and cranberry in any form.

Another vote for vaginal gel, Blissell in my case. It works so well for me and my repeated ITIs are a thing of the past. I was put on low dose antibiotics but they became ineffective. Thank goodness for a GP who understood the misery of UTIs. I hope you get some relief very soon.

Because of various health conditions my DH is permanently on antibiotics for UTIs , at the moment he is on Cefalexin, which seems to work reasonably well.

*Citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and grapefruits are generally best avoided or limited when you have an active UTI because their high acidity can irritate the bladder and make symptoms worse. However, once an infection has cleared, the vitamin C and antioxidants in these fruits can help prevent future infections.
Foods and Drinks to Avoid During an Active UTI
During a UTI, it's recommended to avoid foods and drinks that can irritate your bladder and worsen symptoms like pain, urgency, and frequency.
Citrus fruits: As noted above, the high citric acid content can irritate the bladder lining.
Fruit juices: Many commercial fruit juices contain added sugars and lack fiber, which can encourage bacterial growth.
Caffeine: Found in coffee, tea, and some sodas, caffeine is a diuretic and a known bladder irritant that can increase the urge to urinate.
Alcohol: Alcohol dehydrates you and can make urine more acidic, worsening pain and irritating the bladder.
Spicy foods: The capsaicin in spicy foods can irritate the bladder lining, increasing discomfort.
Sugary foods and drinks: Refined sugars feed bacteria and can hinder your immune response, potentially prolonging the infection.
Carbonated beverages: The bubbles in fizzy drinks can aggravate the bladder lining*

From googling.

Is your partner infecting you?

I have always read to avoid citric fruits nanna8. I will be interested to read what others say.