So dispirited. Three courses of antibiotics and uti again.

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 .

The poster is 84, not 4!?

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 🙏

Glenroàn. To whom is your post directed?

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

Kgmpdg....thank you

watermeadow

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.

Hope she's on hiprex

Hi, I have just been prescribed these tablets, yes they are not antibiotics but called methenamine. To take 2 twice a day to stop any bacteria spreading. Hope this helps

Whatever UTI is, I've never had it. I'm 86.

I had a spell of persistent UTI's and had a bad reaction to Trimethoprim and cannot now take Nitrofurantoin (long story but it may have triggered something nasty for me) . If I have an upset stomach or have a IBS moment I use a periwash and find this helps. I am careful with wiping, wear cotton knickers and go free at night in bed. Should I have the rare occasion for sex my OH will use a condom. Not the best for him but I am putting myself first. Go back to your GP and ask for a referral to a Urologist.

HowVeryDareYou2

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.

My husband had Nitrofurantoin and it worked after others didn't. He now has a course just in case so he can take it immediately if symptoms start, I didn't realise they'd do that.

My brother is on antibiotics permanently as every time he goes off them he has UTIs.

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 tried D-mannose which does seem to work for some people - but it gave me diarrhoea unfortunately, and I had to discontinue it. So do watch out for this common side-effect.
I also have a friend whose repeated UTIs only stopped once she started using estradiol pessaries to reduce vaginal dryness. She said that another risk factor to her for her was perfumed shower gels, et cetera.
I had the same problem with repeated UTIs over a period of months following catheterisation after surgery. It was only when I was given a higher dose of antibiotics over a longer period that it was finally beaten. My infection was caused by the E. coli bacteria and nitrofurantoin worked for me too.

I had a radical hysterectomy at 38 and was advised not to have HRT. Now I have developed significant age related vaginal atrophy and experienced regular uti’s, despite careful personal hygiene and maximised fluid intake. I asked the GP for estriol cream to help my symptoms; dryness, itching all made worse with stress incontinence as well as atrophy. I now have estriol cream applied twice per week and use YES vaginal gel the days in between. I did have to stand my ground though, as the first GP I saw said that it wouldn’t make any difference to me as I had been without estrogen for 30 years. I then asked for a referral to a gynaecologist, following that appointment it was confirmed that I definitely needed the above. The GP does now prescribe these for me. I do occasionally get a uti, and due to the vaginal atrophy can get a false negative. Again I am quite clear about knowing my body and what I am experiencing and more than capable of recognising the signs and symptoms of uti’s, so will ask for nitrofuratoin antibiotic, which is first line treatment. So ladies don’t be fobbed off.

theworriedwell

HowVeryDareYou2

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.

My husband had Nitrofurantoin and it worked after others didn't. He now has a course just in case so he can take it immediately if symptoms start, I didn't realise they'd do that.

I don't think my surgery would do that, but I always ask for Nitrofurantoin when I get a UTI

emilie

Whatever UTI is, I've never had it. I'm 86.

Urinary Tract Infection. You're lucky. They're unpleasant.

grandMattie

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

Yes, or sit in a warm sitz -bath type of bidet to wash the area clan of faecal matter.

clean

Lovetopaint037- just another angle to your problem. Have you been eating more sweet stuff than usual over Xmas time?
If like mine your bladder doesn’t empty totally, the excess sugar lying in your bladder ferments and infection sets in making symptoms the same as a uti when passing urine.
It was a nurse practitioner who worked this out for me when sample came back uncertain with a high reading of sugar. Just a thought. I’m careful now and eat very little sweet things and touch wood have been ok since holiday last summer.

bonnie57

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.

UTI Management