So dispirited. Three courses of antibiotics and uti again.

Lots of lemon juice in water the minute you sense one coming on works for me. Others swear by cranberry juice. Worth a try. Proper lemon squeezed from the fruit, not lemon cordial or squash.

I suffered from a series of UTIs a few years ago - very miserable time. Lots of antibiotics which had their own problems. Then prescribed Vagirux oestrogen pessaries. That seems to have sorted the problem.

About 12 years ago I had a few bouts of cystitis. My GP gave me 3 days of antibiotics. It didn’t really touch the sides. I went back to him because 12 years ago it was easier to get an appointment. He recommended D-mannose and I bought it from Amazon as it isn’t available on the NHS. I chose Waterfall. I have never had a UTI since. I always have it in the medicine drawer and throw it when out of date. A bit expensive but worth every penny to me. I take it on holiday just in case but the one dose all those years ago was great.

(I was also given Estriol after just after one episode on the second go - stronger anti b, and Estriol.

I looked up the NHS Estriol entry and it is safe for "elderly".

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.

Yes, pester the doctor, and dont give up now x

it's becoming obvious you need a more complex response than the anti'b's so far. Or a stronger one like the one HVDY mentioned.

and take heart from the solutions also that have helped others.

Just seen your post Gran22, glad they work fot you too !

Worth asing your GP about Vagirux , it is a low dose of vaginal HRT - a small tablet inserted by using an applicator- simple ! I have been using these for a number of years. No more constant trips to the loo in the middle of the night. I do need the loo during the night but only once or twice rather than 3 ,4 or 5 nightly visits to the loo. I am also much better during the day. Before Vagirux I was always needing the toilet, even walking felt like something bouncing on my bladder ! It has made huge difference to my life! UTIs spoil the quality of life.
Don't feel you have to put up with this because you are 84! Speak to your GP and ask about vaginal HRT. Good luck .

I paid privately for a course of the UTI vaccine, Uromune. It's a pain to take, every day for three months under the tongue, and you can't eat or drink anything for a few hours before or after. I set an alarm at three in the morning and kept the vaccine in a cool pack by my bedside. It cost, in 2024, about £500.

However, after all that, it does seem to have worked. Haven't had a UTI since, and used to get them every couple of months or so.

BlueBelle

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'm in daily hiprex....its an antiseptic, as opposed to an antibiotic...maybe this was what you were on?

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.

Do not use the ones with cranberry, cranberry is a bladder irritant.
Buy the pure D Mannose.

I have had the same problem. My doctor has prescribed vaginal HRT pessaries as the problem was thought to be lack of oestrogen. You use them every night for about 3 weeks and then twice a week from thereon in. The HRT is localised and does not go round the body. So far so good.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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

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

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

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.

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.

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?

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.

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

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.