Uti

Oh you poor thing, my heart goes out to you. I suffered UTIs which necessitated trips to A&E so I know how painful they can be. Have you had antibiotics in the meantime? I’m sorry I can’t advise on the operations suggested, I can just send sympathy. 💐

You poor thing - there was a time 2 years ago when I had one UTI after another.. awful 😩
Thank Heavens, and fingers crossed, I’ve seen the back of it. I take in a lot of liquids, water, tea, coffee, juice etc. I also restrict my use of pantiliners.

Yes the out of hours clinic gave me some antibiotics. The gp receptionist would not let me even see a doctor!

Oh , my sympathy. UTIs are the absolute worse . I was plagued by them and my gp gave me a good supply of Nitrofurantoin to keep at home and told me to take it as soon as the symptoms started . She also prescribed pessarys (local hrt ) and these have completely stopped the UTIs . They have been a game changer . If you don't use these ask for a prescription. I also have a cystocele and rectocele which is managed very well with a ring pessary at the local hospital every 6 months . I'm not sure surgery will resolve the problem .

Have you tried D-Mannose? I used to be plagued with UTI's but I've been using the D-Mannose for many years now and rarely get one. Unfortunately I didn't get on with the Oestrogen cream or pessaries.

Hope you feel better soon.

I managed to curtail one that I could feel starting by drinking and drinking. Then started with D-Mannose initially 3 sachets per day and now only sachet per day before bed - plus vaginal HRT twice a week. I also change underwear 3 times daily and use unscented soap.

Should say only one sachet now before bed.

Sallywally I could have written your post as at the same time I was in agony with another infection which didn’t show up. I was given antibiotics and it gradually calmed down, I have just been given hiprex to try. I need to find out about what I need to ensure it works. Do wish you well. The misery of all this gets you down.

Sallywally1

Yes the out of hours clinic gave me some antibiotics. The gp receptionist would not let me even see a doctor!

I have a UTI at the moment. The receptionist did let me see a doctor but he was as much use as an ashtray on a motorbike. Would not test the urine sample I gave him, insisted I took another sample in to the surgery the following morning but he had neither a specimen bottle or a form for this and prescribed me anti-biotics which he said may not be the correct ones.
Hope you get some relief. These infections are very painful.

I had a UTI when I was between homes during covid, midway through a house move. The GP (and his receptionist) local to my temporary home refused to see me, but 101 got a doctor to call me who prescribed antibiotics electronically to my local pharmacy. I was desperately grateful.
Why is it that doctors try to avoid actually seeing you when you have a medical problem? Sadly pharmacists can only prescribe for UTIs if you are up to 64.

Just in case my experiences are useful - I used to have lots of 'UTIs', most of which were not found to be infections when tested. I was often prescribed antibiotics despite this. I had a particularly bad episode ten years ago (aged 61) with pain lasting months and a distressing fortnight when the medics thought I may have bladder cancer (an ultrasound scan mistakenly found a large bladder mass.) A cystoscopy showed no bladder cancer and I saw a Consultant Gynaecologist. I was prescribed oestrogen pessaries and oestrogen cream and I have not had a UTI since and very little pain. If I think I may be getting a flare up, I use extra pessaries and/or cream. This usually works. Initially it often takes a few weeks for the cream/pessaries to kick in so worth persisting. There are many topical oestrogen products now. I also found the Jane Lewis book, 'My Menopausal Vagina' very useful and also a closed FB group for vaginal atrophy and genitourinary symptoms of menopause. Lots of excellent information, strategies and support from these two sources. Lots of GPs are not necessarily very knowledgeable or trained in genitourinary symptoms of menopause until recently. I do hope that you get the help you need and are feeling better very soon.

Some gp receptionists are barbaric.
Ours (now retired, thank the lord🙏) told me to go to UC when I phoned at lunchtime.
She knew my history of having to catheterise & infections.
I said would they leave an animal to suffer.
Only appointment they had was for nearly two weeks time.
So phoned 111. I had a temp & strep B infection.
Female Gp was fantastic

In your place I would ask for a second opinion regarding the necessity or advisablility of a hysterectomy, as this is a major operation even today.

Not being a doctor, I cannot possiblity advise you. If your specialist has not told you why he or she is advising this, then do seek a second opinion or ask your specialist to explain this more carefully to you.

I was having a lot of UTIs, male doctor just handed out antibiotics, but when I saw a female doctor she was far more sympathetic and suggested Dmannose and prescribed oestrogen pessaries to use twice a week, and I haven’t had one since. A hysterectomy seems a bit radical and I would be reluctant unless really necessary.

whats a uti

My husband suffered constant UTI’s after bladder cancer surgery. It often developed to urosepsis. He now has hiprex every 12 hours. No UTI’s for the last 18 months!!!!

Monami a UTI stands for uterine tract infection and if you're female you’re really lucky not to know!

You don’t say whether you have vaginal atrophy, which can predispose you to UTI’s. The other point to remember with vaginal atrophy you can get false negative urine tests, which is possibly what happened to your first visit to the gp. Also on occasions you can’t even get a practice nurse to dip the urine for several days, which is not appropriate when UTI’s can escalate rapidly to a point where hospitalisation is required. For that reason I have bought my own Reagent urine testing sticks for use at home, 100 sticks from a medical supply company comes with directions for use.
Should the need arise I then inform them and keep a photograph as proof. I do understand that in some cases a specific antibiotic is required, however gp’s have a generic first line antibiotic they can prescribe, this does help should the urine sample need to be sent for further testing. I had to have a complete hysterectomy at the age of 38, and have been told that I should have been offered HRT, but this was back when gp’s wouldn’t listen and the public were scare mongered about the so called high risk of cancer. It is a very personal choice, but as long as you have been advised about the pros and cons, along with being reasonable healthy, you are then able to make an informed decision.
Whatever you decide I wish you a speedy recovery from your infection. 💐

The same here Spec1alk…. Had Hiprex prescribed over 18 months ago and no uti since. They used to make my life a misery. Much better than having to take antibiotics which don’t necessarily work very well and damage the good bugs in the gut.

I went through a stage of UTI’s as well. Had antibiotics prescribed every time which I didn’t like taking.
Got a doctors appointment and was prescribed Estriol (which helps with UTI’s) and now take Rock & Roses Probiotic for her for urinary and vaginal health plus plenty of water in the day and haven’t had one since

I used to suffer all of the time when I was much younger. Some of my issues were down to poor hygiene such as not wiping properly. If you take a sample to be tested then don't drink too much water as it dilutes the sample so some tests don't pick up the bacteria. Unfortunately most GPs will not give you the correct strength antibiotics so you will need at least 3 courses - I used to have a GP who gave me a 3 course and it went. No other GP has done that. Before that GP I would take bicarbonate tablets - no longer available - but a drink of dilute bicarbonate can help any acidity. I understand D mannose can be useful and for some they like cranberry juice. I had endometriosis and was advised to have a hysterectomy but as my growths were on my kidneys, any operation would not help. I refused. I now have my UTIs generally in control . Personally I would question how a hysterectomy would help. Get the hospital to explain in detail .
I would examine your hygiene first - we can all be guilty of not doing what we should when in a rush
BUT is it a real UTI? I thought I had one a few years ago but it was a symptom of vaginal atrophy. Do you have that ?

A hysterectomy is major surgery and to be avoided if possible. Demand a urinary consultation and HRT to start with. Then specific UTI antibiotics max strength.

Last year after multiple uti's my gp prescribed 50mg of Nitrofurantoin to be taken every evening. It has transformed my life - no more infections and not continually dashing to the loo. I also use HRT pessaries twice a week. Good luck with your condition SallyWally1