Nail breaking & ongoing UTI’s

[LoveLightLaughter]

My Dad, 87, has been on Umbruvika for about one year. He keeps getting urinary tract infections so he is on bactrim all the time on and off. Any suggestions of another way to treat this? Also his fingernails are cracking!!! Is there a prescription type of Biotin? Thank you 🙏

[PlanetaryKim]

I take 5000 mcg of biotin daily, and I have no fingernail problems on Imbruvica/Ibrutinib. No prescription needed for biotin. Available in health food stores and in supermarkets here in Canada. Don't expect immediate results from it for fingernails. I think it will only helped with the newly formed nail growing up from the nailbed. It won't improve existing nails that are brittle. But in 3-4 months time, the new fingernails may be improved.

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator in reply to PlanetaryKim]

"The growing part of the nail is under the skin at the nail's proximal end under the epidermis, which is the only living part of a nail". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nail_...

Given "Fingernails require three to six months to regrow completely", you are quite right that taking biotin to improve nail strength will require at least 3 months before you see any results.

Neil

[LoveLightLaughter in reply to AussieNeil]

Hi Neil, my Dad was diagnosed with NHL not CCL. Do you recommend a support group for NHL? Thank you 🌞

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator in reply to LoveLightLaughter]

I see that you have found the NHL Friends community here. I suggest you post separately to our community, asking all forum members for suggestions on NHL communities, mentioning where you live.

With respect to your question about Ibrutinib dosing to the NHL Friends community, read this pinned post:

healthunlocked.com/cllsuppo...

Neil

[LoveLightLaughter in reply to AussieNeil]

Thank you so much! 🙏

[BeckyLUSA in reply to PlanetaryKim]

I have been taking 5000 mcg of Biotin for over two years now and still have the split nail issues. Has not worked for me. But it does for many. Hope your dad is one that it works for.

Becky

[closh]

His doc has probably already done this, but when us guys get UTIs we should get a prostate check. This is sometimes the cause.

Graham

[LoveLightLaughter in reply to closh]

Thank you for your feedback. Yes, his prostate was checked. He has a recurring bacteria called Serratia. Not sure if lowering the dose of 420 mg of Umbruvika? Thanks again!

[Canuck901]

Is that Ibruntnib?

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator in reply to Canuck901]

Imbruvica (correct spelling) is the marketing name for Ibrutinib.

[thompsonellen]

I take 10,000 mcg of Biotin. 5000 mcg didn't do anything. My nails are serviceable, but not what they were.

[Ellieoak]

Dear Love light. Have you dad drink a lot more water to get rid of his UTI. You can do juice, water with lemon or cucumber on it. The other suggestions for the nails Biotin is great too. Good luck. Anna

[farber]

Hello, I’m on Imbruvica for 2 years and start to have UTI this year. Also have problem with nails. Was trying Biotin for me did not work

[JustAGuy]

Seems like in the US many drink cranberry juice for UTIs...

[Emerfly]

Hi LLL on the subject of urinary tract infections . I care for my 94 yr old very frail mother who was plagued for several years with UTIs . Hospitalised with delirium and fever on several occasions . I did a bit of research so for the past year I start her day with a large glass of cranberry juice . Not the Ocean Spray cartons of sugary stuff . I buy Biona organic concentrate. I keep an eye on the colour of her urine and if it looks anyway darker than usual I up the dose to 2/3 glasses a day . I sweeten it with raw honey . It’s worked a treat and she has not had one UTI since . Hope this helps . Regards . Emer

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator]

There's a growing body of recent research showing that cranberry juice isn't effective for Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs), though the extra hydration from drinking plenty of the juice might help.

sciencebasedmedicine.org/cr...

sciencebasedmedicine.org/cr...

healthunlocked.com/cllsuppo...

Neil

[Emerfly in reply to AussieNeil]

I read an article in the health section of our national newspaper last week saying the opposite Neil. It appears to work for my mother and also a friend who has had ongoing problems with UTIs since a bit of a botched prostate op . I also make sure she drinks plenty of water during the day .

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator in reply to Emerfly]

I would be interested to see the referenced research backing the article claims, in particular how recent it is. Perhaps the reason why "clinical trials of this popular folk remedy have produced mixed results", is because whether it works or not depends on how much of this newly identified oligosaccharide is present in the cranberry juice, as it seems to be this compound that may prevent the bacteria which can cause UTIs from sticking to the cells lining the urinary tract.

From May this year:

sciencedaily.com/releases/2...

Note that the research was done in pigs.

Neil

[Emerfly in reply to AussieNeil]

I will see if I can find the article Neil . I do know from a good friend who is a nutritionist that the ready made juices in tetra packs are useless . You need to use a good quality organic 100 % juice. I get my mother’s from a small family run local health food store it is called Biona organic pure pressed cranberry juice. I add one part juice to 2 parts water and sweeten it with raw heather honey . Perhaps there is more oligosaccharide present in this particular format rather than Ocean Spray or suchlike which are really just sugary drinks . Mum’s last UTI was almost a year ago , she had to be treated in hospital on IV antibiotics . It was her fifth infection in as many months ...very common in v elderly females . Inclined to not want to drink too many fluids in case of accidents and holding on when they should urinate . I have a routine in place now that ensures she does not do that . The cranberry juice won’t cure the UTIs but I personally believe it is preventing further infections . If I can find the article I’ll see if it’s worth forwarding to you . Kind regards . Emer

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator in reply to Emerfly]

I suspect that the article won't be of much use unless it specifically references (hopefully) recent research. Unfortunately, newspapers generally don't tend to actually quote any web references for their articles, so there will be no way to tell whether their article is based on older or more recent research.

I suspect we are both onto what's behind the inconsistency in reported benefit - how the cranberry juice is processed and thus how much (or little) of the active ingredient survives the processing. If we can confirm this oligosaccharide is the active ingredient for people, then it makes sense for suppliers to the UTI market to find which variety is best, when to pick the cranberries and how to store them and process them for maximum concentration of the active ingredient. There are so many variables involved here.

Neil

[Emerfly in reply to AussieNeil]

Was unable to find that article again Neil . Sorry . I am also unable to remember if it quoted any research . 94yr old Alice Elizabeth is still UTI free though ☺️

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator in reply to Emerfly]

Thanks for trying to find the article. Great that Alice Elizabeth remains UTI free. It seems we need better investigations to find out what preparations of cranberry juice work in which individuals.