Does anyone else get constant UTIs?
I can’t tell if it’s a fibro thing, or a menopause thing, or a sign of something else… but I just keep getting them and can’t get to the GP this weekend. I am on a waiting list for the urologist, but always keen for advice! 💙
Are they proven infections each time and the organism named or is it dipstick diagnosis?
It’s always been dipstick in the past - apparently I had the highest pH the GP has ever seen, so she referred me to urology. I’m with a more thorough GP now, but haven’t been to see them yet, I just recognise the symptoms and pain 🙄
As for the pH thing, I couldn’t find any solid info on what that meant and my old GP was stumped… apparently it was at a 9 and shouldn’t go above 7 or something like that. No idea of that means anything to you? 😅
Ps. The dog in your pic is gorgeous - really reminds me of my childhood dog. He was a German shepherd cross and was so ridiculously clever and sweet 💙
So have they been treating you with antibiotics just based on a high pH of the urine or telling you you’ve got a UTI and that’s it? Do you get any other signs like pain, smelly urine, cloudy urine, odd colour, kidney pain, low abdominal pain, needing the loo a lot for no good reason (small quantity) or urgency.
High pH can be caused my certain medications, diet eg vegetarian, kidney problems (did they do basic renal blood tests?), vomiting or a urine sample that is not fresh and has been sitting warm for a few hours. It’s good to see your fresh sample tested in front of you, not being told after you’ve left when you have no idea how long it has been sitting for.
I am prone to UTI’s because my white cell count drops every three weeks, but I find that if take D-Mannose 2-3 times a day it’s effective at making it less hospitable in the bladder for bacteria. It get mine from health food shops.
If you have a wait for Urology they ought to be trying a bit harder in the meantime to do some basic checks, not just dipstick.
My dog is a Romanian rescue mixed breed. Definitely some Carpathian Shepherd dog but his growth has been stunted by something else. Other than that he’s a whole lot of floof.
Hi Penelope, UTI's can definitely be a menopause thing and when I starting getting bladder issues HRT was the first thing they prescribed. A cystocopy discovered I have an inflammed bladder (IC) which is connected to Fibro and an ultrasound discovered my bladder doesn't empty properly. Hope you get an appointment soon with an Urologist, in the meantime you could try and avoid things that irritate the bladder and drink lots. You can also buy those dipsticks on Amazon so could try testing regularly at home and head them off early. Boots I believe also do a test and treat service in store which costs but not outrageous I don't think. UTI's are nasty. Best Louisa x
Good morning. I used to get UTIs more often until I started taking d-mannose which I'm sure you know is from cranberries. Some other fruits triggered it sometimes. Apple juice not good. May be alright for you. Took Quebra Pedra tea quite a lot then too. Whatisnamehealthbloke on telly ages ago - Jan de Vries? - used to recommend Uva Ursi. - See what google says. - I gave up fruit in the end because it would not let me sleep for irritation. Taking a good half teaspoon of d-mannose or more at night gradually got it right. Choose herb teas really carefully. Caffeine probably a disaster and I imagine you have already ditched that from your whole diet. Otherwise filtered water. Warmish, maybe. I try to stick to low fodmap fruit now but my son has got me into grapes because he is scoffing them like there's no other food necessary. - I mostly have the white ones because the red and black can be headachey. (Maybe that's what is stopping me sleeping a full night?- Thanks! Your query has helped me think of that.) - If you still have your ovaries then maybe not meano-pause quite yet but could be peri-meano. If you are not getting hot flushes at all .... hmm! Dunno really??? Hope you get it sorted soon.
I have that from menopause they say as i can not have any thing HRT due to my weight they say. I have had like tampon things to insert in past , but dont seem to worry lately. Very uncomfortable when done a wee afterwards.
Hi, just wanted to mention that I had the same but there was always traces of blood in mine, I was sent for a scan and it was kidney stones. I had them removed from one kidney and haven’t had any problems since. My be worth asking the drs to check it out for you 🥰
Thanks everyone - I had a full hysterectomy three years ago, so they took everything 😅 I’m on Oestrogel, so maybe I’ll have a look into that.
I also have a full review appointment coming up with my new GP in just over a week, so hopefully they’ll be more helpful than my old one!
I drink plenty of water and have been having some cranberry juice every day… I’m just exhausted with everything hurting all the time 😩
Hi Penelope, I had the same thing running up to and into menopause. My incredibly active job exacerbated the issue and available Dr’s appointments weeks ahead. It occurred to me that my miserable vaginal dryness could be aggravating things so I started using unperfumed lubricant every morning and miraculously it all calmed down. My sister has just had the same issue and she says it’s done the trick for her too so it’s worth a try!
Thank you for sharing - I hadn’t considered vaginal dryness. I’ve now bought myself some vagisil product. I’m still getting to grips with being menopausal (full hysterectomy three years ago, when I was 33) and the fibro (diagnosed in February!)
Thank you ☺️💙
HI, saw a GP on This Morning, say women who get many UTIs should try an HRT Cream which often resolves the problem, even if you are on HRT patch. She said more GPS should take note of this. I used to suffer from them a lot, now I don’t after using the cream for a few months. I am going through the menapause. Oh what joy.
Thank you - which cream are you on? I use Oestrogel HRT gel, so would be useful to have another brand to ask them about. My old GP practice was abysmal, but I already have high hopes for my new one 😁
💙
Hi, I’m was using Estriol cream 1%. Stopped a a year or so ago. Really any HRT cream should help. Good luck.
Hi Penelope! I am in the same boat. For what its worth, my urologist says for post meno women the thinning of vagina is main culprit of bacteria seeping through. I declined hrt but am trying organic estraiol oil too early too tell if will work. I tried mannose n vitamin c products n probiotics no cure yet. Bacteria I get almost monthly this year n last is pseudomas aueringosa. I am allergic to lots of meds so cipro is all i can take. I am very hygenic n makes no difference! Veryfrustrated and exhausted of feeling sick often
Update on chest and uti symptoms
Im a nice person really....
Why does it take me so long to do anything?
Husband doesn’t understand I’m done 
pains stop when other illness arrive 
