re curring water infections

[catlover5]

hi since dec 2017 ive had 3 water infections so my doctor has arranged a kidney scan ,now i feel as though ive got another water infection and im in pain but im worried about taking more antibiotics

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Have your "water infections" been confirmed by a urine culture at the lab? Many people on pred or with PMR experience the symptoms of a UTI (urinary tract infection) but in fact it is either something called irritable bladder syndrome or because the bladder isn't emptying properly, probably because of the PMR affecting the bladder which itself is a muscle.

But if it really is a bacterial infection, you need antibiotics.

[SnazzyD in reply to PMRpro]

For what it’s worth, I have just discovered that calcium supplements give me cystitis, particularly calcium citrate. It lasts for two days after a pill.

[catlover5 in reply to SnazzyD]

Im actually on calcium and vit d tablets prescribed by my doctor

[SnazzyD in reply to catlover5]

I’ve not heard anyone complain of this and I only found out because I missed a a couple of days and it cleared up. So then I experimented. However, I mean a non infected cystitis, just irritation of the urethra, not a bacterial one because cultures have been normal and the wee doesn’t smell. I wonder if the irritation has led to eventual bacterial invasion at times because I had had a couple of weeks of non smelly cystitis beforehand. Vit D on its own is ok which for me is the most important. My next step is to take calcium carbonate only not citrate and drink even more water than usual to keep the wee really dilute.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to SnazzyD]

Yup - me too, at carbonate does, never tried citrate which is supposedly better absorbed. But not generally, just if I take the calcium tablets on a day when I drink less, when travelling for example.

[catlover5 in reply to PMRpro]

yes our doctor always sends my samples of as sometimes they have changed my antibiotics

[Manchesterlady]

I’m like you catlover5,I’ve lost count of how many u t I s ive had , I was put on a maintinence dose of antibiotics , as PMRpro suggested I am going for a cystoscope in a couple of weeks time .(not looking forward to that ) I see a urologist regularly as I have a kidney stone . Hope you get some answers .

[catlover5 in reply to Manchesterlady]

thanks my doctor said I may have kidney stones my scan is in two weeks time

[SheffieldJane in reply to Manchesterlady]

I have heard that kidney stones can cause pain worse than childbirth. I hope your procedure is much better than you fear, these things often are.

[catlover5 in reply to SheffieldJane]

its just a scan im getting done so will hopefully get some answers

[SheffieldJane]

I get these kind of symptoms on and off accompanied by headaches and pain in the kidneys. I just think that Pred irritates delicate membranes in all the bodily systems. Like the digestive system. When I have gone to the GP they never find anything in a sample. I’m perhaps being neglectful though. When this is all over I don’t want damaged kidneys. Let us know what the tests show.

I have also wondered about muscle weakness, it is, apparently really important to empty your bladder completely each time and not always obvious that you haven’t, I find. I’m with you an the antibiotics though, but they don’t give them lightly. I suspect that abs have become less effective because of the meat Industry as well as patients being over prescribed them though.

[catlover5 in reply to SheffieldJane]

I will update after my scan which isnt for another two weeks

[Sho-Sho]

I have had the same problem for the last 20 months since being diagnosed with GCA. My doctor kept giving me antibiotics for what seemed to be an urinary infection, but eventually when a sample was sent to the lab it was clear. Than saw an Urologist who after loads of tests diagnosed Interstitial Cystitis caused by the pred damaging the bladder - he hopes eventually when off pred or lower dose it will go - not yet though even though I am down to 8.5 having started at 60mg.

Good luck - it's not pleasant, I know.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Sho-Sho]

Wonder if he is also aware PMR will cause interstitial cystitis? I had it with PMR long before pred, in fact, the pred improved it for me!!! I do wish GPs would send samples more often - I'm sure loads of us have had far more abx than we need!

[jinasc]

After you have taken an anti-biotic, which knocks out the good bacteria as well as the bad ones.

Yeo Valley Pro-biotic organic yoghurt _contains L.Acidopolous and does not have a long life either.

If it was a short course of ab's

Longer course then:

or VSL#3 (expensive but well worth it) it contains over 3 billion good guys.....made in Italy and your Pharmacist will probably have to order it. 10 packets are around £20.