UTIs & D mannose

[Portobello]

I'm currently having recurring infections- 2 different abx in just a few weeks. Due to see yet another gynae in early September re bladder prolapse. Tried D mannose before without success but maybe not taking enough?? Should it be 3 tabs every 3 hours- for how long? Thanks again as usual, Valerie

[PMRpro Ambassador]

What dose is that? When one starts I find 3x500mg 2 or 3 times a day is enough - but taking less longer term helps too by redicing the risk of infections growing.

Are they proven bacterial infections? Have they done urine cultures to identify the organism and which abx it is sensitive too?

Otherwise - do you take calcium supplements? Too much calcium will be excreted through the kidneys and can form grit in the urine and that can cause irritation and cystitis symptoms which can easily be mistaken for a UTI.

[Portobello in reply to PMRpro]

The ones I bought are 1000mg and directions say: initial dose 1-3 tablets every 3 hours. After 3 days 1-3 tablets twice a day. That sounded a lot! Today I've had 3x3 & was going to take 3 more at bedtime but perhaps not. The samples have been sent to the lab each time but I've had no feedback about abx. Will make enquiries next time. Re calcium: I stopped taking prescribed iCal a long time ago & buy my own seaweed based powder. But maybe that's a problem too now? Will lay off for a while. Thanks for advice.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Portobello]

I did have quite a strop recently when a doctor sent a urine to the lab - and only asked for a dip test. Next day she rang to say I needed to repeat the process so a urine could be sent for culture - why had she not requested that first time since I had already done a dip test and there were indications of an infection!

But if it is persisting and it IS an infection you need a longer course of antibiotic - if a few bugs are left it doesn't take long for them to grow to another infection with symptoms.

[SheffieldJane in reply to PMRpro]

Ditto! Such a waste of resource. Do everything in one sweep and save time.

[Maudie19 in reply to PMRpro]

I'm starting to get UTIs now. After two courses of antibiotics I then was really ill with a temp of nearly 39C so had Course of 500mg three times a day. That was about a month ago, and today have started again. Should I stop the AdCal and if I do what do I replace it with? Now going tapering to 7mg pred. GP wants me down to 6 mg by end of September.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Maudie19]

AdCal isn't the only calcium supplement and ensuring there is enough in your diet is preferable. But if you have a raised temperature - that sounds like an infection rather than the calcium and that they aren;t giving you the antibiotic for long enough - with persistent infection a week is rarely long enough.

[laidbackreader]

I had the powder and took two scoops every three hours when symptoms were bad. Continued with one scoop twice a day for maintenance. I had abx for six months as well though. It was the urology consultant who told me to get D- Mannose.

[Amkoffee]

I have too have been suffering from numerous UTIs in the last 12 months and have no idea why. I insist they grow a culture each time and it's a good thing I did because one of the times I had two kinds of bacteria. One of them was E coli which is easy to cure but the other one was not so I had to take a different kind of antibiotic. I'm still getting UTIs though and have yet to figure this out. But I've never heard of this medication you are all talking about. I may have to look into it.

[Nagswoman]

ialuril fixed me

[annie_marie]

Hi, I suffered from uti's for many years. But after I developed PMR ( 10 + years ago) the infections became more frequent and more intense. I was given no explanation why. In the past I have had D Mannose with very limited success. Then prescribed low dose antibiotics as a prophylactic for about 2 years during which time I was clear of infections. But the abx gave me peripheral neuropathy. The antibiotic was stopped. Immediately the infections came back. I was given more and stronger antibiotics at least once a month!!! The urologist was at a loss how to help me. She spoke to some colleagues and oestrogen gel was prescribed. 'Blissel 50mcg vaginal gel' I have had it now for over 3 months and have not yet had another infection. I hope this helps you. I am nearly 70, well past menopause and have many other illnesses which complicate things for me so it may not be suitable for you, but I just thought it was worth sharing. Best wishes, A

[SheffieldJane]

I am a great fan of Mannose - D. I take mine in soluable sachets. It changes the composition of urine and stops the irritatation and burning in my case. I get the symptoms without an infection necessarily being present. Just like my colon, I think my bladder has become inflamed from medication and it reacts to acidic drinks or spicy foods. I think this is yet another side effect of the chronic disease and immunosuppressant drugs ( Pred and Toc. ( Actemra ) in my case. Milky drinks/ bland foods ease it contrary to advice I’ve read on the net. It seems to be improving since I stopped Tocilizumab and certainly since I stopped Adcal.