UTI or?

[Pippah45]

Good Morning lovely people. I started a reduction down to 4.75 Pred last week and have noticed shoulder and elbow pain. Not drastic but still soldiering on. Sunday though I had a lot of visits to the loo in the night. I have had this before but it doesn't usually go on for more than one night. However this time it is lasting. I am not uncomfortable as I was with Cystitis back in the 60s - this is different although it could be heading that way? I have managed to get an appointment with a GP this afternoon and a prescription for Anti Biotics has been issued. I don't want to take those if this is something else - any thoughts anyone? Pred to blame or not? I did actually go back to 5mg pred this morning. I seem to remember UTIs are fairly common. Thankfully I haven't suffered since the 60s. Thanks in advance for input.

[SheffieldJane]

Try Mannose-D from the pharmacy or on-line. I find it very effective for the symptoms. I seem prone to them these days even if there is no infection present.

[SnazzyD]

Is it just in the night you want the loo? What made them think it was an infection? If it was directly the Pred you’d expect it to have been worse on higher doses.

D-Mannose is great as SJ suggests.

[Pippah45 in reply to SnazzyD]

I said I thought it was a UTI to get near a doctor really! I suppose I use the loo frequently during the day but at night it's disturbing me. I have been feeling quite out of sorts. But that could be the lowering of Pred. ?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Pippah45]

Do you feel better back at 5mg? Could be a bit of both.

[SnazzyD in reply to Pippah45]

Did the doctor check your urine?

[Pippah45]

I don't feel as bad as I did first thing after very little sleep for sure. Being checked out is also a relief - it's so stressful these days getting checked and I certainly didn't want to have to show up for a never ending wait in A & E at the weekend!

[Stills]

note my diagnosis is Stills Disease which for me manifests as rheumatoid disease. I’ve had UTIs all my adult life in and off, Never got to the route of the problem until menopause arrived and an appointment with a gyne who diagnosed Interstitial Cystitis and Lichen Sclerosis both associated with other AI condition’s apparently. I have a steroid cream the keeps the LS at bay but the IC is painful especially at night and disturbs my sleep. It’s difficult to sleep with joint pains already so with the IC as well sometimes I’m up 4 times in the night so I have a 3O minute afternoon nap.

[Flivoless]

I seem to recall reading somewhere that adrenal insufficiency can cause an increase in visits to the loo and you are on a relatively low Pred dose. so you adrenals will be expected to rise from their slumber and do some work.

[Pippah45]

Thank you every one. I saw a Nurse Practitioner yesterday and she confirmed a UTI although the lab will come back with more details. So 3 days of Anti biotics. My temp was a bit raised too. I am sticking with 5mg pred today too. Certainly taking it easy today head feels a bit like a hangover! Trips to the loo were reduced so had a good sleep at last. Thank you.

[Maggiechris]

As well as D-Mannose, another useful reliever of UTI symptoms is a dessert spoon of cider vinegar in a beaker of water, taken twice a day. I've found this invaluable and taken regularly, once a day, helps to prevent the return of UTI's.

I've read recently that it has the added benefit of reducing blood sugars, a bonus for those of us struggling with type 2 diabetes as a side effect of pred.

It's cheap to buy (can also be used in cooking) and doesn't appear to have any side effects.

Hope you are feeling better soon, it's a miserable condition.

[Pippah45 in reply to Maggiechris]

Thank you for that tip I have used ACV on and off for quite a few years it seems to have a lot of properties. So far touch wood I don't feel as ill as I did in the 60s so hopefully it stays different! Although I do have a bit of a persistent headache. It was the awful pain I remember before.

[Nagswoman]

9 so far this year. Last time was 4.5 years ago.

[Pippah45 in reply to Nagswoman]

Are yours to do with reducing pred do you think?

[Nagswoman in reply to Pippah45]

No. Not steroids. I had loads while I was on MTX. Stopped that for a few years. Had a course of iAluril in 2018/9. Been on leflunomide for nearly a year. 9 UTIs and 3 airways since. I expect this with an immunosuppressant. I just wish that the GPs would get their act together and understand this.

[Pippah45]

Oh yes it is frustrating when they don't understand treatments isn't it!