Those of you who have been following my saga of urinary sepsis. I am ready for it now and had two episodes of infection that I jumped on with the emergency antibiotics. I asked for a replacement however another GP telephoned me and suggested I tried vaginal tablets and prescribed Vagifem 10 micrograms nightly for two weeks. This will help vaginal dryness. I don’t know if this is going to help but a bit of extra oestrogen has lifted my mood.
Any one else had this suggested?
Take care
🥂
I was just reading an article in the medical media about vaginal dryness being a killer - seriously! Because of all the UTIs! They are the most common cause of confusion and falls in the elderly.
"The thing that kills women is recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs). Did you know that UTIs account for 7 million visits and hospitalizations annually and 25% of all infections in older people? In fact, apparently one third of the total Medicare expenditure is around UTIs. Not preventing UTIs is costing our healthcare system an enormous amount of money and resources."
medscape.com/viewarticle/99...
Well, that’s interesting. Perhaps we should spread the word. It’s particularly so for me as I had to fight to keep my HRT and now I am having more. It is logical if dryness encourages bugs to get into the bladder then anything that helps has got to be good. I have just sent a begging request for more Piv micillinan as a comfort blanket, if they won’t let me have it I will find where to buy it
🥂
They want me to have the Shingles vaccination, can’t remember which one I should have. Can you remind me please? 🥂
Shringrix- comes as two vaccines - with up to 6 months between..
Thank you. Just looked at posts from 5 years ago that refer to vaginal dryness and UTI, should have done my homework. However the information from PMRPro is alarming 🥂
Actually, there isn't supposed to be any Zostavax being used but it is said they are using up the dregs ...
Any thing wrong with it ?
Just read about it and there certainly is. I will ask for the Shringrix 🥂
Shingrix is safer (non-live) and far more effective. The success rates with Zostavax weren't outstanding - in some groups 50%!
Shingrix wasn't available sooner simply because of supply issues. The USA bought up all the stocks early on and there wasn't enough being produced to offer it to all the state-funded healthcare systems all at once, So in the meantime it has been available - privately at a mere £420 for the 2 jabs ...
It is UTI and Bladder infection season in the UK.I was having recurrent UTis , bladder and kidney infections every year for years when the cold and damp set in because of my lower immunity and EDS making the tubes less elastic and more likely not to empty entirely.
A few years ago, when I was on steroids, I had all three infections because of under treatment of the infection and it caused a big flare in my heart problems as well. I was close to Urosepsis when I finally got seen in A and E and got a combined antibiotic treatment and IV.
At the time, I had read about D- Mannose and saw people talking about it in this forum and another that I was following to help my Uncle whom also suffered with UTis because of his prostate problems.
I gave it a go, I chose the recommended form on a urinary health page of D- Mannose with Cranberry Extract.
This is because the D- Mannose can help prevent the bacteria attaching to the ureteral walls and Cranberry contains a simple sugar which helps bind with the bacteria and increase its removal from the tract from kidney to urethra.
My Uncle tried it first , his infection appeared to improve after some time with the issue and he also seemed to have less urinary urgency, I felt my usual winter infection creep in and like you , " Once Bitten , Twice Shy" , I got straight to the GP.
I informed them that I wanted the antibiotic that worked the year before for 10 days not 5 rather than being forced to go backwards and forwards like the years before going through the list of " first line" options whilst getting worse.
By now , the GP has finally seen the sense to understand I know what works on me and they gave me what I wanted.
At the same time I began using the D- Mannose with Cranberry Extract after my breakfast with a little extra cranberry juice.
I also used the usual infection guidelines, drank lots of water or green tea, had extra Vitamin C and B vitamins, Paracetamol , keep my kidney area warm and used a pumping action of the pelvic floor muscle after urination had finished to try to ensure full emptying of the urinary tract.
My infection seemed to clear quicker than usual , what was also noticeable was the lower back pain subsided earlier too.
For once , I didn't need an extra antibiotic , and as I chose to keep taking the D-Mannose , drinking more fluids , using Kegle exercises each day , and the pumping method after going to the toilet ( these were advised by the Bladder Clinic to my Uncle and myself) I did not see the infection return.
Since then I have started taking D- Mannose with Cranberry every day as the winter season kicks in in September until the Spring properly arrives . I take it a few times a week in Summer. I drink the recommended fluids each day and I do Kegle exercises . I use the pumping method when I urinate. I have a low sugar , no artificial sweeteners diet and have more Folates in my food .
Touch wood ( I'm knocking my head) I didn't get a UTI last year , and not a whiff of one so far . My UTis seem to arrive like clockwork before about mid October and had done for 5-6 years running prior to making these changes, so I see that as significant.
So , if you can take it with your other medications I suggest you give the D- Mannose with Cranberry a try, during infection but also as a winter Preventative.
And also try doing daily Kegle exercises. Both Men and Women are recommended to do them as preventative self care , The Bowel and Bladder organisation has Kegle exercise PDFs to download which are specific for Women and Men.
Hope you can get the demon of the bladder under control , take care , Bee
Thank you. That’s extremely interesting, I will get the D - Mannose with Cranberry today .
Take care
🥂
The sugar in cranberry that helps is D-mannose, it is a natural source.
Thank you 🥂
There are two sugars in cranberry ; D- Mannose, a monosaccharide , and other natural sugar from the cranberry called proanthocyanidin (probably spelt that wrong , PAC for short). It has been researched to be better to have both D-Mannose and cranberry proanthocyanidin in extract form in a supplement to improve its preventative effect and rather than using juice which obviously is higher in fructose and added sugars. I have a little Cranberry and Orange juice with it just because I like the taste and it's nice to add my Vitamin C liquid to which improves the uptake of my Folate and Iron ( got to take those daily now between infusions).
Ah so - interesting. Blueberries and cinnamon too ... And grape seeds - wonder if grape seed oil still contains PAC.
tuscany-diet.net/2014/03/14...
healthline.com/nutrition/gr...
That could be a good dietary addition.
Yes , there are PACs in various things including grapes, barks including cinnamon etc. it's just that the D-Mannose / Cranberry Extract combo is used more regularly and has been tested with success in UTis and bladder infections so it's the easiest option with the doses in Supplements in line with those in most studies.They are doing very interesting tests into PACs now to research their efficacy in controlling blood sugar and moderating lipoproteins to help reduce triglyceride rich LPs and LDLs and increase HDL cholesterol.
Grape seed oil is meant to be a high source of PACs.
Although it's not as easy an option for most people to take as cranberry extract . It interacts with a number of different drugs including amitriptyline, the most common beta blocker propanolol , and reduces the growth of friendly bacteria so you aren't meant to use it in combination with lactobacillus and probiotics among other things , which is a shame.
Grape Seed Extract can also increase hypertension if taken at the same time as a product with Vitamin C in it.
Cranberry extract has to be used carefully with warfarin but is generally safe with most of the other common drugs.
The people whom can drink the odd glass of red wine will be happy to hear that it's a source PAC too.
As PACs are also meant to reduce cognitive decline I suppose you could say it's the one alcoholic beverage that could help with your memory and coordination rather than causing you to forget and fall over, as long as you don't drink it by the bottle!😆😆😆🍷
I am off to Holland and Barrett this morning 🥂
Thwarted by road closures so I have ordered them on line. Don’t seem to have any sophisticated combinations so I have the D -Mannrose tablets and Cranberry separately. At least it’s a start
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I’ve been on two a week for years to help with a prolapse. Does help with mood and helps pelvic floor. There are a variety of products to moisturise this delicate area but I do think Vagifem has other benefits you may find helpful. I do hope so. 👍
Thank you 🥂
I feel better already, the low mood was killing me. Thank you 🥂
I used to get them and had a cystoscopy. Found nothing and specialist blamed the pred. (everything blamed on pred). Suddenly no more probs, maybe because I'm down to 2mg. Yes, I used the vaginal tabs for a while and took a very mild antibiotic for 3 months. Really helped.
Thank you Diana 🥂
Hi Edith. I've been on Vagifem10 for vaginal atrophy since 2009. It has done its job. Since PMR though, it doesn't seem to have helped with the UTIs which are frequent, but maybe would have been more had I not been on it. You're right. A good shot of estrogen helps. I take 2 a week as a maintenance dose. Very expensive, even with the seniors drug plan. If they would do away with the fancy packaging and manufacture a generic pill, it might be cheaper. Personally, I don't need the plunger. Sincerely hope this is the answer for you.
It really has made a difference. All the joy had gone out of my life
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My urologist suggested that very same thing but, since I am a breast cancer survivor it’s not recommended. However a gyno recommended application of Estriol USP. This form of estrogen does not enter the breasts. It can be bought otc in assorted creams. I am 81 apply this regularly- never have UTIs.
Thank you Karen, that’s very interesting. I am always keen to hear about OTC drugs. My daughter is also a breast cancer survivor so I will pass this on to her
Take care 🥂
I take daily antibiotics, nitrofurantoin, and use Vagifem. Seems to work as when I stopped the antibiotics as I thought I didn’t need them, I then had a UTI.
Hopefully I will be alright on this new regime, I now have the D -Mannose and Cranberry tablets. 🥂
Update on GCA ‘flare’
Update on post re Flare or Muscle Pain 
UPDATE ON GCA RELAPSE
Update on yesterday. 
Does anyone experience this type of pain?
