UTI while on prednisone wiping me out--go up?

[emmamom]

I started at 40 mg of prednisone a day 2 1/2 years ago for GCA and PMR. I recently got down to 6 mg a day and was doing really well. Yesterday I woke up with bad bladder pain and lots of blood in urine. Dr. diagnosed me with UTI. Now I am on antibiotics, but THIS IS WIPING ME OUT. I have never felt so wiped out by just a UTI. I am wondering if my body is having trouble because I need more prednisone with an infection. This is the first one I have had since on the prednisone. Have your doctors advised increasing pred dose while dealing with infection? If so, by how much for how long? THANK YOU IN ADVANCE.

[SheffieldJane]

You could follow the sick day rules outlined in FAX which would entail an extra 5 mgs for a week or so then straight back down to where were. This however, is to support your Adrenaline needs as your body would if it wasn’t suppressed by Pred. It has no impact on the actual infection but you may prevent a flare.I think Pred is part of the problem that makes me prone to UTIs. I try hard with natural remedies like Mannose - D Cranberry juice and a supplement called Jude. I don’t let myself get dehydrated - drink plenty of water. I also ensure I void completely when I go. Good luck, they are horrible.

[arvine in reply to SheffieldJane]

Did you have urinalyisis test done and culture I had done couple weeks ago showed bacterial infection strep B, given amoxicillin as antibiotoc what did they givebyou?

[SheffieldJane in reply to arvine]

I am sorry I have forgotten but I do not recommend them anyway as the symptoms came straight back. I tend to trust penicillin, probably for nostalgic reasons.

[MiniSpec in reply to SheffieldJane]

Amoxicillin is a derivative of penicillin. I'm allergic to penicillin and its derivatives, so I can't take Amoxicillin, but have to have alternatives if I need antibiotics. Let's hope that emmamom isn't like me.

[emmamom in reply to arvine]

I did have a urinalysis and it showed blood in the urine and bacteria that is responsive to antibiotics. On Bactrim as of Wednesday morning.

[emmamom in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thank you so much for responding. Sorry, what is FAX?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to emmamom]

I think it should be FAQs - link in the box at the top of every thread.

[emmamom in reply to PMRpro]

Maybe it is my fever or I am just dense, but I can't find it! Could you help me?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to emmamom]

FAQs -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

SDR -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk....

[emmamom in reply to DorsetLady]

thank you so much. xo

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to emmamom]

The box at the top is immediately below the post and contains this

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Have a look through some of our most popular posts that answer some of the common questions

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[Potatohead2]

Hi

I am currently on 9mg of pred and went to GP on Tuesday with UTI. Prescribed antibiotics for 7 days and told whilst on them to increase Pred to 15mg then drop straight down to 9 again and stay at that for 4 weeks then continue with taper.

I too felt wiped out and have had lots of rest and water and starting to feel better now.

Hope you feel better soon.

[emmamom in reply to Potatohead2]

Thank you so much for your response. Get well soon!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

The wiped out feeling may well be down to adrenals struggling as much as UTI itself. ABX can be pretty horrible to take as well..

I had a couple,of infections [not UTIs] whilst on Pred, and never increased them, but was on high doses at the time anyway.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I have never increased my pred for a UTI - part of the problem with doing that is that the pred can suppress your body's natural response to fight off the infection and pred predisposes you to infections.

The ABX for UTIs can make you feel pretty unwell in themselves. How long a course is it and what antibiotic?

[emmamom in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you for responding! On Bactrim for 5 days.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to emmamom]

That can make you feel pretty awful!!!

[posthinking01 in reply to PMRpro]

Not really - the cortical need from the adrenals are needed to fight the infection - if the cortical response runs too low because you haven’t undertaken the 3 day rules - then the cortical response is too low to keep bacteria and inflammation at bay - then Sepsis could be a problem - it is often not understood what the adrenals do for the human body when it is under attack - and it needs Vitamin C - hence why scurvy was not only a deficiency in C but the consequence of such affected the adrenal response too !

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to posthinking01]

That is true - but so is what I said. And the SDRs aren't intended for mild infections.

[posthinking01 in reply to PMRpro]

A UTI isn't really a mild infection - it can very easily get out of control - as I know to my cost - it's because I didn't do the three day rules I ended up one hour away from not making it with Sepsis. The wiped out feeling is actually the adrenal glands being 'tired' having to 'up their game' to help with the infection - this is something someone who is not on steroids would not even feel -their adrenal glands would drip drip with cortisol through their lives as and when needed - running for the bus - your adrenals will send a shot of cortisol to support your run - watching a scary movie your adrenals will send out a shot of cortisol to help you - but when the adrenals have been suppressed and gone to sleep because steroids are doing their job - and more importantly which we cannot do without, in the circumstances we have been prescribed them - then when you do get an infection (a UTI) then you need to help them as they won't be up to speed on demand to help control the inflammation and infection. It is a real nuisance the sick day rules - but is important in my opinion - no-one really should be so wiped out with a UTI. I have been prescribed an antibiotic to take every night before bed and it has stopped 13 years of serious UTI's. Hope this helps.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to posthinking01]

Perhaps I should have said banal. not mild. But you don't have to lecture me about adrenal function or the risks of infections.

[posthinking01 in reply to PMRpro]

Well I certainly didn’t think it was a lecture - only way I learned was from others - as I said I hope it helped - obviously not !

[random901]

Hi emmamom! I've had 3 UTI's in the past year. They really can make you feel pretty low. Lots of investigations done after the last one, including identifying the bacteria causing the infection. This meant a more suitable antibiotic was prescribed and for longer. As others have said, drink plenty even if you don't feel thirsty in this colder weather. Best wishes for a speedy resolution.

[emmamom in reply to random901]

Thank you so much. They did a culture to be sure the antibiotic would target my infection. Hope yours are resolved!

[Clammy65]

The prednisone suppresses your immune system. I had 6 UTIs last year and I am now on 1G of Methenamine twice a day. Have not had a UTI since January this year.

[emmamom in reply to Clammy65]

Thank you for this!