Mum has got psp and I have been told she has blood in her urine. Is this common? Also what is causing it? Thank you

[steph75]

[dorothy-thompson]

Dear Steph75

It could be that your Mum has got a urinary tract infection (UTI) which I understand is very common in PSP, your GP should investigate as antibiotics usually clear these things up reasonably quickly.

My husband has had PSP for getting on for 8 years and to date he has not had a UTI, or any other infection despite being nearly 74, perhaps he is very healthy ( leave aside PSP) of he is very lucky.

Take care, regards

Dorothy T

[Hidden in reply to dorothy-thompson]

Dear Dorothy T, I suspect another reason why your husband has avoided infection is the extreme care you take of him to avoid this happening. My wife had a UTI about two years ago - nothing serious, it cleared up quickly with antibiotics - but it gave us both a fright and ever since I have been very much more careful, even obsessive, about hygiene, including regular swabbing with disinfectant anything like a handrail or tap that we both might touch, and of course body washing her on days she does not have a shower.

Barnacle.

[easterncedar]

Dear Steph75, It does sound like a urinary tract infection. which can be easily cured with antibiotics, but if that's what your mother is treated for, do please be on the lookout for symptoms of c.diff. afterward. That's what killed my mother-in-law, after she was treated successfully for a UTI. (The anitbiotics, in taking care of the urine infection, apparently clear out everything that protects against the resistant bacteria, giving them a clear field to take over - something like that.) Diarrhea set in, which should have been taken as a warning. By the time she was hospitalized, it was too late. And she was a strong, relatively healthy person before that. I will always regret that I didn't pay more attention when she complained of the diarrhea. (Her doctor apologized for that, too. Really sad.)

[dorothy-thompson]

Dear easterncedar

I am so sorry for the loss of your mother-in-law, what a cruel irony.

modern medicine can be effective against modern bacteria, MRSA or C-dificile (?) but is apparently powerless against the very bacteria that proved fatal for the ancients.

I have read that probiotics, if taken at the same time when on a course of anti-biotics

can help to replace the "good bacteria". I have no knowledge if this is true but my husband has probiotic yogurt every day, so who knows.

Take care

Regards

Dorothy t

[easterncedar in reply to dorothy-thompson]

Oh - right - it was C.Diff. that took my dear MIL. I got it wrong. Thanks, Dorothy for that and your condolences. You take care, too. I appreciate your caring for me when you've got so much to take care of at home. Best wishes, EC