Graves and recurrent uti

[Jeanjeanjeanx]

Ever since I started medication for graves I've been going thru recurrent uti. I do understand this could happen but how to deal with it? Currently I'm on carbimazole 7.5mg

Thanks for any help

[Greekchick]

Hi JJJ ,

POST NOT FOR THE GUYS - SORRY

Dry skin is common in Graves patients, all over the body.

May I ask how old you are? The reason is because if you are peri menopausal or menopausal you may have dryness and infection can get into the small cracks in the skin “down there”. It would help if your MD could prescribe either Vagifem 10 or estrogen cream ( you take a small amount 2x week ) and this helps enormously.

With that it also helps if you take a vaginal probiotic that goes inside the vagina. The one available on the UK on Amazon is called Canesflor- you insert it at the same time as the Vagifem (2ce a week).

I still use these products and I have not had another UTI in 3 years. Hope this helps. Good luck! All the best.

[Jeanjeanjeanx in reply to Greekchick]

Thanks. I'm 34. Will try with a doc and see where it goes

[Greekchick in reply to Jeanjeanjeanx]

You may still have dry skin down there from the Graves and the probiotic alone might help you. All the best.

[Greekchick in reply to Jeanjeanjeanx]

I noticed you are on carbimazole. It can cause problems with white blood cell count and you can get frequent infections anywhere in the body. You may want to ask your doctor about that when you see him/her. Hope this helps.

[ling]

I too had recurring uti at one point.

The protocol is to see the GP and get tested to confirm the uti. If confirmed, antibiotics will be prescribed. You should also let your doctor know that you have Graves and on carbimazole, so she can decide if any other blood tests are required.

Note. Given your sensitivity to carbimazole, if you are put on antibiotics, you might want to let the doctor know your sensitivity symptoms- the rash, acne, and check with your doctor if the particular antibiotic is suitable for taking with the carbimazole.

And monitor for symptoms from the drug interactions.

It's important to clear the uti as it could potentially lead to kidney problems. It's also important to continue taking your carbimazole.

Drink lots of water to stay hydrated and clear the bacteria.

Best wishes.

[CCleaves]

Not sure about the link to graves, I have hashimotos and recurrent UTIs, I have found taking D-mannose powder 1% solution, 2x per day plus a decent probiotic stops my symptoms. Hope that helps.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Your May results on profile show you are now hypothyroid with below range FT3 and FT4

UTI is common symptom of being hypothyroid

You need to discuss With GP/endo reducing carbimazole dose if not done so already

Have you had TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested?

Perhaps you have Hashimoto's as well as Graves' disease

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested.

Also extremely important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised due to Graves or Hashimoto's

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Is this how you do your tests?

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or all vitamins

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random

Poor gut function with autoimmune disease can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten. Dairy is second most common.

According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps, sometimes significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)

Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal

While still eating high gluten diet ask GP for coeliac blood test first or buy test online for under £20, just to rule it out first

Assuming test is negative you can immediately go on strictly gluten free diet




(If test is positive you will need to remain on high gluten diet until endoscopy, maximum 6 weeks wait officially)




Trying gluten free diet for 3-6 months. If no noticeable improvement then reintroduce gluten and see if symptoms get worse

Gluten intolerance common with Graves and Hashimoto's

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

amymyersmd.com/2018/04/3-re...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

scdlifestyle.com/2014/08/th...