Does anyone else suffer with UTI s? I keep getting them despite normal precautions .

[Dottie19]

UTI s ?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Increased frequency in UTI can be hypothyroid symptom

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

What are your most recent thyroid results?

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking?

do you have any actual blood test results?

if not will need to get hold of copies. You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.

The best way to get access to current and historic blood test results is to register for online access to your medical record and blood test results

UK GP practices are supposed to offer everyone online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.

In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet

Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up.

Important to see exactly what has been tested and equally important what hasn’t been tested yet

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 you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies

Ask GP to test vitamin levels and thyroid antibodies

You may need to get full Thyroid testing privately as NHS refuses to test TG antibodies if TPO antibodies are negative

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

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?

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

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

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

For thyroid including antibodies and vitamins

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

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3 £29 (via NHS private service )

monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...

[Counsellor]

Yes I have frequent UTIs. It takes me by surprise each time and I don’t always recognise that I have one.

[DippyDame]

Yes, I've had fairly frequent UTI s for years and have just completed another course of Nitrofurantonin. In my case long-term low cellular T3 - the consequence of a previously undiagnosed form of thyroid hormone resistance - seems to be the cause. However, it is slowly improving now that my body is getting close to the optimum level of thyroid hormone that it needs.

Suggest you follow SlowDragon's advice re testing

[MariLiz]

I was advised by my GP to avoid caffeine as it can be an irritant to the bladder/urinary tract. Since doing that my instances of infection have decreased significantly. Also keep drinking water so that your urine doesn’t become too strong. It should be a pale colour if everything is normal.

[Fifteen]

One reason UTIs keep recurring is that the samples are so contaminated that they are rarely correctly diagnosed and treated.

The NHS has approved a UK invention called the Peezy Midstream - it removes the possibility of sample contamination and so enable accurate diagnosis.

I have not used it yet but it looks to be a very practical invention.

[Celestialbeing]

Interesting post b/c I am a home health assistant. My client is 84 and has recurring UTIs (every few months). She is hypothyroid and has to use synthetic T4. Due to her symptoms, I have tried to get her endo to test her FT4 and FT3 but the endo refuses. My client will not go against the endo. The correlation between low FT3 and the UTIs is a strong possibility.

[5858]

I get them. Like 1-2 a year...... last time they were only a few months apart. When I get hit its horrible. Weird thing is when they do the urine sample it shows........ but when they send it out to see.......... what bacteria it shows....... nothing shows up. But the antibiotic does clear it up. I am trying to drink a lot more water. Also one cranberry pill and some pure cranberry juice. Never even thought it could have anything to do with thyroid. All the best!

[Hidden]

I have had trouble off and on since I was 19, now 76. The main factor now is that I am diabetic.

[jgelliss]

In my experiences it was connected to being hypothyroid symptom. Once I was *Optimal* with my thyroid hormones the UTI was history. In my case no amount of antibiotics helped . When experiencing UTI in my opinion thyroid levels should be tested .