urinary tract infections

[22buteo22]

Does anybody else have a problem with recurring UTIs? And does anyone take low dose antibiotics regularly?

[bantam12]

I took low dose antibiotics for 2+ years and I’ve not had any infections since, that was around 5 years ago ! Definitely worth a try.

[DizzyDoll36 in reply to bantam12]

I'm continually getting uti's. Just been prescribed Nitrofurantoin for 7 days then to follow Cefalexin. It has never been investigated, I did ask! Did the antibiotics have any adverse effects on you? I am reluctant to take them long term.

[bantam12 in reply to DizzyDoll36]

I took Trimethoprim prescribed by the Urologist I was seeing at the time and had no problems at all, felt great on them.

Worth considering UTIs can be menopause related (not just at the time but ongoing ) and HRT like Vagifem can help.

[22buteo22 in reply to DizzyDoll36]

I was absolutely fine on antibiotics for a year. I’ve now got an appointment with the urologist again and hope he puts me back on them!

[22buteo22 in reply to DizzyDoll36]

I was absolutely fine on a very low dose of antibiotics. But since I stopped taking them I’ve had lots of UTIs, Have just started another week of antibiotics as I’ve another infection! Hope I can go back on the low dose when I speak to the urologist next week!

[itsmeee]

hi

A few years ago I was getting UTI after UTI, was back and forth to the drs and constantly on antibiotics

I left it so long and it wasn’t until I was hospitalised after 18 months whilst staying with my mum and her insisting I go, thankfully that hospital got in contact with my dr querying why this hadn’t been investigated.

On investigation it turned out I had a kidney stone, it had been there so long that my kidney had stopped working… Please get it investigated

[22buteo22 in reply to itsmeee]

Thanks for your reply. I’m being seen by a urologist, but appointments are few and far between!

You must’ve been in a lot of pan with a kidney stone.

I had a gallbladder stone which was agony!

[Krn210]

Hi there! I am not, but my Mom is. The past 8 years she has been battling them pretty regularly. Her first go round of the daily antibiotic worked well. Like well enough that she didn’t have an infection for a little over a year. So she stopped taking them. Once she did that they started up again. She is now on another daily, this time around she has had a few break through infections.

[Dna4christ]

Hello there. Beginning of my transplant years, I would get frequent UTIs. I didn’t like taking antibiotics because I would get too drowsy and anxious. Because of that, since then, everytime I feel pain or oncoming UTI symptoms, I would chug down 2-3liters of water with raw apple cider vinegar and cranberry juice. It works for me this way and haven’t taken antibiotics for 7-8years now. Even had it tested via urine sample. Just my own experience not giving advice to follow! Feel better soon!!!

[22buteo22 in reply to Dna4christ]

Thank you for your info. I’ve an appointment with the urologist next week.

[Rosiez1]

Hi 22buteo, I am female and have had UTIs recur over my lifetime, mostly ramped up after menopause. I was put on trimetheprin for some time by a specialist and came off them as my local doctors have a "thing" about antibiotics. So, I looked for a way to combat it myself. I use a high dose of cranberry capsules (not the drink) and a good quality probiotic daily. If I get a bout of UTI, I step up the water with Ural sachets until it settles and it calms down. I also have Irritable Bowel Syndrome and when I get a bout of that, I seem to also be accompanied by an UTI. I have found that its a must for me to have a daily dose of probiotic and cranberry capsules which are high strength. This combinationseems to work for me and kept me having to go back to the doctor recently in the past year for this issue.

[22buteo22 in reply to Rosiez1]

Thank you for that advice. I’ll try cranberry tablets! Anything is worth a try, isn’t it?!

[Hidden]

my husband has suffered recurring utis for many years. Three treatments have worked best for managing the condition in the order of preference:

Hyacyst instillations which restores the bladder lining and is thus antibiotic free

Hiprex which slightly acidifies the Urine and inhibits bacteria. It won’t treat an existing infection but will prevent them occurring. It is therefore anti bacterial but not strictly an anti biotic in the strictest sense.

Prophylactic Trimethoprim which works fine but carries the risk of antibiotic resistance

Hyacyst worked for 18 months uti free abd then started to lose effectiveness for unknown reasons. Switched to Hiprex which has now kept him uti free for 6 months.

Consultant suggests rotating the three treatments as and when they lose efficacy.

[22buteo22 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your reply.

Are the Hyacyst instillations introduced to the bladder with a catheter? If that’s so, I was offered that treatment.

Amazingly, I’ve been infection free for six months, so everything’s on hold at the moment!

Thank you again.

[RienPoort in reply to 22buteo22]

Hi, I am the husband in question! Yes the instillations are via catheter. In my case every 5 to 6 weeks after an initial weekly treatment cycle.

After 18 months uti free I thought Hyacyst was the solution for me but then for reasons unknown I started to get frequent attacks. My consultant couldn't really explain it but put me on Hiprex as an alternative after a successful course of Trimethprim and suggested I go back to Hyacyst if the Hiprex starts to fail.

The thing I find frustrating is the perception I have that medical profession doesn't seem interested in determining why a seemingly excellent treatment, Hyacyst, suddenly stops working but maybe these crafty little bugs find a way!!??

[22buteo22 in reply to RienPoort]

Sorry to hear that your problem has returned. I’ve decided not to go down the instillation route. Thankfully I haven’t had a UTI now for 6 months. So, fingers crossed.

I do hope your condition improves. It’s very frustrating though, I’m sure.

Thank you for your reply.

Anna

[RienPoort in reply to 22buteo22]

Hi Anna, as I say my problem did return but is now being managed with Hiprex (6 months uti free on that).

You are also uti free for 6 months, is that using any particular treatment?

I would keep Hyacyst in your locker as a possible non anti-biotic solution if it becomes necessary.

[25clai]

I’ve had bladder problems since childhood. Numerous operations to dilate the urethra and clear infections which were deep seated. After childbirth , symptoms got worse, frequent infections etc. i was given hiprex treatment, and installs, neither worked and offer triggered more infections. I was sent for tests. I have cystitis cystica - my bladder lining is cyst like and prone to infection and inflammation. Long term antibiotics helped, I’ve done various prophylaxis rounds.

The best help for me was 2 fold. Treatment for Sjögrens surprisingly helped me considerably, and being on constant prophylactic antibiotics helps. The downside is that I am resistant to the entry level antibiotics now for treatment and have had quite a battle every now and then to stay on the combo that works. NICE don’t like the use of prophylactic antibiotics.

There are no easy answers when you have this chronic problem, but I would not start taking cranberry juice etc, as that can make symptoms much worse for some of us. D mannose is a treatment which is a supplement which can help. It was suggested to me by a urologist once. Unfortunately I can’t take it due to side effects, but I react to everything. D mannose a quite a natural solution if you look into it.

Diet plays a part too. Avoiding acidic food, cut down on caffeine, avoid alcohol, drink loads of water to keep germs at bay are all things which can allleviate symptoms etc.

Good luck!

[22buteo22 in reply to 25clai]

hi!

Thank you for your reply. For the last 6 months I’ve been clear of infection, thank goodness.

Another treatment I’ve been offered (but i declined) was to have a catheter inserted and my bladder filled with a specific liquid that’s supposed to line the bladder.

This would mean weekly treatment at our local hospital - 12 miles away. As I also have chronic back pain and it would’ve been too much for me.

So the consultant has agreed to put me back on prophylactic antibiotics if I have two uti episodes within six months.

So my fingers are crossed that I continue without any infections!

Thank you again for your interesting reply!

[Sdone]

yes i have ongoing uti since 2021 to current time n i seek any advice on eradicating it! On cipro levapro even fosamycin alternating. Just started estrogen in 12/2022 but no help yet with atrophy n utis