Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Support Group
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Hello,
I've had 4 UTIs this year. Three of the times there was blood. This last time, the nurse practioner I go to (no doctors available!) gave me an RX to have on hand if it came back (which it did) and I'm back on the antibiotic macrobid again. In the past I was given sulfa and it seemed that was not doing the job.
I do not suffer from incontinence or inability to urinate. I had episodes of extreme urgency in the past, but was told to try to "hold it in" as long as I can by a urologist. I've been doing this for years now and had no UTIs.
This current pattern began after I became estrogen intolerant and could no longer replace hormones. I had a complete hysterectomy in 2002 and have suffered greatly since this surgery and now, being intolerant to estrogen just makes it worse. I read that if you aren't getting enough estrogen it can lead to UTIs.
Does anyone know the reality of this? Can anyone help at all or advise me as what to do?
Thanks for any help at all and I hope everyone here on the MS group is doing the best that they can. It sure is getting difficult as I age. I am now over 60 and if this is what the future is going to be like, I'm really sick of it already. :(
Thanks to one of our MS'ers on dx, I found out about D-Mannose powder. When I'm feeling irritated, I add a spoonful to water a couple of times daily. I takes antibiotics if I have had a UTI for a few days and it's not getting relief. Usually D-Mannose does the trick at keeping things clear.
I keep my own test strips on hand and a prescription for macrobid and find it's like having good insurance. I just read that getting too much fluid can cause as much trouble as not getting enough, so over 2 liters isn't supposed to be good. Clear liquids are helpful too.
I was concerned with whether the provigil is causing my frequency, but just realized that If 2 liters should be the maximum amount of liquid consumed in the course of a day, I went over by about 15 ounces. I know I sleep easier without so many bladder calls when I keep the liquids in check. Decaf tea mixed with water and and juice may be too acidic as well.
I hope you let us know how you worked this out. Hugs.
I've been UTI free since September! (yeah!).
The changes I have made were this:
Drinking a lot more fluid and adding cranberry JUICE to the water. You can buy just the juice at the store. Ocean Spray makes it -- 100% juice it is called.
I am also taking the cranberry supplements daily and so far, so good.
Another thing is this it seems - SOAP!
I was told not to use soap (only water) on the genitals. This could be causing the UTIs as well, Who would have ever thought?
Anyway, I hope I am coming into this New Year UTI-free.
have the home testing kit on hand and also an RX for Macrobid in my drawer to avoid having to go to the ER at 3:00 a,m.!
Thanks again and it sounds like I am on the right track. :)
1) if you have an infection
2) what antibiotic treats it the best
Sometimes my md needs to call me back and change the antibiotic I’m on initially for comfort.
Hope this helps.
Here is is Sept. 6, 2018. I have gone a full year without a UTI! Yippee! I guess drinking that awful cranberry juice (no sugar, nothing but cranberries) & the avoidance of soap has solved the problem for now.
I have other problems that have since emerged as I had 11 (eleven!) infections in 9 mos. last year (4 were UTIs, the other were a form of singles; the other infection was an eye infection of all things),
Thanks for the help and good to see you lchoppel & lorrie!