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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be sick to the back teeth of Urinary Tract Infections

78 replies

StrawberryTot · 03/12/2014 12:54

So basically that

So I'm suffering what must be my 6th or 7th infection this year. I literally have no idea what is causing them. I drink plenty of water, no juice or fizzy pops, switched to decaf coffee, avoid spicy food, wear cotton knickers, don't wear knickers at bed time. You name it I have tried it. Yet I still get them!!!

AIBU to be fed up?

P.S. I'm completely and utterly feeling sorry for myself, I apologise.

OP posts:

overslept · 03/12/2014 15:51

I've had 2 this year and never had one before in my life. First time it happened I thought I was dying. Went to the doctors and got antibiotics today as I was awake at 3am peeing blood. It came on really fast as well, literally over the space of an hour. It is horrible.

InglouriousBasterd · 03/12/2014 15:56

You have my sympathy, OP, they are horrendous. I used to get them a lot when I was younger. Cranberry tablets for a few months seemed to kick them into touch, but I would really go and check with GP first. You could do with seeing a urologist so they can checking for retaining etc.

Roonerspism · 03/12/2014 15:57

Dmannose is the active ingredient in cranberry juice and far less acidic. It mainly works for ecoli UTIs though.

Also make sure your immune system is working well. A good quality probiotic and vit D might also help.

NurseDoctor · 03/12/2014 16:08

You may not be emptying your bladder fully, if you are getting that many its unlikely there is no cause for it. If you don't quite empty your badder and a small amount of residual urine stays put, bacteria builds resulting in infection. I suggest you emphasise the number of infections you have had to your GP so they can refer you. Urine infections are horrible and I really feel for you

getdownshep · 03/12/2014 16:09

Reading all these tips with interest as I saw the doctor this morning for recurring uti problems.
I get it regularly after sex even though we use a non silicon lubricant and don't use condoms.
I wee and shower after but it hasn't helped.
She gave me a low dose of antibiotics to take for 6 months and has referred me for a scan.
My poor dh is scared to come near me

LurkingHusband · 03/12/2014 16:15

getdownshep

In what (I thought) was a moment of brilliance, I wondered if I was somehow ping-ponging MrsLHs UTI back to her - hence her inability to lose it. We weren't quite laughed out of the surgery, but certainly assured it doesn't work that way. If that helps your dh ...

Pootles2010 · 03/12/2014 16:17

Must admit weeing after sex made a massive difference to me - I can't believe i suffered for years with them and no one told me.

Worksallhours · 03/12/2014 16:42

I suffered terribly with UTIs in my late teens and early to mid 20s. On three occasions, the infection went up to my kidneys and I ended up in hospital.

That is until an old community nurse (a very no-nonsense type) was very frank with me one day when I had yet another UTI. She told me that cystitis was once known as "bride's disease" and there was a reason for that -- because most UTIs were caused by an "unclean penis": i.e. bacteria on penile skin or the surrounding area that infected the woman's urinary tract during intercourse.

She told me that most men did not wash themselves properly in that area (or their hands etc), they did not dry themselves properly so the skin stayed moist and perfect for bacteria, they did not always use clean towels or wash their underclothes or clothing enough, and, basically, that was often the cause of UTIs.

She told me to make sure that my boyfriend showered and washed his body including genitals properly with soap (obviously rinsing afterwards) before sex and to make sure the towels he used were clean and dry.

However, and I think this is an important tip, she also told me not to remove my pubic hair any more than I needed to be decent in a swimsuit. She said that pubic hair was an important barrier to infection and waxing it from the outer labia around the vagina and urethra area was asking for trouble. She also told me not to wear g-strings as they can slip forward.

I took her advice (well, I actually ditched the boyfriend and began dating someone who was scrupulously clean) and I haven't had a UTI for 13 years.

Worksallhours · 03/12/2014 16:50

And just to add ...

... by "unclean penis", I don't mean like a total stinky horror. When you think about how men urinate, well, they hold their penis with their fingers. Now they don't wash their hands before they urinate, do they? So anything that is on their fingers can transfer onto their penis, which then can transfer onto your labial skin if you have intercourse.

SadEyedLady · 03/12/2014 16:54

I really feel for you, I suffered chronic UTIs for about 8 years in my twenties. So miserable. Went to hospital for all the tests - all normal. I tried ABSOLUTELY everything - cranberries, Uva Ursi, Waterfall D-Mannose, weeing before and after sex, no alcohol (not much fun), various antibiotics. Then I was talking to my FIL, who is a retired GP (this is how desperate I was, don't really want to be talking to him about my sex life!), and he suggested stopping using bubble bath. I'd always loved a bath full of bubbles, but I stopped using it, and my god! the difference. No more UTIs - I have sensitive skin, and am prone to irritation anyway, but obviously it really hadn't been agreeing with me. I now get one maybe every 2-3 years, which I can deal with! Also ibuprofen is good for reducing inflammation (and the pain).

Eggybread00 · 03/12/2014 17:02

You poor thing, it may also be worth taking a worming tablet, ovex or similar. 70% of the population have threadworms at any one time and they can cause uti's according to our paediatrician.

Leo35 · 03/12/2014 17:19

Have a wee after sex. Cranberry tablets after the ABs have finished and keep on them until you think that you are 'right'. UTIs are horrid - hope you feel better soon.

shouldnthavesaid · 03/12/2014 17:20

Seeing a urologist could be really, really helpful - I was refered through gynaecology when I was nineteen or so for repeated urinary tract infections (up to 5 a year, since age 4 or so) and eventually on and off retention. The urologist did make me panic a bit, as they did a 'flow rate' when they made pee onto a machine, and then did a scan - think the results were pretty bad as the doctor told me I'd need urgent surgery to check for anything serious. His senior consultant (who my GP asked to talk with me, because I was in a panic) said that he was wrong, virtually no chance of a cancer or even pre cancer (no risk factors) but they did need to do a 'cystoscopy' under anaesthetic. Had the cystoscopy and they found a 'stenosis' (narrowing, I think) in the urethra that meant I physically couldn't pass the urine, so they did a dilation of the tube and kept me in for one night. Was a bit painful afterwards but I have had only one major uti, and several minor, since - and that was over three years ago. No amount of antibiotics or cranberry tablets would have made a difference, needed surgical intervention to change the problems.

Notmeagain1 · 03/12/2014 17:28

Deffo the Cranberry Tablets. I take 2 a day one in the morning and one at night and a wee after sex. Haven't a UTI in a year since doing this.

I hope you get some relief soon. x

Anydrinkwilldo · 03/12/2014 17:28

No baths, that's a biggie too.You poor thing they are so bloody painful

shattered77 · 03/12/2014 18:29

I've had them constantly and quite serious in my kidneys for years. I was told by a nurse to make sure I was wiping back to front, I hadn't been as couldn't quite get the hang of it . Anyway this and weeing after sex. I also have antibiotics in my drawer which helps me not to panic about getting it. Sometimes I wondered if it was psychological.

shattered77 · 03/12/2014 18:30

See even now I can't get it right! WIPE FRONT TO BACK!!

Bonsoir · 03/12/2014 18:33

A six-week course of antibiotics
Wee and a proper wash after sex

Phalenopsis · 03/12/2014 18:38

D-mannose definitely. Brilliant stuff. Most doctors haven't heard of it.

Drink lots of water.

Cotton underwear.

Wipe front to back always.

Wee if you can before and after sex.

Don't hold water in if you can help it.

TheHobbit · 03/12/2014 18:41

I usex to have severe urinary infections almost everyday. After operations etc I met with a urologist and he said I can't drink softdrinks!

Try swopping the cranberry juice for cranberry tablets as I cant even drink cranberry juice as I get an infection even from that.

I can't drink the following:
Soft drinks
too much tea
cider
too much beer
any fruit drinks.

I also have to pea after sex

ByTheSea · 03/12/2014 18:53

I can relate. I do everything right too including cranberry tablets and a freakishly clean DH, and yet in the past 3-4 years have had an UTI almost constantly. On three occasions I have been very ill with kidney infections. I have had most of the medical tests, x-rays, scans and flexible cystoscopy, and other than scarred kidneys (likely due to having kidney infections), the consultant urologist thinks things are generally okay and has put me on six months of low-dose antibiotics in an attempt to eradicate this. I have been on them for 6 months and took a test the other day. Guess what, still have white blood cells, protein and blood, so off to the lab yet again. When will it end? The next step, according to the urologist is an invasive test to see if there is a bend internally. Hmmm. Anyway, you have all my sympathy.

TheLovelyBoots · 03/12/2014 19:01

Have you tried taking half an antibiotic every time you have sex?

I was in the same situation as you when I was younger, I just kind of grew out of them. I really feel for you.

northernlurker · 03/12/2014 19:33

As somebody who has had their first ever UTI this week this thread is a gripping read! In my case I blame newish job, very busy, not going to loo nearly enough. Possibly not drinking enough either. So I'm focusing on what I drink, not holding it in and am mid way through three days of antibiotics which I have my own thread about too I've been going for a wee after sex for ages but I am also going to ask dh to consider his personal cleanliness. I think he's pretty shiny clean tbh but wouldn't hurt to mention it

dalekanium · 03/12/2014 19:51

Second the one about male cleanliness.

I kept getting UTIs, looking back the chap didn't wash his hands very often. I think there was a connection.

Since then I've been much more careful with hygiene. I make dh wash his hands before touching me and I haven't had one for a while.

WantToGoingTo · 03/12/2014 19:55

I'm with the others on weeing after sex. I had them so bad a few year's back, recurrent, that they actually scarred my skin tissue down there! and I had to go for one of those cystoscop-whatsits cos the scarred tissue was causing me pain during sex. All fine now though. Drink lots of water, wee after sex. Cranberry juice is a winner, though I also used to take cranberry tablets as they are more concentrated and you have to drink a lot of cranberry juice to get the same amount. Now, when I feel them coming on, I down about 2 pints of water at the slightest sting and that normally keeps them at bay...

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