Suffering greatly with yet another UTI, please is there anyone out there that knows what else I can do?

[directline]

This is my 4th UTI in 8 wks and by far the worse. I have been on strong antibiotics since Tuesday(so I have had 4 complete days worth) and there is no sign of a let off. Tonight it is really bad and I'm going round the bend.

I am on antibiotics drinking a fair amount of cranberry juice, loads of water and taking paracetemol and Ibuprofen regulary too. Does anyone else have any tricks up their sleeves that works for them.

I did phone the district nurse about an hour ago and explained my symptoms and she said if its still bad tomorrow call the oncall Dr. Not looking forward for the night, so even if you cant tell me what else I can do then just try and humour me and try and take my mind off how Im feeling at the mo.

Thanks

Vinegar instead of fabric softener when washing 'lower body clothes' i.e. knickers, trousers, tights etc. Mum swears by this for avoiding thrush and UTIs and she used to get one or the other every 6 weeks.

i too suffer reallyt bad i had to go to doctors as had constant infections for 6 weeks i am now on antibiotics for the next 3 mths one an evening to flush out the bad bacteria there is no explanations as to why but just said i was unlucky that way as have always suffered with them really bad when i was pregnant also made me have contractions every minute for a week although no where near ready to give birth it was torture although i got so used to the pain giving birth i felt nothing lol just go and get swabs done i was found to have un explained bacteria good luck

ahhhhhh

I really can help you on this as I had the same problem for ages and endeed up with about 6 back to back courses of antibiotics - nothing worked.

Apparently the proble is that the bacteria can burrow into the wall of your bladder and hide until the antibiotics are gone and then resurface. The reason that cranberry etc works so well is because if contains some kind of sugar called DMannose (If i remember correctly) and that locks onto the bacteria so it can't burrow into the bladder wall, but instead is flushedout. I bought some stuff from Holland and Barret (I think, buyt it was 3 years ago I had my last attack now) or it might have been from victoria health or i herb or similar, but it was called UTI clear and IT WORKED!!

My mum also tried it and it sorted her out too. Deffo worth a try - I'm sure if you google you will be able to find out where stocks it.

good luck

Have just got back from my second visit from the Consultant. This mornings seemed just to happen and we all decided it was a waiting game until Sept 4th and that I needed to wear the catheter on free drainage and that means on holiday too Not sure how I will cope on the aeroplane thou.

But this lunchtime I started to pee blood again, and almost wet myself in the street whilst picking up pescription and decided enough is enough. Went back to consultant and he was shocked at the amount etc and I am now going to have a urologist take a look inside my bladder tomorrow under another GA(that is my 4th in 9 wks!) That way if he finds anything then they can sort it there and then. Just wish the bleeding would ease its been almost 7 hrs and DH is away tonight. Long night ahead for me.

Luckily I dont have to be in hospital until 12 noon tomorrow so that gives me a bit of time to get myself sorted and to PANIC!!!!!!

Thanks to all that have contributed to this thread I have really appreciated it. At times I feel so desperately on my own.

Good luck tomorrow, DL, I hope they get things sorted for you.x

DH has just rang and I told him the news, he went ery quiet, and then said "Do you think you will be ok for the holiday?"

Lets keep fingers and toes crossed they can find out what is causing this tomorrow and next Sunday(19) we can all fly out to America.

Lets hope this op gets all this shifted for you, DL, and you can then start to look forward to your holiday. Sounds like a holiday will be just what you'll be needing after all this.

yes - fabric softener as well as washing powder can disrupt the balance of bacteria living on your body - this is really common - surely worth a try, much better than taking antibioics/steroids to sort yourself out!

BIG sympathies - Hope tomorrow goes well. Whatever happens - if you do go on this holiday make sure YOU get a rest! DH can do all the work!

Will try the washing powder and softener as from next wash. As for the sex thing - LOL I havent let him near me in weeks, so I know its not that, but I will use it as an excuse!!!!!

cant believe I'm still bleeding, it started about 11ish this morning. Its really unpleasant.

Poor you, DL, I really hope they sort all this out for you tomorrow

DL, just wanted to say that am crossing my fingers that they sort this out tomorrow.

Fucking hell, directline!

That's terrible.

Sounds like you've got kidney problems and not just your bladder.

Are they going to be able to have a good look at the ureters and kidneys?

My dad had to have a cath in for a month waiting for prostatectomy and it was hell.

are you in pain?

Hope not!

I have a dull back ache and cramps lower down in my stomach. I had a ultrasound scan on Monday of my kidneys but they were clear, for some reason they never scanned my bladder.Lets just hope it all gets sorted tomorrow. I keep on saying it cant get any worse and then BANG it just does!

Start taking a good probiotic or eating some yoghurt with live cultures, too. If anything, this will help whilst on ABs.

My dad got an infection like this with the cath in, but they couldn't really take it out until his operation because he had a tumour in his prostate that was pressing on the neck of his bladder and that was causing his incontinence.

After tons of oral ABs they wound up having to put him in hospital and putting him on IV ABs for a few days because he couldn't have the prostatectomy with the infection.

It was AWFUL!

Huge sympathies.

Thanks. I appreciate all your ideas!

directline - sounds like the mother of all UTIs - what a nightmare, hope your kidneys are ok.

for anyone else having problems with recurrent UTIs of the normal caliber - I used to get them all the time and eventually bought a book called Coping with cystitis. It had lots of good tips in, and what really worked for me in the end was rinsing my fanjo with a bit of water before sex - such a simple thing, and it made a huge difference.

Directline, hope tomorrow goes well and you get to the bottom of the problem before your holiday. I'm sure they will and you will be fine.

As for the haematuria- I know it can look like it is ALOT of blood, but it will be very diluted in your urine, even though it looks alot so try not to worry.

Novax

This wil prob sound mad, but what the hell, I have had on-going UTI's and regular kidney infections since I was a teenager, tried everything, Dr's could find no reason, had IVP, scans etc.

I went to a Homeopath 3 years ago, one session, he gave me a remedy to take for 4 days and I have never had a UTI since (touch wood).

I am pretty sceptical about such things usually(I am a nurse) but was desperate at the time.

Sorry to hear of your ongoing problems, i can certainly sympathise.

Regards
Lou

I have been told about blood looking more in the urine etc, but yesterday when I showed the Consultant they were surprised at the colour, and then understood why I had been so anxious about it.

Well I had a very sleepless night, the big bleeding stopped about 5am but now left with very light pink pee. (very pretty) Sorry if too much info!. But it does feel goog to share with someone esp as DH is away.

I'll be thinking of you this afternoon, dirctline. I hope they can come up with something, this sounds like agony for you.

Thanks, I will post when I get home. I wish it was all over, at least I havent had to wait too long.

Lots of luck for today, DL.x

Cheers chuck, just wish time could fly and get it over with!