UTI antibiotics not working

[Magic1231]

Hi,

I've had a UTI from around February I believe, got given Nitrofurantoin for 3 days and I just assumed they'd done the trick, still had symptoms but it's the first UTI I've had and I suffer from mild CFS symptoms anyway so was never sure if it was just me feeling generally rough and lethargic.
Anyway last Thursday it became obvious it was a UTI so got another 3 days of nitrofurantoin... had no joy so come Monday was put on Cefalexin 500mg 3 times a day... I'm still feeling unwell, and I'm sure they should have worked by this stage?
The doctor sent my sample off to the lab and seems to think these are the right antibiotics to treat me.
I'm just frustrated and feeling very low.. any similar experiences?
Xxx

What antibiotics are you taking?
Bless you, what a nightmare. I hope the docs get you sorted asap.
That's how Iam, just SO tired... I'm not doing anything besides laying down, paracetamol dont seem to make any difference to the kidney pain x

@Magic1231 Thank you! I was on nitrofurantoin (macrodantin) initially for three days then as I said I got worse and ended up in hospital where I was put put on IV antibiotics and fluids for about 5 days then they put me back on nitrofurantoin for a further seven days. I ended up in hospital for seventeen days!!!
Few weeks later I got another uti and was back on the same antibiotics for five days thankfully they worked and I was fine, I recently had to drop urine samples in to doctor and get checked as I had left side pain again and that horrible pressure down below but they were negative and my urine just showed a trace of blood which is normal for me as it's been showing that on and off for years, she also put me on antibiotics straight away but rang me to stop them when results came back from lab.
I had a spate of uti infections back in 2007-2008 and then never got another one until 2015 and then was fine again till recently! Nightmare!
Let us know how you get on its horrible isn't it

Blimey, bless your heart.
I would have never guessed UTIs could get so serious!
How are you doing now? I'm still unwell, it feels like flu without the cold symptoms! Awful.
I'm back on a 7 day course of nitrofurantoin... mind you the 3 days I had of them before didnt have any effect, so I'm not holding my breath. Feel so miserable hope you're okay x

I had sepsis from a UTI a couple of years ago. They gave me ciprofloxacin when I was discharged from hospital and then another course the next time I had a UTI, they worked but I had side effects from them. Before I realised I had sepsis I had flu like symptoms so maybe speak to 111 again x

Sorry to jump on this thread, seems easier than starting another. I have a UTI again (10 day gap between antibiotics).
I’m lying in bed feeling unwell and really spaced out/dizzy. Nauseous, intermittent back discomfort but no fever.
I know objectively I should call 111 in case it’s my kidneys but I’ve felt much worse with other things. The sudden onset of dizziness is scaring me though.
Hope you are feeling better @Magic1231

I'm feeling a little better today, still not back to my normal yet, but I'm hopeful.
Been taking 3 sachets of D-Mannose too, so not sure if that's helping but it's always worth a go isnt it.
Ahh @procrastatron chances are you'll be okay for a while, but definitely worth calling 111 just to be on the safe side. Only 10 days? For goodness sake these bloody UTIs!
What antibiotics were you on last time?xx

I’m on a week of nitrofurantoin again. I had my first dose of AZ in the window between the two UTIs too so feel very sorry for myself.
OOH GP just called, not particularly interested in the dizziness and nausea

Oh you poor thing, I know when I had my jab I had horrible side effects, so feel your pain
I'm also on a week of nitrofurantoin... makes me wish I had another dose on hand as even if they work I'm expecting it to strike again ffs.
Such a nightmare getting through to my surgery (think they all are especially these days)
Same, they only seem concerned if you have a temp x

Hey @Magic1231 I hope you are feeling better again. I woke up feeling ok and got up and dressed for work and then bang, hit a wall. Now my temp is creeping higher and I feel achey and shivery again. I believe they are culturing my sample this time so at least I will know whether I am on the right antibiotics.

My GP are ok to get hold of and seems to have a process for dealing with UTIs quickly. Just a bit hit and miss on the bedside manner.

I had a similar experience, thought as I noticed a bit of improvement I'd continue to... alas, today I'm so lethargic and spacey. The shivery feeling never seems to go... it's a nightmare because you start to think well, if the antis arent doing enough by this stage an I just destined to live the rest of my life like this haha.
Ah that's good, I would say ours send over the prescriptions quite quickly it's just a case of constantly being engaged and then being on hold for like an hour x

Did you get yours resolved @procrastatron I'm still suffering! Although tests coming back negative fir infection xxx

After much trial and error with various antibiotics I know now that I have to have the 7 day course of Nirtofurantoin as the 3 day just doesnt touch the sides. I also make sure I have superstrength cranberry tablets which I take every day to try n stop them in their tracks. I've had 2 kidney infections so I'm really keen to stop it happening again.

I take Troo Cranberry 5060mg I think from Amazon.
Wish you well

Hey @Magic1231 I’m sorry to hear you are still suffering. I ended up changing to a broad spectrum antibiotic and then when they didn’t work I was out in on IV antibiotics to resolve mine. That made the world of difference, but my GP asked for another sample to be sure and something in the results has triggered the need for a non urgent follow up conversation which I am yet to have...
I do feel much better, although worried about getting another one.

Aww thankyou @paisley256 I take D mannose but dont have any cranberry tablets, sounds like it's worth getting some. Glad you've found out what works for you 🙂

@Procrastatron it's good to hear you're feeling better, must be such a relief! How do they go about IV antibiotics, I've never had them. Did you have to stay in hospital?
Ahh I'd imagine the follow up is about something very minor. My last urine tests came back negative for infection which leaves me in a quandary of what is going on?! I'm still weeing a lot and it hurts xxx

@Magic1231 For IV I went in through A&E as instructed by my GP and they sent me to another department that was set up for doing things like that on a day/outpatient basis. Went home and back the next day so a relatively easy experience. What are your GP doing now? I was referred for a scan by the GP even before the IV stuff.

I was told by one doctor that if the antibiotics didnt work, I should go to a&e for IV antibiotics.. but then the doctor said my urine sample was now clear so the infections gone 😕 I got on with it for a week trying a thrush cream ect but that's had no resolve and considering I'm weeing a lot still and no discharge I'm guessing the irritation isnt thrush.
I finally got through to the docs again and they asked for another urine sample, so waiting to see if anything shows up (probs wont) other than that I'm booked in for a smear next week xxx

Just a thought here but could it be interstitial cystitis? My Mum struggled with this for years - was in and out of the drs constantly until finally a consultant diagnosed her with IC. It's completely managed by her diet now, she knows what flares it up so sticks to a very strict boring diet.

It's possible? Is there any way that's diagnosed?xxx

Cystoscopy and biopsy I think but my Mum refused all that due to worries that it might make her symptoms worse so they diagnosed based on symptoms and absence of infection.

Ahh okay, yeah I can see why she'd be wary of making the symptoms worse. What sort of diet does she stick to? Does she notice what makes it flare up?xx

She cut out most things from her diet then gradually added things in to see if she reacted to anything. She doesn't eat any fruit other than dried apricots. She eats rice, potatoes, chicken, lamb and beef, maybe the odd sausage. Most veg she is fine with. She doesn't eat bread but will have tortilla wraps. She can have dairy but not cheese, so cream, milk, butter and plain yogurt. No alcohol, no tea/coffee. Very strict, very plain but it works for her. She will have the occasional 'treat' but is still very careful as to what that is.

Because it's such a restricted diet she knows straight away if she's had something that flares it up as it'll be something she doesn't normally eat. Easy to pinpoint when you don't eat a lot! She eats a lot of veg and salad.

Hi magic how did you go on how long did it take for you to get better are you ok now and if so what sorted it out I read your posts and I’m going through the same thing 🤔

Have a look at this OP, and go from there

cutic.co.uk/

Chronic UTI is a thing and the NHS is behind the times both with recognition and treatment

I've heard good things about garlic for antibiotic resistant utis so might be worth looking into. I'm having major bladder issues so sending solidarity and a hand hold op 💐