Reoccurring UTIs

[ungratefuldead]

Hi there

Am wondering if anyone else has had this and how it was treated.

I had my second baby in January and had a UTI shortly afterwards which they think was caused by a catheter.

About a month ago I had another one. Treated with amoxicillin (7 days). It went pretty quickly but two days after finishing the course, symptoms started again.

I have another sample to Gp who said it was resistant to some antibiotics so gave me a one shot sachet to drink (I forget the name). Again, this went pretty quickly

It's been 10 days and symptoms are back again.

I'm assuming it's the same one that isn't quite gone?? I know there can be a link between sex and UTis but we've not had sex since I started getting them.

Has anyone else had this and can reassure me that it will go at some point 😬

I have an added complication of taking immune suppressants which my doctors are fully aware of which also limits with antibiotics I can have but this is just so debilitating!

Hoping for reassurance that something will knock it on the head!!

If the GP isn’t clearing it I’d say it’s time for a referral to urology.
Id ask if you’re peri menopause age, as they are common then, but I’m assuming with a new baby you’re not !

Not a silly question at all as I'm actually 41!!

I've no idea what age peri menopause usually hits? I really should know more I guess!

I'm going to ring GP tomorrow but yes, I suspect a referral might be needed. Just feels like it's the same one not quite going!

Name change fail! I use this for health boards usually! Sorry, OP here!

What immune suppressants are you taking? Many, like mycophenolate can actually make UTIs worse. You might need to stop them for a period of time. (I have Addison’s, lupus, sjorgens, pituitary issues etc and have struggled with recurrent UTIs all my life, since about 14 when I was referred to urology. I’m now 41). I take a daily life long dose of cefalexin every single day and updose as necessary if I get a uti - which is rarer since taking the daily antibiotics. Occasionally it won’t go with that so I get a different course of antibiotics.

Sounds like you need a referral to urology.

Also - at 41 and especially just having had a baby your oestrogen levels will be dropping which can cause uti like symptoms and dryness, even if you don’t feel dry. There are oestrogen receptors in your bladder and without oestrogen it can cause all sorts of issues. Get your doctor to prescribe either Ovestin or Vagifem- both very low dose internal oestrogen. It’s made a huge difference to me. I also use Replens on the days I can’t use Ovestin - Replens can be prescribed or purchased from Amazon. When you start to use it sometimes you get white clumps come out but ignore that and keep going with it. It’s brilliant stuff.

Thanks so much @Afterfire for your really helpful post.

I'm on tacromulis and azathioprine (I'm almost sure I've spelt them wrong!). No idea if they may be contributing but have been on them for 6 years without issue beforehand

Really interesting about oestrogen. My baby is now 5 months-would this still be an issue? I do suffer from vaginal dryness but not several and have for a while-I've never actually spoken to a Gp as actually didn't think it was worth it but perhaps I should!

I had this when pregnant, I had I think around 5 short courses then in the end I had to have a month long low dose course to shift it. The short courses were nitrofurantoin and the long course was cefolexin. My GP wouldn't prescribe the long course though I had to be referred to a urogynae. I feel your pain it was horrendous.

Definitely speak to your GP about the dryness. You may find they’re not very knowledgeable though (as many aren’t re menopause etc!) - they may think they need to give you blood tests to verify your oestrogen levels, they don’t - as per NICE guidelines. The amount of oestrogen absorbed through Ovestin creams etc is absolutely tiny so they should be prescribed freely. You may actually have to specifically ask for Ovestin etc.

5 months after having a baby is a prime time for your hormones to try to be settling / all over the place. I had the most horrendous night sweats for several months after having my last baby and I know now that was my oestrogen levels dropping - but I had it more severely than most due to my autoimmune issues, I actually stopped producing oestrogen completely aged 37 but that’s fairly rare. I went on HRT (oestrogel and utrogestan) after that. You don’t need to take full HRT if you don’t need / want to - you can just use the internal creams.

Not sure re the immunosuppressive drugs you’re on but worth asking!

Hope you feel better soon ❤️

If you have vaginal dryness then you likely will find Ovestin cream the answer to your recurrent UTIs.

Hi, OP

Sufferer of UTIs since the age of 16. I have had so many different antibiotics.

I started taking D Manoose, it has really helped me but please ask your doctor if your breastfeeding.

Thanks so much @mummyh2016 . Gosh, 5 courses sounds awful!

Unfortunately I can't take nitrofurantoin and not sure about the others. Frustrating that it needed federal to urology though. I do have private medical cover so am wondering if should try and short circuit any waiting around as I'm struggling to cope at the moment!

Once again, thank you @Afterfire . I will ask for this and insist regardless of blood tests.

And really interesting about the timing of this coinciding with hormones settling.

I'll ring the GP tomorrow armed with this information and be a bit more insistent!

Thank you @AnnaMagnani and @BritishDesiGirl .

They are utterly horrible! Not breastfeeding but do have other complications so will check with Gp