Recurrent Cystitis

[izquierda]

Hi ladies, my first time posting here. Wondered if any of you out there were suffering, as I am, regularly, with the dreaded cystitis?
I use to get it occasionally when I was younger but seemed to escape it during my childbearing years.
I'm now 51 and have been having bouts of it on average every couple of months since 2008.
It's also been coupled with urge incontinence so I've been pretty miserable and my sex life with DH of 24 years very sporadic.
My GP sent me to our local "continence service" - not as awful as it sounds; that was quite helpful but eventually I saw a consultant privately.
He found my bladder slightly prolapsed and performed an "anterior repair" in June to reposition it. Apparently, because it had sort of collapsed it wasn't emptying fully and infections were breeding.
At the same time, he widened my urethra.
All was well for about three months, then I got cystitis again a month ago and have today started with it again.
Nothing to do with hygiene or sex; haven't had a period for 7 months so no tampons used.
It just happens and I have to take antibiotics which usually work but I worry I'm becoming so used to them they're less effective.
Any thoughts/suggestions out there?
I try to drink plenty of water, have switched to decaf. tea and coffee and try to limit alcohol.
I hate cranberry juice but can take Holland and Barrett cranberry capsules.
Beginning to think it is just something I have to put up with until menopause properly over, but so dispirited, especially having undergone surgery.
Many thanks in advance for your support!

Ohh you sound like me! I'm 41, and I could mirror your experience apart from the no prolapse. Am also wondering if it's something i just have to put up with. I do drink gallons of cranberry juice even though i hate the bloody stuff. Am sick of keep going to my docs and getting antibiotics (I've just finished another lot). Nothing to do with hygene or sex here either, although that has been implied by doc :(

Will watch with interest to see if anyone has any thoughts.

Thanks for your reply Buzzylizzie; nice to know I'm not alone and hope I might get a few more replies.
I'm assuming you're too young even to be in the peri-menopause so send my sympathy
Started course of antibiotics yesterda! It really is horrendous when you're going through it, isn't it?
I'm now on my second day of cephlahexin antibiotics and feeling brighter this evening, but worried about this re-occurrence after surgery - which I had hoped was the answer to my prayers.
GP has also given me oestrogen cream to apply internally - thinning of tissues in general in vaginal/bladder area due to menopause - so will give that a try - that was suggested by the surgeon.
I did have a similar situation when I was about 18 - lots of episodes - but put that down to starting a sex life!
Will have another try with the cranberry juice - holding my nose, probably....
Thanks for replying xx

This is a great website with message boards too
www.cobfoundation.org

Are they actually finding bacteria or are they giving you ABs anyway?

The creams you are using shouldhelp.

Are you using wet toilet tissue- that can make a big difference- Andrex moist etc- try to avoid scented types.

Also, are you peeing straight after sex- no longer than 5 minutes afterwards?

I think the hormone cream will help, but try other things too like no tight undies- just cotton, not thongs, not too tight jeans etc, and some people are very sensitive to bubble baths, shower stuff and also drinkslike acdic juices, strong tea/coffee/ coke/alcohol- it is best to avoid those until your bladder has settled down.

PurplePeony, many thanks for the link - had a quick look and will look further tomorrow. Have felt so "down" the last 24 hours over this latest episde, have decided to have an early night and start afresh tomorrow!
Am taking ABs anyway but GP will call me Thursday with results of sample and decide further treatment.
I try only to drink decaf tea and coffee these days and am thinking of cutting out alcohol for a while. Thinking back, last week I believe I had a drink every day due to social occasions...not really how I want to be, at my age, not good for me.
But thanks for taking time to reply; good of you to think of me xx

alcohol can be a real bladder irritant- Ihave not been able to drink for 12 years due to a very sensitive bladder.

Hope you feel better soon.

Thanks pp. Just posted on the general health thread - have managed to get an appointment next Monday with the consultant who operated on me (I went privately). I have a sort of dragging feeling in my vagina/perineum and am now wondering if the op. was a complete success. Or maybe things are just swollen down there due to the bad attack of cystitis. I am just so down about all this, having been so elated after the surgery that my problems seemed to have been solved. I need the surgeon to examine me - he specialises in uro-gynaecology so I'm in good hands...but I've had a good cry this morning, I feel very emotional and expect that's all menopausal stuff too. Appreciate all your kind advice, ladies, thank you xx

You might find the the topical hormone cream helps. It seems to help me with burning I had- vulval burning. I think i am generally allergic to lots of things including foods etc that end up in my urine, so the cream does seem to strengthen the tissues a bit.

I hope you get on okay.

Quick update - saw the consultant today, poured out all my woes! He examined me and thankfully found nothing wrong, and confirmed that he routinely carried out various checks whilst performing the surgery and everything was normal then.

He concludes some women are more prone, at menopause, to cystitis than others and so it seems I must try and get through it. So I am going to try the oestrogen cream and if that doesn't work I'll probably have to try low-dose antibiotics for 3/6 months; that will be a last resort though.

At least I have nothing major physically to worry about....

Thanks for all your advice and support; will come back to you if more needed!

hi everyone, im new to this. came across you in search of recurrent cystitis. i think i may have it. all signs and symptoms fit perfectly. had several bouts over past year. self medicated with antibiotics, naughty naughty. might be thinking im reaching menopause and could be hormonal. think im going to have to go to docs and get it sorted. making me really miserable and snappy (not me at all). thankyou to all for the advice you put on here. not keen on cranberries but will consider the cranberry tablets. many thanks everyone. will keep you posted x

Take a look at the COB website.-they can really help people.
They are currently doing a trial on Cysticlean-
If you take a look at www.cysticlean.co.uk you can see some great testimonials