UTIs ruining my life!

[abouttoturn50]

Sorry for the dramatic title but I’ve really had enough of UTIs! I’m literally getting one about every 6 weeks and have been for 2 years! I’ve had so many courses of Nitrofurantoin that I can’t have it anymore. I tried ‘Yes’ vaginal moisturiser for a couple of months but still got infections. I started using Estriol cream 4 weeks ago starting with the 14 day load and then twice weekly and I had really high hopes for it BUT I’m now currently recovering from yet another one. They make me feel so poorly too! 😕 I started systemic HRT 10 days ago.

Advice would be massively appreciated…

Is it too soon for the Estriol to take full effect? Or am I going to continue to keep getting UTIs?

Will the systemic help stop them?

Is there anything else that’s worked for other ladies?

Thank you in advance 😊

Yes. Fizzy vitamin C pills disolved in water once or twice a day. Nice and refreshing.
Sainsburys own are cheap.

Hi @abouttoturn50,
What bacteria is coming up on the urine cultures? It may be that they aren’t using the correct treatment for then bacteria type.

Enterococcus faecalis and E. Coli. Both susceptible to Nitrofurantoin and Fosfomycin which are the ones I’ve been having. And I test every week and can be clear of infection for 3-6 weeks

Hi OP, I was very much in your position in my early 20s, I was eventually sent for an ultrasound where they discovered I had 2 duplex kidneys, I was then referred to the urologist, he further examined me, due to the duplex kidneys I was at more risk of UTIs, however, I also had a narrowing in my waterside which had to be stretched.
I was then given nitrofurantoin and told to take one after sex or if I'd been drinking alcohol. He also told me that other main causes are stress, fragranced shower gels/soaps and tight trousers.
Not sure if any of this is of any help to you, but I hope you get sorted. I remember how utterly soul destroying it was. X

Oh you poor thing - you are absolutely right when you say they ruin your life - totally miserable. After years of having UTIs on repeat and only finding short term relief my urologist has put me on a combination of Furadantine and something called Vesicare (Solifenacin). They started working within days and are life savers for me. I think I will have to take them for a few months but that’s fine for me - I am enjoying not having to get up for a pee 3 or 4 times a night and not feeling like I have a cheese grater stuck up my lady parts. Good luck.

Eating a lot of sugar/yeast always caused them for me. Alcohol is a no as well.

Might be worth trying oestrogen pessaries as you can use those and cream. And you can use cream more than twice a week safety. I sympathise I am same position but suffer interstitial Cystitis and never any bacteria grown

Is that Vagifem?

I thought IC was a myth and in fact it's caused by bacteria that is embedded so doesn't show up in any samples? I know years ago a Dr tried to fob me off with this but once I got the right antibiotics it cleared within days. It does keep coming back though and it's worse since menopause.

Have you read about carrying on the daily vaginal oestrogen for longer?

My menopause doctor told me most women would need it more than twice a week and to ignore the bit about 2 weeks loading and just use it when I wanted. For me it's turned out about 3 times a week but I think I did daily for about a month at the start, I'd forgotten what 'normal' felt like.

Yes I’ve had a Google and I’ve decided to do another 2 weeks then do every other day and see how I go with that while the HRT kicks in. I’ve now got some D- mannose and vitamin c too, I think I’d fire walk and sleep on a bed of nails if I thought that would help! 🤣

No myth had it 10yrs with remission in between not sure on embedded infection yet jury still out for me when people are taking high does antibiotics for years and no betterc

Ask for hipprex. It's an anti microbioal for the bladder.

I’m currently mid horrible UTI (my third really bad one in 6 months, but I get them to some degree ever month after my period). I’ve been given three days of antibiotics. But at least this time they have sent off my sample to see if they should give me something else and given me blood tests which at my drs is the pre requisite for starting HRT.
Ive also started taking D Mannose.
How do you keep the Ph of urine acidic as one PP mentioned?
I feel wretched and have had to take most of last week off work (I work outside in a very physical job and it’s not doable with a bad UTI)-which is not sustainable going forwards if it happens every two months or so.

Oh sorry I’ve now read the thread thoroughly and see that it’s vitamin c tablets. Which I have. So off to down a pint of that now!

Quick update, UTI has gone! 🥳 I’m going to do another 2 week load of vaginal oestrogen inside and out. I asked the GP for Hiprex and was told they don’t prescribe it unless a urologist has said so 😡 I’ve bought some through a private pharmacy instead. £38 for a months supply but I’d pay anything if it stops them coming back 🤣

Try homeopathy. Jane Bence. I am having some success with that. Its a bit of trial and error initallynbut seem to finally be coming symptom free.

DId it just go by using the vaginal oestrogen?

It wasn't a UTI then, it was irritation from vaginal atrophy. You can save your money on the Hipprex.

Check out Dr Rachel Rubin. She says that vaginal oestrogen will help with UTI as the gentio urinary tract is lined with hormonal receptors. Testosterone is also helpful for this too. She did a recent podcast with Peter Attia where she covered this exact topic

Eta saw your update ! Glad it worked

No, I had antibiotics. A sample was sent off to check I was on the correct AB and then a test was done after to check it was clear of infection. Samples are sent every time. It’s not just burning etc I have, they make me very poorly too. Hoping the Hiprex is the answer because the urology waiting time is 9 months 😟 and the infections are coming practically every 6 weeks 😕

Ask to be referred under choose and book or whatever it is to the LUTS clinic in London. IME local urologists aren't very good. I travelled from the north of England to London to be seen at the LUTS clinic for years. If you are having an infection every 6 weeks they would say it's the same infection with symptoms which wane and surge. So you're not getting rid of an embedded infection.

You need to keep on with the vaginal oestrogen but also the hipprex, high dose vit c and high dose, long term antibiotics. I took cephalexin twice a day at high doses for nearly 10 years. I was symptom free while taking it but if I stopped for a few days it would all come back. I just woke up one day and knew I was OK. I've been off the meds and no symptoms for 2 years now.

When you say high dose vit C, which brand do you use? I bought some dissolvable ones from Aldi but it said they were citric acid. So this has confused me because I thought citric acid became alkaline inside the body and caused your urine to be more alkaline. I've also found that when I eat oranges they tend to trigger a flare in me...so I'm confused about the vit c thing.

I’ve had samples sent off 3 days after finishing ABs 4 or 5 times and they are completely clear of infection. Unfortunately there’s a lot of ABs I can’t take including penicillin, cephalexin and now Nitrofurantoin so long term ABs aren’t an option. Keeping everything crossed that the VO, Hipprex, vitamin c and HRT works now! 🤞🏻

I would also like to know how you keep your urine acidic please.

Vitamin c is ascorbic acid. Citric acid is found in citrus fruits but is not vitamin c