Bladder infections & incontinence

[Nat6999]

I have been suffering from uti infections regularly since 2018, I get on average 5 or 6 a year. I also suffer from bladder incontinence, this seems to come in waves, I can have a month or two with maybe only a couple of accidents a day & then time like now where I'm wetting myself at least 6 times a day, I have to wear incontinence pants all the time. I feel dirty, depressed, old & ashamed. I've sat & cried nearly every time I've had an accident today, I'm on Mirabegron for my bladder, but I take D Mannose & Pumpkin seed oil extract to help protect my bladder from infections & to try & stop the accidents. Has anyone else been through this & been successful in becoming fully continent again?

I am sure I've read somewhere that cranberries fruit are beneficial for UTI infections in bladder,

Holland &Barret health food stores should be able to sign post you what health food products and supplements out there currently are beneficial good for you. ..

I can understand why it's getting you down fed up and depressed too

Have you been investigated by urologist? What age are you? Have you been prescribed prophylactic ABs ?

Check back with your GP, some people with recurring UTI's end up on a low dose long term antibiotic.

Try and keep hydrated, incontinence might put you off drinking fluids but it will help clear the UTI.

And, avoid cranberry juice etc, it won't help!

Yes that's a good one advice hydration drinking enough fluids too...

and seeking a doctor referral to see urinary gynae specialist at the hospital consultation

I was prescribed a very low dose of Nitrofurantoin years ago as I was getting alot of UTI's.

My doctor referred me to the Urologist I think it was as I had a bladder prolapse after giving birth. I used a Kegal machine to strengthen my pelvic floor and this improved everything.

Please don't suffer in silence, try and get a referral and in the meantime super strength cranberry tablets from Amazon helped me loads amd prevented further infections - much much better than the normal juice. The Kegal thing was from Amazon if you want to research it, it might help.

Good luck x

No advice but I'm similar here. I have an overactive bladder and frequent UTI since serious kidney infections in 2018

It's so hard to know too what's infection and what's OAB. For example last couple weeks I've been wetting myself a few times a day. Thought OAB but actually probably UTI and now on antibiotics.

Have you had investigations eg cystoscope?

Sorry no advice but you aren't alone. It's degrading and humiliating even though it's outwith our control.

That sounds so miserable, OP.

Has anyone suggested local oestrogen cream to you? Ovestin, to be applied around the urethral opening, if you are peri/post menopausal it's essential and it's also being used more in younger women with recurrent UTIs. If you're on it already you may need more than the standard frequency of use,

Cranberry is a lie , top Urologist told me & other midwives.

x.com/ashleygwinter/status/1453890993070039041?s=46&t=lVt-WH-GcsPlMCKrCR4ukg

x.com/drrachelrubin/status/1420196634785461190?s=46&t=lVt-WH-GcsPlMCKrCR4ukg

I had the low dose Nitrofuarantin a few years ago, unfortunately, it damaged the nerves in my legs & feet leaving me numb from mid thigh downwards. I have to have trimethoprim now, the most recent infection has needed two lots of antibiotics. I'm 57, had a total hysterectomy 13 years ago, I've been under urology where I got diagnosed with overactive bladder, I had botox but it was extremely painful & it only lasted a couple of months. My bladder struggles to hold more than 250ml, if I get the sensation of needing the loo the minute I stand up it starts running out of me, I do pelvic floor exercises but they don't help.

I appreciate this has become a complex situation, @Nat6999. But to start, are you on HRT?

I'm on HRT patches when I can get them to stick.

And are you using a local oestrogen cream on your vulva to prevent/heal tiny abrasions which can trigger recurrent UTIs?

In the UK the main brand is Ovestin.

Many women need this as well as their main HRT, @Nat6999.

Does anyone know how soon the oestrogen cream works, I've got to do another urine sample tomorrow as I finished my antibiotics today. I just want something to work, I'm not getting to sleep until 4.00am as I'm up & down all night to the toilet. It's affecting my mental health badly, I'm doing nothing but cry.

Do daily for two weeks then srop to 2x week it was helping within 2 to 3 weeks

I've never been prescribed the Ovestrin cream, I will ask the doctors about it if I can get a phone appointment, last time I was as bad as this they left me waiting 3 weeks for an appointment because they don't consider it to be urgent.

My friend’s elderly mother was plagued by UTIs for years. She recently saw a new (enlightened) GP who prescribed local oestrogen for her as a trial. Vagifem internally and Ovestin cream to rub into the whole vulva area like a moisturiser. No UTIs since.

Google vaginal atrophy as well.

I’d put money on ovestin helping. I had endless UTIs, mostly urethritis feeling like I had a peg clipped on my urethra. And needed to pee very frequently. I now have almost no UTIs at all, and sometimes go all night without having to get up for a pee. I still have some stress incontinence but that’s a different issue.

If you cant get a prescription you can buy ovestin over the counter at a pharmacy under the brand name Gina. I would say it’s definitely worth a try, it was a game changer for me.

It may not be a quick fix after all this time, but it is worth persevering with. As @PortiaWithNoBreaks says, ideally the Vagifem pessaries (if not too uncomfortable to insert) as well as the Ovestin applied liberally, especially to the area where your urethra opens to the outside. You can use more than the standard frequency to get things healing. I will try to find the details.

It is absolutely awful if no doctor has suggested this to you before. As a previous poster says, buy it at a chemist the first time just to get started asap, if you can afford to.

Sorry, @Nat6999, I've just remembered that the Gina product available without prescription is the pessary rather than the cream. The urologist I quoted before advises to use the Ovestin cream right on the problem area. You can add in the pessary a bit later (the NHS pessary is called Vagifem and is inserted into your vagina.)

For now you can order Ovestin cream from a chemist and pay for it until you can get GP prescriptions;

www.pharmacyonline.co.uk/online-doctor/vaginal-dryness/ovestin-cream/

Here is an interview with a urogynaecologist to explain a bit more;

www.balance-menopause.com/menopause-library/unpicking-utis-and-the-role-of-hormones-with-dr-rajvinder-khasriya/

And the NHS usage guidelines attached as a screenshot.

You could ask your GP to prescribe hiprex. It can be used as a preventative for uti's and can also treat them but is not a antibiotic.

You need to treatcl the - hate the term - vaginsl atrophy

The new name is better, @cestlavielife: Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause. At least it indicates that more than the vagina is affected.