Recurrent urinary tract infections (UTI): Should I see a specialist?

Hi everyone, I am 81 years old. I have been a double amputee for over 10 years. In the last year I have had 5 uti's. I was wondering if sitting(I don't use prosthetics)all the time can cause uti's. Although I have been sitting all the time for years, the problem has started last year. I don't want to keep taking antibiotics. I am going to see a. urologist but I just wanted to know if anyone has heard of my situation. Thank you

I’m 81 also and had constant bladder(genetic) UTI’s until I, and my aunts and uncles, started taking cranberry vitamin every day. NO UTI’s! Have no idea if yours has anything to do with sitting, but you sure have enough on your plate and do not need even one more UTI for any reason! You can get cranberry vitamin OTC at any regular place like Walmarts/ Target/ pharmacies. All the best getting back to health!

Don't wait find the closest Urology Dr's and they can find the root of your problem.

I hesitated to go until my 3rd UTI in a 6 month period of time.

They found bladder cancer And are treating me for that.
They didn't find any other cancers.
As men get older could be prostate, bladder problems, or cancer that has spread into the kidneys etc..

Best not to wait, do the right thing. Catch it now because it might get a lot worse.

Yes I was getting them also. My Urologist has me on a maintenance low does antibiotic. It working really well.

What I swear by is D-Mannose. It’s a supplement. Until I started using it I got UTIs constantly because I also have daily diarrhea.

My record was worse than yours, and at one minute clinic visit the nurse told me about D-Mannose. I take two capsules a day and that helps a LOT. I was infection free for over a year. My case gets worse recently, but I won't go into that now. My story and that of many others is in the blog thread and you will find use of methanemine, fosfomysin, and others which are taken as maintenance after getting over an infection. Several of us got a bad case and ended up in sepsis/hospital stays, long recoveries. You don't want to get there. The thing we have in common is that we don't get the bacterial infection from external sources, but it's just in us and never completely eradicated. So we have to resort to use of antibiotics daily or weekly at least to prevent reinfection. Good luck to you----a highly recommended specialist, not just a urologist, is what you need to get in to see. Find the best and get in line for appointment.

I suggest adding D-Mannose supplement daily, I take one morning and night. It's a sugar that isn't like normal sugar, and coats the bladder lining with protection from the bacteria that is always in there in some of us. I am also now having to take daily maintenance levels of methanemine, an odd antibiotic. This after one infection without symptoms lead to sepsis and a long hospital stay I am still recovering from after three months. Sepsis can have an extended syndrome affect some. The D-Mannose is harmless and not always prescribed by older doctors. There are a few alternatives to the maintenance drugs to take from now on and some are only weekly. A specialist, not the ordinary urologist, will be your best shot. Good luck, it's a life altering thing to have recurring UTIs and I am now 78.

i get urinary tract (UTIs) quite often myself. i see a Urologist. i drink cranberry juice. be careful of the type you get. i get the 100% concentrate. i think. it has less sugar. and if you can get the "sugar free" or Ocean Spray 50/50, that's supposed to be good too. also try cranberry supplements. i also like the Azo UTI supplement.

I’ve never really had any good luck with cranberry products. Infection feeds off sugars. I have chronic cystitis, never know when a uti will occur. Also just found out I have a blood clot disorder as well. Factor 5 , with blood clots in my arms so far.

I agree with @vlbondon that taking D- Mannose twice a day is a safe way to protect against UTIs.