antibiotic prescription for UTI - what did you take?

@kariabrown I agree. It really helps.

@naturegirl5 allergic to Macrobid/Macrodantin and Bactrim. I refuse CIPRO. My doctor did find an alternative but I forget which one. It's so important to have a culture done when we have a UTI.

@fdixon63
Honestly, I can’t say for sure. Back in the day (50 years ago), doctors told you what to do and you did it. They didn’t tell you why or what they were doing. I was told I had to get the “procedure” so I did. It was done in a hospital and I was in at least for one overnight. I was maybe 20 years old.
To give you perspective, after many UTIs, I showed symptoms of a UTI when I was visiting my parents in a different state. I went to my mom’s doctor and explained what was going on. He prescribed me something but not my usual meds. When I got back to my home, things got worse. I went to my doctor and showed her what I had been taking. She was horrified because mom’s doctor prescribed a placebo and now I had a kidney infection as well. At that same time in my life, I went to a doctor at a San Francisco hospital because I was that sick and it was a weekend (clinics not open). I had never had a doctor EVER do this before or since and it took me by surprise - but to examine me for a UTI, he gave me a digital vaginal AND anal exam - no nurse present and no culture or urine sample taken. At the time I was 19-20. I was naive, alone and vulnerable. I still feel violated. At least he gave me the proper antibiotic. You can see why I have a very low opinion of some doctors. These are just a few of my many bad doctor stories. I avoided all male doctors for a long, long time until I moved up North where you are lucky to see any doctor, so no choice. I lucked out because most were good.

@ellenh128 I'm allergic to Bactrim (Sulfa) which is why Macrodantin/Macrobid is prescribed. You are so correct about having a culture done. This is how my kidney stone and infection was missed for almost a month. The nurse practitioner insisted that my symptoms were the flu but I had no respiratory symptoms. Finally, when I developed back pain and saw my doctor he recognized the symptoms of kidney disease and ordered a culture.

I took only a 3 day supply of Cipro for my UTI , as I had C-DIFF a few years ago due to taking
2 different anti-biotics in a row ( my fault for not paying more attention).
Yes, drink lots of water & AZO is a miracle drug for me as it calms the abdominal pain immediately. Now, I haven't had a UTI in years. I take a probioitc, AZO gummies, & cranberry,
& try to drink Cranberry juice. I even keep AZO in the car, just in case.

@mayo99824
That happened to me in Italy once.
When the male doctor came to the hotel & said he had to do a vaginal, I
would not consent until I had a female employee present. She frowned
during the exam but did not say anything. But I think her presence made
for a very short exam. She might have been afraid for her job, but I imagine the word got around so I may have saved some other woman from a dodgy doctor.

You are a hero. I hope things have changed since my experiences in the 1970-80s, but the US Gymnast scandals indicate maybe not. Scary for my daughter and other women.

What is AZO?

@marj1
Look in the pain relief aisle for a little square box that says "AZO" in
big black letters= then in smaller white letters....urinary pain relief, maximum strength, 12 tablets. They are in doses of 2 small dark red capsules.
You might also talk to your pharmacist about AZO.
Happy Pain Relief !

Do not take fluoroquinolones (cipro, moxi, levaquin, etc.) unless life threatening and nothing else will work. (Several black box warnings). I was given one for a basic UTI and it changed my life. A month in a wheelchair with severe tendon pain throughout body, especially Achilles, several tendon tears, double vision, anxiety, depression, neuropathy, body pain, loss of hearing. At 14 months, tendon pain and double vision still present.