I am at my wits' end. I am now on my 32nd round of antibiotics for as many UTIs in the past 3 years 4 months. I don't go 3 weeks without an infection. I am as concerned about the possibility of the infection going up to my kidneys (and becoming sepsis where 1/3 of patients die) as I am about the effect of all these antibiotics on my gut biome...where 80% of the immune system resides. I do catch everything and more going around. My bacteria is resistant to 5 antibiotics at this point.
I have done exhaustive research and I do everything I have read to overcome all these UTIs. I shower 2x per day and keep very clean. I drink plenty of water and fruit teas all day with d-Mannose and a bit of cranberry juice in it. I switched from an estrogen vaginal cream 2x per week to the Estring. I occasionally put a few drops of oregano oil into water and drink it...and it cured 2 UTIs in the past for several months! Every morning I drink a vile smoothie made from veggies and fruit with turmeric and pepper in it to counteract inflammation. I take 1000 mg vitamin C several times per day. I take 2 different kinds of strong and costly probiotics. Where I could do better is exercise. I only do 5000 steps per day (1/2 hour on the treadmill). And another thing, I do wrong, is I succumb to a few cookies every day. That makes the urine more acidic while I am aiming for alkaline...ideal pH according to research.
I suspect that the same bacteria is imbedded in my bladder wall; something I read about on line. If that's the case, I would like to know if there is a procedure to remove it.
Last week I had an ultrasound and it revealed that I have some benign 'lipo...something'that the urologist is not concerned about.
And I do have a mild cystocele that I am seeing a specialist about in 2 months that I read MAY increase the likelihood of UTIs because often one does not empty the bladder...which I consciously do.
I have seen 2 urologists who have given me prescriptions for 6 months of low dose antibiotics...which I am reluctant to take...because of it's destructive effect on my gut biome/immune system which is already damaged. Although I currently have a UTI, I have not taken antibiotics as I am desperately trying everything to cure it. I am prepared to take the risk of an infection going to the kidneys and just tolerating chronic, untreated UTIs because the infection has no symptoms; no cramping, no burning, only slight urgency..but yes to cloudy urine. A culture does show infection.
I hope that everything I have underlined here can help someone else to overcome bladder infections. The 3 things that I can say have had a big effect on UTIs have been 1. taking estrogen (3 months with no UTIs) and 2. oregano drops (also 3 months with no UTIs...one time only.).
Any help, ideas, suggestions, similar experiences with a good outcome would be appreciated although honestly, I think I have done it all but am always hopeful that there is something I haven't tried...
Sorry this is so long but I didn't want to leave anything out.
Discouraged!
I have been taking D-Mannose to suppress the almost monthly UTI's I have been getting and it has been working for over a year. Now I got another UTI and am wondering is there another supplement that is shown to be better or an upgrade too than what I have been taking ?
Hello safety shield! I see your post is 18 months old but maybe, if you are like me, you are still suffering from recurrent UTIs (bladder infections). In any case maybe my story can help others with recurrent UTIs.
Three years ago I started a series of UTIs that were treated by my GP with antibiotics. After 5 months and many infections, I saw my gynaecologist who put me on vaginal estrogen cream (absorbed locally) and my UTIs stopped. Halleluiah!
But 4 months later my GP convinced me that I should have a cystoscopy. Reluctantly I went to the hospital and the urologist put a catheter/camera into the bladder to check it out ...which then resulted in a particular bacterial infection which occurs almost exclusively in hospitalized, catheterized patients! Back on antibiotics! And the UTIs continued almost uninterrupted to this day. Damn! That is 32 infections and 32 rounds of antibiotics in 3 years!!!
Over the past 2 years I have taken charge of my condition, researching and learning so much. My standard routine involves taking a daily dose of quality probiotics, d-mannose, vitamin B and C, Probaclac, occasional oregano oil, turmeric, keeping my urine alkaline by avoiding high carb foods, increasing vegetables, keeping ultra clean and taking showers morning and night, drinking lots of water and getting exercise. I have a urinalysis requisition which I copy and have my urine tested periodically with each UTI flare up. It is seldom the same bacteria. The urologist then prescribes an antibiotic suited to the bacteria (and one I am not resistant to because now there are 5). I double check with the pharmacist to be sure it is an antibiotic that is effective for the bacteria in question. (Sometimes the urologist has been wrong...)
All along I have been very concerned about the effects of all these antibiotics on my gut biome. Since 80% of our immune system is in the colon, I have been worried about becoming increasingly defenceless against auto-immune disease and cancer etc..
My urologist and a second urologist I went to for a consultation, who do not seem to consider the serious effects of all these rounds of antibiotics wiping out the good bacteria in my gut, both said that there was only one treatment I should do and that is 6 months of half dose antibiotics!
I could not accept this. I went so far as to live with a UTI, keeping it at a low level and keeping to my protocol of probiotics, d-mannose etc.. My hope was to cure the UTI but it remained in spite of my efforts. I was warned and of course, concerned about the infection going to my kidneys which is dangerous...also because if it goes into the blood stream, it can be fatal.
After 6 weeks of working at keeping the infection at a low level (which felt like a part time job!), never feeling 100% and being constantly on guard for any discomfort in my kidneys, I went to see a urogynecologist for a 3rd opinion. He also recommended 6 months of low dose antibiotics. Because I started to feel discomfort in my kidneys, I accepted a prescription for the one dose antibiotic, Monurol.
As I left the urogynecologist's office, he handed me an ad for a new supplement on the market called UTIVA with proanthocyanidins (PACs) and said it had been scientifically studied and was supposed to be very effective. I had no faith in it whatsoever as nothing in the past had worked. To me it seemed to be like d-mannose since it was made from cranberries. I contacted the company and was told that it was not. What did I have to lose?...
I took the antibiotic and then started the once a day Utiva prevention supplement. It has been a month now with NO UTI! After 3 years of UTIs my jubilation is guarded however. Every day I use a urine test strip to see if the values are in the normal zone (which they never were) and all is normal! In another month, I should come back to this post to give an update. If this can help others, even one person, I am happy I wrote it and I wish a cure for anyone suffering from recurrent UTIs like me.
I also take probiotics very day. No antibiotics and like I said, I had some Diflucan pills because sometimes chlorine will give me a yeast infection but over the summer I didn't use them. So I took one on Thursday and another on Saturday and still have the yeast. I am just going to get some Monistat cream and see if that works. I just would like to know why I have this infection if I didn't take antibiotics. I did just get over a viral infection and have had some stress in my life. Could this be it? If anyone knows, please help!/ Thank you. Mary1234
You may consider taking a probiotic. Here's some information from Mayo Clinic
"There is good evidence supporting the use of L. acidophilus [a probiotic] or yogurt enriched with L. acidophilus for the treatment of vaginal infections. More evidence is needed to support the use of L. acidophilus in treating vaginal yeast infections such as candidiasis, as well as restoring microorganisms in the vagina after treatment for infections. Several studies have used L. acidophilus in combination with other probiotics or supplements, such as vitamin B."
This post is 2 years old but yeast infections are timeless. There are many products on the market now such as Gynalac that restore normal vaginal pH and flora and stop the itching and burning..as well as probiotics.
I have been taking D-Mannose to suppress the almost monthly UTI's I have been getting and it has been working for over a year. Now I got another UTI and am wondering is there another supplement that is shown to be better or an upgrade too than what I have been taking ?
Yes, Utiva! Made in Canada, tested in the US. After 32 rounds of antibiotics for 32 UTIs, and following a strict, daily, UTI prevention protocol, I have finally found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow! I had just finished the last UTI which was caused by citrobacter farmeri. I started the Utiva which my urogynecologist suggested I order on line because it showed extraordinary results...and NO UTI! Btw, Utiva is made from cranberries like d-mannose but it is not the same thing. It has 36 mg of Proanthocyanidins which prevent bacteria from adhering to the bladder walls allowing it to be flushed out naturally when urinating. If I can be 'cured' after 32 UTIs, anyone can!
I have been taking D-Mannose to suppress the almost monthly UTI's I have been getting and it has been working for over a year. Now I got another UTI and am wondering is there another supplement that is shown to be better or an upgrade too than what I have been taking ?
Hello Safetyshield, Like you, over the past 2 1/2 years I have been suffering with back to back, recurrent UTIs. 32 in all! And that means 32 rounds of antibiotics! My concern for the effects of the antibiotics extended to my gut biome and immune system (80% of which is in the gut). Was my immune system already compromised? I would get a cold that seemed to last half the winter.
The only reprieve from the UTIs has been a 4 month period when I was put on vaginal estrogen 2x/wk. But then against my better judgement, I agreed to have a cystoscopy (in hospital)...and contracted a bacteria common to hospitalized, catherized patients! Back on the antibiotics! From then on it was one UTI after another with a variety of bacteria which became resistant to 5 antibiotics...and counting! I am aware of the dangers of UTIs which can go to the kidneys...and if the bacteria gets into the blood stream, the survival rate is 50%. UTIs are a serious worldwide health concern.
Three urologists I visited looking for a miracle cure wanted me on a 6 month course of lower dose antibiotics. I showed them the results of a credible study; after the 6 months, the UTIs come right back...
Just 6 weeks ago, as I left the last urologist's office (Dr Jens-Erik Walter in Montreal), he handed me a piece of paper with an ad for a supplement called UTIVA and said that it has demonstrated amazing results. Since my on-going protocol included d-mannose, cranberry supplements, plenty of water, keeping super clean, vaginal and oral probiotics, low carb diet etc. and I had no success at preventing the return of UTIS, I had zero faith that this product would work. I went ahead and ordered it on line as he suggested. I had just taken Monurol for a UTI (bacteria: citrobacter farmeri) and began the UTIVA. Note: The doctor said it was for prevention; not treatment. So when I finished the antibiotics (it's one dose) I was UTI free (for a day or two anyway) and I started the preventative UTIVA. I fully expected within a few days to see the usual cloudy urine, urine stix results showing leucocytes and blood in the urine and experience cramping, malaise etc..but none of this happened. I didn't get a UTI...and this went on day after day, week after week! It is now 6 weeks later and all is clear. No UTI! I feel great and like a new woman after 2.5 years of hell.
Next, I was on to repairing my gut biome. Thankfully I had been taking top quality Garden of Life UTI probiotics and as always, eating plenty of vegetables and morning fruit smoothies so the stool test I had done ($500) showed my colon to be in pretty good shape. Bottom line: I am healthy, UTI and antibiotic free and I feel good! I wish the same for you, Safetyshield and anyone who suffers from recurrent UTIs. https://www.utivahealth.ca A 2nd bottom line: be your own advocate, do your own research and never give up!
I used to have UTI infections 2 to 3 times a year. They stopped after my husband died and I didn't have sex. I think the sex had a lot to do with it. I haven't had one since.
Update on CURE: I would just like to report that after 3 months of taking UTIVA daily, I am still UTI free. This is after almost 3 years of trying everything to cure 32 back to back UTIs which means 32 rounds of antibiotics (5 of which my body was resistant to). I had tried everything to rid myself of the UTIs; d-mannose, vaginal estrogen cream, probiotics, keeping very clean, lowering intake of carbs, exercise, drinking lots of water & cranberry juice etc..Estrogen did work for 4 months. Besides that UTIVA (no prescription required) was the one and only thing that worked. But it is not a cure. It prevents UTIs...so start taking it right when you finish a round of antibiotics to PREVENT a recurrence. It is nothing short of a miracle. You can order UTIVA from Utiva Health on line. It was my urogynecologist, Dr Jens Erik Walter who put me on to it.
Update on CURE: I would just like to report that after 3 months of taking UTIVA daily, I am still UTI free. This is after almost 3 years of trying everything to cure 32 back to back UTIs which means 32 rounds of antibiotics (5 of which my body was resistant to). I had tried everything to rid myself of the UTIs; d-mannose, vaginal estrogen cream, probiotics, keeping very clean, lowering intake of carbs, exercise, drinking lots of water & cranberry juice etc..Estrogen did work for 4 months. Besides that UTIVA (no prescription required) was the one and only thing that worked. But it is not a cure. It prevents UTIs...so start taking it right when you finish a round of antibiotics to PREVENT a recurrence. It is nothing short of a miracle. You can order UTIVA from Utiva Health on line. It was my urogynecologist, Dr Jens Erik Walter who put me on to it.
@afrobin Very happy to hear your experience has been positive with this Utiva. Thank you for coming back and letting us know. It will no doubt give other UTI sufferers hope.
Ginger
Wondering if your cystitis is interstitial bladder cystitis which in that casenyogurt is not a good choice. I've been plagued for several years..over 10. My kidney transplant was 22 years ago. It's migrated close to bladder so bladder walls are toudhing sonetimes which causes the irritation. Any one else experience this?
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I am at my wits' end. I am now on my 32nd round of antibiotics for as many UTIs in the past 3 years 4 months. I don't go 3 weeks without an infection. I am as concerned about the possibility of the infection going up to my kidneys (and becoming sepsis where 1/3 of patients die) as I am about the effect of all these antibiotics on my gut biome...where 80% of the immune system resides. I do catch everything and more going around. My bacteria is resistant to 5 antibiotics at this point.
I have done exhaustive research and I do everything I have read to overcome all these UTIs. I shower 2x per day and keep very clean. I drink plenty of water and fruit teas all day with d-Mannose and a bit of cranberry juice in it. I switched from an estrogen vaginal cream 2x per week to the Estring. I occasionally put a few drops of oregano oil into water and drink it...and it cured 2 UTIs in the past for several months! Every morning I drink a vile smoothie made from veggies and fruit with turmeric and pepper in it to counteract inflammation. I take 1000 mg vitamin C several times per day. I take 2 different kinds of strong and costly probiotics. Where I could do better is exercise. I only do 5000 steps per day (1/2 hour on the treadmill). And another thing, I do wrong, is I succumb to a few cookies every day. That makes the urine more acidic while I am aiming for alkaline...ideal pH according to research.
I suspect that the same bacteria is imbedded in my bladder wall; something I read about on line. If that's the case, I would like to know if there is a procedure to remove it.
Last week I had an ultrasound and it revealed that I have some benign 'lipo...something'that the urologist is not concerned about.
And I do have a mild cystocele that I am seeing a specialist about in 2 months that I read MAY increase the likelihood of UTIs because often one does not empty the bladder...which I consciously do.
I have seen 2 urologists who have given me prescriptions for 6 months of low dose antibiotics...which I am reluctant to take...because of it's destructive effect on my gut biome/immune system which is already damaged. Although I currently have a UTI, I have not taken antibiotics as I am desperately trying everything to cure it. I am prepared to take the risk of an infection going to the kidneys and just tolerating chronic, untreated UTIs because the infection has no symptoms; no cramping, no burning, only slight urgency..but yes to cloudy urine. A culture does show infection.
I hope that everything I have underlined here can help someone else to overcome bladder infections. The 3 things that I can say have had a big effect on UTIs have been 1. taking estrogen (3 months with no UTIs) and 2. oregano drops (also 3 months with no UTIs...one time only.).
Any help, ideas, suggestions, similar experiences with a good outcome would be appreciated although honestly, I think I have done it all but am always hopeful that there is something I haven't tried...
Sorry this is so long but I didn't want to leave anything out.
Discouraged!
Hello safety shield! I see your post is 18 months old but maybe, if you are like me, you are still suffering from recurrent UTIs (bladder infections). In any case maybe my story can help others with recurrent UTIs.
Three years ago I started a series of UTIs that were treated by my GP with antibiotics. After 5 months and many infections, I saw my gynaecologist who put me on vaginal estrogen cream (absorbed locally) and my UTIs stopped. Halleluiah!
But 4 months later my GP convinced me that I should have a cystoscopy. Reluctantly I went to the hospital and the urologist put a catheter/camera into the bladder to check it out ...which then resulted in a particular bacterial infection which occurs almost exclusively in hospitalized, catheterized patients! Back on antibiotics! And the UTIs continued almost uninterrupted to this day. Damn! That is 32 infections and 32 rounds of antibiotics in 3 years!!!
Over the past 2 years I have taken charge of my condition, researching and learning so much. My standard routine involves taking a daily dose of quality probiotics, d-mannose, vitamin B and C, Probaclac, occasional oregano oil, turmeric, keeping my urine alkaline by avoiding high carb foods, increasing vegetables, keeping ultra clean and taking showers morning and night, drinking lots of water and getting exercise. I have a urinalysis requisition which I copy and have my urine tested periodically with each UTI flare up. It is seldom the same bacteria. The urologist then prescribes an antibiotic suited to the bacteria (and one I am not resistant to because now there are 5). I double check with the pharmacist to be sure it is an antibiotic that is effective for the bacteria in question. (Sometimes the urologist has been wrong...)
All along I have been very concerned about the effects of all these antibiotics on my gut biome. Since 80% of our immune system is in the colon, I have been worried about becoming increasingly defenceless against auto-immune disease and cancer etc..
My urologist and a second urologist I went to for a consultation, who do not seem to consider the serious effects of all these rounds of antibiotics wiping out the good bacteria in my gut, both said that there was only one treatment I should do and that is 6 months of half dose antibiotics!
I could not accept this. I went so far as to live with a UTI, keeping it at a low level and keeping to my protocol of probiotics, d-mannose etc.. My hope was to cure the UTI but it remained in spite of my efforts. I was warned and of course, concerned about the infection going to my kidneys which is dangerous...also because if it goes into the blood stream, it can be fatal.
After 6 weeks of working at keeping the infection at a low level (which felt like a part time job!), never feeling 100% and being constantly on guard for any discomfort in my kidneys, I went to see a urogynecologist for a 3rd opinion. He also recommended 6 months of low dose antibiotics. Because I started to feel discomfort in my kidneys, I accepted a prescription for the one dose antibiotic, Monurol.
As I left the urogynecologist's office, he handed me an ad for a new supplement on the market called UTIVA with proanthocyanidins (PACs) and said it had been scientifically studied and was supposed to be very effective. I had no faith in it whatsoever as nothing in the past had worked. To me it seemed to be like d-mannose since it was made from cranberries. I contacted the company and was told that it was not. What did I have to lose?...
I took the antibiotic and then started the once a day Utiva prevention supplement. It has been a month now with NO UTI! After 3 years of UTIs my jubilation is guarded however. Every day I use a urine test strip to see if the values are in the normal zone (which they never were) and all is normal! In another month, I should come back to this post to give an update. If this can help others, even one person, I am happy I wrote it and I wish a cure for anyone suffering from recurrent UTIs like me.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionTwo pharmacists told me that infections such as cold germs can be swallowed and infect the bladder.
This post is 2 years old but yeast infections are timeless. There are many products on the market now such as Gynalac that restore normal vaginal pH and flora and stop the itching and burning..as well as probiotics.
Yes, Utiva! Made in Canada, tested in the US. After 32 rounds of antibiotics for 32 UTIs, and following a strict, daily, UTI prevention protocol, I have finally found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow! I had just finished the last UTI which was caused by citrobacter farmeri. I started the Utiva which my urogynecologist suggested I order on line because it showed extraordinary results...and NO UTI! Btw, Utiva is made from cranberries like d-mannose but it is not the same thing. It has 36 mg of Proanthocyanidins which prevent bacteria from adhering to the bladder walls allowing it to be flushed out naturally when urinating. If I can be 'cured' after 32 UTIs, anyone can!
Hello Safetyshield, Like you, over the past 2 1/2 years I have been suffering with back to back, recurrent UTIs. 32 in all! And that means 32 rounds of antibiotics! My concern for the effects of the antibiotics extended to my gut biome and immune system (80% of which is in the gut). Was my immune system already compromised? I would get a cold that seemed to last half the winter.
The only reprieve from the UTIs has been a 4 month period when I was put on vaginal estrogen 2x/wk. But then against my better judgement, I agreed to have a cystoscopy (in hospital)...and contracted a bacteria common to hospitalized, catherized patients! Back on the antibiotics! From then on it was one UTI after another with a variety of bacteria which became resistant to 5 antibiotics...and counting! I am aware of the dangers of UTIs which can go to the kidneys...and if the bacteria gets into the blood stream, the survival rate is 50%. UTIs are a serious worldwide health concern.
Three urologists I visited looking for a miracle cure wanted me on a 6 month course of lower dose antibiotics. I showed them the results of a credible study; after the 6 months, the UTIs come right back...
Just 6 weeks ago, as I left the last urologist's office (Dr Jens-Erik Walter in Montreal), he handed me a piece of paper with an ad for a supplement called UTIVA and said that it has demonstrated amazing results. Since my on-going protocol included d-mannose, cranberry supplements, plenty of water, keeping super clean, vaginal and oral probiotics, low carb diet etc. and I had no success at preventing the return of UTIS, I had zero faith that this product would work. I went ahead and ordered it on line as he suggested. I had just taken Monurol for a UTI (bacteria: citrobacter farmeri) and began the UTIVA. Note: The doctor said it was for prevention; not treatment. So when I finished the antibiotics (it's one dose) I was UTI free (for a day or two anyway) and I started the preventative UTIVA. I fully expected within a few days to see the usual cloudy urine, urine stix results showing leucocytes and blood in the urine and experience cramping, malaise etc..but none of this happened. I didn't get a UTI...and this went on day after day, week after week! It is now 6 weeks later and all is clear. No UTI! I feel great and like a new woman after 2.5 years of hell.
Next, I was on to repairing my gut biome. Thankfully I had been taking top quality Garden of Life UTI probiotics and as always, eating plenty of vegetables and morning fruit smoothies so the stool test I had done ($500) showed my colon to be in pretty good shape. Bottom line: I am healthy, UTI and antibiotic free and I feel good! I wish the same for you, Safetyshield and anyone who suffers from recurrent UTIs. https://www.utivahealth.ca A 2nd bottom line: be your own advocate, do your own research and never give up!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI used to have UTI infections 2 to 3 times a year. They stopped after my husband died and I didn't have sex. I think the sex had a lot to do with it. I haven't had one since.
Update on CURE: I would just like to report that after 3 months of taking UTIVA daily, I am still UTI free. This is after almost 3 years of trying everything to cure 32 back to back UTIs which means 32 rounds of antibiotics (5 of which my body was resistant to). I had tried everything to rid myself of the UTIs; d-mannose, vaginal estrogen cream, probiotics, keeping very clean, lowering intake of carbs, exercise, drinking lots of water & cranberry juice etc..Estrogen did work for 4 months. Besides that UTIVA (no prescription required) was the one and only thing that worked. But it is not a cure. It prevents UTIs...so start taking it right when you finish a round of antibiotics to PREVENT a recurrence. It is nothing short of a miracle. You can order UTIVA from Utiva Health on line. It was my urogynecologist, Dr Jens Erik Walter who put me on to it.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactions@afrobin Very happy to hear your experience has been positive with this Utiva. Thank you for coming back and letting us know. It will no doubt give other UTI sufferers hope.
Ginger
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionWondering if your cystitis is interstitial bladder cystitis which in that casenyogurt is not a good choice. I've been plagued for several years..over 10. My kidney transplant was 22 years ago. It's migrated close to bladder so bladder walls are toudhing sonetimes which causes the irritation. Any one else experience this?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactions