Chronic UTI

I read yesterday about Cystitis Cystica which is a bladder infection that contributes to UTIs. I am interested in learning more about this. Since I've had prolapse bladder surgery, I've been off and on antibiotics and as soon as I stop it, the UTI comes back the next day. I cannot keep going on like this. I have an appointment scheduled with a urogynecologist, hopefully, he can get down to the bottom of what is causing this.

I have had numerous UTI and took Cipro,amoxicillin,bacterium, the only thing that worked really well was levaquin give it a try worked for me good luck

D-Mannose helped me greatly. I experience diarrhea 3-7 days per week and always got UTIs. Although the diarrhea continues I don’t get UTIs anymore. The D-Mannose seems to have solved that problem and I am so grateful.

If your are continually having UTIs long term antibiotic use isn’t the answer. Vaginal estrogen should have been offered to you after the first reoccurrence of infections after the antibiotic had cleared them. A pattern of reoccurring infections indicates genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM). All the tissues in the pelvic floor shrink and dry up allowing bacteria in where they don’t belong. The dryness also changes the vaginal flora which allows harmful bacteria to grow easily.

If you are near or past menopause this is normal as the vaginal and urinary tissue shrinks and dries up. Normal does not mean “live with it”. This is very dangerous to have frequent UTIs as antibiotics all have some bad effect or another plus the bacteria get stronger each time they are exposed. Each infection is a possibility of sepsis which is life threatening.
Vaginal estradiol used for the rest of your life is very safe and effective. It will rehydrate and rebuild the tissues to protect you again from bacterial invasion. That your doctor hasn’t offered it already really pisses me off. A nurse practitioner looked at my poor post menopausal vag and UTI and told me to get lube cream from the drugstore and take an antibiotic. This does nothing for genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) . The UTI was back in 5 weeks! Age matters and doctors should be paying attention to this. Besides having no more UTIs starting vaginal estrogen it also cured my urinary incontinence. It came back when I forgot or got lazy about the treatment. It works wonders when used on schedule!

@beleza in my experience this is the only permanent solution and it is permanent when used on schedule consistently. It also cured my urinary incontinence and urgency. I was only 52 when I started on it. I can’t imagine living the rest of my life with UTIs and urinary incontinence. Also I was having vaginal chaffing on the inside if I walked more than 10 minute. I did need a double dose of the vaginal insert tablets. I’m now trying the vaginal cream at a single dose because I read that it is more effective. I am absolutely horrified by how many post menopausal women are being treated repeatedly for UTIs and not being offered this simple, safe, effective treatment!

@dunnawedder I have had sleeplessness when I apply too much estradiol gel at night. I have read that estrogen is excitatory. I love my vaginal estrogen. No more UTIs and no more urinary incontinence. I would never be able to tolerate frequent antibiotics. I have very disturbing reactions to them. I have read so many times that it takes a few weeks to adjust to the reintroduction of our naturally produced hormones. It even takes a couple months to adjust to full hormone replacement therapy.

@sallyinca Thank you for posting this.
After my 2nd UTI this year, my urologist's PA increased my vaginal estrogen from 2 days per week to 3 days. So far, so good. I hadn't heard of this deterrence before but I sure hope it will help keep another UTI at bay.

I also take a D-Mannose in the morning and half a pill of methenamine before bed at night. Fingers crossed these three meds will curb any further UTIs. If I get another one, it will time for an cystoscopy to take a peek inside.

@dks

Thanks so much! I’ll increase the estrogen, since I’m only using it twice per week. I’ll get the D- mannose. I’m praying for something to work. Also planning to see an infection doctor, since I’m getting these infections so often.
,