Have had almost constant UTIs for many years. Now have CKD which UTIs can cause. Dr has me on a med called Methenamine HIPPURATE to prevent the infections. Have been taking it twice a day for about 6 months. No UTIs. Seems to be working.
Yes I also have CKD probably because of UTIs and kidney stones because I’m not diabetic nor have high blood pressure. Also took Omeprasole for a long time. It’s another cause. My eye doctor has now recommended Lutein but I read that it can cause kidney stones. My hair is getting very thin because of the Methenamine.Was also recommended Biotin which can also cause kidney stones. I tried some turmeric tea which my nephrologist says is good for your kidneys but, surprise, it also causes kidney stones. I’m hesitant to take anything without my nephrologist’s approval.
I am a microbiologist. These results indicate a dirty specimen, contaminated with normal body flora. If it had been a serious infection of the UTI, there would have been a predominance of one or two pathogenic organisms. If you have symptoms, repeat in a week or so with a very clean specimen.
I started on methenamine in July of 2019 b/c of one UTI after another. Was on it for 3 years until my eGFR went into stage 3 CKD. At that point, the urology PA cut my methenamine dosage to a half pill once per day with one D-Mannose pill. My stage 3 has improved into stage 2 CKD.
I would caution anyone taking methenamine to watch closely your kidney function.
Looks like you botched your "Clean Catch"
Clean catch urine sample
A clean catch is a method of collecting a urine sample to be tested. The clean-catch urine method is used to prevent germs from the penis or vagina from getting into a urine sample.
How the Test is Performed
If possible, collect the sample when urine has been in your bladder for 2 to 3 hours.
You will use a special kit to collect the urine. It will most likely have a cup with a lid and wipes.
Wash your hands with soap and warm water.
GIRLS AND WOMEN
Girls and women need to wash the area between the vagina "lips" (labia). You may be given a special clean-catch kit that contains sterile wipes.
Sit on the toilet with your legs spread apart. Use two fingers to spread open your labia.
Use the first wipe to clean the inner folds of the labia. Wipe from the front to the back.
Use a second wipe to clean over the opening where urine comes out (urethra), just above the opening of the vagina.
To collect the urine sample:
Keeping your labia spread open, urinate a small amount into the toilet bowl, then stop the flow of urine.
Hold the urine cup a few inches (or a few centimeters) from the urethra and urinate until the cup is about half full.
You may finish urinating into the toilet bowl.
BOYS AND MEN
Clean the head of the penis with a sterile wipe. If you are not circumcised, you will need to pull back (retract) the foreskin first.
Urinate a small amount into the toilet bowl, and then stop the flow of urine.
Then collect a sample of urine into the clean or sterile cup, until it is half full.
You may finish urinating into the toilet bowl.
INFANTS
You will be given a special bag to collect the urine. It will be a plastic bag with a sticky strip on one end, made to fit over your baby's genital area.
If the collection is being taken from an infant, you may need extra collection bags.
Wash the area well with soap and water, and dry. Open and place the bag on your infant.
For boys, the entire penis can be placed in the bag.
For girls, place the bag over the labia.
You can put on a diaper over the bag.
Check the baby often and remove the bag after the urine collects in it. Active infants may displace the bag, so you may need to make more than one attempt. Drain the urine into the container you were given and return it to the health care provider as directed.
AFTER COLLECTING THE SAMPLE
Screw the lid tightly on the cup. Do not touch the inside of the cup or the lid.
Return the sample to the provider.
If you are at home, place the cup in a plastic bag and put the bag in the refrigerator until you take it to the lab or your provider's office.
Alternative Names
Urine culture - clean catch; Urinalysis - clean catch;
Every urine test that I take has 10,000-100,000 mixed flora.
I am also experiencing urine and diarrhea incontinence, constant pain in my lower abdomen and back. Urine has to build up before it actually comes out even though I feel like I really have to go. I also have scleroderma. I don’t think it’s contaminated what should I do?
Every urine test that I take has 10,000-100,000 mixed flora.
I am also experiencing urine and diarrhea incontinence, constant pain in my lower abdomen and back. Urine has to build up before it actually comes out even though I feel like I really have to go. I also have scleroderma. I don’t think it’s contaminated what should I do?
@bettyboo if you have scleroderma do you have a rheumatologist or nephrologist to consult? Did the urine test say you had an infection? If it mentions contamination instead, maybe do a redo and make sure the specimen is clean. You can use a plastic "hat" in the toilet- that might help, but it needs to be sterile.
Can someone tell me about Macrobid use for UTI? My doctor wants me to take 50 mg daily for 6 weeks after I finish a ten day course of 100 mg 2 X daily for UTI. Is this safe to do? I am really nervous about taking antibiotics but I am having issues with recurrent UTI's.
I have the same, can't get rid of UTI which put me in hospital with sepsis in November due to no symptoms leading up to total loss of ability to do anything. I am now on my third antibiotic in a row (I test at home with same strips the doctors use, from online) and am considering trying Methanemine one a day, or fosamin once a week. (sp) They have been successful for others on this blog. Macrobid didn't help me several times over the past year. I am now on cephalex 500 mg 2xday. Appointment Thursday for discussing my above options. Good luck but count on a long period of final diagnosis.
My mom was constantly having uti’s. Her doctor put her on a low dose of trimethoprim which she took daily. I’m not sure of the dose. She was in her 90’s. But this took care of the uti problem.
I am not sure about the length of time, but I had recurring UTI's for about 6 years after my colon and bladder grew together and exchanged contents severely. Then I read an article about what is called biofilm. Apparently, some bacteria will create a film over them that keeps antibiotics from reaching them, i.e. biofilm. Once the coast is deemed to be clear they come out. The only way to get rid of them is to treat them with one type of antibiotic for several days, then switch to a different type of antibiotic. Once I told the doctor this, he was aware and started me on this regiment. It worked.
Connect
Connect
Like
Helpful
Hug
Also have had constant UTIs for several years. Dr has me on Methenamine HIPPURATE which seems to be working. Am concerned about long term use.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionYes I also have CKD probably because of UTIs and kidney stones because I’m not diabetic nor have high blood pressure. Also took Omeprasole for a long time. It’s another cause. My eye doctor has now recommended Lutein but I read that it can cause kidney stones. My hair is getting very thin because of the Methenamine.Was also recommended Biotin which can also cause kidney stones. I tried some turmeric tea which my nephrologist says is good for your kidneys but, surprise, it also causes kidney stones. I’m hesitant to take anything without my nephrologist’s approval.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI am a microbiologist. These results indicate a dirty specimen, contaminated with normal body flora. If it had been a serious infection of the UTI, there would have been a predominance of one or two pathogenic organisms. If you have symptoms, repeat in a week or so with a very clean specimen.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsI started on methenamine in July of 2019 b/c of one UTI after another. Was on it for 3 years until my eGFR went into stage 3 CKD. At that point, the urology PA cut my methenamine dosage to a half pill once per day with one D-Mannose pill. My stage 3 has improved into stage 2 CKD.
I would caution anyone taking methenamine to watch closely your kidney function.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionLooks like you botched your "Clean Catch"
Clean catch urine sample
A clean catch is a method of collecting a urine sample to be tested. The clean-catch urine method is used to prevent germs from the penis or vagina from getting into a urine sample.
How the Test is Performed
If possible, collect the sample when urine has been in your bladder for 2 to 3 hours.
You will use a special kit to collect the urine. It will most likely have a cup with a lid and wipes.
Wash your hands with soap and warm water.
GIRLS AND WOMEN
Girls and women need to wash the area between the vagina "lips" (labia). You may be given a special clean-catch kit that contains sterile wipes.
Sit on the toilet with your legs spread apart. Use two fingers to spread open your labia.
Use the first wipe to clean the inner folds of the labia. Wipe from the front to the back.
Use a second wipe to clean over the opening where urine comes out (urethra), just above the opening of the vagina.
To collect the urine sample:
Keeping your labia spread open, urinate a small amount into the toilet bowl, then stop the flow of urine.
Hold the urine cup a few inches (or a few centimeters) from the urethra and urinate until the cup is about half full.
You may finish urinating into the toilet bowl.
BOYS AND MEN
Clean the head of the penis with a sterile wipe. If you are not circumcised, you will need to pull back (retract) the foreskin first.
Urinate a small amount into the toilet bowl, and then stop the flow of urine.
Then collect a sample of urine into the clean or sterile cup, until it is half full.
You may finish urinating into the toilet bowl.
INFANTS
You will be given a special bag to collect the urine. It will be a plastic bag with a sticky strip on one end, made to fit over your baby's genital area.
If the collection is being taken from an infant, you may need extra collection bags.
Wash the area well with soap and water, and dry. Open and place the bag on your infant.
For boys, the entire penis can be placed in the bag.
For girls, place the bag over the labia.
You can put on a diaper over the bag.
Check the baby often and remove the bag after the urine collects in it. Active infants may displace the bag, so you may need to make more than one attempt. Drain the urine into the container you were given and return it to the health care provider as directed.
AFTER COLLECTING THE SAMPLE
Screw the lid tightly on the cup. Do not touch the inside of the cup or the lid.
Return the sample to the provider.
If you are at home, place the cup in a plastic bag and put the bag in the refrigerator until you take it to the lab or your provider's office.
Alternative Names
Urine culture - clean catch; Urinalysis - clean catch;
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionHi,
Every urine test that I take has 10,000-100,000 mixed flora.
I am also experiencing urine and diarrhea incontinence, constant pain in my lower abdomen and back. Urine has to build up before it actually comes out even though I feel like I really have to go. I also have scleroderma. I don’t think it’s contaminated what should I do?
@bettyboo if you have scleroderma do you have a rheumatologist or nephrologist to consult? Did the urine test say you had an infection? If it mentions contamination instead, maybe do a redo and make sure the specimen is clean. You can use a plastic "hat" in the toilet- that might help, but it needs to be sterile.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsI have the same, can't get rid of UTI which put me in hospital with sepsis in November due to no symptoms leading up to total loss of ability to do anything. I am now on my third antibiotic in a row (I test at home with same strips the doctors use, from online) and am considering trying Methanemine one a day, or fosamin once a week. (sp) They have been successful for others on this blog. Macrobid didn't help me several times over the past year. I am now on cephalex 500 mg 2xday. Appointment Thursday for discussing my above options. Good luck but count on a long period of final diagnosis.
What was your mom's dosage daily? I'm 78 and in the same boat. Thanks so much for posting an option.
Interested to know which antibiotics you used and the dosage. Same problem here...