Urinary track infection

@mojomom40 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect.

In the past, when I have had a urinary tract infection, it was advised to be on a 10 day start to finish with no break antibiotic regimen. Also, a culture was taken to see what antibiotic would be the most beneficial.

You might want to check with your primary care doctor for better follow up. An emergency department is for emergencies.
Ginger

I have been to emerge for urinary infection when had no family doctor, the phone in clinic and their lab was closed and it showed an infection plus blood on my own urine test strips I use at home bough on internet, as get them frequently; emerge here will give antibiotic based on their urine dip stick test but I learned the hard way that it is best if can hang on and get a LAB test, takes a few days but once urine a stick test said infection and lab said not, and vice versa... at a nurse's clinic; can get complicated...yes best to keep emerge free for emergencies but if it is an infection that is getting worse, possibility of sepsis etc., so what to do if have problems through the night or on a weekend or doctor on vacation.. i dont have medical knowledge but I think also it may be important if peson has fever, so I make sure take temperture too...might have to wait a long time at emerge, depends how busy etc. but best to nip in bud. JMO

I don't mean to scare you, but if your symptoms include blood, ask to see a urologist. In women, sometimes what appears to be a UTI is actually cancer. If you can't see a urologist, ask your doctor if you can have an ultrasound of the bladder. There are some good articles about bladder cancer on BCAN.org, including this:
https://bcan.org/facing-bladder-cancer/bladder-cancer-signs-symptoms/

No blood present
This evening (Monday) will be 4 days.
I’m taking Azo it helps somewhat
I imagine it might start improving by day 5 least I’m hoping.

...just wondering; no blood present? sometimes we can see the blood in the urine, and sometimes it can only be detected on a urine test strip or laboratory test...
I was given Azo (Phenazopyridine (Pyridium) but did not take it as have narrow angle Glaucoma, also I was having some eye laser surgery and pharmacist said it could make my tears orange and I didn't want to confuse the Azo dye with possible blood from eyes) although I think you are only to take Azo for two days...and I think person has to tell Dr. giving the Azo if you have diabetes etc. It really can be confusing and stressful having a lot of UTi's... I cant give medical advice of course but I can answer for myself and say yes; some days my own urine test sticks show 'infection' and some days show none - not sure why except they do show microscopic blood if I have had even one Aspirin! It can get complicated, hope you get some relief/answers soon... I have a long history of it all and its very stressful .. also I read a negative urine test can be given even with infection and vice versa so stressful AND confusing! J.

I have had repeated uti infections since may of 2022. The bacteria in the culture is the same each uti incident.. I take all the antibiotics prescribed and rid the infection. 2 weeks later I have an infection again with the same bacteria. This has been going on since MAY. My Dr. Wants me to stay on a low dose of antibiotic hoping to rid the bacteria that’s (stuck) in my bladder for 3 months or longer. I’ve tried cranberry pills, estriodol cream with no success. I’m willing to try this approach, but not too happy with it since this may cause c-diff or resistance to the antibiotic. Anyone here have the same experience and tried something different with success? Thanks,

@minischnauzer and all...Yep! Sounds a lot like my last few years. Last year I had 5 UTIs, all on various antibiotics, some recurred and came back with a roar...never cleared by the previous antibiotic. One I had sepsis and was on IV antibiotics which did a good job of clearing up my body's infection. I was sent to the Infections Disease Department at Mayo and put on an antibiotic daily for ongoing protection. Didn't work. I developed another UTI and then had several antibiotics trying to stop this one. Ckd for C-Diff and no, but still had trouble with each antibiotic tried as UTIs continued.

I now developed my own system for this...I take a probiotic recommended by a Mayo doctor, Progubolin, online at Research Verified website. It has saved me from horrible years of IBD. It worked! NO more IBD issues of any kind...very rarely. So, if I have to take an oral antibiotic, I take 1 probiotic in the morning, take the antibiotics and then take the regular probiotic at night. So, I take 2 daily, instead of the normal 1 daily. If I do develop dia1rrhea, I take
1 or 2 Lomotil tablets and then I'm fine until I finish the antibiotic script. It works! I did ck with the Mayo doc re the double probiotic and he said it was fine under these conditions. I'm kind of proud of myself for figuring out a way to beat the problems all on my own. Amazing the docs never got there before me!

I no longer take a prophylactic antibiotic. I use this system if I need it. Also, I take the UTI supplement from Research Verified. I've had 1 UTI since beginning that daily supplement. ONE! And, it cleared up with a 5-day antibiotic, not the usual 10-day order.
I think I'm on the way to vastly improved years. Hopefully...

I did some research into this company prior to the first order and the doctor's office agreed it was the probiotic they recommended. But, only after using it did I realize what a dear gift I was given. Haven't felt this good and normal in my adult life. So thankful for this insight.

I hope this helps someone with similar issues. May your journey be improved by my sharing my experiences. Blessings. Elizabeth

I had the same problem for 3 months . For 2 treatments it was for 5 days. The last time the Dr prescribed 10 days of the same antibiotic ( that has always worked for me).
I understand the fear of having anti-biotics not work and I am 75, but also it seems to me that 5 days is not always enough for stubborn infections.
I have heard of being on low dose of antibiotics for several months, but not known anyone that has done that.

Thank you Elizabeth….I’m going to try your approach to rid myself of these constant UTI’s…thank you so much for sharing.

I’m now on a daily low dose antibiotic for 3 months…not happy about this at all. Ess77, Elizabeth seems to have figured out a good solution that really works for her, and I’m going to give it a try. I’m 77 and will try anything rather than continue with the low dose antibiotic. Read her post, it may be worth trying for you too. Wish you well!