UTI or urinary retention and inhalers

I often think that doctors don't really know enough about these meds. I've been on trelegy for years. I still struggle with breathing. I wish I knew the answer.

Hi there, @lisalucier, @barbharps very sorry for the late reply.
Yes, the Trelagy was the cause of the bladder pain, etc., and the pulmonologist I was seeing was not helping me, so I found a new pulmonologist that I really like and is much more aggressive in treating my asthma. We went over my history and did some tests and based on the outcomes (it seems I also have bronchiectasis) she put me on Advair HFA 230-21 mcg. It has helped a lot, but I'm still getting breakthroughs. The next step is getting me on Dupixent that I will start on in the next week or two. I'm hopeful this will work, but I'm a little concerned about possible side effects, so I'll just have to see how it goes.

@still4writin, unfortunately I don't think there are any easily affordable inhalers. I've lost count of the various ones I've been on. They either did not work for me or presented side effects that did not resolve. Good luck with finding one that work for you.

Ask doctor to consider giving her methenamine. It is a UTI prevention, and not antibiotic. It has helped me go down to maybe one or two infections a year. I drink very little pop and coffee now, and before giving in to some now and then I drink a whole glass of water, The bladder must be pampered to not be inflamed and with children this should easier than adults. Drug also goes by Hiprex, but very low priced generically.
Good luck.

I do not use inhaler, however I do have recurrent UTIs and am now using an antiseptic, not antibiotic, preventive called methenamine twice daily and it works. I also cut back drastically on diet coke and coffee, drinking whole glass of water prior to the pop and coffee. It goes by Hiprex as a brand name. Very inexpensive generic. I'd give it a shot if I were you, you probably do need the inhaler. Lots of water all day long is key.
Good luck!!!

Hi, @labloverfl - just wondering how things are going with your inhalers? What did the doctor make of your bladder pain and urinary frequency -- was it linked to inhaler use?

@barbharps, did you find out if your inhaler was connected to the incontinence and UTI frequency?

@still4writin - I have also found the cost of inhalers painful. I have two plus a rescue inhaler for my asthma. I've not yet found any that controlled my symptoms well and were affordable. We've just had to adjust our insurance selections accordingly to account for the inhaler costs. Did your pulmonologist have a suggestion for an inhaler that would be affordable and not mess up your bladder?

Just have to ask! How is your fluid intake......extremely important. Acidic fluids if tolerated, like cranberry juice can be helpful or there are cranberry tablets as well. Curious to know, have any of the physiciansdiagnosed why you are having all these UTIs? The medication in the inhalers called anticholinergics can cause urinary hesitancy so don't be surprised if it takes a little longer to initiate flow. Drink fluids!!!!!!!

'm 85 years old and have had UTI's for many, many years. I cannot use Bactrim because I'm on warfarin for DVT"s. So far Amoxicilin has worked for me. I would start another UTI around a month after the last one. (sometimes sooner) FINALLY I came across a senior forum about UTI's and D-MANNOSE (i use AZO brand) and since starting it, I haven't had a UTI this year which has never happened before. People swear by this and now I do too. I also have Asthma and COPD and on Symbicort twice a day and Albuterol for flare ups. Once in a while I have a problem with a sore mouth (thrush) and then I rinse with baking soda and water and it goes away after two rinses. I did notice an increase in UTI after starting Albuterol some years ago but D-Mannose has taken care of that. I also have a rinse bottle I use every time I go potty. I put a squirt of peroxide in a pint bottle of water. I'm saving up to have a Bidet installed. I did get tired of being asked if I wipe front to back though.

Just diagnosed w/asthma & COPD (stage 2) & very worried about UTIs.
Had them chronically for 7 yrs. Know that if you go to medical facility over possible UTI they must do a culture WITH SENSITIVITY. The culture identifies the bacteria. The SENSITIVITY tells what will kill it. Needed because too many antibiotic-resistant strains nowadays. I kept getting e coli resistant to everything but Cephalosporins, follow-up UTI of pseudomonas/klebsiella aruginosa - susceptible to everything BUT Cephalosporins. Then 500 mg of Keflex 3x/day for 10 days failed to kill the e coli. Luckily the ER doc gave me a shot of Rocephin, a 3d generation Cephalosporin, which killed the e coli, and a walkin gave me Keflex to kill the pseudomonas.
I already have interstitial cystitis, a urinary disease w/no cure, & the UTIs were killing me. I went back to my distant IC specialist & he fixed me in 1 visit - put me on Hiprex. It prevents (but does not cure) UTIs. Didn't know there was such a drug! Life-changing for me.
After a test using an Albuterol nebulizer I feared I was getting a UTI. Never using that again. Too big a risk. And pulmonologist prescribed steroid inhaler but over $500!!! Trying to find one that's affordable that won't mess up my bladder.

I have just started using Trilogy for what my pulminologist prescribed for asthma. At the same time I have had UTI. The pulmonologist is now looking for another reason for the "asthma." I will have an echocardiogram and stress test and then a CT. In the past year I have been diagnosed with heart arrhythmia. I'm seeing my general practitioner Monday to determine if my incontinence and UTI and he will refer me to a urologist - for possible surgery for the UTI frequencey -have had 3 in this year.
Meanwhile - I am wondering if all of these issues could be related to long term COVID and if using Trilogy may be causing these symptoms.

Thank you for the follow up.

Have a great afternoon.

Jim