Just got up to go to the bathroom to find I have another water infection 
Awful pain when having a wee. That's 4 water infections in two weeks!! Can't take it. But I'm scared of the HRT side effects too! Don't know what to do. Feel like I am backed into a corner. I've had 4 lots of antibiotics in the last two weeks. Going to have to get another but its not easy on a Sunday. Only other answer is to risk HRT because whilst it didn't really help with the Vaginal soreness, I think it did stop the water infections. Clearly the lubricant hasn't done a lot to help. Don't want the infection to go to my false hip. Scared scared scared!!!
Oh Shirley, I'm so sorry to hear this! I feel so sorry for you! I used to get those before I had the children but having those seemed to sort out a weakness in anatomy that was causing them. You need to be able to keep a pack of antibiotics in stock to deal with this as soon as it arises. I'd speak to your GP and explain that situation. I actually bought a pack of metronidazole to keep in stock here because I'd had a gum infection and had a hell of a job to get the antibiotics quickly. It was only my very nice pharmacy giving them to me on the promise of the prescription from my dentist when I got it through! SO I bought a pack online from a safe company I know. But I really think your GP should give you a prescription to keep there. Mine did this in the past before I changed GP's. But you need to get help on this so you're not having to resort to antibiotics and it doesn't keep flaring up. I know there are all the suggestions like cranberry etc. but this is only wondering now and not based on anything, but it might be worth finding out - are the antibiotics really getting rid of the infection or just reducing it enough to stop symptoms, and then flaring up again? Is there a different antibiotic that might work better. I don't know what you're using, but it might be worth searching online best antibiotics for urine infections and I'm wondering if there may even be a specialist group on these sites where you might get more information. I hope you can get something today though and feel better soon. It's horrible:-(
Shirley, what I'm air to tell you has worked, NOT only for me, but several of my friends, too. I don't know where I found it but it saved me a lot of time, money and PAIN. I used one half spoon of BAKING SODA IN SIX OUNCES OF WATER and swallowed it down. From what I understand it turns our system from acid to alkaline almost instantly. If one of us had A REALLY GOOD sex night, we'll drink this BEFORE we go to bed. A few of us are very sensitive to urinary tract Infections and this seems to stop them. We also drink a lot of water for the next day or so, just to keep our system flushed.
I hope this helps. You just never know. If anybody takes antibiotics, you need to supplement with Acidophilus, either in pill form or eating yogurt. If you end up with a yeast infection, it won't hurt to put some around the vagina and labia. I promise it'll kill the itching and burning, Instantly. Good luck!!
Aunt Chevy, I've so glad you posted that for Shirley. Mine used to be after sex too! What a brilliant idea that is, and I SO ohpe it works quickly for Shirley too. Will she still need the antibiotics now to clear it or will that sort it without needing antibiotics? Sorry Shirley, I should be leaving this for YOU to ask, but I'm excited for you, reading this:-)
Thanks Chris, for the positive feed back. No, I don't think she'll need those antibiotics. This little trick has NEVER FAILED me or anyone I know, that's used it. I wish I could remember where I found it. I went searching because my Dr sent me for an IVP after infections re-occurred within a week of stopping antibiotics. My grandma was a country witch doctor and I've always leaned toward natural cures. I can honestly say, this ONE WORKS! Thanks again!
Don't thank me - it you who needs to be thanked! Having had problems like this before I had my children, I SO feel for those in that situation and to have an answer like that, that all makes sense - I can imagine so many people finding relief with this! It really should be made known everywhere and anywhere. I'm just going to email a friend who I THINK has these problems, and ask, and pass on the info too:-))))
Did you try Vitimin E capsuls and just squeeze out the gel and rub it all around. Vitimin E is so friendly and so gentle for the soreness. Start drinking organic cranberry juice from the health food stood, it is really good at keeping urinary track infections at bay. I would be more scared of HRT then I would of Vitimin E natural vitimin. You have had so many antiibiotics your body is going to become amuned to them. Thats what happens and why doctors don't really like to prescribe antiobiotics. You can also try having mild epson salt baths as well. They really heal up inside as well. Just not too much epson salt during each sitting.
Blessings to you
Lynn
Using backing soda as well is good mixed with water in the as well. I have heard of people using that mixture as well. Like Aunt Chevy mentioned, a baking soda mix has proved to be helpful too. Try anything natural before you have to be forced to take the unnatural route.
Lynn
Hi everyone, Thanks for your comments, info and ideas re my UTI's. Much appreciated. However, I have now read that baking soda isn't necessarily the answer, I only wish it was. They are saying that it just masks the symptoms of the UTI so you think it's gone, only for it to come back worse than ever later. But I do appreciate you thinking of me and telling me what you think is a good idea.
As for Vit E Capsules Lynn yes I have used them and will continue to do so, but they don't stop the infections as they have no hormones in them. They are really soothing though, I agree. Chris00938, That is a good idea of yours, to get some antibiotics to keep at home in case I got another infection. The antibiotics are working. It's just that right now I'm not using HRT cream or pessaries, and when I was, I never got the UTI's. Sadly more frequent UTI's are a symptom of Vaginal Atrophy. And that's what I am suffering with. And yes Lynn, I am definitely more scared of the HRT than the Vit E Capsules but the Vit E Capsules don't keep the infection away, the HRT does. The Vit E just deals with the soreness. So I will be using it again. I would definitely use something none hormonal to stop my infections but in all honesty, I doubt very much I will find anything that can do that.
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Hi Shirley
Poor you. If you've never suffered with this you cannot believe the pain. I had sex yesterday and am burning up today thankfully it is a vagifem day so am hoping it eases.
Buchu and Cornsilk that I use which is a herbal remedy for urinary tracts and contains all sorts of natural products. When I started with VA and was in agony with peeing etc I used it every day but now just couple of times a week. Think it keeps the insides less acidic. You could buy the stuff yourself and make your own.
I;ve just ordered some and also some Hydranga capsules that again are for urinary.
Personally I think once the VA is severe then you have to take some form of HRT. At my worst I could not have continued to function.
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Hi Shirley ,I've got Pudental Neuralgia ,that goes through to the front ,feels like internal AV ,might want to check that out .Glad I did .i find it painful to sit ,stand ,and always have that Gyne AV feeling ,been this way 9 yrs until I found out about PN .one time I thought it 2 seperate issues ,until I looked into it further ,Sciatica will also affect Gyne parts .Dony know if this of any help .Soreness a big yes as well .
There is one more natural remedy that the ladies may want to google to check it out. It is organic honey from the health food store. Apparently this honey is moist in the vagina area and heals bacterial infections, such as yeast infections for example. You would have to do more research to read the benfits of raw honey inside the vagina area. Of course always make sure you are not allergic to honey. I read that is it used all the time for bad wounds etc as well. Have a look and see what you can find about this natural remedy for the vagina.
Blessings to all
Lynn
Hi Shirley...... I must confess I think of myself as Queen of UTIs
as I always seemed to be taking antibiotics.
I suffered terrible pain after having sex to the point that I
stopped sex altogether for fear of yet again having to go to the
Dr for more antibiotics. Last October a new Dr talked about HRT
and like you I was worried about side effects so she suggested
Vagifem as it a topical form and doesn't go into the blood
stream. Must admit I'm not having sex to often as I'm still
nervous of getting more infections but things do seem to feel
better...infact a first I couldn't insert the Vagifem pessary with
out feeling very sore.... I also use a lubricant product thats
natural called Sylk which also works quite well.
I'm hoping that I'll be able to return to a "normal" sex life as I feel sorry for Hubby.... just have to get over feeling uptight and
nervous even before anything happens.
I also keep a bottle of Potassium Citrate Mixture in the cupboard
....cost £2.00 ish... which is for cystitis and mild UTIs for times
when that familiar tingle starts.
Please, please, don't do what I did, and take your doctors word for it that it doesn't go into the blood stream. READ the online vagifem site. If you then choose to still use it, you've made an informed decision, at least.
There's something important I should have added here. Anyone who uses any form of HRT, whether it's topical or sytemic, needs to know if they have a closed cervix, because if you do, then you don't get the symptom of bleeding from the uterus that is the first sign of endometrial (womb) cancer. Because of various ops (fibroids etc.) my cervix was closed and it was only because of bleeding when my GP didn't use the correct procedure to insert a ring pessary for prolapse, so there was abrasion against the cervix that caused bleeding, that I got sent for a scan to see where the bleeding was coming from and that's when they discovered there was blood/fluid in the uterus and thickening.
Chris, I am glad you are warning the ladies to do their homework. Too many of us do not do research before we use something on our bodies or in our bodies. Once someone is informed and is willing to take the risk of the side affects etc then at least they are acting on an informed decision. Just because a doctor recommends something does not mean it is going to be perfect or work for everyone in the same manner.
Blessings to you
Lynn
You are so right there Lynn! It's worrying just how much responsibility you have to take for your own medical problems. At the end of the day, you find out what you can about anything prescribed, weigh up the benefits and possible risks, and make your decision, but it does need to be an informed decision, and unfortunately you just don't get that information from a doctor! You should, but you don't.
Oh Shirley, I am so sorry about the constant urinary infections. I often feel that I have an infection and there is no infection at all! I take D-Mannose tablets every morning and evening to help prevent infection and it seems to be working. I still get discomfort but it isn't as often. When I do have discomfort though it sure seems like I have an infection. I double up on the D-Mannose and it really seems to help. D-Mannose is a white powder that is the same sugar as in cranberries. Bacteria in the bladder sticks to the d-mannose and is washed out of the body when you wee. The urologist that I saw told me that they recommend that for his patients all the time. I was using it before I ever saw him ... it has been completely safe for me - no side effects whatsoever. And it has really helped me with the infection problem. I, like you, was getting them so often it was scary. If you would rather, you can take cranberry capsules - it will do the same thing and should help you. Drinking cranberry juice does not work as well at all. You just can't drink enough of it for it to work (that is what I have read anyway.) Sure hope you find something that helps you besides the constant antibiotics. Also, if you are not taking probiotics, I really recommend that you start. All the antibiotics will cause you to get vaginal infections because they remove the good bacteria in your gut along with the bad bacteria. It is a vicious cycle. Sending you a hug because I have been there - more often than I like to remember. The d-mannose is working for me and I completely believe that the probiotics are critical to my overhealth.
Shirley i used to get bladder infections all the time as regurlar as clockwork in my younger years, turned out to be not infections but the contraseptive pill, as oon as i stopped taking them and became pregnant it all cleared up.
Later on in the pre menapausal stage it all came back again, felt like infections but never was. I tried the waterfall D mannose which helped alot and i took some every evening as a preventary but noticed lower pelvic pain over my bladder every morning on waking up. this stuff is very exspensive, in the end i tried the vagifem and i found i know longer needed to take the mannose but as Chris has mentioned about using this with an open cervix can cause problems, i presume my cervix is after having 5 kids? any how true enough using these pesseries caused me to bleed again and i ended up having scans to check the lining of my womb hadnt thickened, luckily it hadnt. So i end up having to stop using vegifem as well. Now left with a zero sex life but no more UTI, my discomfort was mainly in the urethal area. As also said taking lots of antibiotics not only damages your immune system but leaves you open for another attack of a UTI and its true our bodys become antibiotic resistant after a while, so id try the Mannose or the baking soda which is far cheaper. Drink plenty of water as well, especially after having sex. Oh and yes taking probitics helps to.
Hope you manage to sort this as i know how uncomfortable and painfull this can be and wears one down too with continuous attacks.
Sue
shirley, without a doubt you have everyone's sympathy. Sounds dreadful. The only thing I can recommend is this. In the US if we have a chronic health problem like daibetes health insurance companies can provide you with assistance re care. They may be nurses or some sort of advocate. I have never had to use the service, but I have noticed it in the literature. Is there anything of that sort in the UK? You are having to navigate a complicated terrain. If it isn't an option can you go for a second opinion? In the meantime I think I would start those D mannose pills that are made from cranberries. Also google to see if changing your diet might help. And do drink fluids. best of luck.