Recurrent bladder infections - how to deal?

Submitted by aprile on April 19, 2006 - 8:01pm
Body: 

Hi Christine,

Many blessings to you on the opening of the Whole Woman Center! The place looks just gorgeous and you looked so happy & radiant cutting the ribbon at the door! I haven't posted in a while and have a question. I've had three recurrent bladder infections (3 months in a row). Actually, I'm on my third one right now. Ouch! Each time I get one, my doctor prescribes Cipro, because that's what seems to work best for me. I know that I may not always be emptying my bladder completely each time. Would you say that taking D-Mannose every day just once a day should be sufficient to keep these infections away? Also, when you speak about the different ways of emptying the bladder completely -- do you mean every time you urinate you must be dilligent about doing this? Sometimes I feel like my bladder is empty -- only to return to the bathroom a short while later to go again. I am getting so frustrated with these returning infections, but I do understand the reason it is happening. Thanks so much for your support and help. It truly amazes me how you find the time to answer almost every post while running your center and everything. Take good care, April

Christine

April 20, 2006 - 8:55am

Dear April,

I’m sorry to hear about the recurrent UTIs. It really speaks to the heart of so much that is misguided in our modern medical culture. I don’t have any answers for you but can only encourage you to look beyond magic bullet cures and begin to see your body more as it truly is: a vibrant, stable salt-water pond with streams flowing in and out. Your body contains vast populations of many living organisms, in ratios that keep you in healthy, living balance. A UTI is simply a call to bring the whole system into balance once again, not try to nuke some random bacteria that normally resides in the vicinity anyway.

Cipro, a quinolone, is a very powerful drug with side effects that some sources say can be extreme and irreversible: “All quinolones cause erosion of cartilage in weight-bearing joints”, www.prostatitis.org/ciproeffects.html It is also known to cause spontaneous rupture of tendons such as the Achilles tendon.

The best resource I know of that teaches how best to deal with chronic UTI is Susan Weed’s Menopausal Years. She talks about how to check the pH of your urine and what to take to bring the whole system into balance. It’s much more work to address our health in this way, but so worth the effort. I’m dealing with something kind of similar – a so-called autoimmune disorder – and am learning it’s all about my microbial system needing greater balance and have refused the toxic drugs my doctor told me would be the only “cure.”

Your system has been very disrupted by the drug and you may need more help at this point than this simple advice.

God bless, April, and please keep us posted on your progress.

Christine

p.s. The all-fours position is a pain, but it places the bladder back into position for complete emptying. I’d say once or twice a day should be sufficient.

AnnW

April 20, 2006 - 9:53am

Hi Christine, I'm curious to know what you think of D-Mannose. April, I wish you the best of luck on this journey and hope you heal soon.
Ann

louiseds

April 20, 2006 - 10:06am

Aprile, your poor darling. Month after month. It really gets to you. I had a simillar period of time some months back. After so many antibiotics I think my body was really out of kilter. The third time it happened (sudden urgency and slight burning which usually means I will be in a bad way if not treated quickly) I decided to just wait half a day. It was Sunday anyway, and the doctor was not open. Monday dawned and it had gone away. I think in retrospect I was getting the same symptoms as a UTI, but it might have just been the time of the month when everything sags a bit, and getting myself into a position where my urethra was out of place or something. It was a really distressing feeling, but it went away by itself. Mind you this was before I learnt about Wholewoman posture.

If you have repeat infections I think it is a good idea to have swabs taken to identify the bugs that are there, and do it again afterwards. There are lots of different bacteria and fungi. It is not just e.coli and candida albicans. Perhaps the Cipro is not working very well, just reducing the infection so it comes back again a month later.

I agree with Christine about your body being out of balance in some way. If you need a drug, just make sure it is not going to unbalance your system any more. I have found a multi-factor approach has worked for me. Taking a good quality probiotic daily for a couple of months, using a vitamin E cream each day after a shower and as a lubricant for sex helps to prevent inflammation and calm it down if it does happen. Change knickers several times a day if necessary to stay perfectly dry and clean for a few days/weeks. Sleep without knickers, and go without knickers whenever you can. Be careful not to aggravate the area with excess penetrative sex or rough foreplay. Green tea might help, and cut down coffee. Use an acidic gel occasionally in the vagina if you feel there might be some fungi afoot. Dry well after a shower. Above all, maintain your Wholewoman posture, eat well, rest enough and just take good care of yourself.

If you can just look after your genital area very carefully for a few weeks it may get its own balance back. I have occasional times now when I feel a bit irritated round the urethral opening, so I just pamper my pussy for a few days, keep up the Vitamin E cream, and it always seems to get better.

We become very accustomed to applying creams, taking herbs and supplements and using prescription drugs, hoping they will take away our ills just like magic.

Sometimes we can do more harm than good. Sometimes they work. I think our bodies just need to be left alone sometimes to find their own balance again.

Hope you are feeling better soon, and that there might be something in my post that will help.
Cheers

Louise

Christine

April 20, 2006 - 10:25am

It sounds pretty innocuous and also effective at dislodging, not killing, bacteria from the urinary tract. Some women here have used it with succes, but I don't know much more about it.

aprile

April 20, 2006 - 11:41am

Hi Christine, Louise & Ann,

Thanks so much for the quick answers and support!

Actually, I received a package of D-Mannose late in the day yesterday that I ordered from a compounder in Illinois. I previously tried the Clear Tract UTI D-Mannose, and it was okay, but not all that potent. I order UTI Edge this time made by the compounder. So, yesterday afternoon I pounded myself with the
D-Mannose, drank plenty of water, so much so that I had to go to bed really late in order to pee it all out! I also took some over the counter stuff called Uristat to ease the burning and put a warm therabeads heating pad on my lower abdomen for comfort while I doze off to sleep. Today I feel much, much better. I am easing off the coffee too. I know I'm addicted to the lift, even though I (usually) :) only drink one large cup a day. I also feel that my body is very affected by too many carbs (even if they are good ones) and not enough veggies, fruits and proteins. I get buzy and lazy, get off the good eating program and suffer the consequences and then look to the medical profession for the "quick fix". Thank you Christine, I really appreciate your driving home the antibiotic message too. I did know that excessive use of antibiotics can mess up your system, however, I didn't realize how different Cipro was from others I've used in the past to treat UTI. But, what I realized after reading both of your answers is how I really have been neglecting myself. I haven't kept up with my exercise (and my 8-yr. old son is off school this week), I've not eaten enough good stuff (greens, fruit, etc.), forgotten to take my probiotics, and haven't nearly drank enough water, mainly drank just coffee and juice. So....I really had this one coming -- especially after taking the antibiotic two months in a row. Thanks for all the tips Louise -- you certainly have got the bases covered! I am on my second pair of knickers today!!! Ha! And I truly wish you well Christine with your condition -- you need support too! {{HUGS your way}} You know, no offense, but it truly amazes me how our medical profession always seems to come up with an obscure label for conditions which they cannot "cure" with a prescription drug. At least you have the knowledge to seek answers outside the box as to what is going on with you. I am sure you will find an answer. Thanks again for everyones support -- don't know quite what I'd do without this loving site! Be well, April

mommi2three

April 20, 2006 - 3:59pm

Did you try eating watermelon? Seems to alleviate the dehydrated and anxiousness from uti's for me. Give it a try, it's more fruit for the diet! Try eating a good size portion when symptoms are really bad. Feel better.

UKmummy

April 20, 2006 - 6:13pm

Hi Mommi2three,
I think of you often...............................how have you been?
Hugs,
Michelle.

aprile

April 20, 2006 - 6:43pm

Hi Michelle,

Actually, I've been pretty good other than the recurring bladder infections! The cystocele really hasn't bothered me that much. I've had much success using the sea sponges to alleviate the pressure which caused me so much distress! So how are you doing Michelle? Have you found some good ways to alleviate your symptoms? Thanks for the watermelon tip -- I will check that out when they are back in the stores! I love watermelon (& they satisfy my sweettooth), but don't see it in the market right now (I live in NY.) When you have an infection brewing it's not good to feed the bacteria with sugar, but so hard to abstain!! Hope you are feeling well and dealing with your situation has become easier for you. Be well, April

mommi2three

April 20, 2006 - 9:35pm

Thank you so much Michelle. :) I am really hanging in there. Still doing my posture standing and sitting. I think I can really feel the difference now b/c my prolapses have gotten worse from yet another cold from my kids. I can't lean back on the couch anymore b/c my rectocele just doesn't like it. :)o I am also doing some kegels in the standing posture just to help with the urinary frequency. So with all that I do hope to gain some stability when I am cold free!!

Thinking of you too and many hugs across the net! Can't believe that you are 3 months PP already?? Oh, enjoy the moments when they are so young and you can hold them close. Time flies. My youngest is 16 months now and she is so independent already. It helps me that she doesn't want to be picked up all the time. But I secretly miss all that. :)

rosewood

April 21, 2006 - 12:02am

gosh I can relate to the cold thing! I've got pre walking pneumonia, and have been hacking up a storm for a week. These terrible coughing spells. Definitely pushing things down, no matter how well I try to posture and cough. can't be done all the time! Tips from you? Definitely bulgier than usual. Does it get better?

Marie

PS glad to see you back

UKmummy

April 21, 2006 - 9:49am

I am very glad Mommi2three, I admire your courage and strength greatly!! I know you have been having a hard time with the prolapses and your busy life. I can so relate to the anxiety and despondency this can bring with it at times. I hope that you are taking some time for yourself.
I am SO enjoying these sweet days with my baby and already wishing they would last longer but I feel so grateful to have two lovely little girls. It is strange how us Mums so often want time to stop when they are this little..........my husband just does not get this concept at all! :) Take care.
Michelle xx

mommi2three

April 21, 2006 - 1:01pm

Well, i think the first 3 bad colds from this season taught me to do what I can to decrease the coughing. This time around I took cold medicines round the clock. I still have to cough up the mucus and that is not easy on the prolapses but at least it wasn't as bad as the chronic hacking that lasted days and days. You should see the doc if you think you have pneumonia. Maybe you need stronger drugs to help you quicker.

I was taking over the counter meds like Mucinex (for the coughing and mucus) and Sudefed. Then I just drank alot of liquids. The first few days is always the hardest with the fevers, headsinus congestion etc. So I wasn't aware of not eating right and aggravated my rectocele.

I don't think my prolapses would have gotten this bad if I didn't have all these colds. It's a doozy on the behind! Literally! :)o

I just want to do everything right all the time! :)o Take care of yourself while you are sick. Get any help you can with the kids. I think just plain old sleep can be the best remedy.

aprile

April 21, 2006 - 2:26pm

Hi Mommi,

You know, if I'm not mistaken, you seem to have these coughing spells a lot. I seem to remember reading a post before that you were coughing alot, no? Just curious if you've ever been checked for asthma? I was so surprised to find out that all of the sudden at age 44 I had asthma. I always had allergies, but then all of the sudden after a bout with bronchitis -- it turned into asthma. I am just mentioning this because you have to deal with the repurcusions of the constant coughing and it's affect on your prolapse. Often times, we don't know that while coughing we are actually wheezing (especially when we don't know what wheezing is like :). Violent coughing with lots of mucous could also be a case of bronchitis. I would get yourself to a doctor to check this out, especially with all the extra mucous you mention (that is suspect to me). He can write you a script for an inhaler so you won't be coughing so violently while you are sick. Also, when in bed, put a pillow UNDER your mattress to lift your upper back off the bed a bit so that the mucous doesn't lay in your chest. That works really well for me, plus you don't fall off the pillows you have stacked up. Just a thought....be well Mommi! Take good care, April

mommi2three

April 21, 2006 - 7:40pm

Yes, you are so right! I have childhood asthma that acts up when i get colds. They always turn into nasal respiratory colds. My family have recently given masks to wear when my kids bring home those germs! I do have to remember to use my Advair b/c it helps. I was using nebulizer treatments this time too. My kids have the asthma bronchitis colds and i get so wrapped up in taking care of them and making sure they are doing treatments that i usually forget about myself. This time I think i took a few days off from the typical length of cough time by doing all these things for me.

I am soooo scared now to be sick. It sure has a terrible affect on my prolapses. My vaginal area throbs from the coughing sometimes.

Too bad I just can't keep my kids home from school b/c of germs! Thanks for the tips Aprile. Much love and hugs to all the women here. :)