Health Issues - Seniors

[musical comedy]

Spinning these topics off the progress thread.

I have literally spent the last 7 months researching everything to do with female bladder issues. I read mostly research documents and documents written by Urologists and Microbiologists. I'm not kidding when I say I have become very educated on this topic and know things even my Urologist didn't know. When I get into something, I am relentless in my quest for answers. Add to that I have a good friend that is worse than me at this, and is always forwarding me her research.

Doctors in busy practices do not have time to read all the new research documents out there. It's the same with vets. Another thing is that one has to be very selective about which articles they believe. One needs to check out the author. Much of it is plagerized, some of it comes from naturalpathic quacks, some of it is old, and some of it is just opinion. Even the documents with studies don't usually have enough data to make a good case for what they are trying to prove.

With all that said, I want to comment on urine frequency and incontinence. This is an extremely common thing with women that are menopausal.
As we age and lose estrogen, tissues thin and that starts the atrophy. I have Atrophic Vaginitis and that may or may not have started my UTI's, but I do now use Estrogen cream in spite of the side effects (like cancer).

Josette, if you are in menopause, perhaps that is what is causing your frequency. Your obgyn should have been able to tell if you have a lot of atrophy. This link is very good talking about the symptoms of vaginal atrophy, and frequency and hematuria is one of them. In fact, if you research urinary topics or any health topic, you will find that many diseases and conditions share the same symptoms.

http://bladderhealthcenter.com/yahoo_si ... 131849.pdf

I would bet a lot that you do not have IC. If you do, the bad news is there is no cure. The good news is that it isn't life threatening or really leads to anything that is. I have perused t he IC chat boards. Some of those women have to really watch their diet. No spicy food, no coffee/tea/alcohol, no sugar, etc. etc. Those things cause the urine to burn and bladder pain. Those same food are not good for UTI's either. I was a big time coffee drinker until I got my UTI. I haven't had a sip of any liquid other than water for months. It sucks! I force down 70 ounces every day.

[westisbest]

I use estrogen tabs ie suppository. It improved the ahem environment. I had a UTI for three months couple years ago. Since I started these no problem.

[musical comedy]

I use estrogen tabs ie suppository. It improved the ahem environment. I had a UTI for three months couple years ago. Since I started these no problem.

Are you using Vagifem? For women still sexually active, the inserted tablets and inserted creams are helpful along with helping the dryness and other things. For UTI prevention, Urologists recommending applying the cream to the exterior with just a little bit interior with the finger tip. I've been doing this for 7 months and it has not helped my UTI. 2-3 days after going off an antibiotic, it's back. I've been on antibiotics for 9 months now. I know I still have an infection but the low dose antibiotic keeps me from having really bad symptoms. It's wrecked havoc with my life, really. I'm in a constant state of worry about it and I never feel normal. I've been to two primary care doctors, three urologists, one infectious disease doctor, and I have an appointment this Monday with a new infectious disease doctor. I don't expect anything to come from it. As I said, I've reasearched to death this topic and all I find is many women in a similar boat. There is no answer for some recurring UTI's. The ironic thing about mine is that I never had one in my life until I was 70. Never had a yeast infection ever either. I worry about getting C-Diff and a I worry about antibiotic resistance. But, I am stuck.

[Josette]

MC - I totally agree with the information you posted as I've been reading too now. I do not have any of the pain described for IC but do have some of the menopause symptoms which are very common. I'll know more after I get additional urine tests done and then get appt with a urologist. You are totally CORRECT in that many doctors cannot keep up with the recent research and medical journal information. The urine frequency doesn't bother me as I drink a lot of green tea - I figure input ---> output. So I will see this specialist but I will be armed with information and questions and I will not subject myself to unnecessary testing or medications. What I will do is stop my morning coffee and switch to drinking more water. I've been reading some articles about pre and probiotics to help with pH issues which changes as we age. It makes sense too.

[westisbest]

I use estrogen tabs ie suppository. It improved the ahem environment. I had a UTI for three months couple years ago. Since I started these no problem.

Are you using Vagifem? For women still sexually active, the inserted tablets and inserted creams are helpful along with helping the dryness and other things. For UTI prevention, Urologists recommending applying the cream to the exterior with just a little bit interior with the finger tip. I've been doing this for 7 months and it has not helped my UTI. 2-3 days after going off an antibiotic, it's back. I've been on antibiotics for 9 months now. I know I still have an infection but the low dose antibiotic keeps me from having really bad symptoms. It's wrecked havoc with my life, really. I'm in a constant state of worry about it and I never feel normal. I've been to two primary care doctors, three urologists, one infectious disease doctor, and I have an appointment this Monday with a new infectious disease doctor. I don't expect anything to come from it. As I said, I've reasearched to death this topic and all I find is many women in a similar boat. There is no answer for some recurring UTI's. The ironic thing about mine is that I never had one in my life until I was 70. Never had a yeast infection ever either. I worry about getting C-Diff and a I worry about antibiotic resistance. But, I am stuck.

Yes Vagifem. I'm so sorry that you're going thru this MC. Me too I think I had one decades ago UTI and then never till two years ago. It was E. coli. Then this year after my yearly blood work etc they found pneumonia in my urine I had no symptoms at all of a UTI but had to go on a course of clavulin. No idea how I got that. I was also freaked out and worried but so far it's not returned. Hoping you'll get some answers soon and be rid of this worry.

[Kyra's Mom]

I'm doing pretty well. Occasionally have a dribble but thus far (nearing 62 and 12 years post-menopausal) I am not having a big problem.
My mother (87) had some physical therapy for a back problem and one of the exercises the PT gave her worked wonders for her incontinence. I do that particular exercise from time to time but not all the time. It isn't a Kegel but I am sure works the same pelvic floor muscles. I have been doing it more lately to try and tone my relocated muscles from my tailbone removal.

MC, any info in all your research about the gut biome. Have you been taking a probiotic? Most UTI's in women come from fecal contamination which I am sure, due to the thinning of tissue, makes it more likely as we age. The problem is that research has just started fairly recently and which probiotic might help at least from my knowledge, I can't tell you. But it makes me suspicious since you have been on antibiotics so long that your gut biome has changed and may be contributing to the UTI?

I actually have more problems with occasional fecal leakage which make me fear for UTI's too. It isn't a constant problem and I wish I could figure out what triggers it. Colon surgeon says it is probably because my muscle between the rectum and vagina is thin. I am wondering if my (unnecessary) hysterectomy had anything to do with that? This problem predated the coccygectomy (although fecal incontinence can be a complication). Really no change since the surgery. It just seems that for a week or so, I have problems then it disappears for weeks or months. I hate it when we can't keep contents where they belong .

[musical comedy]

For certain, the E-coli comes from the backend and finds its' way up the urethra. I don't have any leakage, but from what I've read, it takes very little for this bacteria to get there. A splash of water in the toilet bowl can be enough. After my 3rd or so recurrence, I thought perhaps my riding was causing the uti and all the movement in sitting trot was allowing bacteria to get up there. That is why I quit riding for almost 6 months, but that didn't help.

The irony is that there are many unclean women that do not get UTI's. Why are some more suseptible than others? I also wonder since I have been menopausal for 20 years, does the tissue continue to thin? I was extremely healthy until this. I didn't even have a primary care doctor as I didn't need one. I never get colds/flu. I have a good stomach. I don't even have any aches/pains for my age. It's just uncanny.

I am pretty convinced that what is happening with me is that all ecoli are not killed when the abx ends. The ecoli multiply at a miraculous rate; you just wouldn't be how quick! The antibiotics don't claim to kill all the bacteria; it's more like 90% and less for some. I guess the immune system is supposed to get the rest. This is a question I'll asked the infectious disease doctor about. The bacteria are very smart. They 'talk' to each other. Well, not really, but they have a way to communicate such that they hide (biofilm) and they learn not to get killed by antibiotics. (My wording stinks; sorry, but you get the drift).

Of course I've checked out probiotics.
For vaginal/urinary health, I take a product called Optibac which has the strains said to help. https://www.optibacprobiotics.co.uk/shop/for-women
For the gut, I take Florastor. Amazingly I have not had any GI problems. I have found Florastor is a good one to take while
on antibiotics. https://florastor.com/products/
I take a vaginal probiotic suppository called Purfem that balances the good flora that is lost if taking abx. http://femininehealthreviews.com/purfem ... s-it-work/
I take a cranberry type supplement, Ellura with 36pac.
I tried D-Mannose only once and it upset my stomach. A lot of women claims it cures/prevents UTI's but I'm skeptical.

The only antibiotic that caused me problems was Bactrim. I lost 10 pounds quickly. I just could not eat. A great diet drug.

[Fatcat]

I have IC (interstitial cystitis) or I should say HAD, as it's now cured. So there is a cure, and before I started the medicine which has sent IC packing, it was managed very well with diet (google books on IC diet). Don't dispair if you've got a diagnosis of IC, there's a med now that's used off label at very low doses that will heal it, (and other autoimmune diseases). Both my IC and my lupus are in the rearview mirror now after decades of pain and suffering.