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Suggest Treatment For UTI And Urinary Incontinence
Question: I am 69 and have urine leakage so I wear disposable pants with a thick pad in to get by. A couple or so weeks ago i got a urinary tract infection which the doctor treated with antibiotics. After the first one the infection came back. She gave me a stronger one which made me feel ill. The doctor said we might not be treating the cause ( I had been told I may have a prolapse and now am waiting to see a specialist).Yesterday I was given Vagifem Estradiol 10 micrograms. I have not started it as the health risks are scarey.I like natural treatments usually but obviously they have to work. I just need something to handle the infection until I get help from the specialist re the maybe prolapse.Can you please help?
Brief Answer:
Few options that you have
Detailed Answer:
Hi
I am Dr Mittal
I have read your query.
I agree completely with your doctor that prolapse may be a source of infection causing your UTI.
I will try to honour your preference of using natural treatments as far as possible.
First, make sure your genital area is clean. Cleaning with running water is usually sufficient to keep normal infections at bay. Soap or betadine is not usually needed, if the water is running.
Second, take plenty of fluids. I am assuming your fluid intake may be low in view of the urinary incontinence problem that you usually have, and which you have mentioned in the query.
Third, cranberry juice is supposed to be very good for uti. It is a very effective preventive agent. I suggest the same to you, unless you are a diabetic.
Fourth, you may continue the antibiotics you have been on till you can meet the specialist.
I also suggest testing a urine culture while you wait for the specialist.
I have tried to make it as natural as possible. PLease feel free to ask a follow up query.
Best of luck
Dr Mittal
Few options that you have
Detailed Answer:
Hi
I am Dr Mittal
I have read your query.
I agree completely with your doctor that prolapse may be a source of infection causing your UTI.
I will try to honour your preference of using natural treatments as far as possible.
First, make sure your genital area is clean. Cleaning with running water is usually sufficient to keep normal infections at bay. Soap or betadine is not usually needed, if the water is running.
Second, take plenty of fluids. I am assuming your fluid intake may be low in view of the urinary incontinence problem that you usually have, and which you have mentioned in the query.
Third, cranberry juice is supposed to be very good for uti. It is a very effective preventive agent. I suggest the same to you, unless you are a diabetic.
Fourth, you may continue the antibiotics you have been on till you can meet the specialist.
I also suggest testing a urine culture while you wait for the specialist.
I have tried to make it as natural as possible. PLease feel free to ask a follow up query.
Best of luck
Dr Mittal
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Dear Doctor Mittal,
Thank you very much for your reply. It's very helpful. I especially didn't realise the importance of drinking. You are right! I drink very little. I will change that.
The other pointers you gave to me are also very good.
I am worried about taking the vagifem estradiol as it can have very bad effects. Did you mean I could take more antibiotics but different from the ones that made me ill until I go to see the specialist about the prolapse? The antibiotics that made me ill worked very well on the uti. The earlier antibiotic wasn't very good as it took a long time to go and came back almost immediately.
If you meant that, for me it would be a good idea as it would avoid having to take the vagifem.
Sincerely, XXXX
Thank you very much for your reply. It's very helpful. I especially didn't realise the importance of drinking. You are right! I drink very little. I will change that.
The other pointers you gave to me are also very good.
I am worried about taking the vagifem estradiol as it can have very bad effects. Did you mean I could take more antibiotics but different from the ones that made me ill until I go to see the specialist about the prolapse? The antibiotics that made me ill worked very well on the uti. The earlier antibiotic wasn't very good as it took a long time to go and came back almost immediately.
If you meant that, for me it would be a good idea as it would avoid having to take the vagifem.
Sincerely, XXXX
Brief Answer:
Suggest urine culture
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for the response.
I will suggest that if you were fine in between, get a urine culture done.
This will tell us exactly which antibiotic is suitable.
And accordingly the antibiotic can be suggested.
And avoid any medicine that makes you uncomfortable.
No need to take antibiotics that were causing side effects.
The spectrum is available.
A urine culture report should take 2-3 days.
so I will suggest get it done as soon as possible.
I hope it clarifies my earlier response.
Please do feel free to contact me for further details.
Thanks again,
Dr Mittal
Suggest urine culture
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for the response.
I will suggest that if you were fine in between, get a urine culture done.
This will tell us exactly which antibiotic is suitable.
And accordingly the antibiotic can be suggested.
And avoid any medicine that makes you uncomfortable.
No need to take antibiotics that were causing side effects.
The spectrum is available.
A urine culture report should take 2-3 days.
so I will suggest get it done as soon as possible.
I hope it clarifies my earlier response.
Please do feel free to contact me for further details.
Thanks again,
Dr Mittal
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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