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Suggest Treatment For UTI
Question: Hi Dr. Grief. I have a lingering UTI over about 5 weeks. It started out 2 weeks after a quadruple therapy for H. Pylori. My naturpathic docter put me on Probiotics, herbs for killing candida and Cranberry/buchu. I was getting better but not cured. After 4 weeks taking the yeast killer herbs I stopped them because my digestive system worked properly. Within a week my UTI flared up badly. I tried 2 antibiotics. The first one I was allergic to, the second one seemed to work initially, but after the second dose the pain came back. Don't know what to do next.
Brief Answer:
Get urine tested...
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I have gone through your medical history and there are 2 things to be pointed out:
1. the lingering UTI started 2 weeks after a quadruple therapy for H.pylori but not cured.
2. When you stopped probiotics and herbal supplements, and tried antibiotics again, the pain came back.
So, according to your saying, I am suspecting yeast overgrowth due to antibiotic use. The quadruple therapy for H.pylori contains 2 or 3 antibiotics and 1 PPIs or ranitidine or both.
Now, I usually advise my patients to run urine analysis and urine culture and sensitivity testing to determine the type of infection and right antibiotic to use (sensitive).
Next, I also think you might be having vaginal problems too (itching, pain, etc.). So, I advise to rune vaginal swab testing to evaluate the situation there. You should keep a good genital hygiene, use gentle intimate cleansers and applying cream or ovules containing probiotics locally.
Systemic anti-fungal drug is also necessary upon the testing results.
I also advise to:
- drink more water
- avoid foods high in sugar
- start probiotics again
- take herbal supplements for UTI for at least 3 months without stopping them although the symptoms will improve.
Hope it helped! Let me know if you have further questions!
Dr.Albana
Get urine tested...
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I have gone through your medical history and there are 2 things to be pointed out:
1. the lingering UTI started 2 weeks after a quadruple therapy for H.pylori but not cured.
2. When you stopped probiotics and herbal supplements, and tried antibiotics again, the pain came back.
So, according to your saying, I am suspecting yeast overgrowth due to antibiotic use. The quadruple therapy for H.pylori contains 2 or 3 antibiotics and 1 PPIs or ranitidine or both.
Now, I usually advise my patients to run urine analysis and urine culture and sensitivity testing to determine the type of infection and right antibiotic to use (sensitive).
Next, I also think you might be having vaginal problems too (itching, pain, etc.). So, I advise to rune vaginal swab testing to evaluate the situation there. You should keep a good genital hygiene, use gentle intimate cleansers and applying cream or ovules containing probiotics locally.
Systemic anti-fungal drug is also necessary upon the testing results.
I also advise to:
- drink more water
- avoid foods high in sugar
- start probiotics again
- take herbal supplements for UTI for at least 3 months without stopping them although the symptoms will improve.
Hope it helped! Let me know if you have further questions!
Dr.Albana
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you Dr. Albana for your advice. Today I could see into part of my urinalysis
Appearance: slightly cloudy, Glucose:neg.,Bilirubin:neg.,Ketones:neg.,Specific Gravity: 1012, ph: 5.5, Blood, Urine Semi-Quantitavie: +1,Protein, Urine Semi-Quantitative:+1, Nitrite, Urine Semi-Quantitative: pos., Leukocyte Esterase: 3+, Urobilinogen:3.0, Erythrocytes Urine sediment:25, Leukocytes light microscopy: 226, Leukocyte Clumps light microscopy: occasional, Epithelial Cells light microscopy: few, Mucus light microscopy: present, Calcium Oxalate Crystals light microscopy: moderate.
I am terrified that I have to go on antibiotics again, because they messed things up in the first place. I never stopped the probiotics, just the herbal yeast killer. That's when the UTI flared up again. Any comments to my Urin result are appreciated. I am still waiting for the culture. I am back on the herbal yeast killer and habe ordered the probiotics suppositories. Looking forward to your answer. XXXX
Appearance: slightly cloudy, Glucose:neg.,Bilirubin:neg.,Ketones:neg.,Specific Gravity: 1012, ph: 5.5, Blood, Urine Semi-Quantitavie: +1,Protein, Urine Semi-Quantitative:+1, Nitrite, Urine Semi-Quantitative: pos., Leukocyte Esterase: 3+, Urobilinogen:3.0, Erythrocytes Urine sediment:25, Leukocytes light microscopy: 226, Leukocyte Clumps light microscopy: occasional, Epithelial Cells light microscopy: few, Mucus light microscopy: present, Calcium Oxalate Crystals light microscopy: moderate.
I am terrified that I have to go on antibiotics again, because they messed things up in the first place. I never stopped the probiotics, just the herbal yeast killer. That's when the UTI flared up again. Any comments to my Urin result are appreciated. I am still waiting for the culture. I am back on the herbal yeast killer and habe ordered the probiotics suppositories. Looking forward to your answer. XXXX
Brief Answer:
Following interpretation;can you send full report?
Detailed Answer:
Hi back XXXXXXX
I would appreciate if you can upload the test report, so I can have a look at it and analyze it myself.
With regards to your urine test, I can say as following:
- appearance is slightly cloudy: my thoughts go for possible urinary tract infection or vaginal infection. Urine culture and vaginal swab testing would determine it.
- glucose was negative: perfectly, you do not have sugar problems
- bilirubin, ketones were negative: perfect
- pH 5,5 : acidic (indicates infection or concentrated urine)
- Blood (semi-quantitative analysis): I should have a look at the reference range first. Different labs have different reference ranges to understand the results.
As the erythrocytes are encountered high (25), then, the presence of blood is confirmed. The cause might be laceration of urinary pathways due to infection, stones or sludge.
- protein (+1): still need to have the reference range. If protein positive, then, protein is present in urine indicating for damages to kidney (most probably to infection of glomerules or sludge, micro-stones)
- nitrite positive : indicative for the presence of bacteria causing UTI (that change nitrate to nitrite)
- Leukocyte esterase (3+) is an enzyme for detecting leukocytes in urine. Its presence is indicative for infection too. Furthermore, the microscopic examination did encounter 226 leukocytes, confirming infection.
- urobilinogen is a substance formed by the breakdown of bilirubin. Its presence in urine is a sign of liver disease. I should have the reference range of the lab to get the final conclusions.
- the moderate amount of calcium oxalate crystals is indicative for stones (explaining why you are having that amount of blood in urine).
The rest is ok.
At this point, I suggest to take an immediate appointment with a nephrologist to evaluate your kidney function and the presence of kidney stones or sludge.
Next, it is necessary you should start antibiotic based on culture reports (do not get terrified of the idea) You are going to use them to fight infection. I think you should do regular follow ups with nephrologist for a longer time too.
I also advise my patients to use herbal supplements for UTI and stones. You can try them at the same time with antibiotics. They can be used for longer periods than antibiotics.
Hope it helped! Looking forward to have a copy of the urine analysis report.
Thank you!
Dr.Albana
Following interpretation;can you send full report?
Detailed Answer:
Hi back XXXXXXX
I would appreciate if you can upload the test report, so I can have a look at it and analyze it myself.
With regards to your urine test, I can say as following:
- appearance is slightly cloudy: my thoughts go for possible urinary tract infection or vaginal infection. Urine culture and vaginal swab testing would determine it.
- glucose was negative: perfectly, you do not have sugar problems
- bilirubin, ketones were negative: perfect
- pH 5,5 : acidic (indicates infection or concentrated urine)
- Blood (semi-quantitative analysis): I should have a look at the reference range first. Different labs have different reference ranges to understand the results.
As the erythrocytes are encountered high (25), then, the presence of blood is confirmed. The cause might be laceration of urinary pathways due to infection, stones or sludge.
- protein (+1): still need to have the reference range. If protein positive, then, protein is present in urine indicating for damages to kidney (most probably to infection of glomerules or sludge, micro-stones)
- nitrite positive : indicative for the presence of bacteria causing UTI (that change nitrate to nitrite)
- Leukocyte esterase (3+) is an enzyme for detecting leukocytes in urine. Its presence is indicative for infection too. Furthermore, the microscopic examination did encounter 226 leukocytes, confirming infection.
- urobilinogen is a substance formed by the breakdown of bilirubin. Its presence in urine is a sign of liver disease. I should have the reference range of the lab to get the final conclusions.
- the moderate amount of calcium oxalate crystals is indicative for stones (explaining why you are having that amount of blood in urine).
The rest is ok.
At this point, I suggest to take an immediate appointment with a nephrologist to evaluate your kidney function and the presence of kidney stones or sludge.
Next, it is necessary you should start antibiotic based on culture reports (do not get terrified of the idea) You are going to use them to fight infection. I think you should do regular follow ups with nephrologist for a longer time too.
I also advise my patients to use herbal supplements for UTI and stones. You can try them at the same time with antibiotics. They can be used for longer periods than antibiotics.
Hope it helped! Looking forward to have a copy of the urine analysis report.
Thank you!
Dr.Albana
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks again Dr. Albana.
The report is uploaded. Note that the dark red color from the urine came from the OTC painkiller that I took to take the edge off the pain.
I already ordered the vaginal ovals containing probiotics online. Pharmacies don't carry them here. Also contacted my Primary Care Physician online for a referral to an urologist.
I am following your advice, everything makes sense.
Thanks a lot XXXX
The report is uploaded. Note that the dark red color from the urine came from the OTC painkiller that I took to take the edge off the pain.
I already ordered the vaginal ovals containing probiotics online. Pharmacies don't carry them here. Also contacted my Primary Care Physician online for a referral to an urologist.
I am following your advice, everything makes sense.
Thanks a lot XXXX
Brief Answer:
Drinking water durability matters...
Detailed Answer:
Hi back XXXXXXX
I have gone through your uploaded reports. I can confirm that urine analysis is giving clues for UTI with underlying kidney stones (calcium oxalate crystals). Commonly, kidney stones/sludge are associated with infection.
I also advise to discuss with the urologist/nephrologist to get the best water choice to drink. Usually, drinking water durability can also be related to kidney stones (the harder, the more the chances for developing stones).
Another factor could be less consumption of water. You should increase water intake.
Let me know if you have further queries!
Dr.Albana
Drinking water durability matters...
Detailed Answer:
Hi back XXXXXXX
I have gone through your uploaded reports. I can confirm that urine analysis is giving clues for UTI with underlying kidney stones (calcium oxalate crystals). Commonly, kidney stones/sludge are associated with infection.
I also advise to discuss with the urologist/nephrologist to get the best water choice to drink. Usually, drinking water durability can also be related to kidney stones (the harder, the more the chances for developing stones).
Another factor could be less consumption of water. You should increase water intake.
Let me know if you have further queries!
Dr.Albana
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hello again Dr. Albana,
I have an appointment with a doctor on Monday morning. I will request everything what you advised what should be done. I was wondering if you know why the pain peeks out around noon. After getting up in the morning it is bearable what makes me think that its getting better, but from noon on its getting worse and it completely takes over the way I function. Also I took 1/2 tsp backing soda dissolved in 8 oz of water yesterday afternoon out of desperation (did not wanted to do that because of my blood pressure issues). It took away the edge of the pain and made it more bearable again.
Looking forward to your answer
XXXX
I have an appointment with a doctor on Monday morning. I will request everything what you advised what should be done. I was wondering if you know why the pain peeks out around noon. After getting up in the morning it is bearable what makes me think that its getting better, but from noon on its getting worse and it completely takes over the way I function. Also I took 1/2 tsp backing soda dissolved in 8 oz of water yesterday afternoon out of desperation (did not wanted to do that because of my blood pressure issues). It took away the edge of the pain and made it more bearable again.
Looking forward to your answer
XXXX
Brief Answer:
Because of changes in urine pH...
Detailed Answer:
Hi there,
Drinking backing soda dissolved in water is also ok to alkalinize your urine pH. There are some supplements containing zinc/magnesium citrate that can also help. You can take as over the counter and should increase water intake.
In the morning, there is a lot of urine accumulated inside the bladder overnight.
That's why the pain is bearable. During the day, you eat foods and drinks that can change the pH of the urine. Furthermore, you are also going around, which worsens the pain. The main culprit is the change in urine pH, the more acidic and more concentrate the urine, the less bearable the pain and vice/versa.
Once again, taking baking soda dissolved in water is a good idea, but it is necessary to run further tests and start appropriate treatment.
All the best!
Dr.Albana
Let me know if you need further clarifications! Otherwise, kindly give your feedback if you are going to close this discussion.Thank you!
Because of changes in urine pH...
Detailed Answer:
Hi there,
Drinking backing soda dissolved in water is also ok to alkalinize your urine pH. There are some supplements containing zinc/magnesium citrate that can also help. You can take as over the counter and should increase water intake.
In the morning, there is a lot of urine accumulated inside the bladder overnight.
That's why the pain is bearable. During the day, you eat foods and drinks that can change the pH of the urine. Furthermore, you are also going around, which worsens the pain. The main culprit is the change in urine pH, the more acidic and more concentrate the urine, the less bearable the pain and vice/versa.
Once again, taking baking soda dissolved in water is a good idea, but it is necessary to run further tests and start appropriate treatment.
All the best!
Dr.Albana
Let me know if you need further clarifications! Otherwise, kindly give your feedback if you are going to close this discussion.Thank you!
Note: Consult a Urologist online for consultation about prostate and bladder problems, sexual dysfunction, kidney stones, prostate enlargement, urinary incontinence, impotence and erectile dysfunction - Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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