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What Is The Cause And Treatment For Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection?
Question: Good Morning,
I have echo pen measures of a lot more urine in my bladder than normal. I am on Sulfa as I had a concurrent UTI at the time of my diagnosis. My GP had me on Sulfa for 10 days during which I was supposed to go to a urologist. I got busy and the symptoms disappeared, but returned the next week or so. I am on Sulfa again, this time for 4 weeks. I am logging my bathroom habits. With Sulfa, I no longer have any burning or sudden urges, and feel no symptoms of discomfort for that matter, but I don't urinate as much as the signal to urinate would lead me to believe. I would like to avoid any blood, bladder or kidney infections. I suppose the UTI was due to bacteria from prostatitus. What would you do now if your next appointment was 4 weeks hence. I am trying ICE COLD Cranberry sicles to get down my weight of 330 which has me in the Morbid Obesity group with mild DM II (which I don't measure, but my A1C is always 6.0--still there could be spikes that subsequently shoot my sugar and blood pressure lower), hypo thyroid, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and now Atrial Fib, but my labs are chemically perfect with several medications including Atenolol, Fluoxetine, Trasodone for (mild depression and severe obstructive sleep apnea), Albusosin, Synthroid, MIrapex, Lisinopril, a statin, a pill for gerd, Xarelto and Digoxin, plus a low dose of Glyburide--as I am still in denial about the DM II.
I no longer have SOB/DOE or leg heaviness since being put on Digoxin. I am able to exercise with light walking and have started bowling again since receiving some Armstrong soft inserts for my shoes from the VA. The inflammation in my heels aggravate an old calconeal (Sp?) spur in one heal and some bone chips from falling out of bed in my other heal. I wish I could better control the inflammation in my heels. The sensitivity normally subsides a few minutes after transferring, and I walk gingerly for awhile, but get along much better with the inserts--until I drive sit or lie down for a period of time, after which the sensitivity resumes for awhile -- until it subsides. I have right side drop foot due to a pinched nerve that caused some peroneal nerve damage, but I recovered with an epidural and PT and have recovered the use of all my toes except for the 4th and 5th toe. I enjoy walking again without the assistance of lifts, canes, and AFOs. Life is good. Well, except for the Cubs.
Nonetheless, my heart is not quite in sinus rhythm. If meds stop working, I will be bent between the new cyroablations and the old cardioversions, but that's a subject for later. Thanks for listening. I just want to keep the chronic Prostatitus from infecting my kidney due to an abnormal amount of urine retention--which really causes no discomfort symptoms aside from 5 bathroom trips a night and urges which I can now control, but am disappointed to void less than the urge signaled. I have no neuropathies, but the nerves to my bladder may be affected by the DM II. Not sure. Otherwise, I'm thinking benign enlarged prostate which I don't want to lead to cancer what with all the internal inflammation I have. I had a great grandfather who died of Dropsy (later call hydropsy and now just edema of one sort or another). I suppose I have venous insufficiency. When I ache, I can no longer take aspirin or Ibuprophen due to the Digoxin. I am to see my cardiologist every 6 weeks to check the Digoxin level in my blood. Otherwise, the Xarelto does not require checking, as you know. FINIS
I have echo pen measures of a lot more urine in my bladder than normal. I am on Sulfa as I had a concurrent UTI at the time of my diagnosis. My GP had me on Sulfa for 10 days during which I was supposed to go to a urologist. I got busy and the symptoms disappeared, but returned the next week or so. I am on Sulfa again, this time for 4 weeks. I am logging my bathroom habits. With Sulfa, I no longer have any burning or sudden urges, and feel no symptoms of discomfort for that matter, but I don't urinate as much as the signal to urinate would lead me to believe. I would like to avoid any blood, bladder or kidney infections. I suppose the UTI was due to bacteria from prostatitus. What would you do now if your next appointment was 4 weeks hence. I am trying ICE COLD Cranberry sicles to get down my weight of 330 which has me in the Morbid Obesity group with mild DM II (which I don't measure, but my A1C is always 6.0--still there could be spikes that subsequently shoot my sugar and blood pressure lower), hypo thyroid, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and now Atrial Fib, but my labs are chemically perfect with several medications including Atenolol, Fluoxetine, Trasodone for (mild depression and severe obstructive sleep apnea), Albusosin, Synthroid, MIrapex, Lisinopril, a statin, a pill for gerd, Xarelto and Digoxin, plus a low dose of Glyburide--as I am still in denial about the DM II.
I no longer have SOB/DOE or leg heaviness since being put on Digoxin. I am able to exercise with light walking and have started bowling again since receiving some Armstrong soft inserts for my shoes from the VA. The inflammation in my heels aggravate an old calconeal (Sp?) spur in one heal and some bone chips from falling out of bed in my other heal. I wish I could better control the inflammation in my heels. The sensitivity normally subsides a few minutes after transferring, and I walk gingerly for awhile, but get along much better with the inserts--until I drive sit or lie down for a period of time, after which the sensitivity resumes for awhile -- until it subsides. I have right side drop foot due to a pinched nerve that caused some peroneal nerve damage, but I recovered with an epidural and PT and have recovered the use of all my toes except for the 4th and 5th toe. I enjoy walking again without the assistance of lifts, canes, and AFOs. Life is good. Well, except for the Cubs.
Nonetheless, my heart is not quite in sinus rhythm. If meds stop working, I will be bent between the new cyroablations and the old cardioversions, but that's a subject for later. Thanks for listening. I just want to keep the chronic Prostatitus from infecting my kidney due to an abnormal amount of urine retention--which really causes no discomfort symptoms aside from 5 bathroom trips a night and urges which I can now control, but am disappointed to void less than the urge signaled. I have no neuropathies, but the nerves to my bladder may be affected by the DM II. Not sure. Otherwise, I'm thinking benign enlarged prostate which I don't want to lead to cancer what with all the internal inflammation I have. I had a great grandfather who died of Dropsy (later call hydropsy and now just edema of one sort or another). I suppose I have venous insufficiency. When I ache, I can no longer take aspirin or Ibuprophen due to the Digoxin. I am to see my cardiologist every 6 weeks to check the Digoxin level in my blood. Otherwise, the Xarelto does not require checking, as you know. FINIS
Brief Answer:
Please, get a urine cuture!
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for this query.
I am so sorry to hear about this recurrent urinary tract infection. I understand how disturbing this can be and the need for appropriate treatment so that the kidneys would not be affected by this.
1. Prostatitis is a difficult condition to treat completely. Treatment often requires several weeks of antibiotics to help sterilize the infectious site and prevent propagation to neighboring organs. For this reason, it is advisable to do a urine culture to identify the exact germ that is responsible and what antibiotic can best do the job. This would be followed at regular intervals by a urine culture to make sure that the infection has been completely cleared off before stopping treatment. Otherwise, we may be using the wrong drug or be unable to confirm that treatment has been successful at a later date.
2. It is rare for chronic prostatitis to lead to cancer. Also, prostate hypertrophy rarely leads to cancer of the prostate. There should be very little worries about these with the possibility of cancer in future.
3. You do not urinate as much as the urges make you to believe because they are not entirely explained by the amount of urine alone in the bladder. With a better control of the infection, this would be better. Also, prostate disease alone can cause similar symptoms.
I hope this addresses your query fully and provides enough information for you to act on. Feel free to ask for more information if need be. I wish you well.
Please, get a urine cuture!
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for this query.
I am so sorry to hear about this recurrent urinary tract infection. I understand how disturbing this can be and the need for appropriate treatment so that the kidneys would not be affected by this.
1. Prostatitis is a difficult condition to treat completely. Treatment often requires several weeks of antibiotics to help sterilize the infectious site and prevent propagation to neighboring organs. For this reason, it is advisable to do a urine culture to identify the exact germ that is responsible and what antibiotic can best do the job. This would be followed at regular intervals by a urine culture to make sure that the infection has been completely cleared off before stopping treatment. Otherwise, we may be using the wrong drug or be unable to confirm that treatment has been successful at a later date.
2. It is rare for chronic prostatitis to lead to cancer. Also, prostate hypertrophy rarely leads to cancer of the prostate. There should be very little worries about these with the possibility of cancer in future.
3. You do not urinate as much as the urges make you to believe because they are not entirely explained by the amount of urine alone in the bladder. With a better control of the infection, this would be better. Also, prostate disease alone can cause similar symptoms.
I hope this addresses your query fully and provides enough information for you to act on. Feel free to ask for more information if need be. I wish you well.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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