Low grade UTI

[Wobbly]

Hi everyone, just wonder how common a low grade Bladder Infection is?  It will come and go for months then get worse and I went to the Dr got meds for it now.  

I haven't been online for awhile, so I let you know I do have SPMS.  

Any answers I appreciate
Thanks
Wobbly

[SarahL2491]

I've never heard my doctor refer to them as a "graded" UTI, but if it comes and goes, keep a timeline and don't let it get too severe.  I am not sure what type of doctor you went to, but I would suggest a urologist, if you have not, haven't seen you on in awhile, so hoping you are on the mend with meds now.

[supermum_ms]

Hey Wobbly,

I've been dealing with bladder issues for months now, i initially lost bladder warnings and control and then ended up with a UTI. Weirdly it's settled into a coming and going (yoyo-ing) cycle which i've never had before, longest brake from it so far has been 4 days....

"How common are UTIs in adults?
Urinary tract infections are the second most common type of infection in the body, accounting for about 8.1 million visits to health care providers each year.1 Women are especially prone to UTIs for anatomical reasons. One factor is that a woman’s urethra is shorter, allowing bacteria quicker access to the bladder. Also, a woman’s urethral opening is near sources of bacteria from the anus and vagina. For women, the lifetime risk of having a UTI is greater than 50 percent.2 UTIs in men are not as common as in women but can be serious when they occur."
http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/utiadult/

When it comes to MS, there isn't a lot of research i've found, every MS site mentions it's common but usually lacks the details i often look for.......what i've found so far, are statistics between 90-100% which would probably put UTI's high up on the common MS sx list..

"Bladder problems are common in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), affecting up to 90% to 100% of patients during the course of their disease (Foster, 2002). Patients may have trouble with holding their urine (incontinence) or with emptying the bladder completely (retention). When urine is retained in the bladder, there is an increased risk of bladder infection."

http://www.unitedspinal.org/msscene/2002/07/09/urinary-tract-infections-utis-and-multiple-sclerosis-connection-between-utis-and-neurological-progression/

Cheers..............JJ  

[Wobbly]

Thanks for your replies, it's helpful, I called my MS Neuro to let her know.  I will be having an ultrasound for rentention in Dec.  

Thanks again

[Lulu54]

Hey Wobbly - long time no see!  Those low grade UTIs are common for me - I almost always have one thanks for the intermittent self-catherization (which is not a sterile procedure).  A prophylactic antibiotic usually helps to keep it in check so it isn't a major problem.  If it flairs, it shows up in my walking and balance as a pseudoexacerabation, and then I take stronger antibiotics.

take care,
Laura

[kwarendorf]

Hi Wobbly

I've had 2 UTI's in the last 16 months. I am always on watch, as I don't empty my bladder completely all of the time. In both cases I went to the local Doc in the Box and got a script for antibiotics. (The second Doc in the Box stated with great certainty "Men do not get bladder infections". I asked him how many MS patients he'd seen :-))

I also read here that taking 100mg Vitamin C/Day helps ward off bladder infections. My naturopathic doc agrees. SO I started taking it and so far so good. could be coincidence...

Kyle

[essdipity]

Some years ago I had to do intermittent cath for a few months. In that time I had 2 UTIs. Never had any before that I can remember, and haven't had one since. I'm fortunate that although I continue to have bladder symptoms, I can manage them without cathing. Hope I stay that way, because as Laura says, it can cause problems.

Kyle, it generally is not recommended that MSers augment the vit. C they get from foods, as 'boosting the immune system,' as the commercials say, carries the potential for MS stuff in a body whose immune system is already overacting. Just sayin'.

ess

[kwarendorf]

ess - As with everythuung I do,take these days, I checked with my medical staff first. My naturopathic doc was in favor oth adding Vitamin C, so I did :-) She is part of the MS paractice I visit and works exclusively with MS patients. So while it may not be generally advised, I'm comfortable that it will 'do no harm' :-)

Kyle