Bladder infection

[remar]

I have a bladder infection, I think. So I called my Dr and told him what was going on. He prescribed Septra generic DS. It made me so sick that I called him back and asked what to do and he said it would be alright to take a half pill twice a day instead of a whole one. This is the second time I've had a bladder infection in two months. The first time was when I was in the hospital. No catheter was used. They sent me home with a script for Septra and it cleared up with in 5 days. This time I'm on day 7 and I'm still having some pain and urgency. No burning during urination, just the pain and the need to urinate a lot. I'm really getting concerned. My Dr said to stay on the meds for 7 days and if I still had symptoms to see my Gynecologist. Believe it or not, I don't have one. I had a hysterectomy many years ago and used to get my check ups from my last family Dr. Should I see a Gynecologist or a Urologist? Why would I be getting bladder infections, if that's what they are, with no burning. If it were a bladder infection would'nt I have the burning during urination because of bacteria  passing through the urine? Sorry this post is so long but I'm starting to get quite frustrated with what's going on.    

[remar]

Yes, I do think it could be the statin. But I also read that the Plavix can have this side effect too.
I do plan to ask my Cardio Dr if I can quit the statin and have my numbers checked in about 6 weeks. From the research I've done everything says it takes 4 to 6 weeks to leave your system.
I started taking cranberry pills that also contain vitamin C because they're so much more concentrated. Hopefully that will help.
I do wonder if I'm having bladder infections or if it's some sort of irritation going on. The only way to tell for sure is to take your advice and have my Dr do a urine test if this happens again.
I really do appreciate you answering my posts. It's helped so much.

[mklarson]

Hello again,

   Yes, it is common practice to patients that have had a heart attack to be put on an anti-platelet drug and a statin. The chance that Plavix is causing this problem is very small, Pravastatin would be a more likely candidate for the UTI's due to its metabolism. If your numbers are good I would talk to your cardiologist about dropping the statin for a while to see if the problem clears up. Two thoughts I had would be to have them check your urine next time you have a UTI, for any quantities of blood (small amounts may not be visible to you) and drinking 8 to 16oz. of cranberry juice a day for at least a month to see if this will help resolve your problem. It is not just an "old wives" tale that cranberry juice helps with bladder infections. It actually impairs the bacterias ability to bind to the bladder and urinary tract.  

Take care.    

[remar]

Thank you commenting on my post. This is all kind of new to me since I've only had a couple of UTI's in my life. Once was from catheter use while I was in the hospital and the other just happened out of no where. Antibiotics cleared them up very fast.
I've been doing research on the 2 meds I take. I did have a heart attack with 1 stent placement and that's why I was in the hospital a couple of months ago. They started me on Plavix and Pravastatin while I was there. After 2 doses of both of these meds I started having bladder pain and urgency. I've had this off and on again problem for 2 months now.
I did find out about a month ago that the Pravastatin can cause urinary problems, but I just found out a few days ago that the Plavix can too. My Cardiologist wants to keep me on the Plavix for a year. I don't think he'll have any problem with changing the statin med. I really am curious to know if it's just common procedure to place a patient on a statin after a heart attack. My cholesterol numbers were great. They were the last time I had them checked and also when they checked them at the hospital.
Thank you again for the information. I'm feeling much better but if this happens again I am afraid I might not respond to the Septra since I've take it twice so close together. I'm going to write this med down that you mentioned.

[mklarson]

Greetings Remar,
    
       I am assuming from your post that you are suffering from chronic bladder infections (UTI's) that have not developed into a kidney infection (which includes flank pain). The typical protocol we would use in cases where repeated use of Septra DS was not effective, would be to use a 3 to 5 day course of a quinolone medication. If the patient was pregnant or had chronic bladder infections, (or worried about continual use of an antibiotic), we would prescribe FOSFOMYCIN TROMETHAMINE (generic name). This medication can be used chronically without any documented resistance or cross resistance issues due to its unique properties. It is also the only UTI treatment I have ever found that can be used at any time during a pregnancy.  Since it is generic, it should hopefully be at a decent price at the pharmacy.  It comes in a packet that you mix with water and drink (tastes like orange flavored Tang).  The medicine lasts 3-4 days, so one packet is the entire treatment. The OB/GYN's I worked with a few  years back used this medication with great success for those that suffered from chronic UTI's. Ironically, many of the general practice doctors at the hospital either never used it or even knew it existed. Hope this helps.

Best of luck!
  

[remar]

Thank you for commenting on my post.
I am concerned about being on antibiotics for too long, and I did take the same one for 5 days about 2 months ago.
My family Dr can recommend a Gynecologist so I guess that's where I'll start. After being on this med for 7 days I'm still feeling some pain, pressure and urgency. I would think that this would be cleared up by now.
Thank you again for getting back to me. I really do appreciate it.   Remar

[remar]

Thank you for commenting on my post.
I am concerned about being on antibiotics for too long, and I did take the same one for 5 days about 2 months ago.
My family Dr can recommend a Gynecologist so I guess that's where I'll start. After being on this med for 7 days I'm still feeling some pain, pressure and urgency. I would think that this would be cleared up by now.
Thank you again for getting back to me. I really do appreciate it.   Remar

[Evie7133]

Hello remar,

I am sorry to see that you are experiencing these issues.  Staying on antibiotic treatment for extended periods of time is not unheard of.  The unfortunate side effect of this is that your bacteria may become more tolerant/resistant to the antibiotic and you will require either stronger doses or an new medication all together...for example this is how MRSA came to be.  I am certainly not saying this is what is happening with you, but needing stronger or new medicine may be something you want to keep in the back of your mind.

Urinary, bladder and kidney infections are sneaky critters, LOL.  Believe it or not people walk around with them all the time, never realizing something is wrong until they see blood or are in so much pain they think they have stones or something.

In terms of Urologist versus Gyn, I would agree to start with your GYN, especially since you have a surgical history.  If it isn't a problem they can help you with, a good GYN will refer you to a Urologist.  Also, since you currently do not have a GYN I would poll my friends that do...a referral by word of mouth is usually the best way of finding one :)

I hope this helps and that you get better soon,

E.