Urinary Tract Infections

[Udkas]

Hi Guys,
I have another Urinary tract infection.  I still suspect I am not emptying properly.  Is this a common problem with MS/TM.

[Udkas]

Thanks for your input.  I hope I am not going to keep having repeat infections but I am afraid I will end up going down that path as I can't seem to urinate properly, I know I am not, I have tried to change position etc. but it's not working.  I hope I don't have to use a catheter but I think I would consider it if I have to put up with this.

I feel ordinary with the burning in my privates, it feels like someone has stuck a hot iron there but when I pee it doesn't hurt, I am just burning all the time.. and my neuro symptoms haven't relented.  This lot of antibiotics aren't even kicking it... but as soon as my Dr has the lab results he will prescribe something different.  If it continues again I think I will ask to go to a urologist.

Thanks again for your replies, much appreciated..

[syndismilez]

Hi
I am a self cathing member.  
I had numerous infections resulting in antibiotic resistant
bacteria. My GP finally sent me to a urologist and
he immediately found I was retaining.
It is a serious matter that can damage your kidneys and
bladder to the point if no return.
I sugest you get a referal to a urologist or a gyno-urologist.
It is no fun to keep getting UTIs. I did for 2 years straight!
Since self cathing I have been UTI free for 1 1/2 years!!!
When I do get one I usually require High powered drugs
due to resistance. They are always more expensive and not covered
by my insurance plan!  Bummer!
Hope you start feeling better soon!!!
Cyn

[MrsAristotle]

Tell me about UTI, I had about 12 in one year. I get so fed up with having them.

Yesterday just out of the blue I started again, and by the evening the pain was too much to bear, the worse I have had. I didnt know what to do with myself. Lucky for me I am on long term antibiotics so doubled up my tablets, and finally to get relief I had to take a paracetamol which i rarely do. It was so bad I literally just sat on the bed with a towel and plastic as I couldnt stop peeing. My neurological symptoms were bad yesterday and even worse today.

I do take a cranberry tablet every day, and missed 2 over the weekend because I ran out. I shant do that again.

According to my scans I dont hold urine, but havent got a clue why I keep getting them. I totally sympathise with you, I think the bladder problem for me is worse then anything else.

[sllowe]

Hi there,

We have members who self-cath.  Hoping my reply serves as a good bump so that they see this.

Is going to be important like mentioned above to get to a urologist. The infection can cause the problems you mention, but so can CNS damage.  They don't always find out the cause, but in your case, with the workup you've had, maybe the GP should be glad to send you for further testing..

Burning sounds so terribly uncomfortable to say the least. Hope the new round of meds helps, or those in the know, chime in.

ttys,
shell

[Udkas]

Hi there, I went back to my GP today and he said that I indeed do have another UTI.  This time I had the protien, blood and the white blood cells, so he is sending it off to pathology to do more testing but has given me more antibiotics as well again.  I have to ring him Monday if he doesn't ring me before.  I think he is going to try a different antibiotic once he knows what he is dealing with.

He thinks my problems with the UTI are caused due to my neurological problems.

He gave me the run down on peeing, and then trying to do the second urination.  He didn't seem so vague today and seemed more concerned.  I just hope this is not going to happen all the time as my privates are on fire... I am now thinking my burning up my back is prob from the kidneys but my neuro symptoms are awful ( I told my DR that too).

Any ideas for the burning?  To ease it, It is bad today all the time in my privates?  Funny tho as I don't have full sensation there anyway, so you would think I wouldn't be able to feel it.

Thanks Karen and Lulu...
much appreciated.

[Mama_Johnson_05]

Hey! So, I have several thoughts on this. The very first thing I would recommend is taking Cranberry & D’Mannose (1,300 mg) OTC pills. 90 percent of UTI’s are from E. coli. D’Mannose attaches to E. coli in the urinary tract and takes it with it when you urinate. When I have a UTI I take one pill at least every 2 hours for about a week instead of having to take antibiotics nonstop. That doesn’t treat the cause, but deals with the infection part. Now, for the diagnosis. Have you looked into interstitial cystitis? It is a possibility. In regard to the neurological, have you ever had an epidural or any invasive procedures performed in your back?

[Karen99]

Hi.  Little wonder that you are having recurrent UTI's with the symptoms you are having.  You may have missed the "old" posts about this topic.  I think LuLu started one about having a 2nd urination during the same restroom visit.  It works!  

I'd try to get the upper hand on this, whether you have MS or TM, so you are not kept in a constant flare.  Any infection can cause an exacerbation.  

Be well, my friend.  

[Udkas]

Hi Lulu,

I had a Urinary Tract Infection a few weeks ago or more now, I had two lots of antibiotics to clear it up and felt well for about a week, maybe a bit longer and now it's back, so I am not sure if I cleared it up properly the first time or if this is just going to be an ongoing problem for me.

My symptoms have been "off the wall" (my neurological ones), scaring me, but I am sure it's just because I have an infection.  I really don't think I am emptying properly when I go to the toilet or going enough, so I suspect I am retaining urine that is causing the recurrent infections.  I go to my Dr tomorrow (not the neuro), so I will see what he thinks.  Last time he was a bit vague about it all.  I am getting lots of burning sensation and banding around my lower back and stomach, I am not sure if this is a TM/MS symptom or something from the UTI. My privates are burning and I am getting constant pins and needles in my foot and nerve pain running down my legs.  I have even had some twitching in my perineum.  I always get twitching in my thigh in my leg that is the weakest when I have a flare but never in my privates before.  Gee I am glad nobody really knows me on here...

In answer to your question I have not been referred to a Urologist but if this keeps happening I will ring my neuro I am sure he will refer or help me with this.  I will read some of the old posts, I googled MS and URI last night and come up with some interesting reading, apparently the bacteria given off is more likely to cause another exacerbation?  Well I think I might be having one, not sure.

Cheers,
Udkas.

[Lulu54]

This is unfortunately a very common MS problem - probably TM too!  If you search this community for UTI or retention you will see we have kicked this one around a lot.  Including lots of details.  For many of us, we are controlling the retention  and subsequent UTI problems through intermittent self-catherization.  It sounds worse than it really is....

Are you being treated by a urologist?  If not, you may want to see a specialist to discuss treatment options.

feel better,
Lulu