Recurrent UTIs; not normal symptoms

[bertabobbie]

I've a history of UTIs actually dating back to childhood, but my current situation is unlike any previous ones. Since spring I have had three UTIs. :( The doctor has tried different drugs but the darn thing keeps coming back. I'm going to see a urologist on Tuesday; I left a urine sample a couple days ago so the lab could do some 72 hour testing. Maybe I'll get an answer.

What I'd really like to know if anyone else has had the symptom I have had with each of these infections. In the past I always had the normal symptoms - pain, blood in urine, urgency. With these I have had none of the above, just a terrible odor. I can't even describe it. Just suffice it to say that it is truly awful.

When it first started I didn't suspect a UTI because of the lack of normal symptoms and was afraid that I had a fatal disease. Sometimes having the research capabilities of the internet is not a blessing. The first time it took three different drugs before we found one that took care of it. The second time used a different drug. And this last one tried yet another.

I'm really hoping it does not recur. Has anyone had a UTI like these?

Roberta

[Erin]

I had a similar problem earlier this fall.(and it's still kind of recurring) Horrible odor :eek: , kept having to pee. Felt kinda yucky.

It wasnt a UTI.

It was (ewwww!) a yeast infection AND bacterial vaginosis. (yuck!) The BV seemed to clear up after getting the Rx for that. But I had been on steroids (oral prednisone) for a few weeks during the summer, and I think that, and some of the antibiotics I'd been taking for what was thought to be a UTI (and maybe the stuff I took for a bladder infection in August) combined together to let the yeastie beasties set up a little home in my body. So, the YI has kept coming back every few weeks. I'm finally starting to get rid of it now (I hope!)

Ask your doctor to check for a yeast infection. I know it's the weekend, but maybe you could get some OTC yeast infection meds and try that. If it's as bad as the one I had a month or two ago, the OTC stuff might not kill the infection but it could get you thru the weekend till you get to the doctor.

Call your doctor first and ask if you should try some yeast infection meds. I really thought what I had was a UTI and didnt think the OTC YI meds would work for me when my aunt (a nurse) had suggested it, but I tried it anyways and luckily it did help till I was able to get to the doctor for a better Rx. (the yeast that I had a few weeks ago started on a friday, the OTC stuff helped till I got to my doctor the next week) I used the 3 day prefilled applicators, they're stronger than the 7 day ones (and sometimes the 7 day meds have to be assembled, it's just easier to use the prefilled ones. Walgreens brand is good and cheaper than the namebrand stuff)

I was so stressed out from the YI last time that I was desperate to try anything. This week I didnt let it get that far and begged my doctor for drugs for it.

[agate]

Another idea about the odor: If it's a "dead mouse" odor, it might mean your kidneys are involved.

If you've never smelled a dead mouse, you might have no idea what one smells like, I realize....:rolleyes:

[Cherie]

Agate is right about that particular odor. I get 4-5 UTIs a year and have only once had the blood and pain associated normally with UTI's. For me, it's odor, cloudiness, oppressive fatigue, crying for no reason. Two doay s of that and David know it's probably a UTI.

My doc, fortunately, knows not to use Cipro to treat as it tends to ramp MS symptoms up in a large number of PWMS who take it. My Cultures have shown that the bacteria is sensitive to several less costly and more focused antibiotics so now I have an open script for Amoxicillin for two weeks at a time to treat. And for some reason, I seem to need two weeks on meds and not 10 days or it's back again.

Did you ever get the betaseron issue solved or are you going without? I've been thinking about you.

[snack]

I have never had this, just want to say how awful and thanks for sharing this it is really good to know for the rest of us if the odor should show up.

[jendie]

I have been going through an vicious cycle of issues. It started with a sinus infection. I took abx as rx for that and started feeling better. I started feeling the sx of a YI and what could have been a simultaneous UTI. The YI was treated first and I started feeling better, but not completely it was determined that I did have a UTI through a UA. Got treated for that.

Later, I went to the dr because I had a phlegmy cough for more than a week. She told me that I had pneumonia. My follow up appt was five days later and I still have pneumonia. New abx were rx.
*frustrated sigh*

I am off of Methotrexate because it suppresses my immune system and it would keep me from getting better and less able to fight off other infections. The brand acidophilus pills that I had been buying has changed its formula. They don't seem to work as well as the old formula did.

All of these weeks of abx have left me with yet another YI. I'll bring this up at my follow-up appt regarding the pneumonia. :(


Jendie

[bertabobbie]

I'm living in Mexico and my urologist and I have a slight language problem but we manage to communicate. He had an ultrasound of my bladder and kidneys done; they are fine. After a course of antibiotics the infection does go away. I don't think it is a yeast infection. I've had those a couple times and this is different.

I see the doctor on Tuesday. BTW, for a 45 minute appointment and exam, the ultrasound, and all the lab work I paid a grand total of about $75 US. And you just walk in and make your appointment for that day. Their hours are from 7 a.m. - 2 p.m. & 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. so everyone's schedule can be accommodated. They also are open on Saturdays.

Roberta

[SalpalSally]

Hi Roberta..:) How are they at treating MS, there?

I hope your UTI clears up soon.

Hugs,

[bertabobbie]

Hi Sally,

How are ya?

Where we are is not heavily populated. My urologist is in a city 1:45 away; the nearest neurologist is four hours away. The incidence of MS is fairly low here but people do know what it is. I don't do steroids and, because I can't easily get it here, have gone off Betaseron, so I don't really need a neuro right now anyway.

I'd much rather be here than in the States. Great weather and I don't have to live with a government I have grown to hate.

Roberta

[jendie]

I had my first UTI when I was 29. The presenting sx was blood in the urine. Then my next UTIs were while I was on Novantrone. I had been in a clinical trial, so they checked all sorts of things including my urine before each infusion. Since then I'd get one a year or so either with itching or blood in the urine.

Recently, I had a UTI and took abx for it a couple of weeks ago. Since then I've been on abx for other reasons. The other day I noticed blood on my incontinence pad that isn't related to menstruation. No, it was too far up on the pad, it looks like it could be closer to my urethra.

I am so sick of being sick, though on a slightly brighter side, my temp is closer to normal. I think my body is finally kicking the stupid pneumonia. It isn't unusual for me to have a UTI without a fever.