Chronic UTI's Question

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-19-2003
Chronic UTI's Question
6
Mon, 09-22-2003 - 11:38am
Hi ladies,

I have a question for any of you that suffer from chronic urinary tract infections. I started getting them several years ago and they tend to appear about 3-4 times a year. They are such a pain (literally)!! Anyway, now that I am ttc, I am afraid to take any kind of medications. The doctor usually prescribes an antibiotic to clear up the UTI, but I don't want to take anything that might effect conception or a new fetus. On the other hand, it would be far worse to end up with a kidney infection. Does anyone have any advice or suggestions? Thank you.

-Erin

Caitlin(3yrs.), Abby(1yr.), TTC#3, C1, CD5

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-02-2003
Mon, 09-22-2003 - 11:59am
I had a UTI move to a kidney infection and you do NOT want that LOL. I threw up every hour on the hour for 24 hours and felt like someone was tap-dancing on my kidneys with football cleats on, literally.

Have you tried any other ways to avoid your UTI's making sure to urinate before/after sex, always wiping to the back, taking cranberry pills/drinking lots of cranberry juice?

I can usually tell when I am first starting to get one, I will get that twingy feel when I go pee, I immediatly "flood" my system with tons of water and cranberry juice, I haven't gotten a real UTI in years doing this. Just a day of the twinge then gone.

GL

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-02-2003
Mon, 09-22-2003 - 12:19pm
HI!

I have had a lot of problems with chronic UTIs too. I can totally relate to your concerns. I completely agree with all of beach-mel's advice regarding avoiding them or treating potential UTIs before they become a problem. That's what I do and it's been a good long while since I've had one.

As for meds while TTC and early pregnancy. If you get one, get to the doctor early and be sure to tell him/her that you are TTC or potentially pg. They will prescribe something that is safe. My best friend had a UTI very early in her first pregnancy and her doctor prescribed an antibiotic to treat it. Her pregnancy unfolded without any problems and her baby was born perfectly healthy.

I hope that helps put your mind at ease :)

Julie

Photobucket
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-10-2003
Mon, 09-22-2003 - 12:35pm
I also get UTI's frequently - despite doing everything I can to prevent them (go to the bathroom immediately after sex, drinking plenty of water, etc.) The only thing that cures them for me is antibiotics.

I finally saw a urologist last year who told me that the cranberry thing only works on certain types of bacteria. GRRRR - made me sick to think of all the gallons of that crap I forced down - or the tons of dried cranberry in capsules I swallowed!!!

I'm not an antibiotic freak - I never take them for anything else but for my UTI's they are the only thing that works. And I know what you mean by the pain being horrible - it's unbearable.

Anyway - we are getting ready to TTC soon and I asked my midwife last week about UTI's during pregnancy and antibiotics and she assured me that if it happens - I'll be able to take them. So good news for us!

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-19-2003
Mon, 09-22-2003 - 1:09pm
Ladies,

Thank you very much for the advice and information. I picked up some cranberry juice at lunch and will try that. I might also put in a call to my doctor just in case the symptoms get worse. It is good to know that there are some antibiotics that are safe for pregnancy too.

-Erin
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-09-2003
Mon, 09-22-2003 - 1:22pm
I can totally relate about the UTI's. Just a suggestion for you. If you have a GNC anywhere around you, they make a cranberry pill. I take one everyday and they seem to help. Also you can drink cranberry juice everyday to keep your Urinary Tract cleaned out. I can't stand the juice so I take the pills.

Jenn

TTC#1 C6 CD6

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-02-2003
Mon, 09-22-2003 - 1:28pm
and I mean FLUSH your system, I'm a pretty good water drinker but when I think I'm getting UTI I just go overboard to really try to flush all the nasties out of my system, not letting them take hold. Running to pee every 20 minutes is a small price to pay for NOT getting a UTI :)

Good luck.