Cystitis - pain/antibiotics/kidney

[so gutted]

I am in a real state. Had sex 1 week ago, more intense then usual. 1 day later got severe cystitis, worse then ever before.

 

2 courses of antibiotics have not worked, I am now on Keflex.

 

It is ruining my life, i feel so depressed.

 

The doctor also requested a kidney ultrasound.

 

Previous cases, i have been ok after 1 round of antibiotics.

 

I have taken 2 and no effect.

 

Is there a faster way to get better.

 

Loads of fluid, cranberry etc hasn't worked

 

 

Really really worried... I have had a very painful week of this... Please please help.

[so gutted]

I do not have regular sex, and the condom may have done this.

 

This has put me off for life.

[acrosstheuniverse]

You need to get straight back to your doctor if your antibiotics aren't working.

 

I'm not sure why you're on this website though, not a medical related one?

 

I've been on permanent daily antibiotics for a couple of years, as I was getting serious UTIs every time I had intercourse. Luckily the ones I'm on now have stopped all of that but it was several years of frequent pain and UTIs before I got given that option.

[HoneyBadgerDontCare]

It's possible that the bacteria that's causing these issues are resistant to certain antibiotics (Keflex is known to have a lot of resistance). Just out of curiosity, were you put on either Ciprofloxacin or Levaquin before (these also have a lot of resistance)?

 

Anyway, how long have you been on this particular antibiotic? What are your symptoms?

 

Did your doctor tell you why he wanted to get an ultrasound? This strikes me as strange because you really wouldn't get an ultrasound for an uncomplicated UTI.

 

Keep us posted!

[so gutted]

Thanks.

 

I am on this site because sex triggered it.

 

First i was put on Trimpothoprim then nitrofurtan, keflex is the third option.

 

It is giving me a headache but symptoms have gone down.

 

I am scared because the other 2 appeared to be working before as well then it came back.

 

 

 

 

It's possible that the bacteria that's causing these issues are resistant to certain antibiotics (Keflex is known to have a lot of resistance). Just out of curiosity, were you put on either Ciprofloxacin or Levaquin before (these also have a lot of resistance)?

 

Anyway, how long have you been on this particular antibiotic? What are your symptoms?

 

Did your doctor tell you why he wanted to get an ultrasound? This strikes me as strange because you really wouldn't get an ultrasound for an uncomplicated UTI.

 

Keep us posted!

[FitChick]

Your body is healthiest in an alkaline state and that is achieved by being a vegan. If you can't do that, eat more fruits and veg and less meat, dairy, starch and sugar. Drink water and herbal tea to keep flushing out any bacteria in your system.

 

Use more lube next time you have sex and tell the guy not to be so rough. Or only date men with small peckers.

[so gutted]

Its the first day..

 

Ultrasound to rule out kidney failure i think.

 

Also did a Chlymedia test...

 

So scared

 

 

Thanks.

 

I am on this site because sex triggered it.

 

First i was put on Trimpothoprim then nitrofurtan, keflex is the third option.

 

It is giving me a headache but symptoms have gone down.

 

I am scared because the other 2 appeared to be working before as well then it came back.

[HoneyBadgerDontCare]

Its the first day..

 

Ultrasound to rule out kidney failure i think.

 

Also did a Chlymedia test...

 

So scared

 

Well, since it's only the first day with this new medication, I wouldn't worry about it then. Also, UTIs are known to recur.

 

The chlamydia test is a good idea.

 

An ultrasound is generally used to check blood flow and for obstructions. Maybe he thinks you have a kidney stone?

[acrosstheuniverse]

Your body is healthiest in an alkaline state and that is achieved by being a vegan. If you can't do that, eat more fruits and veg and less meat, dairy, starch and sugar. Drink water and herbal tea to keep flushing out any bacteria in your system.

 

Use more lube next time you have sex and tell the guy not to be so rough. Or only date men with small peckers.

 

I've been vegan for many years and still suffer with my bladder, unfortunately, to a greater extent than anybody I've ever known!

 

I started on trimethoprim, then moved onto amoxicillin, then nitrofurantin... I have to keep moving on when I become tolerant to the antibiotic.

 

And I find I'm much more likely to get triggered by rough sex or, yes, someone with a larger than average penis! If you do get well again, I'd recommend peeing before and after sex, using lots of lube and going slow and gentle. And drink at least 4l of water a day.

 

Interstitial Cystitis, IC, Bladder Pain, Urgency, Frequency, Hunner's Ulcers, Patient, Support, Network is a much better place to seek support, their forums are all about this kind of issue

[Justletgo]

My ex had this all the time, probably still does.

I tried to help her overcome it. But nothing unfortunately seemed to work.

 

What didn't work for her:

- Taking he cranberry protein that 'binds' to the bacteria, to prevent them from binding the bladder wall.

- Only using condoms.

- Keeping the genital area of both partners very clean. And washing it THOROUGHLY before intercourse. It's a good habit to get into though

- Going on a 6 month antibiotics and abstaining from sex. Very tough, but we had to try it.

- Taking special lessons to learn how to empty her bladder completely.

 

 

What did help somewhat, but not all the time were basically preventive measures:

 

- Drinking a LOT of water after intercourse to prevent it occurring, because stagnant urine in the bladder can be a breeding ground for bacteria.

 

- Drinking a LOT of orange juice, to make the bladder more acidic and hopefully kill the bacteria.

She used to drink 1 CARTON of it when she 'felt' the infection coming up. It worked in the beginning.

But I think some of the bacteria might have adapted and grown to survive it.

 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What you can still do:

- Make sure you completely empty your bladder when urinating. Stagnant urine is a breeding pool for bacteria.

- Perhaps the bladder/the urethra are slightly malformed, thus preventing you from being able to empty your bladder.

Your doctor would have to send you to a specialist (gynaecologist) to have this checked out.

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The echo was to check if the infection had spread to the kidney's, like the OP said. If it spreads to the kidneys it can cause kidney malfunction. Subsequently needing an operation to remove one or two.

 

Echo technology is pretty advanced now, I think he'd be able to see the difference in a necrotic/infected kidney and a healthy one with it.

It's non invasive, so the preferred method to do if there are no major reasons to do an invasive test.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

My personal theory with recurring infections is that it is a a chronic infection of the deeper bladder wall, where antibiotics can't penetrate thoroughly enough. Thus only killing the superficial bacteria.

 

Maybe a hospitial intravenous antibiotics treatment could cure it. But we didn't get that far, cause I was forced to dump her when she cheated with someone else.

 

But like someone already mentioned, that is not the norm. The norm is giving people a lesser antibiotic, to 'prevent' it from reoccuring.

But in my eyes the infection is always there, but in a vegetative state. Waiting to be revived by stimuli (sex).

Because it always seemed to be the exact same bacteria coming back.

Edited October 16, 2013 by Justletgo

[so gutted]

My ex had this all the time, probably still does.

I tried to help her overcome it. But nothing unfortunately seemed to work.

 

What didn't work for her:

- Taking he cranberry protein that 'binds' to the bacteria, to prevent them from binding the bladder wall.

- Only using condoms.

- Keeping the genital area of both partners very clean. And washing it THOROUGHLY before intercourse. It's a good habit to get into though

- Going on a 6 month antibiotics and abstaining from sex. Very tough, but we had to try it.

- Taking special lessons to learn how to empty her bladder completely.

 

 

What did help somewhat, but not all the time were basically preventive measures:

 

- Drinking a LOT of water after intercourse to prevent it occurring, because stagnant urine in the bladder can be a breeding ground for bacteria.

 

- Drinking a LOT of orange juice, to make the bladder more acidic and hopefully kill the bacteria.

She used to drink 1 CARTON of it when she 'felt' the infection coming up. It worked in the beginning.

But I think some of the bacteria might have adapted and grown to survive it.

 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What you can still do:

- Make sure you completely empty your bladder when urinating. Stagnant urine is a breeding pool for bacteria.

- Perhaps the bladder/the urethra are slightly malformed, thus preventing you from being able to empty your bladder.

Your doctor would have to send you to a specialist (gynaecologist) to have this checked out.

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The echo was to check if the infection had spread to the kidney's, like the OP said. If it spreads to the kidneys it can cause kidney malfunction. Subsequently needing an operation to remove one or two.

 

Echo technology is pretty advanced now, I think he'd be able to see the difference in a necrotic/infected kidney and a healthy one with it.

It's non invasive, so the preferred method to do if there are no major reasons to do an invasive test.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

My personal theory with recurring infections is that it is a a chronic infection of the deeper bladder wall, where antibiotics can't penetrate thoroughly enough. Thus only killing the superficial bacteria.

 

Maybe a hospitial intravenous antibiotics treatment could cure it. But we didn't get that far, cause I was forced to dump her when she cheated with someone else.

 

But like someone already mentioned, that is not the norm. The norm is giving people a lesser antibiotic, to 'prevent' it from reoccuring.

But in my eyes the infection is always there, but in a vegetative state. Waiting to be revived by stimuli (sex).

Because it always seemed to be the exact same bacteria coming back.

 

Wow - thanks. Cannot believe she had the energy to cheat after dealing with this.

 

I am now on keflex. I finish 7 days tmrw and although it doesnt sting now it nearly does..

 

This is ruining my life. My job is very stressful and this will make me a target.

 

The keflex has nearly worked.

 

I Have drunk a lot of water, a lot but this is not helping.

 

Am i likely to get a return of it tomorrow just because I have come off the keflex.

 

This is no way to live.

[fluberry]

Going to the toilet just once after sex isn't enough.Drink lots and lots of water after sex and go to the toilet a few more times ....it's tedious but it does help.Steer clear of tea and coffee and spicy food and go easy on alcohol. Another option is to take a single dose of antibiotic within two hours after having sex....

[whichwayisup]

Go back to the Dr and keep on the antibotics for at least 3-4 weeks.

 

Ask for a pap smear, do another ultra sound.

 

In the meantime, make sure you take baths with baking soda. Be careful when you wipe and maybe shower after you poop, just in case that is also a cause of your flare ups.

 

Hope you feel better soon.

[wavejumper]

I really feel for you- this is a very painful condition and 'modern' medicine doesn't have much to offer you. look up: Interstitial cystitis and do your research on alternative viewpoints

 

cranberry and other acidic substances, sugar, coffee, alcohol, tight clothing among other things, aggravate it, and antibiotics do not do anything but further debilitate the body's natural healing mechanism.

 

Look into acupuncture, specifically with a practitioner who understands this condition- it is not well understood, many will think it's a bladder infection, it is not.

 

also, most likely there is an autoimmune component to this. look into the mind/body relationship and trauma associations.

 

I hope this helps.

[Els]

There are several different classes of antibiotics, several different bacteria that cause UTIs, and no way to tell without a culture which is the appropriate one for you. Often the most likely one is prescribed first, and then switched to other options if it's found to not work. So if your current one is not working, you need to get back to your doctor. There is no faster way to get better. Water and cranberry juice are preventive, not curative.

 

Aside from that, I also second acrosstheuniverse's suggestion of looking at real, medical sources. WebMD and MayoClinic are good online options that many doctors themselves refer to in a pinch.

 

Condoms in themselves, if you use a legitimate one (not opened, etc), cannot cause UTIs. Intercourse does, because the motion facilitates transfer of bacteria from the vagina to the urethra. If it was 'more intense' than usual, the physical trauma can also cause inflammation and increase susceptibility.

Edited October 21, 2013 by Elswyth

[so gutted]

The doctor called me late in the evening and told me that its Chlymedia. I have used a condom with this guy but she said even foreplay can trigger it.

 

Thing is, she says to get him tested - i am embarrassed in case he doesnt have it he will wonder how i got it.

What shall i do?

[MidwestUSA]

The doctor called me late in the evening and told me that its Chlymedia. I have used a condom with this guy but she said even foreplay can trigger it.

 

Thing is, she says to get him tested - i am embarrassed in case he doesnt have it he will wonder how i got it.

What shall i do?

 

 

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but it's possible that you already had it and just weren't experiencing symptoms. So there's no point in wondering who gave it to whom. You absolutely HAVE TO tell him, tho, so he can get tested.

 

 

Good luck!

[whichwayisup]

The doctor called me late in the evening and told me that its Chlymedia. I have used a condom with this guy but she said even foreplay can trigger it.

 

Thing is, she says to get him tested - i am embarrassed in case he doesnt have it he will wonder how i got it.

What shall i do?

 

You have to tell him! If he had it, you'd expect HIM to tell you. This is common sense and common courtesy. Don't be embarrassed.