[Madjeski]

Hi All,

I have read this forum on many occasions which has always helped me with certain symptoms as you’re all so helpful, I now need to post my current experience because I’m praying someone can help me or give me some advice...

For the past week and a half I have been suffering from a UTI – I’m a 30 year old male from the UK in otherwise good health. On Monday 16th March at around 3am I woke up with a fever and very high pulse rate even when sitting, called NHS Direct who advised me to visit my local A&E but not call an ambulance. At A&E my pulse was 144 Bpm and BP 135/75 they did and ECG, put me on a drip and took blood/urine. After a few hours the fever had gone back down to 37.5C / 99.5F and my pulse rate dropped to around 95-105Bpm. They said I had elevated white blood cells (15 rather than usual 10 I think) and a Urinary Tract Infection and sent me home with Antibiotics (Trimethoprim 200Mg 2 times a day for 7 days).

After a few days I wasn’t getting any better so I went to me GP who also did a Blood and Urine test, this time the urine was cultured in a lab to identify the bacteria and which antibiotics it was sensitive too. On Thursday 19th my antibiotics were changed to Nitrofurantoin 100Mg 4 times a day for 7 days and was told my white blood cell count was back to a normal 5. This had an almost instant effect on my fever, chills, pulse rate (back to 65BPM) and flu-like-symptoms but by the weekend the burning and pain down below has flared back up and doesn’t show signs of stopping.

Now the GP won’t do anything until I finish the antibiotics on Thursday 26th and I need to take a urine sample to be tested on Friday 27th but I won’t get the results until the following Tuesday. I’m really worried that I will deteriorate again over the weekend and end up back in A&E. I try to search for answers but just scare myself stupid with reports of antibiotic resistant bacteria and fear I have that! I’m in pain, urinating all the time, trying to drink as much as possible, can’t sleep for more than 1-2 hours at a time and this is really affecting my work and life.

I read about D-Mannose for UTI treatment, does anyone have any experience of it? I am also taking Cranberry supplements as I read that can help as well.

Please help me – Thank you!

[zygopetalum]

It sounds like the med is doing its job in clearing up the infection. I wonder if you are having some irritation/side effect from the med itself, I have a vague memory of something like that happening to me years ago when I had UTIs a lot.

Can you talk to your druggist (chemist?) about it and get his opinion? In the US there are some over the counter meds you can take for the pain, I don't know what is available in the UK or if you should continue the medication.

judi

[Marlene]

D-Mannose is very easy to use and effective. Worth a having on hand.

[Madjeski]

Hi Guys,

Thank you for your response. I have ordered some D-Mannose from Amazon today as I couldn't find a local retailer that stocks it.

[Kitt]

Welcome Madjeski.

[Michelle61]

I understand your frustration with your UTI. I have spina bifida and have dealt with these things my entire life. I am frequently on antibiotics, which mess up my "stomach" and make me feel awful. Macrobid (Nitrofur) is usually a pretty good antibiotic. If you still feel ill though you definitely need to see the dr. when your pills are gone. D-Mannose is good but it only works if your infection is caused by e-coli. It won't work for other bacteria, and it is usually used for prevention. I have been on 5 different antibiotics in the last 6 months, and getting really frustrated and ticked off as well. Watch what you are eating also- some foods like grapes, caffeine, carbonated beverages, chocolate etc can irritate your bladder. You can research this online. Also make sure you are drinking a lot of water- 8 to 10 glasses a day.

[Madjeski]

Update - So it has been several weeks of antibiotics, D-Manoose, Cranberry Extract supplements and drinking enough water to sink the titanic and I think it has gone now!

I still get a bit of burning and discomfort occasionally but that seems to be the worst of it. Thank you all for your help.