Current UTI immune to antibacterial medication?

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I am currently a 21 year old female university student.

SO when i was 11 I had my first memorable urinary tract infection. My mother told me I had several when I was much younger and I would never let anyone touch me for example when she tried to dry me when i got out of the bath. Anyone I was 11, got it at an event. I had horrible diet. My parents let me drink up to two cans of coke a day until I turned thirteen and decided to come off it myself. I was overweight and what not. Anyway the pain was so horrific, like knives cutting away inside you and that is not an exaggeration. Went to school, ended up going to the bathroom frequently crying all day. Eventually went home told my mother and got it diagnosed and treated. 

the horrible pain went away but ever since then I have had the occasional burning sensation when i go to the toilet howver its always been nothing. Ive been told by doctors its likely just sensitive skin. Ive had ultra sounds done and they haven't found anything whatsoever. Anyone those aren't actually infections its just burning sensations that go away within five minutes of going to the toilet. Thats fine and dandy, but sometimes its hard to tell between it being the beginning of an intense uti and just the usual burning. I can live with the burning to be honest. I really can its not at all that bad. 

However in the past 10 years I've had 7 urinary tract infections. One when in 2006, 2007, 2010, three in 2015 (technically two because the second infection of that year was not properly treated and it simply came back) and one just now. I have always been given cephalexin OR trimethoprim. I know people have more serious issues. They get uti's every other day and its horrible. I cannot imagine what its like to have that experience. Anyway this experience is a little different because usually the medication kicks in within 24 hours after diagnosis. However, i am still feeling pain and its been a day and a half, almost two. The pain has DEFINITELY decreased, but there is still a little bit of irritation. I am just curious if this means the strain of e.coli affecting me is becoming immune or if i just have to be patient. Please help. Im terrified. I have tests coming up for university and it is slowly ruining my relationship. 

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3 Replies

  • Posted

    Hey Danni,

    I'm a 24 year old female and have the same problems you have. I self catheterise so I run the risk of being more prone to utis. I got them loads when I had a indwelling catheter but now that I do it on my own I probably get one every couple of months. Mine is slightly different to yours, I don't actually have sensation in my urethra so luckily I don't experience burning etc (but I do remember what it felt like when I had sensation and its an AWFUL pain) but I have bladder pressure after I do the toilet, the pressure is accompanied but stinging if I have an infection so I can normally tell the difference, but I can imagine your frustration if there isn't much of a difference.

    Anyway, my urologist said that sometimes when you've had chronic utis they can cause irritation around the lining of your bladder which become extra sensitive leaving you with pain. So your Dr is probably right. Ever since my problems started I drink LOTS of cranberry juice, I actually find it can help. You have nothing to lose so why don't you try it out and see if it improves any of your symptoms? It's a great way of keeping your urinary tract flushed clean from bad bacteria.

    As for antibiotics, the more you take them the more chances your body has to create a resistance to it. But if you had an infection it would show up on a sample. Antibiotics are amazing, but be careful not to overuse them. I ended up with clostridium difficile twice bc antibiotics killed off too much good bacteria leaving cdiff spores to multiply. I got seriously unwell so my Dr is extra careful what she prescribes me. I know that I've already got a resistance to a few antibiotics bc I've been on them so many times which is quite scary if it's one I actually need in the future. That being said, new antibiotics are always going to become available as more research is done on new types of strains.

    I have a kidney infection just now and I'm feeling rubbish for it, so trust me, you're not alone. Try not to worry Danni 💜

    • Posted

      Hi Emma, 

      Thank you for your insight. Usually when I get infections I actually sit down and read these forums. I have a scientific interest in most things so reading about can cause them and how they are treated is somewhat of a comfort. 

      I guess I better be patient for a little longer as this is only date two of antibiotics. I guess if the bacteria was resistant then I wouldnt be feeling better, but I am. Its just taking longer then usual or it FEELS like it is at least. Sleep I guess is an important factor in getting better. Do you have any idea on what vitamin C tablets can do? I was thinking I might try some of those. 

      Yeah cranberry juice is  agreat prevention but I have forgotten to drink it this whole week and i guess the stress of university and all those coffees dont exactly help either. Thank you very much for telling me of your experience!

    • Posted

      You're welcome Danni ☺ hopefully bc it's early days for the antibiotics you'll just keep getting better and better everyday. It could just be that the infection is worse than you usually have, so it's just taking a bit longer to get rid of them all.

      My degree is in science and you'd be surprised how bacteria devlopes and how it learns to survive from anything that tries to kill it. Not only that, if a certain type of bacteria learns how to defend itself against, say, an antibiotic, it'll pass the information over to other bacteria so they can then learn! So that's one of the main reasons why Dr's stress to take your whole course of tablets as it could make very easy to treat illnesses, very difficult. But it's still pretty interesting I think.

      I'm not entirely sure about vitamin c, do you know if it includes calcium? The only reason why I ask is that my Dr told me to watch with calcium, due to me having quite a lot of urinary problems. Calcium build ups can lead to kidney stones etc but that was just one of the recommendations I got from my Dr, just ask your pharmacist or Dr the next time you see them x

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