Can You Get 2 Utis In A Month
If you’re really unlucky, it may take two or more rounds of this to knock the UTI from your system. If you have two UTIs in a three month period, or more than three UTIs in a single year, you officially have a recurrent UTI . But the reasons for developing a lingering one isn’t the same for everyone.
How Biofilms Can Cause Your Uti Symptoms To Come And Go
Lets compare the science of biofilms with the symptoms a sufferer of a chronic urinary tract infection may experience, using E.coli as an example pathogen:
| Stage One | THE SCIENCE: |
| New biofilm attachments may begin to form Free-floating bacteria are flushed from bladder Without appropriate treatment, the process repeatsHOW IT FEELS: A cycle of recurrent UTI as the biofilm fluxes over time |
We should also note here that biofilms can be fungal as well as bacterial, and there may be more than one pathogen present in the bladder at any given time. In fact, biofilms can be complex and diverse communities of multiple pathogens.
| These organisms like to live in communities. Biofilms are like apartment buildings, and the longer that you’ve had this chronic infection, the more likely it is that you have more and more residents that have come to join the party. And they like to support one another, they live synergistically. It’s sort of like a ball of yarn. You have to start pulling somewhere if we’re ever going to unravel this big, knotted up mess. |
For the sake of simplicity, and because bacterial infections of the urinary tract are much more common than fungal, well stick to bacteria for our examples. But keep in mind, what causes a chronic urinary tract infection in one person is very likely different from the next person.
Fascinated? A UK research team has put together a more in depth look at how biofilms and IBCs form for you to view.
Tips For Preventing Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are common and on the rise in the United States.The lifetime risk of kidney stones is about 19% in men and 9% in women. It is estimated that one in 10 people will have stones in their lifetimesand once you get a stone, you are at risk of getting another. Fortunately, it is possible to prevent kidney stones from forming by paying attention to your diet and remaining well-hydrated.
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Why Do I Keep Getting Utis
While most uncomplicated UTIs either resolve on their own, or with a course of antibiotics, there is an increasing number of cases of chronic urinary tract infections that cause ongoing symptoms.
You get a UTI, you take the antibiotics you are given, the symptoms disappear, and everything seems normal. Then you suddenly find yourself with another UTI You take the antibiotics you are given, the symptoms disappear, and everything seems normal, until
It may sound like a broken record, but this is the situation more and more females find themselves in. To hear personal accounts firsthand, listen to UK reality TV star experience and being misdiagnosed with recurrent UTIs.
| Ive had recurrent UTIs for around 15 years. I take antibiotics when it gets really bad, and it seems to help, but I always get another one, and I always anticipate getting another one. I try my best to prevent it, but it seems inevitable. |
How Do I Know If My Particular Strain Of Uti Is Resistant To A Particular Drug
The only way is to get a urine culture. The lab results will identify the germ and what would be effective in treating the infection. But it can take several days to get the results.
Most patients want an immediate prescription so doctors usually make a best-guess determination of what drug will work given a patients symptoms and history.
The importance of history cannot be overstated if you have had a previous U.T.I., a previous resistant U.T.I., or have traveled outside the country, your history can help a doctor decide which drug to use.
Increasingly, experts tell us that you should ask for a culture when you go in for a U.T.I. treatment, even if you get an immediate prescription. The culture will allow a doctor to change the drug if the first one does not work.
That said, there is an important catch about when to do a urine culture. Often, it will show bacteria in the bladder even when an infection is not present. Some amount of bacteria is normal. The Infection Disease Society of America cautions doctors against doing cultures when symptoms of a U.T.I. are not present. The culture likely presence of bacteria can then lead to prescription of unnecessary antibiotics, contributing to the rise of resistance through overuse of the drugs.
Finally, some U.T.I.s, even when there are symptoms, can clear up on their own. This is one of many reasons to seek the care of an informed professional.
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Leaving Uti Anxiety Behind
Out of fear, leftover antibiotics had become a permanent feature in my bag. If I changed bags, the antibiotics came with me. I never opened them, but they were my psychological backup.
Around the nine month mark I made the momentous decision to leave the antibiotics behind. It might sound overly dramatic, but tearing up your safety blanket and tossing it to the wind IS huge. I hadnt taken antibiotics in nine months, but I still relied on their presence, psychologically speaking.
When I embarked on my healing regimen, I envisioned massive celebrations at the one year mark, for I would then be officially free of recurrent urinary tract infections. In reality, I had put UTIs so far behind me that it was almost a non-event.
I did have some celebratory drinks, with an emphasis on the fact I COULD drink alcohol without fearing a UTI.
What Is A Uti Anyway
A UTI is an infection in any part of your urinary system, but usually the bladder and urethra, according to the Mayo Clinic. UTIs are typically caused by bad bacteria entering the urinary tract through the urethra and multiplying in the bladder, leading to infection. Even the most mild UTI can be intensely aggravating, but chronic UTIs repeated or prolonged bacterial infection of the bladder or urethra can be even worse.
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Why Do Antibiotics Sometimes Not Work For A Urinary Tract Infection
If an antibiotic doesnt work it is likely that the bacteria causing the UTI is not susceptible or is resistant to the antibiotic you are taking.
Antibiotic resistance occurs when the bacteria that is causing the infection is no longer affected by a particular antibiotic and is able to continue to grow and multiply. Inappropriate and unnecessary antibiotic use contributes to the increasing problem of antibiotic resistance.
If you felt better for a little while and then came down with the symptoms of a UTI again, it is also possible that you have a new or recurrent UTI.
Another possibility if you continue to experience symptoms of a UTI despite antibiotic treatment, is that you have another type of infection that mimics that symptoms of a UTI and you need a different antibiotic or other treatment. Sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia and gonorrhea, for example, produce symptoms that mimic a UTI. Vaginal yeast infections can also cause burning when you pee.
What Should I Do If My Antibiotic Doesnt Work For My Urinary Tract Infection
If your symptoms dont improve within a couple of days or get worse after starting an antibiotic you should contact your healthcare provider. A different antibiotic, a longer course of antibiotics or another treatment may be required. A physical exam or urine sample may be required.
When you have a UTI its important to:
- Only take an antibiotic that has been prescribed for you
- Take the antibiotic exactly as instructed by your healthcare provider and finish the full course of treatment even if you feel better
- Drink plenty of water and other fluids
- Urinate or pee regularly
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Is It My Fault That I Keep Getting Utis
Even the second or third time you get a UTI it can seem like a bit of a coincidence. The words recurrent urinary tract infections dont really register at this stage. You figure you just havent been sleeping enough.
Or maybe youve been fighting a virus and your immune system is just having a rough time.
Denial is probably the most accurate word for this phase. I was just so certain the antibiotics would work every time. Even though they didnt.
Selling my business and packing up my life for a move overseas was my priority, and the frequent trips to the doctor for antibiotics were more of a nuisance than cause for concern.
I thought I was being responsible when I asked my doctor for antibiotics to take abroad with me in case I got another UTI. That optimism is almost laughable now.
My Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections Treatment Regimen
I didnt realize at the time that this was the beginning of my recovery. My regimen took me to a place where I no longer had any symptoms. I was able to stop taking supplements on a daily basis. It wasnt about managing my symptoms anymore, they were just gone.
I was basically back at square one and I wanted a fresh start. I wanted more information everything I could get my hands on. I started with a range of blood tests to check my general health.
I discovered I was quite low in a few essential vitamins and minerals. In speaking with clinicians I have learned this is very common in people who have been fighting long term chronic infection.
First, I began to take a range of supplements targeting my deficiencies. Then I created a regimen of strong herbal antifungals and antibacterials based on the advice of my new doctor.
These were teamed up with oral and vaginal probiotics that contained probiotic strains showing promise for urinary tract and vaginal health.
I had tried all of these separately after reading studies about each of them. But I had never tried them together, or with a plan and a timeframe in mind.
I started my new regimen.
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Recurrent Uti And Constant Yeast Infections
Frequent antibiotic use came with other side effects. The most obvious was yeast infections. Although this was a less painful experience than the UTIs, it was an even more constant companion.
Each time I took antibiotics, I would need to use over the counter antifungals. These would relieve the symptoms just long enough for the next UTI to take hold. This of course meant more antibiotics, then more antifungals.
Then more antibiotics, then more antifungals You get the picture.
It felt as though I was never not taking something. I felt completely out of control of the state of my body. I had no confidence in its ability to find a better balance.
The antibiotics and antifungals had destroyed any semblance of a healthy microbiome in all areas, including my digestive tract.
Eventually the effectiveness of the antibiotics and antifungals lessened, and I would have just a few hours respite before the UTI and yeast infections would return.
My UTI symptoms became constant at this point. I virtually had not a single moment where I wasnt aware of discomfort in my urinary tract. And discomfort is mostly putting it lightly.
I began to notice a link between digestive symptoms, yeast related symptoms and the frequency of UTI flare ups. There was hardly a moment that I felt symptom free. Id had enough, and I decided to take what felt like drastic action.
Can Uti Symptoms Linger After Antibiotics
Though most UTIs are effectively treated with antibiotics, in some cases, UTI symptoms can linger even after completing the full course of antibiotic medication prescribed by your doctor.
In this article, Ill describe the possible causes of lingering UTI symptoms after antibiotics.
Ill also cover the recommendations for what to do when UTI symptoms linger after treatment, and when you should expect your symptoms to disappear.
Finally, Ill explain when its important to reach out to your doctor or healthcare provider for testing or a more thorough exam.
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What Is A Uti
A UTI refers to an infection in any part of your urinary system, including your kidneys, bladder, and urethra. It most commonly occurs in your lower urinary tract, where the bladder and urethra are located.
Women can be as much as 30 times more likely to develop UTIs than men due to a shorter urethra. This means that bacteria travel more quickly and easily from your urethra to your bladder.
Acute cystitis, in particular, often affects women and triggers bladder inflammation. On its own, a bladder-related infection is painful and bothersome. But if left untreated, it could spread to your kidneys and pose serious consequences.
Note that not all UTIs exhibit signs and symptoms in patients, so its possible to be completely unaware that you have one. When they do present, however, symptoms commonly include:
- Urinating often in small quantities
- A burning sensation when you pee
- A reddish, bright pink, or brownish color
- Strong-smelling or cloudy urine
- Pelvic pain , especially in the center of your pelvis and near your pubic bone
- Feeling tired or shaky
- Pain or pressure in your lower abdomen
- Fever or chills
The three different types of UTIs are as follows:
- Urethritis
Its an inflammation of your urethra. Symptoms include a discharge from your urethra and burning urination.
- Cystitis
Bladder inflammation thats marked by painful, burning urination and cloudy urine, as well as a frequent need to pee.
- Pyelonephritis
- Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole
- Nitrofurantoin
- ephalexin ceftriaxone
Creating Stronger Strains Of Bacteria
Over time, some species of bacteria have become resistant to traditional antibiotics. According to some research , several species of E. coli, the primary cause of UTIs, are showing increasing drug resistance.
The more a person uses an antibiotic, the greater the risk of the bacteria developing resistance. This is even more likely when people do not follow a doctors instructions to complete the full prescribed course of treatment.
It is essential to continue a course of antibiotics until the end date that the doctor provides. People should also never share antibiotics with others.
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What Causes Chronic Urinary Tract Infection
This is where the science gets a little more complicated.
Weve talked elsewhere about what causes UTIs. And above, we explained that recurrent UTIs can be attributed to a persistent bladder infection that is not properly eradicated by treatment.
A persistent bladder infection can last for years in the form of a chronic urinary tract infection. For many females, the cycle of acute and symptom-free periods is never broken, and some move on to be diagnosed with the conditions mentioned above, such as Interstitial Cystitis , or Painful Bladder Syndrome . More on that later.
Why has it been so difficult to detect and treat these infections?
There is a culprit here, so lets take a closer look. Behind the misdiagnosis of hundreds of thousands of people, are embedded chronic urinary tract infections that involve biofilms.
Preventing Utis Is Easy So You Dont Have To Worry About Recurrence To Begin With
Depending on whats causing your UTI, prevention is pretty straightforward. Be sure to:
- Pee after sex
- Pee whenever you have to, and make sure you go fully
- Maintain vaginal health with topical hormones and oral supplements as directed by your physician
- If youre prone to recurring UTIs, keep track of your UTIs, sexual health, medication, and how often you pee to help your physician help you. The UTI tracker app lets you do that, if youre looking for something specifically for your vags health.
Ever had a UTI you just couldnt seem to shake? Have any prevention tips you swear by? Share your stories with us in the comments below.
Akanksha Singh is a full-time writer and part-time coffee fiend based in Bombay, India. She also tweets sporadically and grams incessantly.
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When Do Uti Symptoms Disappear
As previously mentioned, antibiotics should help dissipate your UTI symptoms within one to two days. Your doctor might prescribe a treatment plan lasting anywhere from 3 to 14 days.
If youve been battling more severe UTI symptoms, such as low-grade fever or lower back pain, the process could take slightly longer. While mild improvements should be spotted in the first couple of days, your infection will likely need up to one week to completely go away.
What Else Can You Do When Antibiotics Fail
When it comes to the best treatment for recurrent chronic UTIs there are two main camps.
Some physicians prefer a long-term antibiotic treatment protocol, frequently prescribing a variety of antibiotics over the course of several months .
Others advocate for the mindful use of antibiotics and focus on correcting underlying dysbiosis as the main reason for recurrent UTIs. In fact, we are still learning about the human microbiome and the effect bacteria have on our health and it seems less and less probable that antibiotics alone could solve chronic issues.
Moreover, antibiotics were developed when we thought that a healthy bladder is sterile which we now know is far from the truth.
What is the best approach to cure a chronic UTI? Here is a selection of posts that can help you to get up to speed:
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