UTI, scared of taking antibiotics

MAC123 · Post by **MAC123** » Sun Aug 28, 2011 1:36 pm

Basically I think I have a UTI. I know I need antibiotics to treat it. I've never taken any type of antibiotics with MC. I'm terrified of the reactions I may have to the meds. :(

Post by **tex** » Sun Aug 28, 2011 1:42 pm

Have you considered D-mannose? It's a natural product that seems to work about as well as an antibiotic for many people with UTIs. You might find several of the posts in the thread at the link below to be very helpful:

http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=10609

Tex

MAC123 · Post by **MAC123** » Sun Aug 28, 2011 1:59 pm

I was under the impression that is just for prevention and not getting rid of an existing one?

MAC123 · Post by **MAC123** » Sun Aug 28, 2011 2:15 pm

also, in the event that i do go and get antibiotics, does cipro contain dairy? (all other intolerances are ok with me)

Post by **tex** » Sun Aug 28, 2011 2:54 pm

D-mannose: Studies suggest that D-mannose is 10 times more effective than cranberries in dislodging E. coli bacteria from the bladder wall, and, as such, can ameliorate more than 90% of UTIs in 24-48 hours.

http://www.healingtherapies.info/Urinar ... Health.htm

Cipro is the antibiotic least likely to cause any digestive system problems for someone with MC, so if you have to take an antibiotic, this is by far the safest one to take. Many of us have taken it, (including myself), and in every case that I'm aware of, it has not caused a flare. In fact, if someone is having D when they take Cipro, it will promptly stop the D. Of course, in that situation, a few days after the Cipro treatment ends, the D will almost always resume again. I've taken it twice, (back while I was still reacting), and both times, it stopped the D for the duration of the treatment.

Tex

LindyLou · Post by **LindyLou** » Sun Aug 28, 2011 3:36 pm

When I was at my oral surgeons the other day, he made a comment that if he couldn't eliminate an infection through surgery he was going to send me to my doctors for an antibiotic shot. Does this make sense to you Tex? Would the reaction be different if the antibiotic is not taken orally?

Post by **tex** » Sun Aug 28, 2011 4:41 pm

I'm certainly not an authority on either oral surgery or antibiotics, but I would be surprised if your oral surgeon can eliminate an infection without the aid of an antibiotic. Polly could probably offer some insight on this issue, if she happens to notice your post, because she's had a lot of experience with oral surgery and antibiotics. The type of antibiotic is probably much more important than the way it's administered, as far as the risk of a reaction is concerned, because I suspect that just about all of them are likely to have systemic effects.

Tex

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Sun Aug 28, 2011 5:19 pm

MAC123,

I used to get UTIs all the time and regularly took Cipro for them. I never had any problem with it. I didn't have any success with D-Mannose, though some here have.

Gloria

starfire · Post by **starfire** » Mon Aug 29, 2011 6:47 am

I think an injected antibiotic probably wouldn't be a problem. I had antibiotics given through an IV once for about 4 days and it worked out OK. However, if cipro will work for your infection, I'd probably go that route.

Shirley

LindyLou · Post by **LindyLou** » Mon Aug 29, 2011 3:22 pm

I questioned him about Cipro and he said it wouldn't be effective for the infection I had :( The area where the infection was seems to be doing ok for the moment. I go to see him on Wednesday so I'm sure I'll know more then.

Linda

hazel · Post by **hazel** » Fri Sep 02, 2011 4:45 pm

LindyLou, this article was in our paper yesterday. It is so sad. It also reminds us never to let a tooth infection go. http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dl ... 109020346/

grannyh · Post by **grannyh** » Fri Sep 02, 2011 4:54 pm

Had no problems with Cipro but being on medicare was given some generic something for ear infection..first week was find..two days into the second week.. bam.. my remission of 9 months was gone! Had to start on entocort again.. After almost two months I am back to one entocort a day and hoping I can taper off again... keeping fingers crossed.
grannyh

LindyLou · Post by **LindyLou** » Fri Sep 02, 2011 5:36 pm

Kathy,
Thanks for sharing the link. My brother once dated a girl whos brother had an infection which migrated to his brain and he suffered permanent brain damage at an early age. I have tried to be so careful about my teeth as it seems like within the last 8 years, I've had nothing but trouble with them. I even go to a periodontist 4 times a year just for a cleaning. I went back yesterday for a follow up to the surgery and was told the front tooth looks like I might be able to keep it for sometime, (hopefully many years) but the lower left molar doesn't look so good. I cannot bite anything hard due to the greater mobility. He suggested the possibility of an implant, but I don't know. Knowing my luck, I'd end up getting an infection and end up with a bridge anyway. I'm keeping a closed eye on it though. Seems like I have enough problems already. Certainly don't want to add to them.

Linda

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Fri Sep 02, 2011 6:45 pm

Grannyh wrote:my remission of 9 months was gone! Had to start on entocort again.. After almost two months I am back to one entocort a day and hoping I can taper off again... keeping fingers crossed.

Oh, Grannyh, I'm sorry that the medication caused a relapse in your symptoms. I hope you can taper off of it again soon, too. Please let us know. You have been an inspiration to many of us.

I just resumed taking two pills per day after being off it for 4 months. I had major D the last couple of weeks. After 3 days, so far, so good. I'm having formed BMs again.

I'm so grateful that Entocort works for me. My whole outlook is much better. I hope to taper to one every day or every other day. I don't expect I'll ever be able to completely get off of it like you have.

Gloria

grannyh · Post by **grannyh** » Fri Sep 02, 2011 6:51 pm

Gloria,
My family doc suggests tapering slowly..so that is what I do.. skip a day if that works I stay that way for a week and then skip two days.. if that works for a couple of weeks.. and so on. I can always take them in shorter spans but tapering slowly keeps from having a major flare too soon.

I had worried that entocort might not work the second time around. Even the gastro doc says there are no stats on that.
grannyh