I am only 75 and have had two flipping out incidences going to Dr having many expensive tests, that found nothing. I am so glad to have this site because although I would leave the hospital with a xxx of unit no one explained anything. I have almost been. Chronic with this for years with no symptoms. Now we know what is wrong and it won,t scare my poor husband. As. Much. Thanks

How do you prevent UTI's?

hi i am a 40 year old male and am a parapelegic and for the last year have been dealing with cronic uti's it has been horrible.I have been to the er atleast 40 times have seen many doctors and test done no answers no one can tell me anything i think it never leaves like the bug is resistant has anyone heard of ESLB its a resistant super bug.I have been so sick and have taken so muc antibiotics and its seems to be getting worse.I see an infectious decease doctor in two weeks I hope he can help.Dont even start with the idiots in the ER they are no help they try to say it is atatomic dyslexia and is not what it is or they treat me like its in my head.I am so fustrated i need help or i feel this will kill me I have done a urodynamics test we did x-rays to see if there was reflux nothing they cant find nothing so they just say there is nothing wrong or i am colinized and will always come up so i get no help.

My husband problem is he has trouble urinating takes Medes for this, his episode starts out where he is very shakey, gets confused is sensitive to touch has trouble navigating, runs a slight fever, when I give him Tylenol the fever goes away, the next day he is fine and does't remember the episode

I have been caregiver for my hubbys Aunt for two years. She came from a nursing home, it took me awhile to figure out her behavior wasnt normal for her it was actually a UTI.
I struggled with reoccurring UTI's and horrible symptoms. The antibiotics were only a temporary relief not a healing. There are complications from too much Antibiotic use too yeast infections and bacteria becoming tolerant. After repetitive expensive antibiotics and showing no relief. I began researching and thankfully a friend who is a nurse and studying holistic healing ( use of herbs to heal) which if we think about it medicine originated from herbs... She told me about Dr. Schultzes company
Herbdoc
I started with the whole package of tea, condensed drops of the KB tea, detox drops and (cayenne drops which I didn't give her I use them in V8 yum!)
At that time my Aunt was 102 now she is 104! I can say without a doubt this tea works because I have allowed myself to run out and in those times she will drift back to the old symptoms which are horrible and not like her at all. I am amazed every time this happens. It is real!!
It is a tasty tea anyone could drink it. I use honey to sweeten it for her I give it multiple times a day sometimes on ice usually warm. It is the best money I have spent yet! No more expensive antibiotics that really didn't work. I was blessed by this miraculous information. I hope it blesses you too!

Once I was aware of this, I realized that my Mom's dementia symptoms were extremely heightened. She was constantly having UTI's. I realized it was because she was no longer able to remember how to wipe properly and also "couldn't reach" to clean herself well. Her Dr. keep prescribing antibiotics, but when I pointed out that this was constant, she prescribed "Cranberry D-Mannoose" tablets. These worked a bit, but didn't keep her UTI's away. I then found a powder with reviews about wonderful results on Amazon and started buying this (almost) tasteless powder in bulk. I give her a teaspoon daily at night to keep infections away, and now in rare instances when she does get a UTI, I increase to 3 doses for a day and it's gone. Also, I put a wireless doorbell next to the commode and a sign to "ring when done" and I go wipe her properly. Keeping UTI's away make a WORLD of difference in her daily cognitive skills. And, this is a simple and natural solution.

Thyroid levels can also mess with mental status. First my mom was on too much thyroid medication and was loosing too much weight. Then she was on too little and became combative and agitated. Now her dosage seems to be correct and her mental state is better and she's eating well.

I am 50 years old and experience the same symptoms. I become extremely depressed,almost a fear to be around people,confused and have nightmares..Every single time i start feeling like this I have had a uti...I believe this 100%. I become a completely different person. I know my body and symptoms . People dont understand..get called unfriendly..kinda hurts m y feelings...After reading her story it really helped to know someone undersstands .I have been gettin uti's every 4-6 weeks. Im going to doc sometime this week because i know i have another. I am also going to insist i get on a long term antibiotic. I use to be and went 5 years without one. Looking back ,when the antibiotic stopped and more uti's i have not wanted to be around NOONE . Become somewhat paranoid feeling when i get one. Just wanna feel healthy and happy again. Lupus/sle is bad enough throw uti on and its been Hell. Thank You for your story it really helped. I wish your mother luck and God Bless you,and your mom

I need a clear explanation how the UTI bacteria affect the brain. Some more scientificexplanations willbe appreciated.
Thank you,
Arlete

My 95-year-old mother has had CNAs in her home for about 2 1/2 years; for the last 10 months she's had them from 9 am to 10 pm. Even with changing her Depend several times a day (she usually makes it to the bathroom in time, even though she uses a walker 100% of the time), she's had bouts of UTIs every 3 months or so. LLast Oct. the doctor put her on daily Macrobatin. She was doing OK until this week. Her behavior changed so suddenly since my long visit the week before, getting up and coming downstairs because she was hungry in the early morning, then the next morning, while the CNA was there, she pushed her Life Alert button, saying she was hungry! Fortunately, the CNA made it to the intercom in time to tell the operator she was OK. The next tonight, she pushed the LA button FOUR times, summoning the EMS three times within 4 hours (each time she called, I got a call 1/2 hour later, so she woke ME up). The last time was just before the CNA arrived. Needless to say, I apologized profusely to the EMS team over the phone and said we'd get her overnight help. The CNA on the second day told me she'd seen confusion when Mom had UTIs before, and requested a urine test, even though we thought the Macrobatin should have prevented another occurence. We started a night shift Wed eve (and took away the LA pendant), and she was up 6 times during the night and called the CNA, 4 times to use the bathroom, once because she was cold and once because she The test results came back yesterday afternoon, as you guessed it: UTI. She's on a different antibiotic now, but the report I got from the night CNA this morning was that she was up every 30 minutes or so. Hopefully, she'll be better in a few days, but I'm going back next Tues for about a week to ease her back into her usual routine (OK by herself at night for 99%) of the time. Even with a history of UTIs, this time she didn't complain of burning or difficulty with urinating, and an observant CNA suspected a UTI and asked for the test. Otherwise, Mom might have been put in a nursing home. BTW, I got a baby monitor for the home last Oct., with the "baby" station her bedroom and the receiver in the kitchen. That way, the CNAs can hear her when she wakes up and calls for them. We move the monitors during the day, with the baby unit in her sitting room so the CNA can hear her call when the CNA is in the kitchen preparing meals or doing laundry. Now that we've have the night shift, the baby unit is in the bedroom and the receiver in the sitting room with the CNA. Hope this suggestion helps someone else.

Be very careful if your elderly loved one has any artificial joint (hip/knee) or similar and tend to get UTI's. The bacteria can easily concentrate on the "non-human" surface and cause additional problems.

My mom (91) tends to get lots of UTI's. First signs may be more negative thinking or "bad dreams" and sometimes she has "more forgetful" spells...once treated with appropriate antibiotic, she turns back into regular mom...


We also had the problem that some meds (including ones used for elderly incontinence - especially oxybutinin) can cause hallucinations and dementia like symptoms....so can PEPCID!!! So check out the medications too. Often Dr.s and medical facilities too quickly decide it is dementia instead of looking for what may be causing this change...

If several days of treatment has not produced measurable change in mental status, call DR. and ask for a recheck or culture results to make sure that the correct drugs have been prescribed.

Thanks for your ideas and help here

Curious what antibiotics are best to treat the UTI's. My mom (80 years old) had the confusion and all and ended up taking her to ER where they diagnosied her with UTI which was no surprise because she has a history of them. But this was the first time it affected her like this. Now a month and a half has passed and she is still not herself 100%. But now her urologist called and said she has another UTI and started her on Nitrofuriton. She started 2 days ago and is still confused and tired and totally not herself. I am at my wits end with all these doctors.

katiex10, Boy do In ever know the look....I have seen it multiple times in the last 8 months. I will try to see if I can find the supplement you mention in the health store. The cranberry capsules seemed to just cause bladder spazims, but I still give my Mom juice.

Anti-biotics may not actually cure this symptom because it is likely it reoccurs. Also some people are allergic and cannot take them.
Supplements like strong cranberry based supplements that have helped people clear up infections without antibiotics. Also, one should then take PRObiotics afterwards to build back all the good flora and fauna that the antibiotics destroyed.

If this is a HEALTH issue, shall we not talk about health, rather than constantly see disease as reasons for drugs and fighting a losing battle with nature? Of course elderly will die but why not do all you can to keep them comfortable?

Early detection of UTI's can even be avoided if the elderly patient takes probiotics to keep them from getting sick in the first place.

The really sad thing about my mom's UTI problem is I have had her at one emergency room after the other, three different doctors and a specialist. God help any senior who makes it to their ninety's because you get the look. Anyone who has seen it on a doctors face knows what I mean. After the last UTI and another dose of anibiotics I found something in the health food store that works wonders. However if you try it do so on your own. I can only tell you it helped with her. It is called D-Mannose. Being at my wits end I gave it a try. It takes about 10 days to see a difference but it worked.(for now) No one should have to suffer because medical personnel think your parent has demenita, when it is a UTI.

Thank you! I really thought I was "losing it". I have had constant UTI's since a debilitating car accident in 2008. We moved three times during these last 6 years, and no one put 2 and 2 together. Now, after several rounds of a very strong antibiotic, I am feeling NORMAL again.

My 91 year old aunt was getting a lot of uti's. We now give her cranberry capsules which have helped to prevent uti's.

katiex10, I agree about these nursing facilities being clueless. You would think that since UTIs bring on behavioral issues in seniors that these places would be aware of this type of thing. My Mom fell and had a compound fracture of the arm which was operated on in the hospital. Afterward they recommended "rehab" at a facility for a few weeks. At the hospital social workers recommendation, I chose a 5 star medicare rated facility. My normally mentally sharp Mom was not herself and didn't want to rehab or do much of anything. The physical therapist there kept howling about "sundowners" and said "old people get that way". I kept trying to convince them this behavior was NOT normal for my Mom and wondered if she had a UTI. Finally one of the nurses did test for UTI and by that afternoon my Mom was sent to the hospital by the nursing home doctor who luckily came in to witness this at that time, in an ambulance in a raging delirium where she kept yelling and flailing. This went on for about 2 days and then she was sleeping alot on the 3rd day and nearly normal again on the 4th day. It was absolutely frightening. To add to the horror, upon admittance to this hospital the intake nurse asked if I had seen the wound on her back....What wound??!!! Turns out that this 5 star facility left her lying there too long and a stage IV bedsore developed that caused later hospitalization for 6 weeks for osteomyelitis, (bone infection), That a simple UTI could cause such mental changes and all this, and the complete incompetency of the nursing facility is mind boggling. Needless to say I never sent her back there and she is now home with us.

I think that it concerns me just how many people really do not care about what our elderly go thru in their later yrs, when they are and become dependent on others. Something as simple as a UTI, is not that hard to figure out, if like those who have just indicated, cared enough about their mother to not want her to be uncomfortable, experience the effects they cause to her, and easier to get treated in the early stages. Image being the only one, as well as the non-biological child, who cared, yet had no rights. Knowing Mom was suffering from a severe and who knows how long it had gone on, before I got a smell of her bladder finally able to empty, appose to the countless times she tried or felt she had to, being very proper and private. Having all the signs, explained several things, but easier to dismiss, than take a urine test in and have it tested. It took me a entire yr., with what felt like pulling teeth, to get this done. IMAGINE someone telling you, that her urine had always smelt putrid, when you knew not only different, but no healthy person should have urine which smells that way. Without an infection. I happened to have suffered a yr, with a progressive infection that as a woman, and a male doctor who could not admit himself either wrong or incapable of diagnosing the problem. Tall and thin at 5' 71/2" and 125 lbs, I lost 25 lbs, w/him still telling me it had to be in my head or crouch. When the chronic pain, unbearable to expand my ribcage, was in the two places it was not, nor remotely close to. But in the very organs I told him repeatedly needed to be biopsied at least, in my Gallbladder and/or Liver. After over a dozen of the Best of the so called best in the Olympia and Centralia corridor, where they were trying to keep all the medical business, from going to Seattle. God blessed me with the last doctor, a internist, who took one look at me, and took me quite seriously. Immediately insisted on stabilizing me, and stuck with me, until I was able to get to it, which took firing the same doctor who would have and watched me dying, and would have managed to kill me. Who firing was almost a nightmare in itself, as I do not think they often are stood up to. He fired off a letter, stating that stated, there was nothing wrong with me, medically or physically, hence, nothing to be done. Putting his insanity, all in written form. Which is how I learned you cannot be in the hospital, without a doctor, and at 100 lbs, and a yr later, starting over was not something I even knew where or how to start. I would go in a lie on a test, which basically allowed for possibly there something wrong with my Gallbladder. But I had to lie on it, because it did not fit A-typical failing Gallbladders. Which my wasn't failing, but running higher than anyone had ever seen it. Only then was someone willing to go in and check it. Thus getting to it, which had grown up into my liver, adhering to it, spreading all to it. Being that I would have died from live failure, had I survived the infection. I would be told after the fact, Of course, that I was not expected to survive, by the Internist, who did in fact abandon me, being connected to the same medical facility of the doctor I fired, and refused medical care, by any doctor connected to this facility. Given I fired one of them. Who had taken needlessly, my female organs, then claimed it a good thing they a were disposable organs. To Who? Missed the very organs he swore it could not be, and tortured me for a yr. I will never forget that smell, as I could not tolerate my own bathroom, after going to the bathroom, due to the stench of it. If it will cause such from organs far higher than one UT, then its certainly serious when it is as close and a helpless elderly woman is suffering the effects of a severe UTI. It took me 3 treatments, to finally get it, yet the difference was night and day. Her head was up out of her chest, sparkle back in her eyes, and she was not scooting to and from the bathroom constantly, usually to fall asleep, on the toilet. It is important that we do watch the signs and changes in our elderly and act accordingly, as they are helpless often, to communicate to us. I cringe, every time I think just how much time, her and Dad were unable to enjoy, of each other, while she suffered and was absent, in a way to him, in a lethargic manner. We all should consider, one day, we will end up in the same shoes, hopefully someone will care for us, as we cared for our loved ones.

My mother (64) started acting very confused and manic last week. I told my father to get her to the hospital because I thought she was having a stroke or something. They diagnosed her with a UTI and she was in the hospital for 4 days on antibiotics and a saline drip. Yesterday she was discharged and I went to go see her today and she is acting like a completely different person, she is acting downright crazy. She doesn't make any sense and she hasn't slept since she got home in over 24 hours, she walks around the house writing notes and putting them up all over the place, the house is covered in her notes about how she's going to go take a nap, but she has yet to sleep. My family and I are all totally freaking out because she's acting like a senile elderly person and a week and a half ago she was perfectly coherent, teaching Sunday school, and writing a newsletter for the local American Legion. The doctor sent her home like this and now we don't know what to do! Could a UTI cause permanent damage like dementia? Should I take her back to the emergency room? I need to do something because we can't keep going like this.

I think that was good information since my mom has has several trips to the doctor and the emergency room and we were given several meds to treat this. She took all the meds but somehow she still has the need to go sometime she goes and sometime not. We went back to the doctor one more time and they took blood and urine and they came back ok and she apperrs to have the same symptoms. She used to sleep through the night and now several trips to the batrhroom I was told that when you get older you go more often I am lost don't know what to do.=}

This does not just occur in Seniors but also in young people with Mental Illness such as Bi-Polar Disorder. My daughter is one of these people.

Katiex10, now I understand your frustration with the system. If the facilities in your area are subpar there isn't much one can do.

@fregflyer
Doctors who will not look any farther than their nose. Nursing facilities who just want the money till seniors die and the cycle continues. It only took 3 months 3 doctors and two emergency rooms visits before one doctor said yes she has a UTI

Katiex10, just curious who are *they* and *these people* that you were posting about?

My mother was diagnosed finally after about a month. She was confused, agitated and paranoid. They tried a psych drug thinking this was the problem After they found out her problem she was given antibiotics and sent to a Rehab facility which did actually no good since they are not keeping up with the level of care necessary. I think the UTI has returned and had to actually loose my temper to get anything done. Never leave your elders with these kinds of people. All they want is your money and hope they die.

Sadly, the vast majority of care managers do not give a hoot about the well being of the resident. What needs to be addressed is how to get geriatrics to acknowledge they need psychiatric care and also to actually have qualified and caring psychiatric professionals assisting them. Unfortunately, as a society, we are not there yet with this important need.

As an 18 yr ER nurse, yes-yes- yes. Confusion or "mom isn't acting right" and invariably mom or dad has a UTI. But also frequent or increase in falling, anectodely anyway, is also a sign that your elder has a UTI. Home test kits (Walgreens or CVS) are available to at least guide you. Maybe you can save a trip to the ER~

This is an important topic-thanks for the useful article. As professional geriatric care managers, it is something we see a lot and have to help our clients/families monitor for. It is one of the first things we ask about when we see a significant change in someone's behavior. If you live at a distance from a loved one, even one who lives in assisted care or a nursing facility, this is one of the reasons a geriatric care manager can be useful in helping monitor this type of thing, review charts/appointments, communicate with you and be a liaison so things do not get missed: We offer a checklist for what to ask if you are considering hiring someone too: