Find Senior Care (City or Zip)
Join Now Log In
C
Ceecee65 Asked September 2019

Any chronic UTI solutions?

Hi all,


My MIL is in AL and is 89. She has been doing very well for her age, with no major health complaints. Minor memory loss.


About 6 weeks ago, she was diagnosed with a UTI after her behavior and confusion warranted a urinalysis. Since then, she has been on and off antibiotics with no long-lived relief.


Her gerontology team is VERY good and we are so blessed to have them.


They cultured her specimen to make sure they hit the bacteria with the correct antibiotic. However, we have made little headway.


Mom is chronically dehydrated, which we know is exacerbating the problem. "I'm not thirsty" is the answer when the staff tries any number of different beverages in order to up her fluid intake. Dehydration leads to increased confusion, which leads to less fluid intake, which leads to more UTI symptoms, which leads to incontinence----round and round we go.


What are your thoughts? Any ideas?

Sendhelp Sep 2019
Because it was recommended on this forum, I have used the D Mannose powder form in water for a suspected Uti.
I think it is actually the fruit sugar derived from cranberries (and other fruits).

Diabetics would have to be monitored closely for their sugar levels. It may be contraindicated in diabetics, but an expert in alternative medicine should be consulted for the use of D Mannose, a sugar different from glucose.

It is not for me to say.

It is a serious condition, having a UTI.

LooseIt Sep 2019
Also try the PROPEL DRINKS. They have flavors that are good, electrolytes and no sugar. But it tastes better a little cold.

ADVERTISEMENT


LooseIt Sep 2019
My dad used to not drink enough water and would UTI's all the time. I never understood why. But a nurse told me CRANBERRY JUICE. I'm like my dad is a diabetic type2 so that would make his sugar go up. She said to get it from the health food store, the all natural that has no sugar. If I couldn't find it use the CRANBERRY VITAMIN/SUPPLEMENT. I had to improvise so I used 1 cup water and about 1/4 cup of cranberry juice, Diet. It helped. But at the same time you have to stop other foods/drinks. No caffeine and no Cola's. No brown sodas.
Hope that helps.
AlvaDeer Sep 2019
Please try the D Mannose. Works better than Cranberry, and there is no acidity as there is with cranberry. Same mode of action, keeping the bacteria from adhereing to the bladder wall. Any health food store or on Amazon. I don't believe in supplements, I swear by this and it saved me from having to take prophylactic antibiotic treatment.
Maria615 Sep 2019
try finding a flavor that she likes and try aiding that to water. Like for example if she has furit that she like try aiding that to water and look into to see if quifly for IC also called interstersitial cystitis. There is diet that can help That. You may also want to ask for urologist to do bladder function test

AlvaDeer Sep 2019
The UTIs are out of control. A few months ago New York Times had a front page story about how current antibiotics are not getting current UTIs. Try to google New York Times and Urinary Tract Infection. Was front page on a Sunday. I swear by D Mannose, and as an RN I believe NOT in any supplements or vitamins. But this stuff has saved me. Started it more than a decade ago when I was getting upwards of four a year with going into kidney and pyelonephritis. I tried it because was told works like cranberry only better at keeping bacteria from adhereing to the bladder wall. Not a single infection and I take one a day. The brand I use is Source Natural but there are many. They are on Amazon about 30.00 for 120 of them. Capsules are big. I would mix in a drink the powder. It is worth a try. Has worked for a friend at the dog park and a Facebook friend in the same way. I am starting to hear that some MDs who are Urology specialist now recommending but don't know that in my own experience. I know I take this and two heart drugs and if someone told me I could only take one to a desert island this would be the one I would take, and that from a total non-believer in vitamins and supplements. What can I tell you.
Good luck. And do try to google that article.
Sendhelp Sep 2019
In agreement with you, AlvaDeer!

ADVERTISEMENT

Ask a Question

Subscribe to
Our Newsletter