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[B17Fan]

I'm writing on behalf of my mum. She had a uti and was prescribed fosfomycin. She took it on Tuesday. Her symptoms were a pressure feeling in her groin and going to wee more. The pressure feeling has gone, but today she's felt a bit of burning after she has been, and a mild intermittent pain in her side.

The doc has given her trimethoprin but after reading online reviews, she's absolutely terrified of taking them. She's a very anxious person anyway and she's sure she'll get some nasty side effects.
The doctor said they're usually well tolerated. Earlier this year, she was treated twice for suspected uti's. They done dip tests which showed blood in the urine. Both times it got sent to the lab and no infection was found.

Her anxiety worsened after being on antibiotics before.
She's tolerated the fosfomycin.
But as I say, she's really scared to take the new ones.

The doc also prescribed some estrogen pessaries...but to wait until this infection is clear before using.
Before this uti, she was feeling sore down there, and a little bit dry.

She's also got a vitamin d deficiency, but hasn't started on those yet.

We've been under so much stress since August. My grandad was ill with Parkinson's. It's his funeral tomorrow.
She wants to feel OK tomorrow but her anxiety is up because of this issue.

Has anybody got experience of trimeprophin?
Any advice would be much appreciated
Thanks

[jaypo]

Hi,firstly so sorry about your grandad .
I've used these ABs for a uti and was fine on them,what is her worry? Just make sure she reads the patient info.
How old is your mum? She possibly has vaginal atrophy and the oestrogen pessaries should help,it may be that she needs to stay on them long term.Maybe if your mum is suffering badly with anxiety also she should consider hrt x

[B17Fan]

Thankyou for your condolences.

She's read reviews online where people have said they got panic attacks, disturbing thoughts, terrible nausea, chills, flashing lights, worsening anxiety, body aches etc...the list is pretty tough reading.

She knows that people only leave reviews when they've had a bad time...but she is feeling a bit low...so thinks something bad is bound to happen to her.

My mum is nearly 67. She has a hysterectomy at 39. They left one ovary, so she didn't go straight into menopause then.

I think the low vitamin d can affect your mood. And makes you more prone to urine infections.

It's just an odd one...because it doesn't seem like a typical uti.
The diptest showed positive for leukocytes and nitrites.

She doesn't know whether to wait for lab results or just risk the antibiotics.

[VioletAquarius]

Sorry to hear about your mum and grandad.

I've had a few bladder infections and had antibiotics and been fine with them all. I know they all haven't been the same antibiotics I've taken each time, but I think I recognise trimethoprin.  I will have a look tomorrow and see if I wrote down which ones I last took.

For future utis, there are a few products on the market to help prevent utis, one of which is d-mannose.  This are what I've started taking.

[pepperminty]

Hi,

I hope your mum feels better soon.

there is no need to worry about taking Trimethoprim. It a first line antibiotic along wih Nitrofurantoin  for UTI's. Always take with food and water to wash down. Mostly people may get loose stools, but that should resolve , and taking a probiotic can help. The likelihood of reactions are minimal, but she could make sure she takes them when she has someone in the house to support her and reassure her. Nobody feels that great when taking  any antibiotics. Medics usually start with either of the above antib's and move up to a stronger class of antibiotic if it doesn't work.

UTI infections can be missed with a dip stick and sample test as they do not always show up. If you mum has new signs of an acute UTI, then taking the antibiotics and seeing if they help is a good idea. It is important to take the full course and if it does not clear re contact the GP. She may need a longer course.
Also your mum may have vaginal atrophy which can mimic a UTI or make it easier to catch one.

https://balance-menopause.com/uploads/2021/09/UTIs-final.pdf

https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/151-unpicking-utis-and-the-role-of-hormones/id1459614845?i=1000560229061


I have given 2 links above as knowledge is power. I would also suggest belly breathing and some light relaxation  which helps with everything including anxiety and pain generally.

PMXX

[Songbird]

Hi there
Firstly, so sorry to hear of your loss.
Apart from the fact that my mum is 84 and yours is 67, I feel I can add another voice that could possibly help.
Trimethoprim is the only antibiotic that has worked for my mum. I have to say, no side effects for her. She has also suffered with thrush and dreadful dryness down below for the past while. This has all resolved by, firstly getting rid of the UTIs with the trimethoprim and, secondly, doing a loading dose of ovestin cream (now down to twice a week). Like your mum, she has health anxiety and was horrified at the thought of starting local oestrogen at her age but, what a difference!
The internet is fantastic for reviews and other things but it can be challenging for people with health anxiety as it’s just too tempting to check reviews/side effects/symptoms etc and, unfortunately, focusing on the negative is common.
Take good care..

[jaypo]

B17fan I would say definitely yes to VitD but get one that has vit k in it also.We should all take it,especially through the winter months.You are right,people tend to leave terrible reviews only but this is only a small minority. If she is struggling with anxiety so badly,she really should speak to her Dr.she clearly needs help with it all 

[B17Fan]

UPDATE....

my mum hasn't used the trimethroprim yet....she felt better on Friday and yesterday morning.

For lunch yesterday, she had a small tin of baked beans and sausages...about an hour later, she felt a bit sore down there, and needed a wee.

She got up twice in the night for a wee and said it felt a bit tender, sore when she's sitting.

I'm not convinced it's a uti. If it is....it's certainly not typical symptoms.

we're a bit annoyed with the doctors. They said they'd send the sample to the lab. They got crossed wires, as she took one into the surgery in the morning. Never heard anything back, so she went into the docs and they diptested a new sample there and then. And said it showed signs of infection...then another doctor phoned later, who had tested the original sample and said it looked like an infection. He said he'd send the sample off....but it seems it hasn't been sent.

Last year and twice this year, she was told she had a uti...but her sample always came back as clear from the lab.

She's confused and doesn't know what to think.

She just wants to get this sorted, as it's kinda dominating her life at the moment

[Ayesha]

Has your mum started on the Vaginal Atrophy treatment yet because that's what's needed here, you have to get on with the treatment because it can take months to take effect. From what you are saying I wouldn't hesitate in using the pessaries, ask for Ovestin too if needed to treat the outside and a feminine moisturiser. I got to the chronic stage of this horrid condition, you don't want your mum to reach that stage, it will make her anxiety so much worse. 

But obviously just my opinion and experience of three years of suffering VA and now fully back to normal with continuous treatment.

[jaypo]

I agree with Ayesha,she should start the VA treatment but the one thing she mustn't do,is leave it too long,it will only get worse,even though she thinks she's had a good day.Really hope she get it sorted x

[B17Fan]

She's not started the estrogen treatment yet. The doc said to start after the antibiotics. But because she doesn't know if she does still have an infection for definite...she's not sure if she can start yet.

[Ayesha]

I feel sure your mum is suffering unnecessarily by delaying treatment for Vaginal Atrophy. Sometimes we have to take control of our own health and wellbeing.
Topical HRT is safe enough to be available to buy over the counter it is considered that safe, believe me if it wasn't you would never be able to buy it in the UK.

Read the posts in this link, all real life experiences of a nasty condition suffered by so many women and much misunderstood by many GP's.
https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,64837.msg895647.html 

[CLKD]

I haven't read all of this but your GP is lax.  If there are urine infection results with 'no growth', then your Mum should be prescribed appropriate vaginal atrophy treatment. ASAP.  As oestrogen levels drop so the body may become dry: inside and out! including the vulva and vagina. Also dip sticks often show traces of blood in the urine and should not be used as a 'diagnosis' tool. 

I wouldn't bother with the trimethoprim.  Was it a 3 day  course, if so not long enough anyway.

Also your Mum's anxiety will be 'up' for a while due to your Grandad's passing, associated arrangements and funeral.     Do ring the surgery ASAP and ask for appropriate Vaginal Atrophy treatment, no examinations or blood tests are required.  If your Mum meets resistance as for a referral to a dedicated menopause clinic if there isn't a Nurse or Physio interested in womens' health at the Surgery.

Do let uw know how you get on.

[B17Fan]

Thankyou for your reply.
They said the dip test showed nitrites and leukocytes.
I know earlier this year that the dip test showed traces of blood.

She has got a prescription for some estrogen pessaries. She just doesn't know whether it's the right treatment or not.

I think it's a 5 or 7 day course of trimethroprim....but the doctor said she probably won't have to take it that long....not specifying how long she IS meant to take it for.

Today she's feeling pressure down there again. And she got up once in the night. She said her urine looks a bit cloudy too.

Are those symptoms of vaginal atrophy?

[CLKD]

ABs should be given as a 'course'.   Get her to put the VA treatment up there, it's what is required to plump up the vaginal tissues and keep them soft = less itchiness.  VA can mimic repeated urine infection-type symptoms really really well.

What's she worried about and if she doesn't use the treatment she won't get relief.



The 1st pee of the day may well be dark and smelly, it should clear as we become hydrated until it's straw coloured.  Any lighter and we are drinking too much.