Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Other Health Discussion => Topic started by: Orba on May 29, 2024, 01:19:30 PM
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Hi,
I know the heavy mixed growth in MSU has been brought up in others threads so apologies!
I've had IBS cramps with Diarrhoea every morning. on waking for months. I'm also UTI prone.
Over the last couple of months I've had UTI symptoms ( mainly frequency) and the GP has sent 3 MSU s to the lab for culture. All showed a mixed growth with one heavy. In all there were no or very low white blood cells or blood. I was advised to take a 3 day course of antibiotics after the first one as I had a kidney infection last year.
I have tried my best to give a clean catch sample and not touch the pot etc. have also washed vulva before.
As I took the samples after waking I'm wondering if the mixed bacteria is coming from the bowel , could the bugs be sneaking across from the perineum ?
I'm aware that IBS causes bladder issues but was wondering if this has happened to others or if anyone has medical/ lab insight .
I don't want to keep wasting time sending MSU s if the mixed growth issue is a common finding. Thanks
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IBS is unlikely 2 cause bladder issues.
Not wiping front to back may well bring bacteria from the back passage into the vaginal area. A sample may show where the bacteria stems from because our bodies have different bacteria growths all over including the digestive tract.
Have U been given appropriate vaginal atrophy treatment? If the AB treatment hasn't cleared the possible infection then that's the route I would consider. It certainly won't do any harm and may well give relief of your 'UTI' symptoms because vaginal atrophy mimics repeated urine infection-type feelings really really well. ABs will improve any inflammation ; if symptoms recur then further investigation is important.
For me Irritable Bowel Syndrome is slow transit >:( in that I feel the need to empty the bowel but either nowt happens or it takes an age to pass anything. IBS affects the whole digestive tract ........ sometimes I am so bloated [a recent thread about this] that I am unable to eat, move, drink for several hours :-\. Fortunately I rarely get painful spasms, though I may have a loose movement occasionally, in a rush! It's all within normal limits for me.
Has your GP requested a stool sample to check for any bacterial growths which may be the cause of any pain?
When else do you open your bowels, it mayB that the rush is 'normal' for you these days as hormone upheaval can cause differences in action. Recently I've been going 3 times a day >:( ::)
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Hi, thanks for input.
Yes, logically the bowel bugs maybe wouldn't be in a sample.
It's just frustrating when my GP just sends a text telling me it's a mixed growth without possible cause. ( As you know not many of us actually speak to GPs these days )
I always wipe in the correct way.
I am on local oestrogen - imvaggis X2 a week . I was using Ovestin externally as well but it was burning so have changed to Blissel.
Would be nice to just have one week without incident from the pelvic area !!
I also don't seem to have all the symptoms of a proper UTI and this has been going on and off for weeks so if it was one it would have got a lot worse by now without treatment.- that's my logic anyway ! It's more likely to be VA related but suppose that still doesn't explain mixed growth arghhhh :-\
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I wouldn't worry about 'mixed growth', if the Lab hasn't flagged problems then it is probably 'normal for you'.
Do use the VA treatment for 2-3 weeks i.e. a reload. I suggest eating LIVE Greek yoghurt 3 times a day for 4 weeks to cleanse the digestive tract. Don't 4get that some bacterias are 'good' anyway, regardless of those adverts that suggest we should rid ourselves of bacteria, whether it's on the skin, work surfaces etc..
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Hello Orba
I have previously posted on the forum about some research conducted in a US hospital. The study identified a particular strain of e coli in the urine of women suffering from frequent UTIs.
The bug was linked to the consumption of chicken and when the women stopped handling and eating chicken their symptoms resolved.
It may be that something in your diet is causing an overgrowth of colon bacteria which is making its way to your bladder.
If you want to read about the American study you can find the information on Dr Michael Greger's site, NutritionFacts.org.
Wishing you well.
K.
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It would be chicken that had been badly handled and not prepared correctly, if at all this could happen.
Chicken carries salmonella .......... hence all poultry has to be prepared away from other food stuffs and cooked through completely. Best not to buy cheap chickens as even if labelled "British" they can have been culled here, taken abroad for processing and packaging, returned to the UK to be labelled ........ >:(
We buy free range fresh if possible, even then they need careful handling. A 3lb chook lasts 2 of us 3 meals each plus bones for soup.
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Hello Orba
I have previously posted on the forum about some research conducted in a US hospital. The study identified a particular strain of e coli in the urine of women suffering from frequent UTIs.
The bug was linked to the consumption of chicken and when the women stopped handling and eating chicken their symptoms resolved.
It may be that something in your diet is causing an overgrowth of colon bacteria which is making its way to your bladder.
If you want to read about the American study you can find the information on Dr Michael Greger's site, NutritionFacts.org.
Wishing you well.
K.
Thank you, I will look at this. UTIs could have causes that are not considered in general screening. A urologist I saw last year treats on symptoms regardless of NHS tests as they are unreliable.
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The urologist was correct in his approach, NHS testing is worthless. Have you looked into embedded UTIs? You could try taking Hiprex (methenamine hippurate).
JP x