Urinary tract infections

• By phallon
• Posted August 16, 2008 at 5:35 am

Hi Catbug,

I can't help with the urinary infection problem but saw you are still having problems, I'm really sorry to hear that. Was hoping by now that you were up and moving & getting better. When ever I start to feel that I am not doing as well as I think I should I know I start to worry also but we all need to try to stay think positive. That I know is very hard to do. Anyway Cat I'll keep praying you get better & I think of you often.

Phallon

• Reply
• Report post

• By Julie7
• Posted August 16, 2008 at 4:13 pm

Have they cultured the urine to find out what is causing the urinary tract infection. Sometimes the bacteria become resistant to antibiotics so they may need to find one specific for the cause of the infections.

• Reply
• Report post

• By catbug01
• Posted August 16, 2008 at 4:44 pm

they have done a culture and put me on an antibiotic cipro and it took care of it for the time but now a month later I have it again. no one tells me what I can do to change it, rather it be diet or what ever. this is something that has gone on all my life, and I was always told I had a bladder infection. Bateria in the urine. That is why when they removed my bladder I was supprised that I was still getting the bacteria.

• Reply
• Report post

• By mammaw3n3n
• Posted August 16, 2008 at 5:03 pm

hi, i don't know if this will help or not but my husband had bc...he didn't have anything removed but the tumor...he did have reoccurring urinary infections and was on cipro for almost 5 months...they put in a stent in each kidney and said some of the bacteria was from the surgery...maybe there is still some bacteria in your uretha tubes from the surgery...hope you get to feeling better and can get off the antibiotics...be sure to add the good bacteria back in as that can affect whatever is going on with your stomach and colon also...God Bless...Lyn

• Reply
• Report post

• By foman
• Posted August 20, 2008 at 10:34 am

Hello,
I have had the surgery, had my bladder removed and re-constructed out of my intestine. I had a bad infection at the hospital, then they though they had it, and sent me home. I became very painful, with alot of discharge. I was put on a antibiotic, taken 3 times a day for 2 months, then a different one, that killed it. I took it for a month. I am also tired of all the pills. At one time I counted 11 pills a day. Now I am down to two. I look at it this way. If thats what it takes to get rid of it, then so be it. How long will am I going to live? A long time, I will out last the infection and the pills. Right now it is difficult to see the end of the road, but it does come. Talk with your urologist doctor. He is your best resource for this. If he cant help you, ask your general doctor. Keep asking questions, the more you know the better off you are.
Best of luck,
Forrest

• Reply
• Report post

• By letsbeatit
• Posted August 21, 2008 at 4:22 am

Hi Catbug. I had my RC Indiana Pouch March 21, 08, discharged Apr 4. I have just had my 9th urinary tract infection. Sometimes I will be feeling fine and the nurse will call me to tell me I had a positive culture and she was calling in an antibiotic. Three times I called in because I had fevers ranging from 101.5 to 103. My Dr. said that he didn't think I was voiding completely and was thus letting some of the bacteria that was still hidden away in my new colon bladder slip out and cause the infections. Now he is very concerned because I am getting so many. I have copies of all of my cultures. They do not say what the bacteria is, only gram negative bacilli. They tested antibiotics on all of the cultures. When I spread them test sheets out, none of the lists of successful antibiotics were the same. I'm sorry that I don't know how to get rid of them but wanted to offer my experience and sympathy. I was told to take cranberry extract tablets and add 2 tablespoons of white vinegar to my 1000 ml saline solution bottles because it is harder for the bacteria to grow in an acid environment. So far it has helped but it has only been a week. Kathy

• Reply
• Report post

• By lydia
• Posted August 21, 2008 at 1:29 pm

Hi Catbug,

I can understand your frustration and believe me I know. Since my RC( 2/11/08) and having a neo-bladder installed, I've experienced an infection once a month since March 2008 and the latest being now in August, reguiring me to be on antibiotics for the next 3 mos. In addition, starting in July, I have to use a catheter everytime I void, so I have attempted to keep things sanitized, but I still get these awful infections. My physcian stated using a catheter was better than a bag. Yes, that is true, but using a catheter everytime I need to void is not what I bargained for either. Anyone else out there have this problem? Prior to my operation, I very seldom had bladder or urinary tract infections. Don't get me wrong, I am grateful to be cancer free!!! I just would like to be getting to the point where I was more normal and I know that you do too.

• Reply
• Report post

• By catbug01
• Posted August 22, 2008 at 12:33 pm

Hello everyone. I want to thank all of you for your input . I hate that we have to go through all this in order to get better but if we learn and get better then I guess its ok. At least we are alive and that is saying a lot. Frustrations are normal at this point and will get easier as time goes by. I went to my Urologist yesterday and he told me that unless I am having fever or pain with the bacteria then there is nothing to worry about. He said one of the worst things to do is take a lot of antibiotics because then the bacteria gets ammuned to the antibiotics. So I feel comfortable with what he has told me. He said that when the urine gets cloudy and painful or with fever then you know you have an infection, but that because we have part of our intestines being used as a urinary function that we will allways have bacteria. I drink plenty of fluids, I take my cranberry pill and Vitamin C pill every day . So I think I feel better about it all. I hope this helps those of you that have had the same problems as I have. This site is great to help with these situations and to let us know we are not alone in this fight. Thank you for being there for me. God Bless you all.

• Reply
• Report post

• By MMB
• Posted August 22, 2008 at 6:39 pm

Hi Lydia
I too have a neo bladder and have to void by using a cather. i have also had two bladder slings done. I am on a maintenance antibiotic for about 2 years now.
MMB

• Reply
• Report post

• By lydia
• Posted August 22, 2008 at 7:14 pm

Hi MMB,

Excuse my ingorance, but what is bladder sling? It sounds like you have had some difficulty also with your neobladder. How long have you had it and are you now cancer free? What other difficulties have you encountered?

Again, I am not trying to sound ungrateful, it is just very frustrating not having all the facts so that you can make a sound judgement, which impacts your quality of life. I will be going to therepy where I am supposed to get help with my sphincter muscle. I am hoping that this might help to go normally again.

Anyway, sure was good to hear from you and the others, because now I don't feel so alone and this you can not discuss with other non-related cancer patients.

Thank you.

• Reply
• Report post

• By MMB
• Posted August 22, 2008 at 7:20 pm

Hi Lydia
Yes i had problems with my sphincter muscle and they gave me a bladder sling. It was surgery where they lifted the neo bladder up tight so I wuld not leak, however by doing that I had to self cather. Before the bladder sling I was leaking badly. I got my neo bladder in Feb. 04 had one sling in April 04 which let go in July 04 had another one and it has been wonderful since then. I leak occasionally and will always wear a pad because I just don't trust it but I am 99% dry.

Mariann

• Reply
• Report post

• By Karego
• Posted August 22, 2008 at 8:22 pm

Catbug01, regarding the bacteria in your urine. My urologist/surgeon also says that we patients who have intestinal pouches for bladders will always have bacteria show in the urine. That doesn't mean we have an infection. Sometimes when I go for my regular checkups, I have to remind the nurse when she comes back in to tell me that I have bacteria showing in my specimen, that it is normal for me.
If the urine becomes cloudy or you begin running a temp. then you do need to call for a test, because you probably have an infection. Drinking plenty of water, flushing with saline solution regularly, and using good hygiene practices when catherizing or voiding are all important. Emptying the bladder often and completely lessens the time for the urine to sit and incubate bacteria. I'm sure the tip on adding some vinegar to the saline flushing solution is a good idea also. But, I would check it out with your Dr. before doing it. Everyone may be different as to the PH level of the urine.
Mucus is common to the pouch also, so don't fret about seeing that. The pouch is intestinal and produces mucus naturally.
One other thought, are you seeing your urologist for these infections or are you seeing your General medical doctor? One thing we BC patients have learned is that the medical profession, unless BC is their specialty, doesn't have a clue about our symptoms or how to treat us. This also goes for many urologists. Make sure everyone is on the same page.
Karego

• Reply
• Report post

Add to the discussion