Another e-coli infection. Advice needed.

[Indy Princess]

Hi everyone,

I've just been phoned by my GP surgery to tell me that I have an e-coli UTI. I've been given a 7-day Amoxicillin course. Unfortunately, this is the fifth course I've had since the end of September, for the same infection.

Obviously now I am not only thoroughly sick and tired of being unwell, but I'm also concerned. My midwife is really helpful and is somewhat concerned herself and seems annoyed that my Doctor seems to just write out prescriptions without discussing the infection with me.

I only found out what type of infection it was from my Midwife notes, my Doctor just gives me a prescription without a consultation. My midwife also blames this ongoing infection for the flu-like symptoms that I've had for months on end. She even advised me to go to a walk-in centre for a second opinion, since my own GP seems extremely uninterested. They were really helpful and explained what caused the infection and that I wasn't 'dirty' as I'd felt (e-coli = unhygenic as far as I was aware).

If it wasn't for my Midwife's support, I'd feel completely lost.

Now I wake up to find I have a fifth infection and my GP Surgery just saying "Take the course, the GP is aware that it is ongoing and it's just a pregnancy thing unfortunately". My Midwife has even begun scheduling appointments closer together so that she can monitor it because she clearly has no faith in the GP either.

Has anyone else suffered this? Or should I do more, like phone the maternity ward helpline or ... I don't know...

sorry if this is rambling but I feel really sad and helpless, and don't really know what I can do to better the predicament.

Thank you in advance, Angelina xx

 

[mamato2more]

What's the source? Why is it happening? That would just be my question...

 

[Indy Princess]

I asked and was told that it's more than likely that I'm not emptying my bladder properly and the bacteria continues to grow. That it's very common in pregnant women as the bladder is stretched and squashed by the uterus, so doesn't function as well as usual.

 

[lili24]

I have always been prone to UTIs.. I have had ultrasound scans and x-rays on my kidneys and bladder but never been given an explanation. Everything comes back 'normal'.

I have had 3 so far in pregnancy, just been on antibiotics for 14 days because 7 days did not clear it! It concerns me because I know UTIs can cause complications in pregnancy but no one seems to be interested either. My Dr said we will just keep treating them with antibiotics I mentioned this to my midwife and she said if I get another one (which I will!) she will be referring me to a consultant at the hospital over it.

I think if you have had 5 so far they should be doing something like that for you? I know how you feel xx

 

[Mrs M.]

Hi girls, hopefully i can be of some help as I am a microbiologist and I have suffered from repeated UTIs in the past.

It is true pregnant ladies are more prone to this type of infection, this however doesn't make it any easier for us not to worry about them.

Certain things can help prevent recurring attacks:

1. Always go to the toilet after sex

2. Wipe front to back, I personally use wet wipes for after a poo (sorry TMI)

3. Drink plenty of liquids, this makes sure you aren't holding urine in the bladder for too long.

4. Drink a glass of cranberry juice in the morning. - proven to stop the bacteria sticking to the bladder wall and multiplying.

5. I personally take a cranberry supplement at night- you can get this from health food shops. Again this stays in your bladder all night with the urine and prevents any bacteria growing during the night.

6. Make sure your gp sends a sample in for testing- this makes sure your on the right antibiotics, also a couple of days after finishing the antibiotics a clearence sample should be sent in to make sure they have worked.

I think the stats are about 90% of UTIs are caused by ecoli, which isn't a difficult bacteria to treat, you should start to feel better after a couple of days of antibiotics.

If you continue to get UTIs, you need to ask the doctor about prophylaxis. Basically this is a low level of antibiotic that you can take everyday to prevent the infection happening.

Hope this has been soom help, fingers croosed this clears up for you soon x

 

[nightkd]

I had a urine test in the USA before I came over to the UK for Christmas... My nurse rang my DH when we were at the airport and told him I had an e-coli infection and that my Dr wanted to prescribe me Nitrofurantoin...

Well I had to go to my UK Drs Surgery to get it prescribed and she refused to give me a 10 day course like my Dr had ordered, refused to TALK to my Dr... I mean she was just a f*cking b*tch really - filling in for a regular Dr there...... And basically tried to persuade me to let her prescribe something else and do it 'her way'...Well I ended up with a 5 day course and she told me to put in another urine sample in 10 days!! Well by that point it would be fully back - my Dr in the US was pissed... Anyway, I took it in this morning so we will see if the antibiotics did anything - but if it's back I'm really half tempted just to tell them to screw themselves. I've been prescribed the wrong antibiotics THREE times by those Drs (and NHS charges are going up - bit of a waste if it doesn't actually work!!!) by the time they figured that out I told them to screw themselves and let my body sort it out, which it did! (Obviously with baby, you're more prone to kidney infections etc)....

The antibiotics made me feel crap, my wee smelt JUST like the smell that sets of my morning sickness - I just hate being on antibiotics and if this Dr has refused to prescribe me the 10 day course, so it hasn't done anything, I have to pay for another course!!! Plus I have to expose my baby to the medication for longer than I should've had to if she'd just spoken to my Dr and done as she was bloody told!! (She didn't see the results from the lab, so she should have listened to the Dr who did and is treating me during my pregnancy!!!!!!!!! )... Anyway, the infection isn't supposed to be able to reach the baby, it's just that you're more prone to kidney infections....I'd prefer to treat the infection naturally and avoid giving my baby drugs if I still have it!

Mrs M has provided some very useful information (didn't realise that's how cranberry worked for UTIs, might have to get some supplements...)... I've been using baby wipes after I go to the toilet and I'll finish weeing, wipe and sort of hover above the toilet to see if I can squeeze any more wee out (been feeling like I still need to wee after I've wee'd, which isn't a good sign, so I just try to make sure my bladder is completely empty and drink plenty...)...

Have you tried requesting a different antibiotic? Or asking for a longer course? This is only based on if there's still bacteria left however, I assume they're doing a urine sample AFTER the course to make sure it's gone?

I have always been prone to urine infections, only once did it make me very ill (temperature etc) so I know how much of a pain in the ass it is... You can just try your best, have the Drs given you any information on ways to reduce the risk of getting repeat UTIs?

xx

 

[daisyfflur]

I was diagnosed with the ecoli uti a couple if months back but since raking the antibiotics ivenot had another sample taken so I'm only assuming they have worked and cleared up...next midwife appointment is in 5 weeks so fingers crossed all is ok.

I hope you can get to the bottom of your recurrent infection.

 

[Shady_R]

I have only ever had 1 urine infection while pregnant, couldnt imagine getting them all the time. I really feel for you, hope you get re checked to make sure its cleared up.