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Q: Constant Utis

asked by: keishori on October 28th, 2006

New User

I am only 17 years of age. Sure I may seem young and healthy when you first see me... But there is alot that are left unanswered.

I understand doctors in the military pass you by if you constantly go in and they don't see anything wrong... Instead they pass you up and claim it to be plain and simple it's just a uti... Here's your perscription...

I started getting uti's when I was 15. It didn't seem like that big of a deal. Sure, it hurt to pee... But then I turned 16... It seemed all was great, but sadly nothing got better. I went to the hospital about 3 times within a 4 month period... It turns out at the end of that year cycle I had about 8 utis on file...

Now I am 17 soon to be eighteen... I'm so excited but scared out of my mind... I have so much to look foward to! But the same occuring issue still pops up and never goes away... It's another urinary tract infection after another... Every month of this year i've had one... Do I hold in my pee??? No way! I drink alot of water... I seem normal now... But I went to the doctors recently for a urin sample to see if I had another infection...

The funny part was... I had no signs or symptoms... Nothing... So I thought ii was fine! I felt great to say to my mom, " sure i'll give you a specimen but you'll see i'm fine and clean... I can finally say 'nothing's wrong with me.'" but could i?

A few days ago the results came in... Good new i'm not prgenant nor do I do drugs! But the bad news is... I have a good uti... Which is really grave because my doc wanted to get me on my meds tonight... The downfall is I couldn't get them... No car... No one can help me with that...

Basically I am asking for help... I want to know why? What could the effects be down the road? How can I keep from having these constant utis? How can I get the assistnace I need instead of being passed over?

Before you reply I have a few things to say about my history that might all contribute to this problem I constantly face:

1.) I have been "sexually active" for many years due to things I wish not to mention... Really personal... And still am
a.) I am protected
b.) duestch every so many months
c.) use the bathroom after sex [my doctor said that that might help with avaoiding another uti
d.) do not have sex all the time

2.) I was on birthcontrol because my mother insisted me to be on it but shortly after I quit it

3.) irregular periods... Even when I took birthcontrol it was irregular

4.) usually use tampons during the day and pads at night

there are other things that might contribute but I don't really believe that they do so I wont bother mentioning them...

Anyways, with or without the answer... Tomorrow is another day; another gift.... Always try and make a difference... Never know what to expect Wink

:d :d

Replies(3)

Euphoric

replied on November 7th, 2006

New User

Answer?

There has to be some kind of reasoning... Something that is making you have all of these infections. I cannot believe that the doctors cannot find exactly what is causing the problem!

Have you ever thought about the way you do certain things?

For example... The way you wipe. That can have a major affect. Or do you use a lot of perfumed soap or take baths regularly. Also... I'm not exactly sure, but to my knowledge I understand that douching and create infections as well.

Well, I hope this helped..Good luck with your health. Take care girlie!

Kia

replied on November 8th, 2006

Supporter

Re: Constant Utis

keishori wrote:

1.) I have been "sexually active" for many years due to things I wish not to mention... Really personal... And still am
a.) I am protected
b.) duestch every so many months
c.) use the bathroom after sex [my doctor said that that might help with avaoiding another uti
d.) do not have sex all the time

as you say you are not on b/c pill I can only assume you mean condoms when you say you are protected??
So that raises the question - do you have a latex allergy?
Douching is not good - don't do it.
It upsets the chemical balance in the vagina. The vagina is a self cleaing organ - that is why you get discharge.
Douching aslo lowers the acidity of the vagina and this can allow bacteria to increase dramatically - these bacteria can then get into and infect the urethra.

I'd also go the route euphoric suggested - how do you wipe?
If you wipe from back to front that is a major contributor as you are wiping bacteria from the anus to the vagina and urethra.
Always wipe from front to back and don't use the same to wipe again (as it has picked up anal bacteria).
For this reason avoid anal to vaginal sex as well.

Again perfumed soaps, vaginal deodorants etc are all major contributors.
What about your washing detergent? That can have an affect.
As can your under wear. Thongs/strings provide an ideal way for bacteria to move around. Make sure your underwear is a natural fabric preferably cotton as this allows your pubic area to breathe. Following on from that is outerwear - if you wear tight and/or synthetic fabrics you are again producing an ideal environment for bacteria - try to fabrics as natural as possible and avoid wearing clothes that fit tight on a frequent/regluar basis.

Unfortunately many women are just prone to uti's and treatment is the only thing to do.
Women have a very short urethra and so it doesn't take much for the bacteria to get in. Men have a rather long urethra and this is why uti's are less common in men, and because their urethra is not near their anus.

When you have sex make sure he is squeaky clean in his pubic area as any bacteria here will be squished up against your urethra while you are having sex (peeing after wards can help flush bacteria out of your urethra out but it isn't 100%).

What else can you do?
* keep a decent uptake of fresh water
* include cranberry juice in you diet (even just one glass per day) or take capsules of cranberry concentrate.
* make the urine less acidic by drinking a glass of water with a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda dissolved in it. Products from the pharmacist that contain sodium citrate (such as cystemme) have the same effect. However, neither of these treatments is suitable if you have high blood pressure or heart trouble, so ask your pharmacist for advice.

As you have recurrent infections it might be worth (on your doctors advice) to take a lose dose anti-biotic for 6-12 months.

sweetpea2u2009

replied on February 19th, 2009

New User

UTI's

My daughter has been going through the same thing, young, just turning 18. She was diadnosied with a Sponge Kidney. It is not suppose to turn up until your 30's or 40's. I read all he gave me, finding out it was a rare birth defect.! Sorry after seeing and reading all these UTI problems, has NOT anyone thought of where our rubbers are made?? Makes you wonder if they have not put bacteria in them, causing our children to become very ill or DIe like the young Brazil Model whom died of reocurring UTI"S. Please someone help me with this? To TOO, many kids are getting very ill from UTI's
Mary Kay

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