Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections

[NorrisSheldon]

I'm a 68 year old man and never had a UTI until last year at the end on June, when I had one that was really bad. I went to the local health centre and the nurse examined me, then got the doctor in to examine me. Doctor told me to go straight to the hospital and wrote me an emergency admission letter. I was examined, scanned, X-rayed and had a prostate examination. I was released the following morning with anti-biotics. I was told that I could possibly have diverticular disease. Four days later I noticed that when passing water, I was also passing air. My friend Google said that this was quite serious, so I phoned the hospital and spoke to the secretary of the doctor who had attended me in the hospital. He made an appointment for me to have a Flexible Sigmoidoscopy (Camera up the back passage) the following day, After the procedure he confirmed that I had diverticular disease and he wanted me admitted to the surgical unit the following day for surgery on the Monday morning. I had a colonic resection and was released home with a catheter still inserted on the following Thursday. I was told that the catheter was necessary because my bladder had been repaired too. The catheter was removed a fortnight later after a pressure test revealed that my bladder was now healed. I was given antibiotics as I would "Probably" have another urinary tract infection. I did have an infection, but it cleared up after a week. Unfortunately it returned after a couple of weeks. More antibiotics cleared it up but it returned again. And again. And again. It became normal for me to pee into a plastic jug and examine it each time I passed water. Eventually I was called into the hospital for a cystoscopy. That meant having a camera inserted into my penis and pushed into the bladder to examine it. The doctor said that he could find no cause for the constantly recurring infections. He was a little concerned that the walls of my bladder were quite red and mottled in appearance but he put that down to the infection. That is the background, now we get to the interesting part.

After the procedure, which took place at the beginning of last December, the senior nurse had a long chat and asked me lots of questions, about my general health, mental health, diet and lifestyle. I told her that ten months previous to the operation in July, my wife had died from hospital contracted pneumonia after a heart attack and I now lived alone. My diet was good, I was quite active and I practice regular water fasting. This lady eventually told me that as there was no physical reason for the repeated infections, she was of the opinion that due to the mental stress, and the physical stress of the (major) operation, I had developed an intolerance to wheat, or gluten, and my infections were caused by this intolerance, were possibly yeast based, and I should modify my diet to suit. She said to cut out bread, pastry, and pasta to start with and see how I got on. She also said that oregano oil had a good reputation as a good natural treatment for urinary tract problems. I did as she suggested, cut out bread, pastry and pasta, and bought some oregano oil and began using it daily. All through the rest of December, January and February I remained free of infection. On my birthday, February the 11th, my little dog died by running off a hidden drop and breaking her neck. I have been quite upset by this and must admit that I have neglected my daily doses of Oregano oil. On the first of March, I treated myself to a small Fruit cake from a local shop. Yesterday morning I woke up with an urgent need to pee, and I passed just under 100 ml of stuff that looked like soup. I have my infection back. I got the box that the fruit cake came in and right at the bottom on the back it says "Not suitable for those with a Gluten or Wheat intolerance." My own fault for relaxing my checking of ingredients, but to me, the cause of this infection is obviously the cake, and I will not make that mistake again. Off to the health center for antibiotics again tomorrow.

 

[GFinDC]

Welcome to the forum Norris!   

Sounds like you have a rough go of it lately.  It's not unusual to make mistakes at the beginning of the gluten-free diet.  Did your doctor test you for celiac disease?   If not, it's a little late to do the testing.  Celiac disease testing looks for antibodies in the blood to gliaden, a protein in wheat.  One you stop eating gluten the antibodies decline so the testing is no good.

Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition where the body's own immune system attacks the tissues.  The immune reaction in celiac is triggered by eating wheat, rye or barley.  So we have to avoid all of those.   Even a tiny amount of gluten will trigger the autoimmune reaction and cause damage.   Usually the immune damage is in the gut, but it can be in other areas of the body too.

Eating mostly whole foods instead of processed foods makes it easier to avoid gluten. 

[pikakegirl]

Gluten was not my culprit. Citric or ascorbic acid cause bladder infections for me. No citrus fruit or foods with preservatives of these acids or I am in immediate infection. Drs seem perplexed with me but I recently found out there is such a thing as anaphalaxis from citrus, so not really new. When you said fruit cake I thought of this.

[Julie Brown]

Hi guys - I have coeliac disease (3years) and struggled with interstitial Cystitis for last 6 mths on Hiprex for last 2 wks given up alcohol, tea and coffee with little improvement. So when Im sick-which has been daily- my go to food is Hummus and rice crackers, big mistake i discovered tonight i've been poisoning myself as the Hummus has citric acid. Vigilance is king. Hopefully once i cut it out effective immediately I will improve. Feeling pretty dumb and emotionally exhausted by this thing.

[Posterboy]

NorrisSheldon et Al,

Here is a thread that might help you.

Also here is the link to the original research.

Open Original Shared Link

D-Mannose can help UTI's found in Cystex brand UTIs products.

It is found at most drug stores.

I hope this is helpful.

Posterboy,

[knitty kitty]

On 3/4/2018 at 3:57 PM, NorrisSheldon said:

I'm a 68 year old man and never had a UTI until last year at the end on June, when I had one that was really bad. I went to the local health centre and the nurse examined me, then got the doctor in to examine me. Doctor told me to go straight to the hospital and wrote me an emergency admission letter. I was examined, scanned, X-rayed and had a prostate examination. I was released the following morning with anti-biotics. I was told that I could possibly have diverticular disease. Four days later I noticed that when passing water, I was also passing air. My friend Google said that this was quite serious, so I phoned the hospital and spoke to the secretary of the doctor who had attended me in the hospital. He made an appointment for me to have a Flexible Sigmoidoscopy (Camera up the back passage) the following day, After the procedure he confirmed that I had diverticular disease and he wanted me admitted to the surgical unit the following day for surgery on the Monday morning. I had a colonic resection and was released home with a catheter still inserted on the following Thursday. I was told that the catheter was necessary because my bladder had been repaired too. The catheter was removed a fortnight later after a pressure test revealed that my bladder was now healed. I was given antibiotics as I would "Probably" have another urinary tract infection. I did have an infection, but it cleared up after a week. Unfortunately it returned after a couple of weeks. More antibiotics cleared it up but it returned again. And again. And again. It became normal for me to pee into a plastic jug and examine it each time I passed water. Eventually I was called into the hospital for a cystoscopy. That meant having a camera inserted into my penis and pushed into the bladder to examine it. The doctor said that he could find no cause for the constantly recurring infections. He was a little concerned that the walls of my bladder were quite red and mottled in appearance but he put that down to the infection. That is the background, now we get to the interesting part.

After the procedure, which took place at the beginning of last December, the senior nurse had a long chat and asked me lots of questions, about my general health, mental health, diet and lifestyle. I told her that ten months previous to the operation in July, my wife had died from hospital contracted pneumonia after a heart attack and I now lived alone. My diet was good, I was quite active and I practice regular water fasting. This lady eventually told me that as there was no physical reason for the repeated infections, she was of the opinion that due to the mental stress, and the physical stress of the (major) operation, I had developed an intolerance to wheat, or gluten, and my infections were caused by this intolerance, were possibly yeast based, and I should modify my diet to suit. She said to cut out bread, pastry, and pasta to start with and see how I got on. She also said that oregano oil had a good reputation as a good natural treatment for urinary tract problems. I did as she suggested, cut out bread, pastry and pasta, and bought some oregano oil and began using it daily. All through the rest of December, January and February I remained free of infection. On my birthday, February the 11th, my little dog died by running off a hidden drop and breaking her neck. I have been quite upset by this and must admit that I have neglected my daily doses of Oregano oil. On the first of March, I treated myself to a small Fruit cake from a local shop. Yesterday morning I woke up with an urgent need to pee, and I passed just under 100 ml of stuff that looked like soup. I have my infection back. I got the box that the fruit cake came in and right at the bottom on the back it says "Not suitable for those with a Gluten or Wheat intolerance." My own fault for relaxing my checking of ingredients, but to me, the cause of this infection is obviously the cake, and I will not make that mistake again. Off to the health center for antibiotics again tomorrow.

 

Get your vitamin D level checked!  

Here's a study that found a link between low vitamin D and recurring UTI's in older men.  

Open Original Shared Link

If you are found to be low in vitamin D, be sure to take the D3 type.  D2 is the synthetic form often prescribed by doctors.  D3 is available over the counter.  

Hope this helps!