We have tried every prescription doctors recommended like Methanamine Hipp and Myrbetriq, any supplement I could research , like D-mannose and cranberry tablets. Has anyone out there had any luck keeping these under control? I was thinking I would try a bidet next to see if that would help. It seems like every UTI makes here dementia worse. I wonder if getting delirium from UTIs over and over can cause dementia.
We only know she has an infection primarily by her extreme change in mood,
urine order very strong and cloudy. She never has pain and I suspect she has pelvic nerve damage from four large babies delivered. I have no other ideas.
Use a gentle non fragrant body wash and laundry detergent.
My mom went through the same thing.
we used Nature's Way Probiotic Pearls for Womens vaginal and digestive health.
But a less expensive one may work just as well.
if she prefers, but at least 8 glasses to flush bladder. Encourage her to urinate when needed and to not hold it, and change panties if wet. Switch her bath soap to one without fragrance, hypoallergenic, and launder her undergarments with fragrance free detergent. UTI's can be very dangerous if advanced. Constant intake of antibiotics is not good for anyone.
Have your mother been checked out by a urologist to see if her bladder is completely emptying? Also, have you tried getting her to drink something like cran grape juice? Anyway, just a few suggestions. God bless you and hope you find something that works, because UTI'S are terrible.
I didn't even know what a pessary was until I looked it up just then on the internet. Thanks for sharing.
I had a urologist tell me that if I were to get recurring UTIs, like 3 in a row, then it would be at least a 6 month course of antibiotics. Thankfully it never got that bad!
My mother was one to have multiple UTIs every year. I wasn't involved in her care at that time (she was much younger and self-sufficient), so I don't know if testing was done or if they just Rxed antibiotics. She finally went to the urologist and was Dxed with Interstitial Cystitis. This condition can cause symptoms that might mimic UTIs, painful urination, etc.
Ensure she gets sufficient hydration (avoid over-hydration, that has it's own issues - mom did that too!) One problem that can lead to multiple UTIs is not voiding completely:
"If the bladder cannot be completely emptied, so-called residual urine remains. Since the rinsing of the bladder is impaired, germs can easily settle on the inner wall of the bladder and cause infections. This encourages as well the formation of urinary stones."
Source: https://www.uromed.eu
Mom was given some type of catheters to use each time she went, to get rid of the remainder. Special foods to eat/not eat as well. Not a good choice for someone with dementia. Unfortunately as we get older, once most of the urine is voided, the "urge" isn't there and it's too easy to end up with left over urine in the bladder. Funny that she finally got sick of all of it and just stopped with the catheter things and the diet. For whatever reason, the UTIs and/or IC seemed to subside as well. She didn't have another UTI or complaints for a long time - first UTI in MC resulted in sun-downing, the only time she ever experienced that! Subsequent UTIs (1-2) after that presented as night time bed wetting (soaking!!!)
So, if/when the next one occurs, get a urine culture. If it shows up again after treatment, consult with a urologist. If it truly is bacterial, she may have to stay on the antibiotics longer. If it isn't, it may be Interstitial Cystitis (or some other bladder condition.)
Get appointment with a urologist. There are some urologist that specialize in female plumbing.
I also made sure my mother drank plenty of water to keep things moving. The easiest way for me to keep track was to line up four 8-oz. bottles of water on her little desk every morning, but I had to keep reminding her to "guzzle up" throughout the day. She hated it, but I kept on her, and as a result she suffered only one UTI in the 12 years she was in my home.