Ladies, How to prevent UTI when having bowel issues??

[Ihurt]

Hey everyone,

I have not been on in awhile ( too busy being sick). Anyhow, I have been having gut issues for a few years now. Have had tests that were pretty much normal ( colonoscopy a year and half ago, MRE of small bowel three years ago, CT scan, Abdominal ultrasound etc..). My GI doc says IBS. My main symptoms have been severe pain at time. I am sometimes glued to my heating pad all day. I also have other health issues which complicate things. I have Interstitial Cystitis, CFS, chemical sensitivities, Multiple drug allergies etc.

For the last two weeks I have been feeling pretty horrible. I take a drug on and off for my IC bladder pain which can be severe. It is called uribel. I usually only take it on and off but this last month my bladder has been awful so I was on it for about 17 days ( a very low dose though). Well Monday on July 6th I woke up and had some diarrhea with pieces of stool. For me my stools have always been pretty much normal, just that I get severe pain and cramping where I feel like I always gotta go. Anyhow, I Had the one bout of runs on Monday almost two weeks ago. I have not had a normal BM since. I have not had the water anymore, but I have only very soft pieces when I go and I feel like I don't empty completely. I also always feel like I gotta go. I just kind of sit around all day with heating pad due to pain and cramping.

I called my GI doctor and he thinks it is IBS. I explained that this is not my norm though. He said it could be that the uribel upset things or maybe things have just changed. His advice was to try and add more fiber like oat bran or rice cakes to my diet. I am gluten free so cannot eat gluten. He said maybe it would add more bulk to my stool. Anyhow, I am not sure what to think. It is complicated for me because I am VERY prone to getting UTI's. Diarrhea is especially dangerous for me in terms of the UTI risk. I am normally a once a day pooper( I just have tons of intestinal pain though) and I always have to shower very well down there after every BM to make sure I don't get a UTI. Wiping is not enough. I am a bit worried because the way my bowels feel, what if this gets worse and I end up in the toilet with the runs? I would have to shower after each one! This is just so awful. I guess I was just wondering if anyone else out there ( ladies) have this issue with being prone to UTI's? I know my having the IC makes me more prone due to my bladder already being inflamed all the time. Just wondering what do you do to prevent UTI's when you have diarrhea? What makes it worse is that I cannot tolerate any of the meds they use to treat UTI's. I have reactions and allergies to most all of them.

Would adding fiber help add bulk to my stool? I always thought fiber causes diarrhea. So confused, scared and tired of being sick. ( I have been battling chronic illness since 2003).

 

[DustyKat]

:ghug::ghug::ghug:

Things like psyllium and chia seeds for those with no loose stool issues do promote bowel motions but they do have the opposite effect when you are loose. They will absorb excess water and salts in the bowel and in doing so bulk up the stool.

Just some ideas:

Showering is the best way hygienically to help stop the spread of bacteria but I can surely see where this won’t be practical if you get the runs. Could you maybe just do a peri toilet? A bit like a bidet but using a squeeze bottle with some warm water in it? That way you have the benefit of washing the area without having to have a shower.

Always wear cotton underwear.

Avoid wearing stockings and if you must make sure they have a cotton gusset.

Do you wears pads?

Do you take Cranberry tablets as a precaution?

Can you get any urinary alkalinisers OTC in the US? These are the two types they sell in Australia

 

[Ihurt]

Thanks Dustykat for the reply.

Yes, I guess I could try the bottle washing if I do get the runs. I usually do jump in the shower afterwards.

I also have Interstitial Cystitis so cranberries are a no no. They really irritate the bladder. The only thing they have here that I know of is this over the counter pill called Azo. It turns your pee orange. I find it irritates my bladder though. Ugh, it is just so frustrating. I hate being a woman sometimes.

Thanks for the fiber tips. I will look in to those to see if they will help bulk things up.

 

[Caitlin84]

I have endometriosis, so I also see a gynecological surgeon/bladder/infertility specialist. I would recommend finding a specialist like that. He is helping me manage a bladder issues during this flare up.

 

[Ihurt]

I know I have a urologist that I see. I also use to see a urogynecologist for my IC but he ran out of options for me. I am sorry you deal with Endo, that is also a pain. I have suspected endometriosis and I also have Fibroids too. My gynecologist says fibroids are small at this point so we just kind of watch and monitor them. Right now I am having bad intestinal issues. Again today I had Diarrhea in the morning. For two weeks now I have not had normal BM. I wonder if I have a parasite or bacteria. My GI doc says probably IBS ( insert eye roll here). I have had Intestinal issues for three years now, mainly moderate to severe pain. My stool was usually always normal consistency up until two weeks ago. So this is different for me. GI doc says to add more fiber to my diet. I am Gluten free so he said try rice cakes and oat bran. I just bought this soluble fiber called Heather's tummy fiber. It is suppose to be gentle and is suppose to work for Diarrhea or and constipation. I don't know, I am just getting so down about it all. I already have the IC bladder to put up with and that is hellish enough. This adding to it is not good. Diarrhea is especially bad for a person who is prone to UTI and has IC

I have endometriosis, so I also see a gynecological surgeon/bladder/infertility specialist. I would recommend finding a specialist like that. He is helping me manage a bladder issues during this flare up.