long term antibiotics

[barb61]

Is anyone on long term antibiotics? I hear so many bad things but what do you do if they help get rid of the pressure and pain. I also heard that drinking too much water can irritate the bladder. What is one to do? I think I do need stand up to my urologist because unless you are in alot of pelvic pain , he won't talk to me about IC. Just says that I don't have it.

[sailawaygrl]

Maybe it is time for a second opinion and possibly a change in Dr.

6 to 8 glasses of water is usually good to stay hydrated. Some, I am sure drink more but the US pyramid says 6-8 is sufficient for hydration. It is possible to drink too much water and lose electrolytes, that would be a huge amount of water. Just be sure you are drinking enough so that your urine stays a lighter color. Some meds will cause urine to be darker or change colors, so read the med info supplied with you percriptions.

[nottoc4]

I have been on Macrobid,100 mg.everynight at bedtime to prevent UTI's
I've been on it for almost 3 years with no bad side effects and no UTi's either.
I used to get 5 to 6 UTI's a year,horrible.

[ICNDonna]

Antibiotics do have anti-inflammatory qualities so that might be what's helping you. There are, of course, some risks to long term antibiotic use --- so the potential benefit needs to be weighed against the potential harm. Using them as a preventive can be very beneficial and usually involves small doses and not more than once a day.

The potential for harm from over-use of antibiotics includes developing antibiotic-resistant infections and developing allergies. I know one person who has been fighting with yeast for several years due to over-use of antibiotics.

Donna

[barb61]

Thanks everyone for the support and feedback. I don't feel so bad now taking the antibiotics now. It is the only thing that helps and I feel so good when I am on them. I'm afraid to stop as all the pressure and pain will be back within days or weeks. I just don't understand why some people get these things when I have friends that have never had a UTI and I am 61.

[cmclien]

My doctor has me take a macrobid every time I have sex and possibly the day after too. It works well when I do it, sometimes I don't like to take it but then I usually regret it by a worstening of symptoms and leukocytes showing up on the uti test strips.

[nottoc4]

Taking Macrobid after sex to prevent UTI's did not work for me. I still got UTI"s. A big part of my problem was my tissues got so thin from lack of Estrogen including my Urethra.I use Premarin vaginal cream at least 4 nights a week,it used to be every night. The only times I have problems with yeast is when I have been on antibiotics.Macrobid only effects the urinary tract.It is not a full body antibiotic.

[cmclien]

Taking Macrobid after sex to prevent UTI's did not work for me. I still got UTI"s. A big part of my problem was my tissues got so thin from lack of Estrogen including my Urethra.I use Premarin vaginal cream at least 4 nights a week,it used to be every night. The only times I have problems with yeast is when I have been on antibiotics.Macrobid only effects the urinary tract.It is not a full body antibiotic.

I thought I had read that too that it only effects the urinary tract. I could swear I read that macrobid won't cause yeast for that reason alone. I take a high potency probiotic too and will double up on days I take the macrobid just to be safe. He told me I could take it every day too I've just been too nervous to do it but he thought as a preventative it would hopefully work too.

[barb61]

My doctor told me also that Macrobid only works on the bladder and that some people do stay on it to prevent UTI's . I am curious as to what my urologist has to say. Tomorrow will be a bad day as I am going to a party and it is all Italians there as am I and it will be alot of sauce and pasta. What on earth am I going to eat?? What is so terrible is right now I am feeling better because of the Macobid and I forget that anything is wrong..

[suzannes]

Antiobiotics and IBS

Maybe one day they will find that antibiotics can cure IC. I just read a article about a small group of patients with IBS who responded quiet well to a particular antibiotic. So maybe one day they will find one that works against IC. They use to think the guy who thought gastric ulcers was cause by bacteria was crazy until he found H. Pylori.

Suzanne

[Bacon]

I was on antibiotics for almost a whole year back when I was first diagnosed. The doctor was worried because I had a lot of blood in my urine that either I had an infection or was inevitably going to get one...
The pills did seem to do some good (though not as much as changing my diet) so I kept taking them for as long as I could get a prescription. I had a lot of thrush around about that time, but touch wood no long-term side effects that I can see.

[Mothergoose]

I was prescribed Macrobid on a lower doseage than used to treat a uti, in hopes of preventing UTI's. I was taking AB's at least one or twice a month for uti's, I was told it was safe to take this way.

I don't know if it would have worked or not as I had to quite taking it, I already have pretty big sleep issues and it caused me to have really wicked nightmares.

I will still take it for a UTI treament, but not as a daily treatment.

My son takes a low does of another ab to treat acne.

I think if you use as directed it can be fairly safe to use long term, and if it helps why not try for a while.

MG

[barb61]

Thanks so much for the imput and support. You are right , if it works and I can feel better, why not...I have been fine so far and it has been almost 2 weeks. My diet helps alot and I still eat alot of good food. I also love my peppermint tea. It does calm the bladder and helps alot. Well off to the doc today and see what he says.