Question - bladder infection and E Coli

tcorbett · Post by **tcorbett** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 11:12 am

Hi All,

I went to the DR on Tuesday and found I have a bladder infection - this is the first time one has caused me major nausea and fatigue. But, my DR put me on 3 days of Cipro (I'm allergic to penicilln, bactrim and zithromax. Slowly symptoms are going away, my D hasn't changed too much from the cipro - although, looking a bit less watery - hurray! Today they called to extend my cipro 4 more days and when they cultured my urine it showed E.Coli - which the nurse said is normal with bladder infections. But, my question is - could I have E.Coli in my gut too? Could this be why the watery D - on top of MC, Celiac? Just a tad bit of wishful thinking. I know when they cultured my poop last year before my endoscopy and colonoscopy it was fine. Any thoughts, greatly appreciated! I am seeing my GI again on Tuesday - we'll see what she says. Luckily both my GI and DR are in the same medical practice, so all my tests etc are in each others folders etc.

Thanks so much! Time to drink some cranberry juice and lots more water!

Have a great day! It's chilly here in the NorthEast - will get much chillier this weekend!

Theresa in ME

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 11:55 am

E.Coli is a normal inhabitant of your colon, so yes, you have it in your gut. It causes UTIs when it enters the urethra and travels up to the bladder. This is why UTIs are often associated with sex and other things that would move colon bacteria closer to the urethra. I used to get them a few times a year - once you start, sometimes you become prone to them due to scar tissue that allows easier access for the e.coli to climb up. My 3 yr old daughter gets them too. We've had amazing success stopping UTIs before we need antibiotics by using D-mannose. It's been discussed in other threads here too. It's a natural substance (sugar, I think) derived from berries including cranberries that prevents E.coli from adhering to the bladder and urinary tract. It basically allows urine to wash all the bacteria out. We mix a scoop in juice and water at the first sign of symptoms and we're fine the next day. I also used to take cranberry concentrate pills, which I think also have ths effect, but D-mannose is clearly most effective. Cranberry juice alone is not powerful enough in my opinion, but it won't hurt. Cranberry juice cocktail with lots of sugar might not be helpful. D-mannose can be bought at healthfood stores but it's not cheap. I've seen it for $25-$30, but it beats a visit to the doctor and copays for visits and prescriptions. You can also buy Azo testing strips at pharmacies now for $12 - these are the same ones used by doctors when they dip your urine for signs of infection. It looks for leukocytes (white blood cells) and nitrites. I keep these at home so I know a UTI is brewing (leukocytes) and it's time to start the Mannose.

I hope you can avoid Cipro next time!

Zizzle

Post by **tex** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 1:49 pm

Theresa,

I agree with everything that Zizzle said. I wouldn't worry about an acute E. coli infection in your GI tract - you would probably be passing blood if that were a problem. E. coli is probably the most common cause of bladder infections, but that doesn't mean that they are out of control in the gut.

Also, JoAnn has found that D-mannose helps with her MC treatment, when she experiences a flare.

Tex

Dee · Post by **Dee** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 2:01 pm

Yep!!
Zizzle is right about the E.coli......
I'm one who has to have a preventive dose of Cipro on hand at the onset of a UTI.
What has happened is the E.coli is becoming resistant to the usual drugs used to treat UTI's so it seems that Cipro & Ceftin and I think Macrobid or the only ones that can still fight it off.
I have also used the D-Mannose...
Hope you get to feeling better because those UTI's are the pits and hurt like all get out!

Dee~~~~