What's wrong with Grandma?

Question

My Grandma keeps getting bladder infections. The doctors keep putting her on antibiotics, which she takes properly. No one can figure out what's causing them. Does anyone know anything it could be? She doesn't do any of the things that commonly cause such infections. She's miserable, somebody help!

She has seen a specialist, who prescribed antibiotics 4 months ago, the infection came right back. She just went to that same specialist yesterday and he put her on more antibiotics.

She does take cranberry pills and she drinks tons of water

Thanks for all the wonderful answers! We're going to have her tested for diabetes. This seems to be the most logical explanation. And if that's what it turns out to be, I'm going to make her find a new doctor.

Answer 1

Many people believe that bladder infections are caused by poor hygiene in that region. This is untrue! It is much more common in women due to the fact that our urethra is much shorter. She should try drinking cranberry juice and a topical vaginal cream containing estrogen. Both of these things have been proven to help reduce the incidence of reccurent cystitis (your grandma's bladder infections). Acupuncture is also shown to help. Since they're reccurrent, it could be an indication of a more serious problem (a sickle-cell disease or an anatomical malformation). Has your grandmother been in the hospital using urinary catheters - those things can lead to infection. In any case, it sounds like this will need further investigation - probably ultrasounds of the kidneys and X-rays of the urological system. There will most likely be treatment available. Good luck!

Answer 2

Most elderly people do not drink enough fluids, especially water, because then they have to get up to go pee. What they don't realize is that urination is nature's way of purifying the system of bacteria and other nasty things. Encourage her to drink more fluids. Cranberry juice can be helpful, because it creates an acidic environment in the bladder that bacteria do not like. Water is always good, unless she is on a fluid restricted diet ordered by her doctor. She should eat yogurt with cultured bacteria in it, that helps by replacing some of the normal bacteria in her body, which gets overwhelmed by the infectious bacteria. I have also seen doctors where I work prescribing 1000 mg of Vitamin C for their patients with chronic UTIs. It acidifies the urine. She should contact her dr. when she gets these infections. She may need a stronger antibiotic.
She should always remember to wipe from front to back after using the toilet. Wiping back to front brings E. coli into the vaginal and urethral areas of her body, which will cause infection. Good hand washing is vitally important also.

Answer 3

It happens! Most common cause is Grandma isn't keeping her vaginal area clean. And I don't say that to be mean!

I looked this just up to make certain.............

The most common cause of UTI (urinary tract infection) are from bacteria that live on the skin near the rectum or vagina which can spread and enter the urinary tract through the urethra.

Other causes are sex, (she may still be active?) waiting to long to pee, history of UTI as a child, menopause and diabetes can cause UTI.

Menopause or some health issue like diabetes may be your Grandmothers problem. But surely her doctor will test her for diabetes, and certainly would have attributed it to menopause if she is frequently having this problem.

Since you seem to be well informed of her situation then I gather you could make a suggestion to her? You may suggest that use wet-wipes instead of regular toilet tissue. And to wipe from Front to Back instead of reaching from the front and wiping forward, thus drawing the bacteria into her vaginal area.

Sorry for the bluntness, some may be offended. This is a common occurrence for some woman, and increases with age, body weight, inability to reach the area for various reasons.

Also, constant antibiotics CAUSE UTI. Often found in the elderly or those who take antibiotics on a regular basis for some condition.

I hope this has helped.

Answer 4

I have to agree with the person from the medical field. Uti's can be very dangerous if untreated. You could get sepsis if untreated. Like the medical worker said small urethra tend to get uti's when we become older our urethra shrinks and there is a cream out there that builds the muscle back. I personally know that with cystitis cranberry juice only inflames this condition more. So before using cranberries juice I would check with the doctor at first. Just curious does your grandmother smoke also?

Answer 5

The poor women, I used to get them a lot when I was Pregnant!! I do know that driking cranberry juice helps keep the infection away as well as taking cranberry pills does the same, Im not sure if it helps to cure it but so far they have helped me and I havent gotten one since I had my baby 6 months ago. I know how uncomfortable she is, I wish her well and I hope this helps a little.

Answer 6

I agree that it would properly be Alzheimer's ailment. you favor to ensure that she beverages a number of water and makes use of a number of salt. Alzheimer's is brought about through continual dehydration. in case you'll watch her heavily, you'll see that she beverages hardly any water in any respect. that's because from the age of round 20, each and every man or woman starts dropping their conception of thirst. that's the form of steady aspect that no one extremely notices, till through the time we attain our more desirable years, that's virtually non-existent. Water is the biggest source the body desires to stay, and we elect a large number of it in any respect cases. basically because we do not sense thirsty would not propose the body would not elect water. that is why people might want to drink 8 - 10 glasses of water in the technique the day. Your boyfriend's grandmother hasn't been doing this and her mind is probable tormented by the end results of dehydration. the only unlucky actuality in this aspect is, the mind would not advance new cells. that is why that's so crucial to grant her a large number of water to attempt to stop any better damage (if she does have Alzheimer's). The link lower than has a education guide for correcting dehydration. Pay particular interest to the pink textual content - that's a form of conversion for older people and babies.

Answer 7

It could be the antibiotics. The more you take them, it could increase the likelihood that drug resistant bacteria could grow. Or it could be the type of antibiotic that is given. Maybe a different antibiotic should be used.

Your grandma should eat some yogurt (with acidophilus bacteria--the good bacteria) and drink some cranberry juice. I read those are good for urinary health, esp. cranberry juice.

Hope she feels better.

Answer 8

A lot of women have problems with bladder infections. I have as well but I guarantee you if you buy cranberry pills at like walmart or a grocery store and she takes them everyday religiously it will prevent them. I did that and infections stopped.

Answer 9

Kidney stones are one of the causes but they also have very painful side effects. Cranbeery juice is one preventitive measure highly reccommended. Long term low dose anti biotics sometimes work. The tretments usdually last about 6 mons.

Answer 10

does she take alot of medication on a regular basis? maybe she isn't drinking enough water and she has too much bacteria in her bladder. there are some over the counter items she could try such as cranberry pills. you can get them at your local drugstore or gnc.