UTIs and Menopause
Posted by Far_Kiwi_692@reddit | GenX | View on Reddit | 80 comments
I was yesterday years old when I found out how different a UTI is when you have reached menopause.
I have been exhausted for the past few days then suddenly yesterday morning I woke up to blood in my urine. That was a huge flashing neon sign to get in to see my Dr. And yup she confirmed, uti.
LI haven't had a UTI in 20+ years but I remember what it's like and I had none of the symptoms, no burning, no lower back pain, no having the urge to pee every 10 seconds. Instead, I was tired and a bit fog brained.
Last night my entire body ached, my head was pounding and I had chills so violent I couldn't make a whole sentence. And as my doctor said no baths anymore, I had to stand in the shower under super hot water to make the chills go away.
I'm pretty sure it's time to get one of those old people shower chairs now.
Aging is so fun and full of new and exciting adventures. Thanks for listening to me whine. š
NutreeEnt@reddit
Cranberry pills supplements work really well for prevention as well imo
Far_Kiwi_692@reddit (OP)
I will get some
therealgookachu@reddit
I was getting UTIs on top of yeast infections. Cranberry pills and probiotics worked wonders.
Tiger_grrrl@reddit
Itās actually D-mannose thatās the part of the cranberry that helps keep bacteria from adhering to the walls of the bladder, supposedly. It does help with minor irritation like if youāve had to sit a lot, or if you were outdoors or traveling and got a little dehydrated. But you still need vaginal estrogen, above all š
AnneChovie264@reddit
Time for the vaginal estrogen! It makes a world of difference.
pericles123@reddit
wait, what is this about 'no more baths'? My GF is 56 and takes a bath every day, sometimes more than 1?
Moonsmom181@reddit
Hydration & estrogen cream will help her. Iāll never give up baths.
Chemical-Material-69@reddit
For real. If I have to bleach the tub every night I will.
BeBe_Madden@reddit
Wow! Thank you for starting this conversation! I used to get them a lot, with the very telltale, sudden onset symptoms. I got them so many times once year that I had to see a uro-gyn because I also didn't have any bacteria except one time in my 20s & they said that wasn't the one they typically see with UTIs.
So, I had 5 in one year & they couldn't figure out why & if I'd had a 6th one, they said they'd catheterize me to see what's up with my bladder but that didn't happen. I was 45, & had a few more after that - my doctors would literally prescribe over the phone, I didn't even have to see them, but AS FAR AS I KNOW I haven't had one in a decade, since menopause.
NOW, I'M SCARED! I have Sjogren's disease, which literally causes everything to dry out, it attacks glands that produce fluids in the body so dehydration is always a thing & now I have chronic kidney disease.
I get frequent low-grade fevers & crushing fatigue & other symptoms that can masquerade as a lot of things, but now I'm going to put UTI on the list!
Mrshaydee@reddit
I prefer the tablet insert over the cream. A lot less goop - none, in fact.
SuburbaniteMermaid@reddit
Cream is horrible, tablets are way better, but the ring is better than both.
Mrshaydee@reddit
Personally donāt have a cervix, but I can see how that would be.
ernurse748@reddit
First, I am so glad you are going to be ok, and that you went to your doctor immediately.
As a nurse, there are a couple of things Iāve come to understand are absolute, and one of them is that every older woman eventually gets UTIs AND will get them more than once. Go ask any doctor, nurse or medical assistant.
One of the surreptitious causes is dehydration. As we age, we stop being able to feel thirst well. Most older people are chronically dehydrated. So please watch your fluid intake - thatās an easy way to help avoid a lot of problems, including this.
Tiger_grrrl@reddit
After going through breast cancer treatment and menopause, I had significant Genitourinary syndrome of menopause. I was prescribed vaginal estrogen, which largely reversed the condition (it was so bad that my urethra was prominent, with the tissue around it having atrophied significantly), and within a couple of months, I didnāt have the urge to pee constantly or any stress incontinence (that was fairly minor, fortunately). It took about a year on the localized treatment (which comes in cream, tablets, a āstringā etc), plus the estrogen patch and oral progesterone, to get the maximum effect. And it will reverse back to GSM without at least the vaginal treatment, itās a life-long issue. I was hydrating myself plenty, but that does nothing to prevent GSM, which messes up your entire pelvic floor. Women should be automatically given vaginal estrogen prescriptions when they turn 50, if not sooner š
ernurse748@reddit
I am so sorry you had to go through all of that, and I am truly grateful you got the treatment you did. Clearly, avoiding UTIs is multifaceted, and thatās why every individual needs to speak with their healthcare provider when they get one. Is staying hydrated alone going to save a person from getting a UTI? Of course not. But with NIH data showing that about 1/3 of adults are dehydrated, itās clear that is a contributing factor to dozens of health problems.
81632371@reddit
UTIs and UTI related sepsis are not just for the ladies. My father passed from complications. If your loved one seems to have suddenly lost their mind, get them checked!
I (F) had two in the past couple years and they were related to kidney stones causing a partial blockage. The symptoms were also very subtle. My urologist wants me to drink an impossible amount of water every day (I try) and add lemon juice to my diet.
Princetex96@reddit
Most post menopausal women would benefit from vaginal/labial/urethral estrogen cream. It prevents Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause which is a major factor in UTIs. It is safe even for women who have had breast cancer. Thereās a lot we can do to prevent the negative things seem inevitable as we age.
NessyNoodles70@reddit
I asked my doctor about the cream after reading all the great stories online, but she said no bc an aunt of mine had a certain kind of breast cancer. I would like to know more about it
queenbee_1215@reddit
I have had breast cancer that was estrogen/progesterone positive and my oncologist is the one who prescribed me my vaginal estrogen. Itās non systemic.
SuburbaniteMermaid@reddit
Sorry your doctor is a moron.
RunsWithPremise@reddit
There was a documentary called M Factor that debunked a lot of this. For many women, HRT is not only safe, but can really improve quality of life.
fireflypoet@reddit
And yet a friend of mine who is having all kinds of menopausal symptoms takes no HRT because her older male PCP told her there would be a slight chance of breast cancer from it. I told her about the flawed study and all the other new info about HRT being safe. She still won't ask him for some, or look for a female doctor. I have given up trying to convince her.
RunsWithPremise@reddit
Doctors are hit or miss. My wife has had many issues over the years before and after her hysterectomy. We actually found that the female doctors were the worst to her, which surprised me. I assumed that if anyone would understand, it would be other women. I was happy that she was getting referred to women. Leading up to getting a hysterectomy, there was a crazy amount of pressure put on her by other women to not get the surgery because she was still of child-bearing age. Like it was her duty to have a kid.
I remember sitting there with my wife and one doctor and telling her point blank, "I don't give a fuck about having kids; I want my wife to be healthy and happy. She is crying herself to sleep at night. Let's take care of her and not worry about a hypothetical child."
If there is anything I have learned over the years, it's that you need to really push hard and advocate for yourself. As a guy who has also gone down the HRT path, it's not much better for us. They treat you like you're just some kind of juice head, looking for a shortcut to getting jacked. Nah, I'd just like to have energy past 6:30pm, not be depressed as fuck, and be able to have mental clarity at work. Insurance doesn't want to cover it and they demand $1000 worth of blood work every three months. Then it takes 2-4 weeks for approval, meanwhile you ran out of test a month ago. I finally went to one of those concierge services for $1000/year.
CheesecakeEither8220@reddit
Is it on YouTube, or somewhere else?
RunsWithPremise@reddit
I think it was a PBS documentary. It talked a lot about how menopause was just kind of ignored for a long time. Sort of, āwell, that is just part of life,ā and not much attention given to ācan we make this suck a little less?ā
CheesecakeEither8220@reddit
Thank you for the information!
Blue_Iquana@reddit
That research study was flawed and has been debunked.
Find a new doctor.
Princetex96@reddit
Your doctor is uninformed. Lots of them are about this issue. Using vaginal estrogen does not raise systemic estrogen levels in any significant way that would increase breast cancer risk.
Electronic_Charge_96@reddit
Go get educated. And a new provider. Iām at known, quantified, exceptional high risk for breast and ovarian and have genetic risk performed and STiLL take topical estrogen for GSM. It does not increase risk from topical. ACOG has even authored guidelines that include topical estradiol for women with PERSONAL histories of estrogen dependent breast cancer.
Neakhanie@reddit
What kind of doctor prescribes this kind of estrogen cream?
Tiger_grrrl@reddit
Your GP should be comfortable prescribing this if itās not time for your annual gyn visit šItās safe for EVERYONE.
Princetex96@reddit
Gynecologist or an online HRT prescriber like Alloy or Musely.
Minirth22@reddit
My gynecologist prescribed mine.
do_go_on_please@reddit
Came here to say this! I had irritation in my urethra for months that I thought was a UTI right around when menopause hit hard (I think. Had an IUD suppressing my periods at the time). Also burning pain when urinating after sex. Ladies! The cream took care of both issues and Iām back to normal. Look into it!
croissant_and_cafe@reddit
Not only that, but in older people (older than us!!!!!) it can cause dementia like symptoms.
chawchat@reddit
My friend's elderly mother even started hallucinating voices.
lovelyb1ch66@reddit
The things you learn as you get older! I was hospitalized a while back with paralytic ileus and the suspected cause was an infection of some sort since my white blood count was high. I had no symptoms but did recall that a few days previously I found myself going to the bathroom every couple of hours so the dr said I probably had a UTI.
Minirth22@reddit
My mom got a terrible uti the last year of her life. ZERO normal symptoms, no burning, no discomfort. The only indicator: she appeared to have suddenly developed full blown dementia. Turns out that can happen with UTI!!
If an older relative, especially female, suddenly and drastically lose the ability to follow a conversation or do basic things they could do last week, like pay bills, GET THEM TO THE DOCTOR and get their urine checked. It was genuinely terrifying to watch.
Tiger_grrrl@reddit
Itās one of the leading reasons why older women end up in nursing facilities: repeat UTIs, leading to dementia like symptoms š VAGINAL ESTROGEN, PEOPLE, we need it to stay healthy after menopause!
Minirth22@reddit
It took 3 round of antibiotics to clear it, too. Mom was of that generation where she wasnāt going to really clean her private parts the way she should (she was only showering 1 or 2 times a week), and she wouldnāt drink enough water.
People, keep an eye on your elderly relatives, and make sure the people in your life know this can happen!!! I CANNOT overstress how hard I had to fight the staff to test her damn unrine, and she was in a physical rehabilitation unit. There are a LOT of healthcare workers who just donāt know this is a thing.
human8060@reddit
Happened with my 80 year old mother recently too. Scary shit!
ReferenceOk5808@reddit
You (and every other woman of a certain age) needs vaginal estrogen. Proven medical backed medicine.
CathycatOG@reddit
I use it and couldn't be happier with it. It even helped me get rid of the thickening waist and upper body that was happening with aging.
CheesecakeEither8220@reddit
Wait, it helps with that too?!?!?
Tiger_grrrl@reddit
I lost 25 pounds in a year on menopause hormones therapy š Also, my LABS are so much better! I was about to have to go on a statin (which caused at least one close relative permanent issues) and now Iām āin the greenā once again.
CathycatOG@reddit
It seemed to, I have no proof other than I shrank to three belt holes smaller after I started using it.
CheesecakeEither8220@reddit
Alright!
Fickle-Milk-450@reddit
Same thing happened to me. Hadnāt had a UTI in 30 years and I barely had any symptoms. I used to be doubled over in pain, but this time it hardly hurt. So bizarre. Aging is a total mind fuck.
Quirky_Commission_56@reddit
Iāve never had a UTI but my mom would get them frequently.
queenbee_1215@reddit
Get a prescription for vaginal estrogen. It will help prevent UTIs
Original_Rent7677@reddit
This! I had constant UTIs after menopause, started vaginal estrogen and haven't had a UTI since.
ForswornForSwearing@reddit
The worst part is that you can run a high fever and basically lose your mind. It's happened to both my mother and mother-in-law. Confusion, crashed cars, falls, etc. Neither of them understands how close they came to dying because of tye cicumstances the confusion put them in.
Mistervimes65@reddit
My 87 year old mom had a UTI recently and had some bizarre hallucinations.
Neakhanie@reddit
My mom had these and she loved them! Apparently when she woke up every morning, her long descended parents and brother were out in her kitchen, just talking and stuff. She was able to say to me at lunchtime that she knew it wasnāt real but it made her so happy, so I didnāt worry about it. Fast forward to me finding out it was a UTI and had to be resolved quickly! I felt bad in a way, though I knew (we both knew) it had to be fixed.
RunsWithPremise@reddit
My grandmother had this problem. It was harder for her to get around as she aged, so she would hold it and try to never go pee. This led to multiple UTI's and it would really escalate her cognitive decline. She would see things and hear things and be even more confused than usual. I'd go visit her and she'd say, "can you hear that music?" What music? "Someone is singing Ave Maria!"
CheesecakeEither8220@reddit
When I worked in a nursing home, if someone's mental status declined quickly, a urine test was the first thing we did.
Moonsmom181@reddit
Estrogen cream and super careful bathroom hygiene helps. Also, hydration, hydration, hydration!
I take daily baths and will never give them up.
2PlasticLobsters@reddit
Yeah, mine was 100% asymptomatic also. And there were outside-world reasons why I was so tired. My partner & I had been clearing out my late in-laws' house. That was exhausting, so I didn't think twice about the fatigue.
I still didn't think twice when I woke up with trouble breathing. I assumed all the dust we'd stirred up had aggravated my asthma. Turned out, the UTI had found its way into my bloodsteam & triggered pneumonia. I was lucky it hadn't turned into sepsis.
I was stunned. I'd had none of the typical symptoms. Of course, by then it had gotten really bad & I started having a lot of pain. And it took awhile to find an antibiotic that didn't cause really bad side effects.
I don't recall whether my GP mentioned things being different after menopause. Between the shock & the brain fog, he could've said pretty much anything and I'd have forgotten.
IndigoBlues116@reddit
Joint the menopause group and you will find a ton one info and support!
https://www.reddit.com/r/Menopause/
Beautifile@reddit
My mother went DELIRIOUS from a UTI in her late 70's. We brought her to the hospital and one minute she would seem fine, the next, totally out of it. The whole thing came to light because my Mother and Father went to Maine and when my Dad opened the suitcase all My Mother had packed was a Xmas wreath and a shoe! I know, hysterical and random. They came home the next day and I went to the hospital with them and went twice per day while she was treated. I just want everyone to know this is a REAL possibility.
kb_colas@reddit
Yes. I had a dear friend this happened to. Early 70's. Zero symptoms, it was like she had a mild stroke. Crazy.
ORF1Live@reddit
Oh it's just the gift that keeps on giving isn't it? The only good thing is that I've stopped giving a fuck!
SinoSoul@reddit
You donāt gaf about UTIās?
ORF1Live@reddit
About anything really- what people think of me, doing stuff I don't want to do to please other people.
I used to be quite insecure, now I just think fuck it!
CheesecakeEither8220@reddit
Yep. I told my partner last night that I no longer have fucks to give. Not directed to him, but that I'm tired of not expressing my feelings and having no boundaries.
ORF1Live@reddit
No more f**ks
Far_Kiwi_692@reddit (OP)
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D05wtt@reddit
My momās 93yo. Never got UTIs. Now in the past 2 yearsā¦.4 timesā¦.at least. Sheās supposed to drink more water and wipe with flushable wipes since she doesnāt shower every day anymore. But of course she doesnāt do either.
Individual_Note_8756@reddit
I never had a UTI, until menopause, and now Iāve had 2. Apparently, the ātissueābecomes thinner and that makes it so much easier to get a UTI.
I now take probiotics and havenāt had one since, in almost 2 years.
Good luck OP!
Russian_Doll_888@reddit
Vaginal moisturizers help too.
tkkana@reddit
A heating pad on the hooha is delightful when having a uti
squatmama69@reddit
Vaginal estrogen helps prevent it
pasta666sauce@reddit
Yes! The symptoms of infection are much more muted so you are like almost dead before you know whatās going on. Had same experience with a tooth root infection.
AccomplishedClaim292@reddit
Look a supplement called O+. Has worked wonders for me. I use the probiotic one and the meno one.
Far_Kiwi_692@reddit (OP)
Thank you, I will look for it
Prestigious-Thing716@reddit
And it gets even worse as you get older. They thought my friendās 90 year old mother was having a stroke. It was a UTI. I guess when youāre elderly some UTI symptoms mimic dementia and other cognitive changes. Just crazy.
thinkshiftster@reddit
Whoa I am sorry you experienced this. Thanks for sharing - I had no idea!
Far_Kiwi_692@reddit (OP)
Thank you, I also had no idea, lol
Informal-Gene-8777@reddit
Yep. Peeing blood and having it feel like razor blades.
You need topical estrogen cream.
Far_Kiwi_692@reddit (OP)
That's what my Dr said!