[LilLady]

Hi folks,
I am new to the message boards so I'm hoping ye'll be patient with me
I was diagnosed with SLE approx 25 years ago and am relatively in good health except for 2 things which refuse to leave me alone! I routinely pick up chest infections or alternatively urinary tract infections - they take turns so one is cured, the other comes round.
I was just wondering if any of you suffer from the same and if so, have you managed to find something to either stop the infections from recurring or to least minimise the effects?
Thanks, much appreciated
LilLady

 

[mary520]

Hello LilLady,
Nice to meet you. I have alot of UTI's and sometimes I think I have one because of the burning, but the labs say I don't. One GP suggested it might be cystitis. Don't know if it has anything to do with lupus but i guess lupus can cause inflamation in the bladder like anywhere else. Seems like I have more burning when I'm having other lupus stuff going on.

I don't have the chest infections, I am lucky, I hardley ever get a cold. Glad you joined us, we're all in this together.

Take care,
Mary

 

[Joandublin]

Hi LilLady

Welcome to the Forum. Im from Ireland myself - Dublin actually.

Im sorry to hear you are suffering from so many infections but its true having Lupus can leave one more susceptible to infections and the two most common kind are - yes you're guessed it - chest and urinary tract infections.

Here is a link which helps explain why this is. Page two mentions specifically the chest and urinary infections that are most common.

http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/new_aboutliving.aspx?articleid=93&zoneid=16

Of course the other contributor to recurring infections can be the type of drugs you might be on. Are you on any immune suppressing drugs? These can leave the immune system open to opportune infections.

When you get an infection do you normally get a longer course of treatment for it? In most cases of Lupus we tend to need longer than the average dose of antibiotics to clear up and infection. Im wondering if that might be the reason for you seeming to have a regular turnover of infections? Perhaps one or the other is not being properly cleared up?

I have had more than the average number of chest infections since being diagnosed with Lupus. I rarely had chest infections beforehand but have lost count of the number I have had since. I currently have a chest infection at the moment.

Sorry I couldnt be of more help but if you are having so many infections one after the other I would talk to your doctor about how you might reduce the incidence and if there is anything either of you can do to help.

Let us know how you get on and welcome again!
Take care
Joan:rose:

 

[onetay]

LilLady,
Hi and welcome to the site. I seen you in chat today, I hope you enjoyed it and join us again soon. We have nothing but patients so take your time.

I get chest infections at least twice a year and uti's of and on. I call the doctor at the on set of the problem now and start pushing the water and cranberry juice at the same time. I have went to taking mostly showers only and that seems to have helped with the uti's some.

Remember with lupus what works for one might not work for someone else so it is trial and error. I hope you are feeling well and doing good.

 

[eddie001]

I routinely pick up chest infections or alternatively urinary tract infections - they take turns so one is cured, the other comes round.
I was just wondering if any of you suffer from the same and if so, have you managed to find something to either stop the infections from recurring or to least minimise the effects?

Hi LilLady,

I haven't been diagnosed with Lupus yet, but I am immune deficient. I get A LOT of urinary tract infections and chest infections. At the moment I have a gallbladder infection, a lung infection and have also developed a stomach bug in spite of being on high doses of antibiotics. Like you, I just go from infection to infection. Even with antibiotics, they last much longer and are more severe than for most people.

With UTI's, I found that Canesten Oasis helps big-time. It changes the acidity of your bladder making it much less hospitable for bacteria. It also relieves the burning pain caused by acidity.

A few months ago, I had a severe UTI that wouldn't go after five weeks on powerful doses of antibiotics and which lab tests showed the bacteria had no resistance to. A doctor told me to try Oasis. I was sceptical but it was extremely good.

Hope that helps!

Edward

 

[eddie001]

Hi again LilLady,

Further to my response just above this one, I thought I'd also say that I take cranberry tablets every day, whether or not I have a UTI. This seems to have been effective for a while now.

Cranberry is known to change the acidity of the bladder, thus making it inhospitable to bacteria. Some people recommend drinking cranberry juice every day, but research shows that cranberry juice does not contain enough of whatever it is that bacteria don't like. The pills on the other hand are several times stronger than anything you would drink and have been shown to be very effective.

Another factor which can cause UTI's is urinary retention. That cause is particularly appropriate for people with illnesses which can affect muscles and muscular control.

Normal urine is sterile and should not contain any bacteria. If, for whatever reason, you do have bacteria in your urine, by not fully emptying your bladder you allow bacteria the opportunity to multiply. With some diseases like Multiple Sclerosis (perhaps Lupus also) there are reasons for urinary retention. In MS it would be through loss of muscular control. In Lupus, perhaps there are similar reasons. Make sure you fully empty your bladder and drink lots of water... whether or not you have a UTI.

Doubtless, you've already looked up generic advice regarding UTI's, but if not, make sure you do.

Edward