My grandfather has a Foley catheter. We keep it clean. He drinks as much fluids as he will. Sometimes he needs to drink more. Sometimes he drinks enough. He does the rounds of antibiotics after a urine sample confirms he has a UTI. However it seems like the UTI never goes away. He finishes one round of antibiotics one week and he starts another round 2 days later because it’s still there. He’s been in the hospital. He’s done the IV antibiotics and come home on oral. Those oral run out and the UTI is still there. Multiple times. It’s just on repeat.
I guess I’m just asking, when is enough enough? Is there a point where the antibiotics aren’t doing anything and the doctors stop treating the UTI? This is just agonizing. For us. For him especially. I just don’t see an end in sight to these infections.
edited to add: his catheter has to stay in. He has problems and retains his urine if he doesn’t have the catheter. So unfortunately that is a long term thing.
Just wondering if you have tried any natural remedies or would consider trying them. I've heard of cranberry juice helping people with UTI on the internet, there are some other natural remedies. If the antibiotics route is appearing like it's a constant loop, maybe some natural remedies could work. Obviously the first choice is antibiotics but if it's proving to be ineffective, maybe some natural remedies can help. Just a suggestion.
I feel for you situation with your GF, I really do hope with further discussions with your doctor to provide further help and information, get them to explain why the antibiotics are not fixing the issue, are there other types to try?
I do you keep in touch on this forum and let us know how things are going.
Alva is a nurse and recommends D-Mannose to prevent UTIs. I also read it may clear them up. Cranberry tablets in conjuction with a probiotic may help too. Mom was on this regiment and in the last year of her life, had no UTIs.
UTIs are serious, especially in Men. A person can become Septic.
The catheter is a big part of the problem. But it's probably necessary.
Keeping it immaculately clean is a start. Don't use them until they're cracking from age. Don't let them drag on the floor when he walks. (besides being gross to look at, it makes the cath inside move around and you don't want that)
I don't know the things that others have given their LO's to deal with constant UTI's. Cranberry pills, etc. Someone will weigh in on that.
Hydration is super important, and just when a person really doesn't WANT to be drinking all day! Mom drank oz of coffee in the am. About 8 ozs of Coke with lunch and about 4 oz of water at night to wash down her pills. She was always dehydrated and we never did get her to drink more. For her, the hassle of changing the cath bag was not worth drinking even 40 oz of fluids.
In the end, we gave up, had the indwelling cath removed and put her in Depends with a couple of super thick pads. She still leaked, but at least she was drinking more as she was able to toilet herself.
Maybe dad would do better with the incontinence briefs. That might help the bacteria to have less of chance to simmer and grow. Or at least give you some more time between infections.
I'm so sorry you're going through this.