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My mom has vascular dementia. She wears depends and won't drink sufficient water. She has had 2 UTIs in the past 6 months...both times she knew she had them! First time she said she was urinating a lot, second time it burned once. The first was diagnosed by her PCP in office, so I assume they used a quick test. 2nd time by urgent care with culture.


Her PCP now wants her to see a urologist.


I can take her to the practice where my dad is seen for prostate cancer, but I am not sure it is worth it. She won't cooperate with prevention strategies like changing depends more often, drinking water, using bathroom on a schedule, etc., so not sure of the point.


She lives in AL facility with my dad. They try to get her to follow a prevention routine, but she says no, so they cannot force her. If dad tries, she gets mad and says he is bossing her around. When doctors tell her, she says she never heard it before.


The one thing I can probably get her to do is drink cranberry juice regularly.


Thoughts??????

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Cranberry juice is not good. It has sugar in it. My Mom was put on cranberry tablets. Also, a probiotic while on antibiotics which cause yeast infections. The probiotic was continued beyond the antibiotic. She was hospitalized in Oct for a UTI. They catherized her to get all the urine. Started her on antibiotics and the other things I listed. She passed the next Sept. not showing signs of another UTI.

It has been said here, to make sure her urine is cultured so she gets the right antibiotic.

A urologist may not hurt but I would not recommend a scope. My Mom had dementia and I refused to put her thru anything like that. She had no idea what was going on and it all frightened her.
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Judysai422 Jun 2019
Thanks for the heads up on the scope. Think I will ask the urology place my dad goes to for a consult...my mom has very low pain tolerance.
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My 91 yr old Mom has chronic UTI's. While we are not prolonging life, we are making her comfortable and so I took her to a urologist. While getting her to and from the appt was difficult, the urologist was the only dr that was able to resolve her UTI for any length of time. He prescribed the correct antibiotic (mom is getting resistant) and put her on a short term preventative antibiotic.

An additional benefit from the treatment was that her incontinence was reduced.

In short, I think the urologist visit for your Mom might be worth it.
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Thank you all for all the input. I spoke to my mom today and told her what could happen if she continues to get the UTIs. Though she has dementia, she understands more doctor visits and going to the hospital....
I made signs for her side table and the bathroom that tell her to
1. Drink 2 bottles of water a day
2. Go to the bathroom every 2 hours when staff reminds her... if she can't pee, she needs to check her pad to see if it is wet and change it if it is
3. Wash her private parts with a wet washcloth every morning and every night
4. Look at her pee in the toilet...if it is not pale yellow or clear, drink more water
Her understanding of visual information is way better than info she get orally.

We will see. I took on the role of bad cop because she gets mad at my dad when he reminds her to drink and use the bathroom. She does not want to drink because going to the bathroom is a chore.
Fingers crossed.😉
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Harpcat Jun 2019
This is so so typical of elderly! Don’t want to drink because then they will have to get yo and use the toilet. It’s a broken record. I hope your signs help. So frustrating I know!
do not let the urologist put her on any prescription for incontinence as they are implicated in causing dementia too.
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I can assure you that no matter what doctor sees her or what is prescribed to her to do, she is NOT going to do it - end of discussion. It doesn't matter if it is dementia or stubbonrness. Unless you are watching her 24/7, nothing is going to change. If she refuses to cooperate, let her be before she makes you lose what sanity you have left. Leave her in peace and face what is coming perhaps sooner than later - but it is not going to change.
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Judysai422 Jun 2019
It's only been a few days, but my dad reports she is drinking more water and washing every day. Still not going to bathroom enough, but one step at a time.
Honestly, I would let her be, but I am trying to save myself from trips to hospital and urgent care. Maybe I'm being selfish, but I am getting tired of having to put myself out because she won't cooperate.
My dad won't even go to the hospital with her anymore because she won't cooperate with her care.
I totally get it.
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I've seen D-mannose recommended on the forum, in an AL you would need to have it approved and added to her medication routine.
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clb2930 Jun 2019
Yes, my Mom takes d-mannose and Ellura, which is a concentrated cranberry supplement. It's not cheap but there is a generic on Amazon, which is cheaper. Both have helped my Mom with recurrent bladder infections.
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Nature's Answer UT Answer with D-Mannose sold at Amazon.

This works! You may have to administer two bottles and then but her 1 tsp daily maintenance.
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I would be concerned about her comfort at this stage. Not taking her to the Urologist will prolong unnecessary discomfort for her. I wouldn't think this is interfering with not prolonging her life if she is at that stage. It is our job to make sure they are comfortable. This doesn't mean that "end of life" wishes aren't being kept. At 93, God bless her, it is about her comfort.
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My 93 year old mom had recurring UTI's that sent her to the hospital because she showed no symptoms before turning septic. Urologist finally controlled situation with vaginal hormone cream, daily, low-dose antibiotics and me constantly pushing her to drink more liquids. She has not had a problem in a year now.
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Judysai422 Jun 2019
Who applied the cream?
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I was also going to recommend D-Mannose. My MIL in AL was also getting recurring UTI’s for the same reasons. My urologist put me on D-Mannose, and 1000 mg of vitamin C 2 years ago when I started having chronic UTI’s. I take it in powder form with probiotics, but we got the capsules for my MIL. Has worked like a charm! No more UTI’s. We get it from Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/D-Mannose-Fast-Acting-Infection-Probiotics-Vegetarian/dp/B01N6X9YBS/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?keywords=dmannose+powder+now&qid=1560512201&s=gateway&sprefix=dman&sr=8-7
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Judysai422 Jun 2019
Thank you! Will discuss with her PCP.
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Not saying you do this, but handing someone a large bottle of water isn't very appealing and the full contents will probably be there 2 hours later. BUT, have you tried the small 6 or 8 oz bottles? Also, there are many 0-calorie water flavorings that can be added to enhance the bland flavor of water.
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Judysai422 Jun 2019
Have tried flavors, adding g a little diet 7 up to water, cups, small bottles, none of it helps. She says she drinks when she is thirsty, but she 1. Forgets and 2. Does not want to drink because then she has to pee, which is too much work.
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