Living with recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) has taught me one thing, and that is to know the meaning of the word “DREAD”.
I live in constant dread of yet another UTI, dread that you never know when the next one will turn up, dread of how it will affect your day, dread that it will be at the weekend – no doctor, dread of wetting yourself as you wait, dread of feeling so unwell, dread of a temperature, dread of the length of time your sample takes to come back, dread if positive, then dread about yet another course of antibiotics coming your way, dread they may not work, dread that one day they might not.
Unless you have suffered from recurrent UTIs you could never understand the dread. You won’t know the anxiety and even depression of how they affect relationships, social and working life.
I am a 71 year old woman who has for over 50 years constantly looked for answers. I have constantly been aware of my bladder… constantly spent money on hopeful remedies.
Over the years I have been lucky enough to have had good health. But, I have been unlucky enough to have suffered recurrent UTIs since adolescence. My first experience was at the age of around 13. My kidney infection was so bad, I was in hospital for a week. Then from my early 20s and repeatedly ever since, I’ve dealt with repeated UTIs. There has got to be an answer and hopefully soon but in the 50 years I have searched nothing has changed!
Our patient support service is available to anyone who suffers with antibiotic resistant infections. If you, or your friends and family, want support and advice, please get in touch. Our free service is here to help.