Help Strep D in culture

[TJJJ]

I need some advice. I have had a UTI ever since I had sex over Thanksgiving weekend. This UTI has been going on for over 2 months now and I have already been on three different antiboitics. I was first put on Levaquin 500 mg for 5 days, but I never got any better. I ended up with chills and low grade temp and stomach pain. So I went to the doctor and he put me on Ceph. for 7 days and I started to feel better, but when I finished the course of medication the stinging, frequency and stomach pain came back. So I went to my Gyno the week before Christmas and she sent my urine out for a culture and it came back with over 100,000 Strep D and she put me on a high dose of Amoxillin 500mg for 4 times a day for 10 days and it's been 8 days already and I still have the stinging, burning, frequency and stomach pain. So I called my Gyno and she now wants me to see an Infectious Disease physician, since the Strep D is very hard to treat and get rid of. She also called in Cipro 500 mg to take for 7 days and told me to not finish the Amoxicliin. I don't know what to do. I'm scared that I will never get rid of this Strep D and that I will get a resistance to all of these medications. I have also had many UTI's throughout my teenage years and have been on Cirpo and Lebaquin a lot in the past. Do you think I will now get a resistance to Amoxicillin if I stop it and not finish the course? I was also wondering if I could have gotten some Strep D bacteria into my urine sample when I peed in the cup? I did try to do a clean catch, but it's still so easy to get bacteria in there. I also can't get into the ID physician for a week and I'm scared.

[leelee88]

Could you ask your Dr if you could just come in to give another urine sample just to be sure? Maybe the nurse could see you just to get a clean catch. Hang in there and I hope things get better for you..

[MarthaF]

Strep Group D is now known as Enterococcus - I don't know why the labs still label it that way. United Medical Lab does also.

Yes, you can get rid of it and it is one of the most common UT pathogens, although often is not isolated by routine cultures. I am going to send you a PM with some suggestions about to a plan to try.

Martha

[boukie]

It sounds like you need a long dose of antibiotics. I would do a broth culture, most dr. are not familiar with this, but it picks up better than a reg. culture. You can go online and look up "Cystitis Research Center: About Dr. Paul Fugazzotto" I hope you get better

[humpieumpumkin]

I am really sorry you are still sick, I hope the infectious disease specialist can help. Plese keep us posted on your progress.

Erika:hi:

[TJJJ]

Thanks so much for all of your responses. I really appreciate it. I will take everyone's advice and look into getting a broth culture and see if I can get it sent to United Medical Labs. Once I speak with the Infectious Disease physician I will let you all know what she says. And hopefully this can also help someone else out too. Thanks again

[mom_in_ma]

I know this post is a few days old, but I'll tell you that just this past week, my doctor discovered I had a raging enterrococus (sp?) infection. It was caught by a sterile cathed sample (and missed by three other docs!) and he did an antibiotic sensitivity test on the culture. He put me on cipro for 7 days, and yesterday morning said that he wanted me to go on a long term low dose of amoxicillan to make sure the bacteria is gone and protect my bladder while it heals. He prescribed 250 mgs of amoxicillin (based on the sensitivity report - in fact, I said something about bactrim and he said, "no, not with this bug. won't work.) and called in a year's worth of refills! I'm not so sure about a year's worth, but I was thrilled when he suggested (on his own) that I go on a long-term low dose for awhile at least because I had heard both here and in other non-ic places that enterococcus can be hard to get rid of.

He seems pretty on top of things. I also developed a bad case of PFD and he perscribed 2 mg valium 3x a day - on his own without my prompting. I just asked what would help with the pain from the spasms.

I'm hopeful for the first time in a long time that I've finally found a good doc.

[MarthaF]

Thanks for sharing this. It helps to know what is being found by good labs/doctors. If you have been symptomatic for years it will take awhile for healing but it does respond to the right antibiotic. Are you to take the 250 mg of Amoxicillin once a day? And be sure to take a probiotic at least an hour or two after the antibiotic.

Please keep us posted on how you do.

Martha

[mom_in_ma]

Martha,
I am going to take the antibiotic, if anything it's because I do believe the antibiotic WILL protect the bladder as it's healing and it's the second confirmed UTI that I've had this year. Not the same bug though, the first had nitrates....I suspect it was e-coli but I couldn't get a culture as I was out of town. No matter...my bladder nerves are irritated enough, I don't need more of that! Besides, I read somewhere at some point that even Dr. Moldwin supports long-term low dose therapy to protect an IC bladder. Can't give you a citation for that though. Don't recall where I read it.

Although, I have atypical IC - pain w/normal capacity and I realy don't go to the loo that often, but I now have big time PFD - which makes me retain with all the meds - even nerve meds like neurontin which I could really used right now. Bugger, THAT part is getting the best of me, but I'm staying strong. Ha, my original appointment with my new uro/gyn was for the interstim just so I could TAKE the meds! I think we were all stunned to find the infection!

Anyway, yes, the idea is to take the amoxicillan once a day at bedtime. I also have Femdopholis that I'm taking once a day. What do you think of that plan?

[boukie]

I think long term antibiotics on amoxycilian is good I have read many stores about women who are on long term Amoxycillian for a year sometimes longer. Once the bacteria is gone your bladder will heal.

[mich2604]

Mom in MA, do you know what lab found your bacteria and what test was done? I am very impressed by your dr. I havent been able to find one around here that think outside the box.


Your symptoms sound a lot like mine. I have severe PFD :-(

[mom_in_ma]

mich,
I just PM'd you.