The return of my unwanted visitor
Hello. My name is Candy, and I often have urinary tract infections (UTI). If there is a support group out there for people who constantly suffer from UTI, please sign me up. At this point, I feel like I have earned a VIP membership card.
I started getting UTI around 10 years ago, back when I traveled from Quezon City to Makati every day for work. The traffic was so unforgiving that I would constantly hold my need to tinkle. And so began my new lifestyle of carrying cranberry pills, drinking coconut water by the gallon, and timing my fluid intake before heading out into the battlefield.
When the preventive measures fail, antibiotics step in like an unwelcome old friend. It happened so frequently that I would make emergency stops along the way, which was extremely inconvenient for someone who simply wanted to get from point A to point B without scouting for the nearest restroom.
Eventually, I got the rhythm of it all, and the UTI slowed down. I actually felt like my bladder expanded. I finally understood the assignment, which was to wait for a clean toilet. But now that I have turned 53, UTI has started knocking on my door again. I do not like it. Not one bit. And as I write this, I am currently on my fifth antibiotic pill.
The unwelcome duo: Menopause and UTI
So here is the question. Does menopause come hand in hand with frequent UTIs, or am I just too lazy to drink my cranberry juice?
According to experts, menopause indeed increases the risk of UTIs. The drop in estrogen causes thinning of the urinary tract tissues, changes in vaginal flora, and a weakened immune response, which basically makes the area more vulnerable to bacterial invasion.
Incomplete bladder emptying and urinary incontinence also add to the risk. Great. So on top of everything drying up, falling hair, bloating, headaches, and all that jazz, we women now have to make sure we completely empty our bladders, too.
Before I head out to Healthy Options to stock up on my UTI survival kit, I did a bit more research. Apparently, when you have UTI you need to avoid the following:
- Carbonated drinks
- Acidic fruits
- Caffeine
- Alcohol
- Spicy food
- Sugar
- High sodium foods
- Cured and processed meats
Other things to avoid include:
- Sex
- Bubble baths
- Sports, especially those that require a bathing suit
And because I am now a self-declared UTI expert, here is what you should do:
- Drink plenty of water to flush out the bacteria.
- Take cranberry pills regularly. Sugar-free cranberry juice works, too.
- If you are in pain, do not suffer. Take a painkiller.
- Pee as much as you can and get every last drop out.
- For quicker recovery, antibiotics are the way to go.
I felt better on the second day of my medication but, as always, I will make sure to finish the entire course, even if I am no longer feeling discomfort.
For us women going through menopause, UTI might become a frequent visitor, right alongside hot flashes, migraines, dryness, short temper, bloatedness, exhaustion, and all the other delightful surprises of this stage. I am beginning to see how men have it so much easier when it comes to physical challenges.
Perhaps it is time to write a formal letter of complaint.
Dear God, it’s me, Candy.
