Anastrozole and Recurrent UTI's

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ozone3
ozone3 Member Posts: 5
edited July 2019 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

Hi All,

I was wondering if anyone else has had problems with recurrent UTI's while on Anastrozole. I've only been on it a little over 3 months and am currently on antibiotics for my 3rd UTI. My MO has switched me to Tamoxifen (will start taking it tonight) with the hopes that it will help with the vaginal dryness and the UTI's.

I've been to my urologist for both urodynamic testing and a cystography test. He found nothing "unusual" that would be causing this problem. He prescribed me Estrace cream, but I am scared to use it since I was strongly ER+/PR+. However, it's becoming an issue of quality of life as I can't continue dealing with this for the next 5 years!!

If you've had this problem, please LMK what you did to "overcome" it. At this point, I'm willing to try almost anything.

Thanks so much for your words of wisdom!!

Rita S.


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  • MexicoHeather
    MexicoHeather Member Posts: 365
    edited June 2019

    I take AZO Cranberry, just one 250 mg soft gel every night. This is over the counter.

    I use baby wet wipes, Huggies Naturals, every time I pee. Keeping it fresh!

    I try to reduce "friction", then empty my bladder and use a wet wipe.

    I was 49 years old when I went into chemopause. I haven't had a problem since doing these things. There's just no estrogen allowed for me. My gynecologist says absolutely no e-string, etc.

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  • ozone3
    ozone3 Member Posts: 5
    edited June 2019

    Thanks MexicoHeather!! I'll pick up some cranberry tablets today. I spoke with my PCP today and after I get this infection cleared up, I'm going on 3 months of antibiotic maintenance dosage. Hopefully that will finally get all the infection out!!

    Rita

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  • ozone3
    ozone3 Member Posts: 5
    edited July 2019

    Bumping. Hoping for some more replies.

    I talked with my MO and he wants me to go to my gyn for evaluation for the UTI's. When I talk to my gyn tomorrow, I'm going to see what he thinks about vaginal estrogen. I'm going to have to do something, because I can't keep having UTI's for 5 years while on AI's.

    Please if you've had this problem, post a reply. I'm getting desperate.

    Rita

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  • balance
    balance Member Posts: 49
    edited July 2019

    I had the same problem. Things were significantly improved with Vagifem. Both my oncologist and GYN were ok with it. I was very hesitant initially, but was so glad I went ahead with it.

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  • wintersocks
    wintersocks Member Posts: 922
    edited July 2019

    Ozone,

    I have ongoing UTI's and have to take prophylactic abx otherwise I end up really unwell and often in hospital. I started a thread on here bout it all there is a great deal of info and other people's experiences with UTI's and aromatase inhibitors. perhaps some one else can link it for you as I am not sure how to. I am on Letrozole now for nearly 7 years.

    I have had a mesh fitted for a vaginal prolapse some time after breast cancer treatment and now there is some thought that it might be the mesh that is causing these intractable UTI's. who knows? but I am waiting for another consultation with a specialist gynae doc to get some answers as I was told it was not the letrozole. Have a look at the thread on here

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  • wallycat
    wallycat Member Posts: 3,227
    edited July 2019

    Knock wood, have never had UTI (yet) but I have several friends (no cancer) that routinely get them. I suggested they try D-Mannose. It's a supplement. It prevents the bacteria from sticking to the bladder wall. One hasn't had the infection as long as she stays on it.

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  • ozone3
    ozone3 Member Posts: 5
    edited July 2019

    Thanks so much for the replies, ladies!! My gyn did a swab and said that my vaginal pH was a "little" off ... but not too badly. He thinks that may be contributing to the recurring UTI's. He prescribed Metrogel Vaginal Gel to be taken inserted once a week for 3 months. He said absolutely NOT to any type of vaginal estrogen. I've started taking cranberry capsules (TheraCran) and will start the D-Mannose today.

    I absolutely hate this disease. I'm very grateful that my tumor was very small and slow growing so I didn't have to do chemo. But, I'd do surgery and radiation 100 times if I didn't have to take this stupid little pill. Before I was diagnosed, I was taking a multi-vitamin ... that's it. Now I feel like I'm constantly popping pills or drinking powder ... all to counteract the affects that this pill has had on my body.

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  • Beesy_The_Other_One
    Beesy_The_Other_One Member Posts: 274
    edited July 2019

    Ozone, I'd like to second Wallycat's suggestion of D-Mannose. I'm ER- so I don't take AI's, but I've been married for 35 ½ years and have been getting UTI's for 35 ½ years. I now see a woman urologist who specializes in women (hooray for not being the only woman in the waiting room!). I had tried D-Mannose on my own over a decade ago, but I took it every day like a supplement. It didn't seem to really help substantively, so I quit. My urologist explained that it's good to take one every day, but where it really is effective is when you have that little twinge where you think you might be starting a UTI--you know, the old "there's glass in my urine" feeling. If you take 2 caps every couple of hours, the D-Mannose attracts bacteria to itself and to each other and then can pull the bacteria out of the urinary tract before it makes a home there. Drink a lot of liquid helps, of course. Interestingly, D-Mannose is a simple sugar not that different than glucose but it does not get metabolized by our bodies as other sugars do--it just grabs bacteria on the way out. I take cranberry (both am and pm), at her suggestion also, to keep the urinary tract more acidic and less attractive to bacteria.

    I went through menopause suddenly and naturally at the age of 41. Less estrogen definitely did not help my already frustrating and persistent problem (as the lack of estrogen likely has for you), but these two things have helped. I'm linking the products I use below, if it helps.

    D Mannose and cranberry

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  • ozone3
    ozone3 Member Posts: 5
    edited July 2019

    Thanks Beesy!! I just got the D-Mannose and started taking it. I'm gonna stick with the TheraCran for now as the one you take has soy. Since I'm ER+, I can't take any supplement that contains soy.


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  • wintersocks
    wintersocks Member Posts: 922
    edited July 2019

    I have also been told by the consultant to take D Mannose along with prophylactic antibiotics. trouble is I keep forgetting because I have to take so many pills and i am disorganised. I will endevour to re start it!


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  • labmum
    labmum Member Posts: 4
    edited July 2019

    I just visited doctor for third UTI in the last two years. I continue to struggle with what physical problems are just me/and getting older and what can I blame on anastrazole. I agree with one of the notes I read (cant remember who posted, sorry) but it does seem that several side effects get worse the longer we stay on the hormone therapy. Included in my list: Bone density loss, hair thinning and loss, some lightheadness and fatigue , UTI'S, now starting to experience muscle cramping in my legs. WOW, I sound like a complainer, but I have tried to dismiss each se as I go along. I had lumpectomy 2016, partial breast radiation 2017 and started hormone therapy in March 2017. I think I came back to checking out the boards just to find some support from my fellow travelers. Its hard to talk about these things to people who haven't been there.
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  • wallycat
    wallycat Member Posts: 3,227
    edited July 2019

    Labmum, the tamoxifen caused huge muscle cramping for me; I took potassium and mg. supplements. The mag. also helped with the horrific constipation tamoxifen induced.

    I think you hit the nail on the head and it has been my greatest "anger moment." The fact that I will never know how I would have aged naturally. These pills amplify and speed up all the processes that should have been allowed to unfold and allow our bodies to grow into. Stupid cancer.

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  • labmum
    labmum Member Posts: 4
    edited July 2019

    Hello Wallycat - just read your reply. THANK YOU. You were diagnosed at an earlier age than me for sure. But when I was starting the aromatase I remember crying and saying to my daughter - its going to make me get 'old' that much faster. However I did start it. Now that I'm about 2 - 2.5 years into it I'm just feeling a little defeated and truly don't know what are the complaints caused by the treatment and what would have been happening anyway. It looks like you are further down the road since you were diagnosed - GOOD ON YOU, keep it up.

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