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UTI Caregiver's Nemesis
As caregivers, you are often the first to recognize changes in your patient or loved one. You spend more time with them than anyone else. You know what goes in and what comes out. You know their likes and dislikes. You know which behaviors are “normal.” You also know that getting them to the doctor is easier said than done when there is a change in intake, output, behaviors, etc. It is not a simple process: access to doctors can be limited; and getting a diagnosis can take time, which as we all know, is a precious commodity.
Often, you are left to “diagnose” these changes yourself. A prime example of in-home diagnosis is when you suspect a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). Seniors are particularly susceptible to UTIs due to weakened immune systems, incontinence, decreased fluid intake, etc.
The tricky part is that their UTI symptoms are not easy to identify. They often do not feel the traditional burning sensation or pressure to urinate; or, if they feel it, they often cannot express exactly what the problem is. Sometimes caregivers will notice a change in the patient’s urine (darker color and/or blood), but many times this infection goes undetected for some time and gets progressively worse.
To make matters worse, frequently, the first and only indication is a condition known as “delirium”. Suddenly, the person that you know and love has changed: they may start hallucinating and seeing things which are not there; they may not be able to put a sentence together clearly; they may have no memory of something that happened just yesterday; and, they may have become extremely combative.
Sudden onset delirium can be very scary. Additionally, these symptoms are often incorrectly interpreted as the onset of dementia, which comes on more gradually. The good news is, delirium is curable, dementia is not. When you witness a sudden change in behavior like this, think UTI first and take action!
Don’t Ever Think “Oh, It’s Just A UTI”
When a UTI reaches the point of delirium, the infection has become very serious. You should immediately call the doctor and get the patient to the hospital. While most UTI caused delirium cases can be treated successfully with intravenous antibiotics, some patients are not so fortunate.
Here’s one caregiver’s story
“One day my mother was talking about seeing people outside the window. I checked and didn’t see anyone out there. She said a few other strange things while we were there but nothing that made my UTI antenna go up! That was on a Friday. On Saturday my dad called to say that my mother was “getting hard to handle” (something he had never said before).
We took her to the emergency room and many tests were performed while we waited anxiously for the results. After what seemed like days, a physician’s assistant came out to talk with my father, my husband, and me. My mother had an infection originating in her urinary tract called sepsis… sepsis is the body’s deadly response to infection.
Being a nurse, I knew that a diagnosis of sepsis was not something we wanted to hear. Usually, by the time sepsis has traveled throughout the body, there is little that the medical professionals can do. My mother was quickly admitted to the hospital and the antibiotics were started.
By Monday morning, it was clear to the medical staff that my mother would not survive her infection; her organs had begun to shut down. The decision was made to start hospice services. That evening she slipped into a coma, and died 36 hours later.”
As a caregiver, you never want this to happen. But if there are no “early warning signals” for seniors’ UTIs, what can you do?
A New Approach To Prevention Is Now Available
In the past, Doctors acted preventatively by prescribing long-term use of antibiotics to ward off the bacteria. This practice has been discontinued, though, since the side effects of extended antibiotic use in older patients is often worse than the infection.
Many doctors are now recommending a preventative course via a daily dose of a natural supplement known as D-Mannose, which has been proven to effectively fight the E-Coli bacteria that cause most UTIs. It is a powder that, once mixed with water, quickly flows to the bladder and flushes out any bacteria which may be floating around; it also lines the bladder with a protective coating preventing the bacteria from settling in and causing a serious UTI.
D-Mannose occurs naturally in many fruits such as apples, oranges and cranberries, so it’s safe to give to your patient whether their urine tests show that they have a UTI or not. And, simple prevention can save time and medical expenses while helping maintain quality of life.
Caregivers are saying that D-Mannose delivers immediate relief and protection for their patients.
“My Dad is 91 years old and has moderate dementia. He had a UTI at his last physical and had to take antibiotics to get rid of it. When I saw information about Goodbye-UTI (brand name for D-Mannose) on the Caregiver’s Newsletter I ordered it right away, happy to have a natural preventive product that was guaranteed. Dad has been taking it ever since, doing well and I have peace of mind knowing I am protecting him from future infection. It’s a great product provided with helpful, accessible customer service. Thank you.”
Ellen P.
W. Palm Beach, FL
“Peace of mind” is exactly what caregivers need,” says Beth Allan Kellam, founder of Goodbye UTI. “By just adding a scoop of or powder to their coffee or tea each morning day is an easy, cost effective way to put your mind at ease in knowing that you are keeping their urinary tract healthy.”
Goodbye UTI is the first and only pharmacist-formulated, all-natural supplement that promotes a healthy urinary tract and provides relief from the symptoms of active UTIs. Developed by Dr. Dustin De Panicis, a Doctor of Pharmacy, CEO and founder of Catalyst Nutraceuticals, Goodbye UTI is distributed directly to consumers from its website at www.goodbye-uti.com