Urinary Tract Infection

[kwellens]

Hi everyone. I was just diagnosed yesterday Wednesday, December 21 with a urinary tract infection and started on antibiotics last night. I asked my doctor about exercise while I have this and he recommended I wait to start exercising again until Monday. He however thinks I am still running which I had to give up due to back problems and now I cycle and paddle for workouts and participate in events. I didn't have a chance to clarify with him and I was just wondering if anyone else out there had exercised with a UTI and what your experience with it was. Would it be best to wait until Monday? Will I delay healing if I work out today through Saturday? I realize no one is a doctor here but I am just curious as this is my first UTI and I keep reading different information on exercise during UTIs. Thanks.

Karen

[indysteel]

I've never had issues with exercising with a UTI. So long as the kidneys aren't yet involved, I'm not sure it's that big of a deal. Drink plenty of water for sure--but you should do that anyway.

But I emphasize that I'm not a doctor and have no idea how severe your UTI is. If you feel run down or urinating blood, it might be wise to wait a few days.

[soprano]

The last time I had a UTI, my pharmacist warned me the the antibiotic I was given made muscle tears more probable. He said to lay off on strenuous exercise for a while. By no means did he tell me to lay off altogether - just to take it easy. (He knew I was riding my bike home.)

In my opinion, it's good to listen to my body and let it tell me what it wants to do when I'm sick. If I'm feeling crappy and I want to lay on the couch, then I take a day off exercise and lay on the couch. But if I've got the energy, then I go ahead and work out.

I've been exercising regularly for so long that when I have to abruptly stop due to illness, I think that I feel worse from the lack of exercise and being cooped up inside than I do from the sickness itself.

[indysteel]

Yikes. What antibiotic was it, Soprano?

[maillotpois]

Ditto what the others have said - if you feel generally ok, then go ahead. Sometimes with UTIs I feel run down and a little nauseated, and other times I feel ok (except for the UTI pain itself.)

Last time I had a UTI I did a 200 mile ride right after starting the antibiotics. I took extra precautions because the antibiotic I was on said it would make me sun sensitive (and this was September in the Bay Area - hot and sunny.) I was practically white from sunscreen but made it through no problem - and no burns.

The antibiotic also said it might affect balance but I didn't really notice being any more unbalanced than usual.

[zoom-zoom]

I seem to recall that Cipro is one that can greatly increase risk of damage to the achilles tendon in runners. I think there are a few others that can increase risk of tendon/muscle injuries, as well. Probably not a bad idea to look at the contraindications for your specific med online.

[indysteel]

the antibiotic also said it might affect balance But i didn't really notice being any more unbalanced than usual.

lol!

[soprano]

Yikes. What antibiotic was it, Soprano?

Levaquin.

[Jolt]

All the fluoroquinolones can cause tendon problems...these meds include Cipro and Levaquin (the most common ones) as well as Avelox (sometimes used for respiratory infections) and a couple of others that have been taken off the market for various reasons. I wonder if that's why the OP's doctor recommended taking it easy for a few days as opposed to the UTI itself...as far as the UTI I think it would depend on how bad the infection is and how one is feeling--listening to your body is a pretty good guide any time you're sick.