Do you know a secret to..

kkchisholm

preventing UTI's? I get them constantly (8 in this past year and  I was even on antibiotics for 3 months). I've seen a urologist.. had an ultrasounds.. and not reason why it happens. My insurance sucks and doesn't cover most of these office visits so I cant keep going and getting antibiotics.Sooo do you know any secrets to preventing uti's other than lots of water, cranberry juice, and peeing after sex..

shannonalise

Front to back.. if you know what I mean.

sucrets4

I'm sorry, I'm prone to them too.  That sucks that your doctors don't have any answers.I pee before and after sex, drink lots of water after, and take 2 cystex.  They're otc, but work better than the stuff that turns your pee orange.For awhile I was also taking cranberry supplements - much easier than drinking tons of juice.

J&K10910

Some people just get chronic UTIs.  It happens.  After having so many, you shouldn't even need an office visit anymore.  You should be able to call and say "yo doc, it hurts to pee again"  and they should be able to just fax a script to your pharmacy.

kkchisholm

2 cystex. They're otc, but work better than the stuff that turns your pee orangeWhat is this exactly? Does it just relieve pain or really prevent?

shannonalise

That's awful. I have had one before and I cannot imagine having them that frequently. They're miserable! Good luck!

kate51485

I have *heard* so no idea as to the validity of this, that sometimes you can just be kinda...allergic...to a guy's bodily fluids.

shannonalise

"I have *heard* so no idea as to the validity of this, that sometimes you can just be kinda...allergic...to a guy's bodily fluids." This is a good point. Can you correlate the UTIs with only your FI? Or have you always had them?

sucrets4

It's a brand of pee pills.  I used to only be able to find them at Walgreens, but have seen them at Walmart recently.  They're usually by the other pee stuff.I think they have bacteria killing properties, lol, but I'm not sure.  I do know that if I follow that routine, I don't get them.One time we had sex in the shower (tmi, sorry), and I forgot to take them and was miserable.

kkchisholm

I have *heard* so no idea as to the validity of this, that sometimes you can just be kinda...allergic...to a guy's bodily fluids.haha funny thing I started noticing these when we stopped using condoms. go figure. the guy i'm marrying gives me utis? hope not!

kkchisholm

I did have them before FI, but more like twice a year.

sucrets4

I think that makes sense that it started when you stopped with the condoms.  I've very sensitive to moisture, and having extra goo down there doesn't help.kk, I would also take daily cranberry supplements.  It can't hurt, and I think daily use might help things out.

J&K10910

I really hate the word goo.Do they really make you go in every single time, kk?

kkchisholm

My urologist, yes.My doctor has given me a script a few times but I know she doesn't like to because she referred me the urologist and I think theres a liability malpractice peice or something since she already said its beyond her abilities. something like that. she explained it to me once. Maybe I need a new urologist?Kidney problems run in my family (at a young age) so that was a big concern with her just doing a quick fix.

sucrets4

Sorry, J&K.  It's a fave of DH's and I picked up on it.

lpstl

Do you have an IUD? I've heard of women having trouble with chronic UTIs after they get one.

ootmother2

1) as soon as reasonable after having sex, get up ad go uriate.2) keep water aroud all the time becuase the more you drink, he more you pee, flushig out the bad guys 3) on top of the extra water, drink cranberry juice, lots4) take Uristat, OTC phenazopyridine3If you keep o top ot the mild UTIs,you will proabably be able to avoid the doctor pretty much.HOWEVER, real pain that lasts indicates something more than a littl UTI is gonig on there.  Calll your doctor at this point.

J&K10910

Oh, I guess that makes sense.  I have a friend with chronic UTIs and she just calls her doctor's nurse and lets her know and they fax a script.  Maybe her doctor just sucks! 

kkchisholm

Oh and sometimes, I will have the feeling of the very beginning stages of a UTI, but no bacteria will show up on the strip, and then the feeling will go away. Sometimes for days.

aMrsin09

lp, seriously?  I never had a problem with them until recently.  This is TMI but since H and I are apart for so long, I get a UTI every single time we see each other again.  This never happened until after I got the IUD.  Crap now I have to check with the doctor.

sucrets4

Yes, I hate that twinge.  It's the worst.  I hate that I have to run to the bathroom after sex, but if I don't, I'm miserable.  It's not worth it.

lpstl

You can by UTI home test kits at walgreens, that could save you some visits.

shanwalk2

I take AZO over the counter for pain.  If I stay constant with the drinking water and AZO I can generally get them to go away in a day or two.  I also can just call my gyno for a prescription because I get them too often.**knock on wood** it's several months since I've had one at this point -- probably the longest I've gone in 3 years without one...  And I'm not doing anything differently (I think).

sucrets4

shan - the AZO turns your pee orange, right?  I hate that stuff...it works, but sometimes it stains the bowl.  Embarrassing.

kkchisholm

Yes, I hate that twinge. It's the worst. Was this to me? I am a little confused.

lpstl

aMrs, I believe it's not incredibly common, but studies suggest that women with IUDs are at higher risk for UTIs. I figure if they started happening after you got the IUD it's worth looking into.[url]http://www.urologyjournal.org/index.php/uj/article/view/240/237[/url]

sucrets4

Yeah, kk, when you feel the uti starting.  I call it a twinge. 

airidh80

You might want to talk to your urologist about interstitial cystitis, if you haven't already. It's symptoms are nearly identical to a UTI, and in fact, many people with IC throw off "false positives" on the quickie urine tests, even though there is no actual infection. A lab culture is the only way to properly diagnose a UTI in someone with IC.

kkchisholm

Sucrets, does the twinge just go away after a few days? Mine comes in goes. Its here now. and was 2 nights ago, but fine yesterday. ugggh.

kkchisholm

Oh and up in Maine we are just beginning to get walgreens. these at home Uti's are at rite aid and cvs too?

sucrets4

Hmm.  As soon as I feel it, I start drinking tons of water and taking more Cystex, so I'm not really sure.  But I know that if I don't take care of it, it will be awful.  TMI, but I first feel it at the beginning and ending when I pee.There are times when I haven't treated it as aggressively and wound up at the doctor.  I would think that it was getting better, but then it came back with a vengeance.