Chronic bladder infections?

I am a sufferer of chronic bladder infections/UTI's. I do what I can to prevent them: pee before/after sex, take showers instead of baths, urinate as soon as I get the urge, drink plenty of fluids. I even keep Uristat around so that when I feel the first symptoms I can ward off the pain. No matter what I do, though, I continue to get them. A doctor suggested to me that I see a urologist sometime. What could a urologist do to help? It's really QUITE frustrating to feel this pain so many times each month.

Speaking as a fellow sufferer, a trip to the urologist could help you a lot. A regular doctor can treat the disease, but the urologist can actually help determine why you have the problem in the first place. In my case they found a kidney defect that makes me more suseptible. The urologist has lots of experience in helping people with chronic infections as well, and loads of suggestions for things to do to help avoid them.
In my case, I drink cranberry juice and juice blends. I also use all cotton undies, and white toilet paper. You also need to avoid using tampons, as they create pressure on the bladder neck. Use plain soap, not the deoderant or antibacterial type, and wash there first, so you are using an absolutely clean washcloth. If you wear pantyhose, you need to slit the crotch so moisture isn't trapped inside against the body at all. You have to make sure the crotches of your pants are loose fitting in the area, not snug or tight. And when I said cotton panties, that means all cotton- not the nylon with a cotton patch sewn inside. Also, go breezy when you can. At home, you can wear sweats and nighties, and let air get through. Buy and use plain white toilet paper, without the perfume and no dye, the unbleached variety if you can find it. Get the baby wipes without perfume to wash yourself afterwards, and carry those with you when you aren't at home. At home, keep them in the bathroom to use each time.
It seems a lot of fuss and bother, but I can tell you from experience it is worth it. I used to get them all the time, and although I still get them, it's rare. I made these changes and now it's just second nature to me. It isn't anything major, really, and no big fuss to make them. But they did make a big difference. Make a visit to the urologist for a full exam, and get the advice from him/her. If like me, they discover an explaination, then they will be able to advise you better from there. Knowledge really does give you the tools to make things better.

Please, please go to a urologist! I had chronic UTI's or what I thought were UTI's. There could very possibly be more than chronic UTI's going on. Possibly something such as some Pelvic Floor Dysfunction or Interstitial cystitis is either causing your "UTI" syptoms or increasing your risk of infections.

If you aren't getting cultures of your urine (takes about 48 hours for results) than you may not actually have an infection each time.

If each on is an infection than you probably need some more ways to keep yourself from getting those infections such as a presciption for an antibiotic to take after sex, garlic, and cranberry juice.

Chronic UTI's can do dammage to the lining of your bladder making it easier for you to get more infections and leading to more problems.

If you are having symptoms more than just once a month than I suspect more is going on UTI's....
http://icandme.9.forumer.com/index.php?

Uristat does not keep you from getting infections but only treats the symptoms...which wouldn't have to be from a UTI.

Infections can also cause some pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) which can cause some retention (not emptying the bladder completely) which increases your risk of infections. There are a lot of self helps for that which may bring down your amount.
http://icandme.9.forumer.com/index.php?s... pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) learning to relax the muscles treatment options symptoms of PFD and more

As someone who has had chronic UTI's, PFD, and IC...please make sure you see a urologist. If the first one doesn't help you see another until someone does.
The help is that you can end up feeling a lot better.
I hope you feel better soon and can get things under control!!

Since you are doing all the right things to prevent the chronic infections and you're still getting them, there may be another reason. A urologist is an expert in figuring this out. you could have urethrovesical reflux, where the urine goes back up to the kidneys each time you urinate. you could have an abnormality with your urethra which empties your bladder. the only way to know is to consult a urologist. it will be the most efficient way for you and will make your life a lot easier once it is figured out.

Wow, sorry about the very long response! I am in the same boat as you. I have been getting them recurrently for about 7 years. I also did everything they told me. One of the major problems is that when you take antibiotics, they kill the good bacteria in your vagina that kill the bad bacteria which cause the infection. The e-coli travel from the anus to the vagina then into the urethra during sex. So after you take antibiotics you need to take probiotics, either orally or vaginally, especially lactobacilli.

I recently had another UTI for 3 weeks, I took three different antibiotics and they didn't work, I think because the bacteria have become resistant to them since I have taken so many.

A German friend of mine gave me this tea. It is amazing! It took the burning pain away after just the first 3 sips and it kept the pain away. I don't know if it will work alone or just in combination with antibiotics, I was still on the antibiotics while taking it.

I doubt you will be able to get the same tea in the US because it is German but here are the ingredients:

2 grams per tea bag:

.7g Uva Ursi
.4g phaseoli pericarpium (kidney bean extract i think)
.4g horsetail herb
.3g birch leaf

also for taste, .1g licorice and .1g mint

let it steep for 15 minutes covered and drink.

You can probably find these herbs at a natural food store. Or maybe they have a similar tea.

One drawback is that you are not supposed to take uva ursi or horsetail more than 5 days and not more than a few times a year. Take no more than 2-4 grams per day. Horsetail may depleat the body of Vitamin B Thiamine and Potassium, so take these suppliments as well.

When you take the tea you want to keep your urine basic, not acidic so avoid: caffine, chocolate, spicy foods, citrus, tomatos, alcohol, sugar, white rice, white bread, fats, salt.

Eat: nuts, prunes, rasins, whole grains, green veggies, potatos.

I also read that UTI-Clear and D-Mannose work good too, but I haven't tried them yet. Also, having sex more than once a week has been shown to increase UTIs, using birth control orally and internally and spermacides, and friction on the urethra during sex can all increase UTIs. I highly recommend you read the second link, the whole thing to inform yourself.

I do agree with the other commenters, if you are getting them that often, you should go to a urologist, I have read there may be anatomical problems. However, if you are told you need surgery (not to scare you, probably not the case), maybe try to go to a homeopath to see if alternatives may work first.

I read that after the cold and flu, UTI's are the third most common doctor visit among women, so you are not alone.

Good luck!