Home UTIs

[Lilac]

Has anyone had problems with recurring UTIs?

I just got back from the doctor and was told I have another UTI - the second in 2 months. I knew I had it (I think that''s the type of pain you can recognize what''s wrong right away) and it''s amazing just how quickly it can get so much worse. It just started hurting around midnight last night and throughout today it got so bad I can''t even sit down now! I got medicine so hopefully it''ll get better quickly, but I can''t take the medicine that doctors usually prescribe for it, so this one works much more slowly.

I have to assume it has to do with becoming sexually active because I never had this problem before I got married. The last time this happened was right after DH and I went on vacation (and those days we increased certain *activities*) and now I''m worried this will happen AGAIN on our honeymoon in 2 weeks and I won''t have a doctor to go to while we''re away! I don''t know what to do to prevent this again other than taking some cranberry pills every day. Anyone else have this problem?

 

[iheartscience]

I haven''t had any problems with UTIs, but a good friend of mine gets them pretty easily. Her doctor told her to make sure to pee every time after she has sex. She said it''s worked for her!

 

[Lilac]

Date: 7/28/2009 5:29:12 PM
Author: thing2of2
I haven''t had any problems with UTIs, but a good friend of mine gets them pretty easily. Her doctor told her to make sure to pee every time after she has sex. She said it''s worked for her!

I''ve been doing that before AND after sex since I got married and still got the 2 UTIs.

But thanks for the suggestion - I appreciate it!

 

[cakeny]

-the pee thing - both before and after sex if you can, but after is more important if you can only do one.
-wiping front to back
-cranberry juice
-in general, good hydration

My dr used to give me back up antibiotics. Maybe your dr can do the same before you leave for your HM?

ETA: Some people are just more prone to them due to shorter urethra or various other reasons having to do with your physiology. An old coworker of mine who used to get UTIs constantly ended up getting this surgical procedure done that lengthened her urethra. ouch.

 

[sap483]

I used to have awful problems with UTI's when I first started dating DH. It was definitely related to sexual activity. Here is what I do, and now I barely ever get them.

- I take one Cipro pill after sex (prescribed by my doctor)
- I clean up immediately, and pee

When I do get them now, I drink loads of water and cranberry juice, take cranberry pills, begin taking Cipro three times a day, and take Cystex which is an OTC medication that eases the pain, burning, and frequency without causing urine discoloration (like Uristat and Avo do).

I hope that helps

 

[ilovethiswebsite]

hmmm I know the pee thing is really important after sex but if you are still getting them regardless it may be something you are using that is irriating you... maybe try changing your BC (e.g. condoms) or any products you may be using (lubrification/spermacide)... Also, it might help if your man showers right before (I am not saying he is dirty but it's only natural for a man to have some naturally producing bacteria down there or even in his mouth (sorry I don't mean to be graphic) and showering right before using antibacterial soap may help and using mouthwash)... If you are still getting them frequently you may want to get some tests done to rule out anything physical such as cysts on the bladder or kidney stones etc... I had kidney stones a few years ago and got UTI one after another... Make sure when you get checked for UTI they do a culture test as well to figure out what kind of bacteria problem it is... That may also help determine the cause.

 

[ilovethiswebsite]

Date: 7/28/2009 5:44:20 PM
Author: Lilac

Date: 7/28/2009 5:29:12 PM
Author: thing2of2
I haven't had any problems with UTIs, but a good friend of mine gets them pretty easily. Her doctor told her to make sure to pee every time after she has sex. She said it's worked for her!

I've been doing that before AND after sex since I got married and still got the 2 UTIs.

But thanks for the suggestion - I appreciate it!

Oh and I just want to add that 2 UTI's is really not that abnormal... Many women I know get them every now and then, at least 1 a year... It may have also been the same UTI that was just not treated properly and came back...

Also.. it may be the water in the countries you are visiting and not your hubby.... Sometimes countries have different types of bacteria in their water compared to what we are used to at home so our bodies react and there is really nothing you can do about it... Maybe if you try peeing on vaca after you shower or bathe it might help?

 

[Lilac]

Date: 7/28/2009 6:27:10 PM
Author: sap483
I used to have awful problems with UTI''s when I first started dating DH. It was definitely related to sexual activity. Here is what I do, and now I barely ever get them.

- I take one Cipro pill after sex (prescribed by my doctor)

- I clean up immediately, and pee

When I do get them now, I drink loads of water and cranberry juice, take cranberry pills, begin taking Cipro three times a day, and take Cystex which is an OTC medication that eases the pain, burning, and frequency without causing urine discoloration (like Uristat and Avo do).

I hope that helps

Thanks for the advice - I WISH I could take Cipro because it works much quicker and it''s much stronger than the other UTI medications, but I can''t. I was given that medication last year for a kidney infection and it ended up causing C. diff infection - not sure if anyone has heard of it or has had it, but honestly, it''s the absolute worst pain I have ever been in my entire life and it sent me to the hospital in the end with various complications including such imbalanced electrolyte levels and potassium levels that my heart almost stopped. So I avoid Cipro. I''m usually prescribed Bactrim now for UTIs but it''s a 7 day, twice a day course of antibiotics so it takes much longer to work than Cipro.

I always pee before and after sex and I clean up pretty quickly afterwards too because I''m always afraid of getting a UTI now. I guess the only thing left for me to do is try the cranberry juice - maybe I''ll try speaking to my doctor next week also about taking some medicine with me on our honeymoon just in case, but I would hesitate to take something every time we have sex because I''m on birth control pills so I get nervous antibiotics might cause those to be less effective.

 

[tigian]

Hi Lilac,
Make sure your cranberry juice is without sugar as sugar can aggravate your bladder. You can usually find concentrated cranberry juice at health food stores and some regular grocery stores. I just mix it with club soda because it is pretty thick and tart. Also, you can order concentrated cranberry supplements that would help with UTI''s.
Good luck!

 

[SarahLovesJS]

This is kind of an off question (sorry if you''ve already said this or been over it with the doctor), but have you changed soaps or are you using bubble bath a lot? Those kinds of things def. can cause irritation, too.

 

[Lilac]

Date: 7/28/2009 11:41:55 PM
Author: SarahLovesJS
This is kind of an off question (sorry if you''ve already said this or been over it with the doctor), but have you changed soaps or are you using bubble bath a lot? Those kinds of things def. can cause irritation, too.

Interesting question. Haven''t changed soaps, but the first UTI happened right after DH and I went on vacation and I did take a bubble bath the night before I got the infection. I considered that it could be related to the bubble bath somehow, so I''ve been avoiding bubble baths (as much as I love them

) - but this time I really don''t know what caused it. I''ve been trying to be so careful about everything to avoid it happening, but somehow it happened again.

 

[Laila619]

Argh, they are so frustrating and painful! TMI but I used to get them all the time from, er, activity with my first boyfriend. With DH though I never ever get them. I used to think I was just very easily prone to getting UTIs but now I think it has something to do with the guy and individual body chemistry. They''re no fun that''s for sure.

 

[SarahLovesJS]

Date: 7/29/2009 12:33:33 AM
Author: Lilac

Date: 7/28/2009 11:41:55 PM

Author: SarahLovesJS

This is kind of an off question (sorry if you''ve already said this or been over it with the doctor), but have you changed soaps or are you using bubble bath a lot? Those kinds of things def. can cause irritation, too.

Interesting question. Haven''t changed soaps, but the first UTI happened right after DH and I went on vacation and I did take a bubble bath the night before I got the infection. I considered that it could be related to the bubble bath somehow, so I''ve been avoiding bubble baths (as much as I love them

) - but this time I really don''t know what caused it. I''ve been trying to be so careful about everything to avoid it happening, but somehow it happened again.

Hmm..if it keeps coming back probably not the bubble bath. They can definitely cause problems though so I am glad you thought about it/avoided them. I love them, too!! I try to only use Philosophy because I''ve never had any problems with it, but I had problems with the cheap grocery store ones when I was a kid. Sending you get healthy dust and hugs!!!

 

[museikchik]

Hi Lilac. I too started getting UTIs with DH once we were sexually active. I hate cranberry juice and don''t take any pills or anything. I was reading that you do pee before and after sex and clean up before and afterwards as well (that is exactly what I do). I also make my DH clean up before sex every single time and I haven''t have a UTI in about 4 years. I hope that helps.

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

One super easy thing you can do prevent UTIs from sex is have your DH wash his hands before getting busy. Actually, you should both wash your hands.

 

[Clairitek]

I used to get them often as well. I make sure to always keep some of the medication on hand that helps with the pain. I can''t remember what it is called but it turns your urine fluoroescent orange. It used to be prescription only but I think you can get it OTC now. I would get some before you go on your honeymoon so if something does happen at least you have a pain management method to help get you through to a doctor. Though, if you do get one on vacation, don''t wait until you get home to see a doctor. One time I left an infection too long and it started to make its way up into my kidneys. Not a good thing!

 

[Lilac]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions and advice!

We usually do try to shower/wash right before almost every time (but obviously that doesn''t happen EVERY time - that takes some of the spontaneity out of it!

) but from now on we''ll be even *more* careful with that. And I guess I''ll just continue doing what I''ve been doing for everything else and add some cranberry juice or cranberry pills into my daily routine.

Thanks again!

 

[Izzy03]

If you are worried about antibiotics interfering with your BC pills (although research has shown most classes of antibiotics do not affect BC) you could consider switching to the Nuva Ring, which we have talking about in other threads. The Nuva Ring is not affected by oral antibiotics.

So sorry you are suffering from this. Hope you can find a find a solution soon!

 

[QueenB29]

I didn''t get UTIs, but horrible, horrible yeast infections for like a year and a half after DH and I first became intimate (he''s my first). I think it''s pretty normal; your body is adjusting to a new type of activity.

Some other ideas: it could be related to the type of condom (my doctor said non-lub are much better), the type of lubricant you use (try not to use anything fancy--just plain KY jelly is good), or if you use any scented feminine products. Try doing your laundry with unscented detergent as well.

 

[jjdav]

Date: 7/29/2009 9:59:51 AM
Author: Clairitek
I used to get them often as well. I make sure to always keep some of the medication on hand that helps with the pain. I can''t remember what it is called but it turns your urine fluoroescent orange. It used to be prescription only but I think you can get it OTC now. I would get some before you go on your honeymoon so if something does happen at least you have a pain management method to help get you through to a doctor. Though, if you do get one on vacation, don''t wait until you get home to see a doctor. One time I left an infection too long and it started to make its way up into my kidneys. Not a good thing!

Sorry to hear you''re having a tough time with this Lilac, I concur with Clairitek, there''s usually a painkiller the doctor can prescribe or you can get over the counter. Usually, if you''re planning to travel, let your doctor know and ask for a prescription for the antibiotics. One of the doctors told me that flying may make it worse because it causes additional bacteria growth, especially you''re not wearing all-natural fibered clothing (e.g. underpants) because there''s less opportunity for ''breathing'', so consider abstaining just before you travel

if you think that''s what''s causing the UTIs. Also, people who are more prone to getting it should avoid taking baths with lots of products, or if you are going to take a bath, rinse off afterwards.

Have fun on your honeymoon!

 

[ZoLicious]

Hi! Delurking to chime in here . . .

Macrobid is another antibiotic that you can take after sex to prevent UTIs. Before I started taking it, I would get a UTI literally every time I had sex with DH! Arg.

Now I''ve been taking the Macrobid for about 5 years and I''ve only gotten a UTI when I waited too long to take it. I''ve also been on BC pills the whole time and no babies yet!

The cranberry juice and peeing before and after sex are also great tips - they worked for me when I was with ex-BFs. I''ve always been sensitive to UTIs but it''s way worse with DH and no amount of cran juice or peeing will help. My doctor says it''s an "anatomical misfortune."

 

[Stephanie]

Lilac, do you have animals in the house? Sometimes the dander can get in the sheets (or wherever

) and can cause a little reaction. Also, if these are happening at the same time in your cycle, they may be of sex during your period and the bacteria that can form from that. Sorry and hope that it gets better!