My doc's tip to prevent urinary tract infections: Unscented soap

@merpreb Same here. No one listened until the symptoms were obvious that I was then diagnosed with bladder cancer. I finally did get help-after first being sent to infectious diseases. Still quite annoyed over that and now going to the primary doctor that sent me to infectious diseases. Sorry to say I have more than a chip on my shoulder. GRRRRRR...

@ansleigh HA! HA! Yikes!I made a big mistake by saying I haven't had a bath in 48 years. That is true. I take only showers!!!!!
Carol

@merpreb When I first had an HE episode they thought it was from a UTI. Apparently UTIs in older people can be a cause for confusion. My PCP was pretty skeptical about that though, he didn't think I was old enough for that to be the cause.

That being said, @parus I too have that chip on my shoulder since I had so many obvious symptoms of cirrhosis but they were not added up by any of the doctors up here until the neurologist said he thought it was a liver problem.
JK

I went quite a long time without any infections, stopped drinking so much cranberry juice and now I have recently had two infections in the last year. I have had a hysterectomy and wear a pessary which I clean every night. I read that diaphragms are bad for you which are a lot like a pessary but much more short term. My doctor seems to have no idea why this sudden uptick in infections. I have always been treated with antibiotics. I would appreciate advice.

Hello, @7continents and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. You’ve come to the right place to talk with people who have similar experiences with health and to get support from members who understand what you are going through. It sounds like you were able to eliminate UTIs for a while, and using cranberry juice might have helped. I would like to invite @contentandwell @lisalucier @misssassy into the conversation. You mentioned that you clean your pessary nightly, and I know they can be the cause of UTI’s (https://urologyaustin.com/female-urology/pessary/). Did your provider mention a relationship between the two?

I also wanted to let you know that Connect has a group called Kidney & Bladder. There are a few discussions you might want to check out. Here is the link: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/kidney-conditions/

Are you planning on going back on cranberry juice, or what did you and your provider decide?

Looking forward to reading more of your posts,
Kelly

@kellyhahn1 @7continents I'm sorry that I can be of no help. I have had three real UTIs in my life. One was just that, a UTI, cause unknown. The other two were from having Botox injections for urinary incontinence. All were cleared up by antibiotics so were not a big problem.
JK

Also found out that the chemicals in the sanitary wipes so many use, also cause UTIs. I found that out the hard way. I used one once and in a day or 2 had a UTI. I'd only had one UTI before that and it was caused by something else.

@ssmarilyn

Welcome to Mayo Connect. I never had UTI and then had to be treated with 3 rounds of antibodies this summer. Can not prove, but I think it is because I switched to Charmin Ultra SOFT. It can leave lint, despite what their commercial with bear says. I contacted company, and they said to make soft, it can have lint. Switched to different type of Charmin and have no problem since.

You know what... I looked at the toilet roll yesterday next to the toilet and wondered if that might be part of the issue so many women have. I belong to a UTI group on Facebook and some have numerous UTIs a year and many have nonstop UTIs. I just can't imagine going through that! I did tell them about not using the sanitary wipes.

@ssmarilyn

Bidets are wonderful and they dont have to be expensive