To clkurth:

My infections come from inside my bladder, a spastic bladder and highly sensitive to colas, alcohol, any carbonated drink, some juices, flavored coffee-the expensive kind- and who knows what else... I too take D-Mannose, both morning and night, the cranberry supplement capsule, (gummies may have the bad type sugar, unlike D-Mannose which is a safe sugar that lines the bladder). I also drink at least a half glass water before drinking or eating to soften the effect of any irritants in food and drink. I went from monthly UTIs to one a year.

A month ago, I developed a uti, which turned sepsis, and even the CDC got involved in finding an antibiotic which worked--the bacterium was rare. Could have died without even knowing I had a uti. This one snuck up on my with NO symptoms, till I was delirious and sepsis was there also.

They said I had overworked myself - three weeks of setting up grandson in school in Paris, a daily grind of shopping, building, and bookwork, not enough sleep or rest. Then when I came home, I dove into cleaning a rental of mine to list, and that pushed my immune system over the line.

You say your immune system is weak in your bladder, and I concur, mine also. But I imagine there are other areas where it is also weak, just hasn't shown up yet. I'd watch what you eat and drink, have water before doing either to dilute any sensivities, and see what might give you a twinge in the bladder when you take it. Any alcohol give me a little twinge within minutes, then goes away. But the irritation leaves you vulnerable to the e.Coli which is found in small amounts all over and in our bodies.

Good luck, be cautious, urinate a LOT.