[bisousx]

I have gotten these quite often, I would say 5 in the past year.

My doctors' advice just isn't cutting it-- I keep hearing the same things over and over again, ie, "Pee after sex", "keep that area clean", "don't hold your urine", etc.

I've followed their advice strictly but nothing is helping! It's so painful.. does anyone have anything else to offer? Is it possible that the antibiotics just aren't working and it's the same infection coming back?

[bellapsyd]

ugh- me too hunni. I get them ALL the time. Have you ever been put on cipro when you have them? Also- watch wearing super tight jeans- they can cause these, especially if you wear thongs/g-strings. Try to wear cotton crotch underwear and watch the string (V, g, thong)- they may bring bacteria up from your butt into your V.

[abbygirl]

I use to get these in my 20s and 30s. I went to many doctors who all said the same thing. Just pissed me off cause I followed their directions to the max and it still didn't help.

What you need to do is go to a specialist who will put you on medication that works, but you will probably have to take it daily for a few months.

I would start a med and finish it in 10 days, and the following day, I would have it back. They were so bad, I couldn't sit up and I would just cry.

They finally went away - I have no reason why. But it took years.

I feel so bad for you. I know the pain.

See a specialist soon.

[leothelnss]

I usually take a few of these pills that I get at my local grocery store and drink a lot of water. They're in the feminine care aisle, I forget what they're called. When I get home I'll edit and post the name of them... They work fabulously.
You take three a day for 2-3 days and not only do they relieve the pain almost instantly but when you get rid of the UTI it doesn't come back immediately. (Yes I've had some more since I took the pills, but they pretty much stop the pain and end your current UTI, if you get another one, you'd repeat the process.)
I've never gone to the doctor about them because from research I've done, what you ladies were told is pretty much what I would expect to be told, so, no use. All they can do is prescribe antibiotics or something anyway, and these pills work just as well I think!
Come to think of it, I haven't had a one in almost a year now. Hmmm

[bellapsyd]

^ are you talking about the little brown pills that look like M&M's? Those are called Uristat. They used to be Rx only but were recently (few years ago) made OTC. AMAZING- but they only relieve sx, you will still need to see your GP for something to get rid of the infection

[girliceclimber]

Go to your doctor and ask them to prescribe you antibiotics to take after each time you have sex. I used to get a lot of UTIs also and this was a possibility that my gyn suggested. And drink lots of cranberry juice, that seems to help (but only in preventing, not curing).
Good luck! UTIs suck so much.

[maddog]

Sorry you're getting them so much. You should try to see a specialist. I had them before but they've stopped the last few years. I found peeing both before and after sex helped a bit, but the main culprit was spermicide on the condom for me.

Cranberry juice is supposed to help, but make sure it's juice, not the cocktail.

[urologist]

You need to see a urologist to be sure there is not something structurally or functionally wrong with your urinary tract that predisposes you to UTIs. If not, then you may just need to take antibiotics after intercourse or when you get an infection.

[cristalena56]

my sister gets these once and awhile and she drinks a lot of 100% cranberry juice to help?

[nviedprincess]

I used to get them every time I had sex. Lots of cranberry juice and a uristat before sex did the trick for me.

[leothelnss]

The pills I took were by Azo. They're fantastic.
http://www.azoproducts.com/products

And they have a free sample page so you can try it out!
http://www.azoproducts.com/about/azo_sample

[guccimamma]

yes, stock up on the Uristat...if you ever feel that "tingle" that one might be coming on...it can flush it out of your system. i still have the antibiotics, but if i take the urisat in the very beginning....i can knock it out of my system very quickly.

i take those on every vacation with me, you never know when one might hit you...and it is the most uncomfortable & consuming pain...you want to tear your hair out

my doctor says i am "predisposed" to them...so is my mom. you can practice all the good hygeine in the world, but having medicine onhand is necessary in my case.

[bellapsyd]

^ I bring stuff on vacay too- it's always in my bag. I have an ongoing Rx for antibiotics too!

I'm predisposed as well- had them since I was a baby. A specialist told me I have a shortened urethra

[abbygirl]

Originally Posted by guccimamma

yes, stock up on the Uristat...if you ever feel that "tingle" that one might be coming on...it can flush it out of your system. i still have the antibiotics, but if i take the urisat in the very beginning....i can knock it out of my system very quickly.

i take those on every vacation with me, you never know when one might hit you...and it is the most uncomfortable & consuming pain...you want to tear your hair out

my doctor says i am "predisposed" to them...so is my mom. you can practice all the good hygeine in the world, but having medicine onhand is necessary in my case.

Hair was the last thing I wanted to pull out.....

If I could have stuck my whole hand up there to pull all of my female organs out I would have. Tremendous pain.

[SPOILEDkiwi]

Ugh I've had a couple of these too. I bought those AZO pills that make your pee turn a strange color and they help with the pain until I can go see a doctor. I know someone who makes her husband wash himself before they have sex because she's prone to uti's and I think it helps.