For quite some time I’ve been plagued with recurring bladder infections —sometimes as many as 3 a year. And for years I have spoken to physicians as to how to prevent them with nothing helping. Today I’m writing about how I’ve been able to retard them for the last year and a half due to my research, talking to numerous women, and conducting experiments on myself. Many of you have these recurring infections and have tried your doctor’s recommendations and remain frustrated, too. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), urinary tract infections (UTIs) account for more than 11 million physician visits annually in the U. S.
According to Dr. Erik P. Castle at the Mayo Clinic, “various studies have found that between 27 and 50 percent of otherwise healthy women experience at least one recurrent bladder infection (cystitis) within a year of the first infection.” The risk of UTIs is highest with women after menopause. Causes can range from kidney or bladder stones to genetic predisposition and more. I believe mine are due to the latter due to family history.
On one occasion I could feel an infection beginning so I called my nurse practitioner and was told to drop off a urine specimen. That afternoon she called to say the lab results were negative, but I knew something was wrong. Of course by the weekend I had to go to an emergency care clinic. Indeed I had an infection. The best thing about this experience is I came home and did exhaustive research to determine some solutions. Sometimes bad things which happen do turn into good!
Alternative methods which work for me include the following:
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Daily oral probiotic with 13 billion micro-organisms in the pill. One in the morning; one in the evening
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My probiotic pills are refrigerated as these organisms are live bacteria. (I’ve seen conflicting reports as to whether this is necessary though.)
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You may have to try different brands of probiotics to see which works best for you.
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Only buy products at quality health food stores.
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When I suspect an oncoming UTI, I use pH strips to test my urine. Generally my pH is compromised and is too acidic. A list of alkalizing foods can be found on the internet.
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Wash all laundry in unscented detergents.
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I use unscented bars of soap from health store
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No fabric softeners used.
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Drink lots of water. 8-10 glasses/day.
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I shower only, and never take a bubble bath.
There are several things which aggravate my system and they are liquor (especially wine), too much caffeine (especially when I’ve not had enough water), and severe stress. I have also heard that acupuncture is a viable option; however, I’ve not tried it. If you’ve had success with this or any other technique, I’d love to hear about it.
While cystitis is generally resolved with antibiotics, if left untreated, a patient can develop a kidney infection which can lead to permanent kidney damage. Always follow your physician’s advice and ask her to recommend preventative methods.