Best way to prevent UTIs?

We have a retired RN here, Alva, who is away right now. She highly recommends a supplement called D-Manose. If I recall correctly, it keeps bacteria from sticking to the urethra.

My mom's gyn recommended a probiotic called re-pHresh that keeps the pH environment of the vagina correct.

Finally, installing a bidet attachment might be well worth the initial cost if mom will use it.

Hi Let me tell you if there ever was a Queen of UTI's i am she. For thirty years this has played havoc with my life. All the antibiotics gave me Cdiff and I wound up in intensive care 3 times. I have learned from all this trauma believe me! Here's what helps as mentioned by someone before. Prescription for Tamsulosin the one they gives men for prostate problems it helps empty the bladder. Also get her a bidet inexpensive and simple to install I got mine on Amazon. This will keep her lady parts clean and keep the E-coli from setting up housekeeping in her bladder. Finally she must see a GYN/URO and be competely clear of infection. Then after about 10 days ask her Doc to PLEASE put her on Methamine HIPP 10M tab. 1 in AM 1 in PM . Make sure she stays hydrated water flushes out the bad bacteria. I have been on this medication for a long time and it has given me back life! I am not a doctor but I wish with all my heart to help others who suffer from UTI's. P.S. I am going to be 95 in November. Live in my condo independently. Good luck and please follow up on all this you need to help her for a long term solution. Keep me posted. Jacklynn in P. P. Pembroke Pines Florida (not Pee Pee)

I forgot to add that you should make sure she voids completely. She should remain on the toilet for a few seconds longer till she gets the urge again. Then have her lean forward and push.

Cranberry juice does not really help because it has sugar in it. My Mom was on Cranberry tablets and a probiotic. She did not have another UTI for the last year of her life. (She had them more frequently when in the AL) Alva swears by D-Mannose. Says she has not had an UTI since using it. Read up on it.

If Mom does not drink water, she needs to. Do not get soap near the urethra. Dr. told me this when DD was having UTI problems. If Mom still wears underwear, it should be cotton. If she is wearing pullups she may be allergic to the brand. (I can't use any Kotex products) She needs to clean herself well. I like Huggie wipes, they are big and thick.

It's probably more about not emptying her bladder all the way than not cleaning well. The older you get the weaker the bladder and pelvic floor. Roll up a thick towel, put rubber bands around each end to keep it like a round pillow. You want it rather large. Tell her to pee and when she thinks she's done, push the pillow quite firmly in lower stomach and lean over....keep trying to lean further over while pushing in on the pillow. You want pressure low on the stomach in the bended area between stomach and lap. It should push more pee out of the bladder and help her empty it. Even a round ball - like size of a grapefruit ( large dog ball) would work pushing into the bladder. Or fists pressed into stomach and bladder. Try several things that fit in to that particular area and push on the bladder. Surprising how much more fluid is left.

My MIL is in LTC and was getting UTIs almost once a month. The staff was measuring her fluid intake and giving her cranberry juice and/or supplements, but still she was getting the infections.

Then, on AlvaDeer's advice from this forum, we had the staff start giving her d-mannose supplement (which we purchase on amazon.com and give to the staff to give to her daily). It has dramatically reduced the number of infections to almost 0 per year. The staff calls us when she is low on the pills.

I am not a fan of supplements for reasons I won't bore you with here. However, d-mannose is a simple sugar that doesn't interfere with other meds and can't be overdosed on. You basically pee it out (as we do most other supplements). From research I could find online there doesn't seem to be any danger in taking it, and some clinical evidence it does stave off UTIs. It clearly workes for my MIL.

Your Mom needs to be free and clear of an infection before giving it to her, only because if she still has an infection, the supplement will have no effect and will be wasted.

Please note - with all of cranberry juice advice, they should emphasize NO SUGAR. Drink pure cranberry juice which is kind of tart and dry. Cranberry juice cocktail is NOT what they are prescribing.

Cranberry juice is mostly white grape juice. It's better to do the tablets.

She might have a resistant strain of bacteria. Make them do a culture
and sensitivity. I worked as a hospital micro tech. I know. Docs try
to save money by skipping this. DO NOT SKIP THIS. This helps explain
recurring infections.
UTI's seem to plague some older women. There are physiological reasons
for this. Women get more UTI's than men because of our anatomy.
Drink, drink, drink. Keep it flushed.
Wipe front to back.
Sometimes obese people have trouble with hygiene. They can't clean themselves well.
Sex - this can push bacteria up the urethra
Urine retention. Can she completely empty her bladder?

Cranberry pills are what my husband is on for his UTI's and a maintenance antibiotic that is given to him everyday which is taken at night.

They say for kidney stones to drink lemonade or lemon water to keep your urine in the acid range. Also if you are drinking any kind of soda make it clear not colored.

Prayers