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Had to take Mother to ER after suspecting another UTI (she just got over the first one in Feb/March). Thought we were doing things right, even giving her pure cranberry juice, etc. but here we are. Likely won't get in to see her PCP for a couple of weeks. ER gave an antibiotic script. She's generally fine attending to herself in the bathroom but that may need to change. Are there any remedies/habits any of you rely on to help avoid reinfection? She's the type to get delirium so really want to avoid future issues. Thanks in advance.

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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.
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cwillie Aug 2023
You covered every single thing I came here to say!
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Also, rather than follow up with PCP, consider having her see a urologist or gyno-urologist.
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NancyNJ Aug 2023
That's a good point. Thanks!
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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.
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NancyNJ Aug 2023
Thank you!
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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.
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Keep hydrated--flushed the bad stuff out. Plain water, lemon water....
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Some medications can cause UTIs also so it may not just be about hygiene. I second daily dmannose for UTI prevention and a good probiotic too.
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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.
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Cranberry juice is mostly white grape juice. It's better to do the tablets.
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Davenport Aug 2023
Pure cranberry concentrate will usually knock out my frequent UTIs (I have to hold my nose and chug, but it's worth it). Last time I had one, the doc subbing for my primary care was working on a UTI vaccine! Too many antibiotics over a lifetime (that would be me). He asked if I wanted to be in a blind study, and I said 'hell, YES!'. He said he couldn't get many people to participate because they are anti-vaxers : (
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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.
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Like my2cents mentioned in a reply, I was recently given Flomax (Tamsulosin) in order to pass a kidney stone. And it seemed to work. It's for men with prostate problems because it relaxes the muscles in the bladder so one can void more completely. I'm not saying it would be prescribed for elders with chronic UTIs but wondering why not?
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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?
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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
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Good Morning,

Every morning I give Mom a shot glass of cranberry juice. Also, plenty of fluids--tap water and white cotton underwear.

Oftentimes, sitting for long periods of time can cause this. My mother has Lewy Body Dementia and "used" to get these. Now with the morning shot of cranberry juice, no longer.
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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)
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Women who suffer from type 2 diabetes are usually prone to UTI. Your mother needs to see a gynecologist who would diagnose and treat her for this problem. Note that too much antibiotics could become resistant to the condition.

Plain Greek yogurt with live cultures will help her UTI. Your mother needs to stay away from eating sweets or foods that contain sugar. Continue using the cranberry juice, but try to avoid the high sugar content in it. Your mother also needs to flush her system out by drinking pure water.
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My mother (96) has not had a UTI and I believe that it's because I push hydration. Water water water every day. She will typically drink around 35-40 ounces of water during the day when I have her in the kitchen sitting in her chair.

That's not nearly enough for someone who is active, but for her, it's plenty to keep the urine flowing.
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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.
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#1: do not let her take Cipro; it is too often given for basic UTIs but the side effects can be toxic, crippling for some and they never know who it will happen to, and the effects can be cumulative until a catastrophic crippling; please read up on it, People! #2: there is a supplement, D-Mannose, that flushes the urinary system so that bacteria cannot take hold. UTIs can be very persistent. Cranberry Juice must be the unsweetened type, and generally should be used before a UTI get started, just to support the urinary system if a person seems prone to them.
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The only thing I can add to what everyone else has said is, I drink alkaline water and take cranberry pills. I feel it has helped me.
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NancyNJ: For U.T.I. prevention, take a cranberry tab daily, drink pure cranberry juice (that you were already were aware of), change feminine pad often and when wet, take zero bubble baths (without ANY bubble bath products) and use plain white Dial soap. Only start this regimen after the infection is cleared as it will do no good with an active infection.
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My mom’s utis were endless until she went on a daily preventative dose of antibiotic—50 mg generic macrobid. Her urologist was useless but her primary prescribed this and it worked. She did have a uti last week while on it—first 1 in 2 years (other than rhe several back to back when she was off it and we did not know; refill issue at care dacility where she lives).
Also—hers come at least in part from an inability to fully empty her bladder. I have her bend over while sitting on the toilet to touch her ankles after she thinks she has emptied. This pushes the urina out. (Best case she does this twice. ) Almost always a good amount comes out that would have been sitting in there.

Best wishes. This is a chronic serious issue which does not always get the attention it deserves. It did not get it from my mom’s longterm urologist who refused to prescribe a preventative lodose antibiotic and suggested one option was we just don’t treat it. Really? 96 with diabetes and 1 kidney? (I get angry all over again just thinking about it.)
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She probably is having hygiene issues. Hygiene for women's biology includes: wiping from front towards back only, cleaning after every trip to the toilet or sexual activity, and cleaning her private parts with mild soap and water at least daily. If she has incontinence issues, make sure she changes her pads or briefs after every instance of incontinence (cleaning herself as well).

She may also be having problems with dehydration - very common in seniors. Unless told by a doctor to limit fluid intake, every person should take in about 2 liters of non-caffeinated fluids every day. Help her to create a plan to make sure she drinks enough throughout her day. Thirst is not a good enough indicator of need for fluids. If she drinks enough, she will usually need to urinate about every 3 hours while awake.
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