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[psypostdoc]

Chiming in late, but I'll add magnesium supplements to the list. A form of cystitis (name escapes me at the moment) is characterized by frequency & urgency, but upon culture, there are no bacteria present in the urine. I've had this issue for years, but as long as I take magnesium 1-2x/day and follow all the other precautions mentioned by other posters, I'm in the clear.

Be sure to check your labels if you already take supplements, but most daily multivitamins don't have enough magnesium. It's often combined with calcium and vitamins D & K in supplemental tablets sold at places like Target, Walmart, etc. I recommend caution with these in order to avoid getting too much D and/or K if you're already taking a daily multivitamin. It's a little more expensive, but GNC offers a combination calcium-magnesium gelcap without D and K ($15 for a 90-day supply, if my memory serves).

[oldfullprof]

(TMI) No 45 minutes to an hour?  (Say it isn't so.)  Seriously, a girlfriend in a former life said that long bouts of cunnilingus tended to give her UTIs, but intercourse did not.  I guess it pushed organisms into the (shorter in women) uretha.  So that's another potential culprit. (/TMI)

It strikes me that a mild topical (on site) a priori disinfecting with an antibacterial soap to the vulva and penis (as well as using mouthwash, if desired) might be just the thing, rather than the more radical step of going to antibiotics.  I have read that countries where prostitution is legal require a prophylactic pre-wash before anything happens. 

[treehugger1]

Lots and lots and lots of water, all the time. 

I just found out there's a problem with the "lots and lots of water" approach. One could get hyponatremia (water intoxication). Happened to me just yesterday when I was trying to fight yet another UTI. I had glass after glass of water, then started feeling woozy, had muscle pain, nausea, confusion. I went off to the ER where, while waiting, I started having tremors, palpitations, problems breathing, faintness. Freakin' scary.

For all you medically knowledgable types out there, my sodium count 122 and my normally low BP had spiked up to 155/80.

So ... plain old water can be dangerous!

[polly_mer]

Lots and lots and lots of water, all the time. 

I just found out there's a problem with the "lots and lots of water" approach. One could get hyponatremia (water intoxication). Happened to me just yesterday when I was trying to fight yet another UTI. I had glass after glass of water, then started feeling woozy, had muscle pain, nausea, confusion. I went off to the ER where, while waiting, I started having tremors, palpitations, problems breathing, faintness. Freakin' scary.

For all you medically knowledgable types out there, my sodium count 122 and my normally low BP had spiked up to 155/80.

So ... plain old water can be dangerous!

Um, yes.  Have you never experienced that before?  That's actually one of the dangers of Esctasy (the illegal drug).  Club goers drink too much water and die from water intoxication.  I had a minor problem with it one night as designated driver who was playing the drinking game with water.  In the morning, I was the only one with a headache because no one had felt bad about giving me, Miss Waterdrinker, the penalty drinks while people did lay off some of the other players after a string of drinks.

[treehugger1]

Lots and lots and lots of water, all the time. 

I just found out there's a problem with the "lots and lots of water" approach. One could get hyponatremia (water intoxication). Happened to me just yesterday when I was trying to fight yet another UTI. I had glass after glass of water, then started feeling woozy, had muscle pain, nausea, confusion. I went off to the ER where, while waiting, I started having tremors, palpitations, problems breathing, faintness. Freakin' scary.

For all you medically knowledgable types out there, my sodium count 122 and my normally low BP had spiked up to 155/80.

So ... plain old water can be dangerous!

Um, yes.  Have you never experienced that before? 

Actually, I knew about water intoxication. It's one of the reasons I was able to diagnosed myself, get myself to the ER, not to mention refuse the IV-fluids the well-intentioned nurses tried to foist on me.

It's just that I had always associated water intoxication with hazing and X-treme drinking -- chugging 2 gallons of water all at once, or some such thing. I "merely" drank about 2.5 12oz glasses/hour for 4 to 5 hours. At the same time, I skipped both lunch and dinner b.c. I was nauseous (At first, I associated the nausea with the UTI and not the water consumption). So, just 2.5 to 3 tall glasses of water an hour through the late morning and afternoon while foregoing lunch and dinner was enough to almost kill me! (I felt as if I were losing consciousness in the hospital and have read that a sodium level of 115 is enough to send one into a coma.) Of that, I had no idea.

I had a minor problem with it one night as designated driver who was playing the drinking game with water.  In the morning, I was the only one with a headache because no one had felt bad about giving me, Miss Waterdrinker, the penalty drinks while people did lay off some of the other players after a string of drinks.

Oh, the irony!

[polly_mer]

Lots and lots and lots of water, all the time. 

I just found out there's a problem with the "lots and lots of water" approach. One could get hyponatremia (water intoxication). Happened to me just yesterday when I was trying to fight yet another UTI. I had glass after glass of water, then started feeling woozy, had muscle pain, nausea, confusion. I went off to the ER where, while waiting, I started having tremors, palpitations, problems breathing, faintness. Freakin' scary.

For all you medically knowledgable types out there, my sodium count 122 and my normally low BP had spiked up to 155/80.

So ... plain old water can be dangerous!

Um, yes.  Have you never experienced that before? 

Actually, I knew about water intoxication. It's one of the reasons I was able to diagnosed myself, get myself to the ER, not to mention refuse the IV-fluids the well-intentioned nurses tried to foist on me.

It's just that I had always associated water intoxication with hazing and X-treme drinking -- chugging 2 gallons of water all at once, or some such thing. I "merely" drank about 2.5 12oz glasses/hour for 4 to 5 hours. At the same time, I skipped both lunch and dinner b.c. I was nauseous (At first, I associated the nausea with the UTI and not the water consumption). So, just 2.5 to 3 tall glasses of water an hour through the late morning and afternoon while foregoing lunch and dinner was enough to almost kill me! (I felt as if I were losing consciousness in the hospital and have read that a sodium level of 115 is enough to send one into a coma.) Of that, I had no idea.

Well, start doing the math.  2.5*12 oz=30 oz an hour for your slow hours.  A gallon is 64 oz.  Unless you are sweating profusely, that water needs time to process and will stay in your system.  You were doing extreme water drinking and were lucky enough not to die from it.

[treehugger1]

You were doing extreme water drinking and were lucky enough not to die from it.

Yes, I know! I'm still incredulous (and lucky).

The point I was trying to make is this: one would think that X-treme drinking would be painful and difficult  --  something that one would be forced into through hazing or some kind of punishment -- not something that one could do to oneself  more or less accidentally. That is what I found so surprising. For most of the day, I wasn't feeling great, but I wasn't in pain, or vomiting, or having any major problems. I just felt nauseous and somewhat out of it (which, again, I attributed to the illness, not the drinking). But then, everything started unraveling very quickly. Really, it was a strange experience.

And, I suppose I wanted to post this as a warning to others. I knew about water intoxication (sorta, at least); I tend to be careful about my health and yet, this still happened.

[macaroon]

I'm glad you're okay!

The point I was trying to make is this: one would think that X-treme drinking would be painful and difficult  --  something that one would be forced into through hazing or some kind of punishment -- not something that one could do to oneself  more or less accidentally. That is what I found so surprising.

I know!  You'd think that it would be difficult, but it's not.  And the worst is you could totally convince yourself that your symptoms are dehydration, and then drink more. 

[wildwest]

treehugger1,

I've struggled with this same issue, and I eventually went to see a naturopath because the regular doctor could only offer continuous rounds of antibiotics (followed by rounds of yeast infection creams).  A few things to consider:
1.  cranberry juice can actually be irritating to the bladder for some people.  I use blueberry juice (pure, unsweetened, Kundsen's brand) instead.  I drink a glass after sex, followed by a glass of water.
2.  Check out a product called D-Mannose.  It's supposed to be as effective as antibiotics in sweeping out the bacteria.  If you feel an infection coming on, you take 1 teaspoon in water every few hours.  For on-going maintenence, some people will take a teaspoon in water about 30 minutes before sex.  There are different types of the product--you want the most pure form.  You can do research online.
3.  I'm sure you've heard of interstitial cystitis.  Check it out online.  If you think this is you, diet is key-avoiding irritating foods.  By the way, tomatoes irritate the bladder (as well as some forms of caffeine).  You might want to limit tomato products.
4.  Bacteria feeds on sugar.  You decrease your risk of infection by eliminating sugars from your diet (even "fake" "sugar-free" sugars).  Fruit like apples and pears are okay.  You'd be suprised how much sugar is in your average packaged foods.
5.  Think about adding a strong pro-biotic to your daily regimine.  You might need something stronger than just yoghurt.
6.  There are some herbs that help to heal that part of the body after numerous infections.  Marshmallow root is one of them.  Again, a naturopath can help.
7.  Okay, so this is TMI, but--missionary position sex causes a UTI every time for me.  I basically stick to woman-on-top, or other such options . . .
8.  For stubborn yeast infections due to antibiotic use, boric acid capsules work well--you can get them from a naturopath or alternative pharmacy.  (Just don't take them orally!  They are highly toxic--they go up the "other end.")  :-)

Good luck.  It's a frustrating problem to have, and I'm learning that many woman have the same issue but no one ever discusses it.

[treehugger1]

I've struggled with this same issue, and I eventually went to see a naturopath because the regular doctor could only offer continuous rounds of antibiotics (followed by rounds of yeast infection creams).

Yeah. Something I'd want to avoid too!

2.  Check out a product called D-Mannose.  It's supposed to be as effective as antibiotics in sweeping out the bacteria.  If you feel an infection coming on, you take 1 teaspoon in water every few hours.  For on-going maintenence, some people will take a teaspoon in water about 30 minutes before sex.  There are different types of the product--you want the most pure form.  You can do research online.

I just bought this product today. (I bet I was at Whole Foods when you were posting this.) I've taken one dose and seem to notice some improvement already.

Thanks for the other suggestions as well.

3.  I'm sure you've heard of interstitial cystitis.  Check it out online.  If you think this is you, diet is key-avoiding irritating foods.  By the way, tomatoes irritate the bladder (as well as some forms of caffeine).  You might want to limit tomato products.

Oooh. I have been swilling tomato juice (in addition to cranberry) recently. Bad idea, it seems.

Thanks for the all the other suggestions!