Years ago I was always getting uti's, I went to a urologist and he stretched my bladder. Have never had one since.

Thanks, I did have that done, that was not fun and it did not work

I take cranberry capsules twice daily, which helps.

Panties -- if you must wear them, roomy cotton ones are best. A sprinkle of BFI powder inside before putting them on was recommended to me years ago by my gyno, and that helps too.

I'm wondering if, in your time at home, you wore your PJs or other loose clothing, providing more air circulation.

For IBF causing constipation, daily regular Mucinex, taken with plenty of water, can thin intestinal tract mucus. If you have the IBF with diarrhea, that wouldn't help.

Oops -- I meant IBS, not IBF.

this may sound like a strange question, but do you happen to have any cats in your house. When I had this problem I also had this cat that had bladder problems, the doctor told me to get rid of him too.

Stress can not be the only thing causing the UTIs.

1. Do you have to hold your waters for any length of time at work? If yes this can be causing problems that lead to chronic UTIs.

2. Are you rushed when you do get to go and so not evacuate completely? Also known to cause UTIs.

3 Is the TP at work perfumed, lotion-ed, soft/fluffy unbleached, reused product? These tings have been know to cause UTIs. Try taking your own home brand for yourself to see if that helps. Commercial brand TP caused my daughters school days UTIs. She didn't get them in summer time and the only thing that changed was the TP. Took 3 years and $1,000.00s in Dr.s and antibiotics to figure that one out!

Wear white cotton crotch panties not thongs or microfiber materials in the crotch. Plenty of manufacturers make a pretty sexy panty with a cotton crotch.

I'm going to try the ACtivia challenge for the IBS I suffer with. Stress induced w/constipation Oh the pain and misery. My friend is in her second week of the challenge and says she feels much better. I started today.

Good luck Hope you find answers

CT

Lyndy, not sure how old you are or if you've had children. If you're young and have not started a family yet, this may be interesting to read.

In my early 20s, right after I got married, I had recurring bladder infections, nearly every single month. Sometimes called "honeymoon cystitis". In my mid 20s I had bladder surgery and urethra stretching every 6 months. Still experienced frequent bladder infections. Dr. said I would probably continue to experience them until I had children. Pregnancy and/or the act of childbirth tend to change the anatomy enough that bodily fluids do not contaminate the urethra>bladder>kidneys as easily. Sure enough, not a single UTI since I had my first child 24 years ago.

Jodi-

I don't know if this will help you or not, but I'll pass it along. Years ago, when I got cystitis often, I read a book about the condition written by a woman in England. The advice I remember--and which I've used many times since--is that when you feel an infection coming on, drink large quantities of water with baking soda added (about a half-tsp. per glass). The water flushes the bacteria out of your urinary tract, and the soda adds alkalinity, which not only creates a climate bacteria don't like, but greatly reduces the burning pain upon urination.

Re stress, many of us have stressful situations that occur on a regular basis and can't be avoided. The thing to do in those cases is to practice some stress management techniques (or just one good one) with some consistency. Easier said than done, I know.

This isn't 'medical' but it might help with stress management.

Learn to say, "No." A dear friend told me that she has learned to refuse just about every request right off the bat -- even if she later reconsiders and ends up saying, "Yes." I think this can be one of the uncounted 'Female Problems'; we tend to be too agreeable!

I suffered with the IBS as did my sister and GD.After trying all the things the dr's suggested and some he didn't,i tried to do it my own way and it worked.I had been told to take probiotics,and i did that for awhil and it worked,but to me it was another pill i had to remember to take.So instead i switched to just yogurt.I eat a carton of yoplait every morning for breakfast,and within a week or so the diarrhea stopped.I told my sister and GD and it works for them also.
The yogurt takes care of the bad bacteria in your system,and doesn't interfear with the good bacteria.No need to go the activa route either,yoplait will do and they also have it on sale quite often for 50 cents each and have a ton of flavors,so you can have a different flavor every day.Try it,i'm sure you'll be impressed to solve the problem without a dr or a pill.

As for the UTI'S i can't help,i've only had one and didn't even know i had that until the dr did the test before my knee sugery.

I also drink very close to a gallon of water a day.
Good Luck to ya.
Kathi

Activia is a new brand of yogurt with the natural probiotics. Since it has a money back guarantee if it doesn't work for you in 2 weeks, I find no reason to not try the Activia. $.50 a serving and it comes in 4 pks. I've been told yogurt works as a regulator and will try it in different brands if the Activia works many other yogurts may and some are less expensive. Just to find out if Yogurt works, I like the money back offer. My sister tried the Yoplait and the Activia neither worked for her. She has to eat 2 pills a day. Those cost a small fortune monthly and still she has discomfort and runs. I'm very glad you got relief Kathi. I hope yogurt works for me.

CT

I would also like to suggest cranberry tablets (pills)for the UTI's.
Do you take tub bath or shower? Tub baths are not good for those that get UTI's. Only use good old Dial soap in that area, no body wash's.

As for IBS, could it be food related? I was diagnosed with IBS and found out I was allergic to MSG (MonoSodium Glutamate).It is in almost everything, Cream soups, sauces, seasonings, most boxed pasta and rice (rice a roni) Marinates ect...
Once I started watching for it in my foods, my symptoms were gone.

Just my 2¢ worth.

Hope you can get them under control soon.

Judy

My daughter gets UTI's but she has reflux. I would assume since you're seeing a specialist, that's been ruled out. I hope it resolves for you.

I should add that I had IBS to the point where I didn't dare leave the house in the morning. I didn't want to take pills, so I did my own research. My symptoms disappeared when I gave up chocolate, popcorn, and...........yogurt. Yes, yogurt. It made no sense to me either, but the doctor explained that I must have an overgrowth of bacteria (which includes good bacteria) in my gut. He prescribed an antibiotic, but I haven't taken it. I miss the yogurt, but not the symptoms.

Wipe from front to back.
Urinate before and after sexual encounters.
Drink lots of water.
Quit drinking carbonated beverages....even the sugar free.
I used to work for a gynecologist and for a urologist long ago.