Uti problems

Urine infections are the bane of our lives. None of us are free of this horrible affliction. You could try taking 1500 milligrams of vitamin C to keep the bladder acidic, which helps combat bacteria, and drink cranberry juice. Cranberry juice is supposed to help urinary tract infections by preventing the bugs from clinging to the bladder wall. Has your GP sent a sample of your urine to a laboratory for analysis? You may be taking the wrong antibiotic. If it keeps re-occurring a few days after finishing with ciprofloxacin, that may well be the case. I suspect your urine infection is sensitive to a number of antibiotics, at least three others, unless you have some kind of superbug (don't want to worry you but it's possible and that's why your urine should be tested). Culturing urine for bacteria is standard laboratory practice and your GP should always send a sample off before indiscriminately prescribing antibiotics. When your doctor gets the results, you should ask him for a print out of the laboratory report. You will see the name of the bug responsible for the infection a list of antibiotics that the bug is sensitive to. Switch these antibiotics around from time to time, so that the bug has difficulty becoming immune to any particular one. This may already have happened with Cipro, since you're always taking it and it no longer works (remember it might be the wrong antibiotic for your infection). You should point this out to your doctor as well. It comes to something when patients have to tell their doctors how to behave but I'm afraid that's how it is with spinal injury.  If your GP refuses to give you a print out, then ask him what bug you have and what antibiotics it is sensitive to. You may not always get the same bug. It is most likely to be e-coli but there are two or three common bladder bugs. Hopefully you will have one of them and not something cultured in a hospital environment, which will be harder to treat and may need intravenous antibiotics to kill off completely.

You have to drink drink drink. I have a suprapubic indwelling connected to a leg bag via a flip flow valve. I drink 12 to 14 drinks per day that's almost a drink for every hour I am awake. I must say that will not be easy for someone who self caths because you will need to be going to the toilet more often. That said try and increase your fluid intake as much as you can handle without constant toilet visits. It is a balancing act which I hope you can find. Hope things improve soon.

Doctor has me on Macrobid after culture was tested at the hospital.
Initially gp had me on Cipro but after 3 days of culture test they switched me to the macrobid.
I use the self contained catheters with the gloves and iodine swabs. I was not using iodine swabs because I was told that when I got home in my own environment anti bacterial wipes would be good enough. Maybe that is my problem so I have started using wipes and iodine swabs in combination. I’m learning since I’m a rookie at this.
Heck I’m trying to figure out how all you guys cath in your chairs. I go to the bed and lay down in my hospital bed to do it. It seems much easier to me. As I’ve said, I’m just a rookie. 😔

I usually cath 300-400 ml.

I’m having trouble dealing with all this...turned my world upside down.
I’m still trying to get my meds lined out.
Bowel and bladder management have been disappointing.
I have a lot of pain in my rib area too that I’m trying to tackle.

Years ago I too would get utis back to back, was prescribed vantin, since cipro did not help get rid of it. I was referred to a urologist. Was told I did not need any scans when I asked about them, Was told people who Cath seldom have any related issues. Was told I did not need to come in yearly or really ever unless I was referred for a actual issue.
I have not been in to see anyone that has a connection to sci. Only in to see my primary for med checks and for my inr tests. Can't get an answer about being on warfrin forever. I had been on it back in 08, due a blood clot in leg and lung, but it was brought on by being on birth control to stop cramps and finding out I had factor 5 blood disorder. Which was 6 years prior to my sci. Only was on for 6 to 8 months. I have been off the birth control since then. So do I have to be on warfarin just because I have a sci?
I had been notified my sci doctor was leaving the clinic and was Told I would need to find a new one, no referrals.
I am almost 4 years into being a para.
I love my gp for my check ups, but she and I had to go to battle to get a handicap accessible table 2 years ago. She had so my pap and breast exam on the xray table since it could be lowered enough.