Constant Urinary Tract Infections

Not sure I'll be much help, but here goes. I used to get constant UTI's. My only symptom was to start puking and would not stop until I had antibiotics and something to stop the puking. Originally after my accident (19 years ago) I used an intermittent catheter as I was told every 4-6 hours. Until I realized I could go on my own, which at that time my drs advised me to cath myself once a day to make sure I was emptying my bladder...which I was. During this whole time I had constant UTI's. I would be off of antibiotics for a week, maybe two at the most before I'd start puking again and start all over with the antibiotics. It got so bad the drs didn't know what antibiotics to give me that I wasn't becoming resistant to and I started getting shots of gentamicin every time. Then one of the drs suggested to keep me on a low dose of antibiotics all the time to keep it at bay. I started taking 1 keflex 500 mg daily and continued with cathing once a day and saw great results! I would get the occasional UTI after that, maybe 5-6 a year. After a while of doing this I stopped using a catheter at all and gradually stopped taking the keflex as well. Now I rarely ever get UTI's, except when I'm pregnant which is normal for anyone. So as I said I'm not sure how much help I've been since I know stopping using a catheter isn't an option for most people using them. However, maybe the low dose of antibiotics daily will help?
Good luck to everyone!

I have been injured for 46 years and have had constant uti's. I even went the route with cranberry juice and extract and even D-Mannose.  When I changed urologist, he asked me if I used cranberry juice or extract. I told him I used them daily and that my bladder was burning all the time. He told me my urine was too acidic and not to touch anything cranberry and to drink as much real lemonade as I could stand to make the urine more alkaloid. This immediately stopped the burning but the uti's continued.

In August 2010, I read about Vetericyn VF (aka Puracyn or Microsyn). I started injecting 20 ml of VVF into my bladder 3 days a week and have NOT had a uti in the last 37 months. Many people I have talked to have similar experiences. The very large thread can be viewed at sci.rutgers.edu/forum/showthread.php?t=133414. (about 1630 postings)  I would recommend it even though Vetericyn VF is about $30.00 for a 16 oz. bottle.  DJ and Lara you might like trying this also.

Good luck.

I've almost given up on trying to not have a UTI...I am so tired of going to the doctor, getting a requisition, going to the lab, peeing in a cup, waiting for the results, going to the pharmacy, getting my prescription, taking the drugs, getting better, and then having it all come back in a few weeks.  I've gone to a urologist and had my bladder scoped. It is misshapen and stressed from constantly not emptying. So he  recommended cathing myself. Which I used to do when I was just out of the hospital and then I quit, and tried to empty my bladder on my own. SO I got infections from not emptying it, now I get them from the catheters. So I can't win. It doesn't seem to matter how much cranberry I take or other assorted things, and I am not willing to give up my tea. It's one of my only happy things left. 
So whatever. It is what it is and I am not going to ever be able to go back to how  I was. I just get to be an infection riddled gimp.

I do bladder and urethra flushes with saline solution with a little peroxide mixed in. I do it everyday, as my urologist told me. I've finally gone longer than 2 days without a UTI! Finally, something works!