Ideas on UTI prevention

[ellienor]

I have spent alot of time wondering how I got the bladder infection that started my IC.
It was my first one in over 20 years.
Now I am going overboard, but here is what I do.

I take a bath or shower either in the am or pm.
No matter which time I do, after that I change my underware.

1-I also purchased many towelletes with casltle soap in them. These are the wipes that you use in the gyn office before giving a urine sample.
I use one of these after I have a bowel movement ( or I take a shower afterwards )

So after any BM, I either do a towellett or shower, and change underware. I usually change underware 2 times per day - morning and night regardless of BM.

2- I noticed that my toilet paper holder is only 1 foot from the floor. Hmmm... toilet paper could drag on the floor, then I used it? So, now I make sure it never gets long like that. If even one square touches anything but my clean hand, I throw it away. Never pet an animal before using the toilet.


3- Watch out for animals. When you pet an animal, you may get germs on your hands that you pass onto your toilet paper. Also, keep animals away from your towels and your bed.
The other day, I forgot to make my bed. My bottom sheet ( right where I sleep ) was exposed. Our outdoor cat was on the bed. Oh my God.... I changed every sheet and pillow case on the bed. A germ from that cats feet could work its way to my vagina.

4- I make my husband scrub his hands and underhis nails before we have sex, and a shower is a good idea too.

5- I never use toilet paper from a public place. I bring my own.

6-I used to go to bed without underware because it was more comfortable to me. Now I go to bed with clean underware. I am not sure if this is best or not, but I figure the sheet could get germs on it ( from me ) on night one, and on night 2 if I go to bed with no underware, those germs could get to the eurethra.

I am also going to look on the internet for some urine bacteria testers.
I'll bet we can order the reall good kits that the doctors office has!!
I will let you know if I find them.


ellie

[ICNDonna]

I take a bath or shower either in the am or pm.
No matter which time I do, after that I change my underware.

If you're really worried about getting an infection, it's best to stay out of the bath tub. I used to have lots of vaginal irritation and my doctor said that it's not good to be sitting in the bath tub, which contains the dirt my body has picked up during the day.

1-I also purchased many towelletes with casltle soap in them. These are the wipes that you use in the gyn office before giving a urine sample.
I use one of these after I have a bowel movement ( or I take a shower afterwards )

Those little towelettes can be irritating; they aren't meant to be used full time. You do need to be cautious about wiping after a BM to avoid transferring bacteria into the vaginal area.

So after any BM, I either do a towellett or shower, and change underware. I usually change underware 2 times per day - morning and night regardless of BM.

You're actually better off not wearing underwear at night; and you'll want to be sure your underwear is 100% cotton.

2- I noticed that my toilet paper holder is only 1 foot from the floor. Hmmm... toilet paper could drag on the floor, then I used it? So, now I make sure it never gets long like that. If even one square touches anything but my clean hand, I throw it away. Never pet an animal before using the toilet.

I always wash my hands thoroughly after I use the toilet. Also, we use only plain white, unscented, toilet tissue.

3- Watch out for animals. When you pet an animal, you may get germs on your hands that you pass onto your toilet paper. Also, keep animals away from your towels and your bed.

The other day, I forgot to make my bed. My bottom sheet ( right where I sleep ) was exposed. Our outdoor cat was on the bed. Oh my God.... I changed every sheet and pillow case on the bed. A germ from that cats feet could work its way to my vagina.

4- I make my husband scrub his hands and underhis nails before we have sex, and a shower is a good idea too.

5- I never use toilet paper from a public place. I bring my own.

I have always used the tissue available with no problem, unless the restroom is not clean --- then I use a kleenex from my purse and don't sit on the toilet.

6-I used to go to bed without underware because it was more comfortable to me. Now I go to bed with clean underware. I am not sure if this is best or not, but I figure the sheet could get germs on it ( from me ) on night one, and on night 2 if I go to bed with no underware, those germs could get to the eurethra.

It's best to let some air get to that area.

I am also going to look on the internet for some urine bacteria testers.
I'll bet we can order the reall good kits that the doctors office has!!
I will let you know if I find them.

If you've only had one infection in 20 years, your regimen, in my opinion, may be too strict. If you are feeling a fear and dread about getting another infection, my suggestion would be to talk with a therapist before this becomes a total obsession.

Warm hugs,
Donna

[emilyrose197377]

I have used all of those tips in the past for preventing an infection and I always get them anyways.

[massagedoula]

I agree about the castille soap towlettes. They are very irritating to the vaginal tissues if used too frequently.

[lm2]

They sell wipes at the grocery and drugstores for you to use after a BM. There are lots of brands in the U.S. (Scott, Cottonelle, etc.). I couldn't survive without them.

[ellienor]

do these wipes have soap on them, or what?

[quiltz]

Hi Donna,
Very good advice, I think. In my opinion, lots of the problems we as ICers face are due to the body being sort of out of balance. Any kind of strong cleansers, scents, even our hot tub soaks, while good in one respect and relaxing to the muscles, can strip our bodies of the natural bacteria which we need for normal function. My list of baddies is very long: nice smelly body wash, chlorine pool or hot tub and even shampooing in the shower ... you know how it runs down! I found one hidden problem was that someone had put a deodorizer into a hollow toilet paper holder as a bathroom deodorizer ..... not good! I am like the Sherlock Holmes of the potty!!

Thanks again Donna, you are always an IC angel here on the board!

Liz

[lm2]

The first 3 ingredients on the box I have are water, aloe vera gel, and propylene glycol. We only really get one brand in Canada but there is more variety in the US and I've noticed some are more frothy than others. I don't put them on my vagina - just my behind. They don't cause me any problems, but when I can I do follow up with a wet tissue.

[KathleenS]

I have tried those wipes and they flared my vulvodynia, even though I didn't wipe forward. The wipes were just close enough to the vulva to cause a problem.

[rosesitty]

Donna, your post is interesting about staying out of bath water to avoid an infection. You know that's one of the recommended treatments for PFD. While I was doing it, I was thinking it was somehow aggravating my yeast infection. Something to really think about. I got a raging UTI from instills and haven't been in the bathtub since.
Also everyone - I've used Cetaphil soap in bar form (not antibacterial) for years with great success. Also, I wash my clothes in Dreft, which is used for babies and is very mild. Additionally, after a shower, I take a hair dryer and dry down south with air (not hot air). All the other suggestions, cotton underwear, going to bed with no underwear, watching how you wipe are all great suggestions.
What we have to do to avoid a flare! Sheesh! :-)
Stephanie

[sedavis]

I take macrodantin once a day and haven't had a uti since being diagnosed 3 years ago. I do have to have regular pulmonary function test to make sure it's not affecting my lungs but so far so good. My daughters, who so far dont have IC, also follow this regimien from their own urologists.