How Many UTI's do you Get?

[aleet7]

It seems like I get a uti every other month! I'm so tired of getting them and having to go on antibiotics which give me yeast infections!

I have a list of things that I do contantly(wipe from front to back, drink plenty of water, urinate and wash before and after intercourse, stay away from food triggers, take pyridium before intercourse, take my meds etc....) and I still get UTI's!!! I feel lousy from the ache and burn and I need to know how to get out of this rut!!

Help:help:!!!
Aleet7

[Briza]

:hi:
I wish I had some words of wisdom but thankfully I do not suffer from UTIs (knock on wood) so don't have much experience with them especially if they are recurring :(. Have had just two in my lifetime....but many many years long before I got IC.
I am sorry you are having to deal with this in addition to IC...many (((hugs)))) for those of you who do....I remember well the symptoms of my long ago UTIs and can't even begin to imagine what having one along with IC would be like.

I know that many people post that they take just one antibiotic pill after intercourse as preventative measure, if their UTIs seem to be sex-induced...if that is the case for you possibly you could talk to your dr about something like that...I have read that many take macrobid as preventative measure.

Anyway, tho I am not a dr I would think that anitbiotic-induced yeast infections (yes I have suffered much with THAT and that is no fun I KNOW, when taking antibiotics for other things other than UTIs) might not be as much of a problem if one were to take just one pill after sex rather than having to go thru a full course of antibiotics once UTI has set in??? Possibly that would be helpful if one's UTIs were sex-induced....but of course if you are getting it ;) everyday;), then that would mean an antibiotic everyday. But I have also read posts where others just take just a low dose of antibiotic once a day everyday as a preventative measure in general....not knowing exactly what is causing their UTIs.

Obviously these are things to be discussed with your dr, but just thought I would share what I have seen in many posts on this board by those who suffer from recurring UTIs...I hope you and doctor are able to find something that works for you because IC is enough on its own!! UTI on top? :(I do hope you find something to get this under control soon and I am sure other members will post their experiences.

Oh, I don't know if you do home or in office instills?? If so, I have read that those who do often take a preventative antibiotic each time they do an instill b/c anytime we are cathed there is increased risk for infection, even if the instills are done in office with most sterile procedures! And I do know one member on this board who was doing home instills quite frequently using most sterile procedures possible in home situation but suffered greatly from UTIs, which made her want/need to do more instills, but all the while setting herself up for more opportunity for infection, no matter how closely she followed sterile procedures. When she reduced her home instills quite drastically (like from once or twice everyday to just once a week or less) then her UTIs were also drastically reduced.
Take care....I hope you find a solution soon!

[KSE711]

I'm sorry to hear about the UTIs. I get one or two a month, or may go an entire month without one. It just depends, but even the slightest amount of bacteria in my bladder causes SEVERE pain!

The worst part is the part of the medical community that thinks you're overreacting to a silly UTI. Well, it's much MUCH worse when you have IC.

Hope you feel better,
Karen

[aleet7]

Hi Karen,
I'm sorry that you get 'em too. Not only does the medical community thinks we're overreacting but family can feel that way too. My mom doesn't believe that IC exists so when I mention it to her that I have another infection she always tells me to drink cranberry juice or tells me that I probably really don't have an infection and need to drink more water!

I was wondering if I was the only one that gets one at least every other month. It really does not feel any better having IC and an UTI. I don't wish this on my worst enemy!

Thanks for responding!
Aleet7

[Bren24]

Hello, i am not sure what is wrong with me, i had two sinus infections over the past two months and was on two strong antibiotics. I got what i thoght was a yeast infection but then it turned into a bladder infection, was put on an antiobiotic for 10 days and it was going away. I went out of town for 3 days and forgot my meds so did not complete the full 10 days. I am now on my period and its my 3rd day and i am feeling those irritated pains again of the kinda burnin sensation and somtimes burning to pee sensation. I have monistate 3 that i could take but was wondering if i should call my Dr. and let her know that i did not complete my 10 day antibiotic treatment and see if i need another round. Please help
Bren

[VickiB]

Hi Bren,

Sorry you're feeling so lousy! Yes, I would call your doctor and let her know your situation. Sometimes a UTI can be a real bugger to get rid of and if it's still there you wouldn't want to give it a chance to rebuild.

Aleet, I'm wondering if your doctor was confirming or culturing your UTI's?

I used to get UTIs at least once a month. Despite becomming obsessive with cleanliness, I couldn't avoid them. It drove me crazy! My doctor told me some women just get them that often.

But,.. since switching doctors and then being diagnosed with IC five years ago I've never had another UTI. Strange coincidence! I now wonder if they were really checking my urine or just simply treating IC flares with antibiotics?

Vicki

[aleet7]

Hi Vicki,
yes my uro has me do a test and culture and it comes back positive! I am also a clealiness freak but seem to still get one every other month. I'm in the middle of taking cipro and just started my monthly and I feel lousy! This is so frustrating because my schedule does not stop for a UTI and I feel fatigued and I have that awful pain and burn!

My doc knows about my IC so when I call her with that burning sensation, fever and blood in my urine. she knows to have me come in and test. I was just wondering if anyone else still have UTI's after being dx'd with IC.

Best Wishes,
Aleet7

[aleet7]

Hi Bren,
Vicki's right, you should call your doc. I know how you feel. I've been in a flare for 2 weeks now and started getting a low grade fever. That awful burn when I pee started so I was tested for a UTI and got positive results. I'm in the middle of taking my antibiotics and now my period is here and I feel miserable!!

I hope you feel better soon Bren!
Aleet7

[VickiB]

A UTI on top of an IC bladder has got to be one of the most awful things in the world! I hope you both get to feeling better soon!

Vicki

[mbhbarb]

I still get 3-4 UTI's a year even after the IC diagnosis. I have taken macrobid as a preventive medication and it worked for me for years. I started off taking neurontin but when that quit working my doctor switched it to macrobid. The dosage he had me use wasn't one pill after intercourse, it was a three day course when I felt a bladder infection coming on. After doing that for about a year, I had fewer infections and then went several years without having to use it at all. Now that I have IC, it's more difficult to know what's going on, so I don't automatically take macrobid anymore - I go in and get tested first. It was certainly reassuring to know, when I had macrobid at home all the time, that I wasn't going to have to beg some doctor to help me when I felt an infection coming on and I think by treating it asap over time the infection was not able to get out of control anymore and that's why I eventually had fewer infections.

barb

[kadi]

It seems whenever I get an attack of diarrhea, it is followed by a UTI. So, I asked my doctor for an antibiotic I can take a single dose of if I get the runs. Since then, I've not had any diarrhea induced UTI's.

[Mothergoose]

aleet7

I too get uti's at least one if not two a month, and I have a hard time getting rid of them. I have urinary retention, and a low immunity, so this is why I get frequent infections, have you been checked to see if you are emptying when you void. If some urine is left behind it is in the bladder longer and has more of a chance to grow bactria, and with IC we feel smaller amounts of bactria before non ic people do. I hear you when you say other people minimize the uti's, but we know our pain and discomfort are real, sorry you have this problem too.

[alianne]

I get TONS of UTIs ... probaly an average of one every 6 weeks non stop. They seem to have gotten worse ater I had two interstim boxes put in which have helped with my frequency a lot and some of my pain. I am a virgin - so i am scarred that when i get married in 3 months i may get more UTIs. any advise?

[vm]

I used to get 5 or so a year - at least. I tried all the self-help preventive measures, too, but still got the UTIs. Thankfully my GP let me start taking one antibiotic pill after intercourse and I haven't had a UTI since. It's been several years now. I was very prone to yeast infections - haven't had one of those since either.

[mary124]

I haven't had one in 2 years!! I think I have one or its starting to "brew" but I tried using one of these test kits over the counter but because I am still having trouble going pee the test kits just doesn't do. Thankfully I am going back to the doctor Tuesday so maybe we can get to the bottom of this.

[Bren24]

Well i am going to the dr.s today and they are going to do a urine culture agian. I was on antibiotics for 10 days but went out of town and forgot my meds so did not complete the full 10 days, was feeling better but now the symptoms are returning. It feels like a bladder infection due to the fact that i have to pee every five minutes but also the discomfort of an irritation feeling like a yeast infection. To make things worse i am on my period and i usually last 7 days but this time after my 3rd day my period is real light, not sure if it's because of my symptoms but boy it sure is uncomfortable. Any one have any ideas as to what will help me, i have heard about Threelac for the yeast infection but not to sure and what about monistate cause i do have that also. Thanks for any info anybody has!
Bren

[aleet7]

aleet7

I too get uti's at least one if not two a month, and I have a hard time getting rid of them. I have urinary retention, and a low immunity, so this is why I get frequent infections, have you been checked to see if you are emptying when you void. If some urine is left behind it is in the bladder longer and has more of a chance to grow bactria, and with IC we feel smaller amounts of bactria before non ic people do. I hear you when you say other people minimize the uti's, but we know our pain and discomfort are real, sorry you have this problem too.

Thank you Mothergoose for sharing. I found out that I do not empty my bladder all the way.

I finally got my mom to understand that her UTI's are slightly different from an IC patients UTI's. I told her to add severe bladder pain and constant burning to her symptoms to understand what an IC bladder feels like inflammed and infected! I'm praying for tougher skin to deal with others minimizing my ordeals.

Best Wishes!
Aleet7

[aleet7]

Bren,
let us know what your doc says...ok. I hope you feel better!

Aleet7

[aleet7]

Vicki,
thank you! I'm feeling a little better today, the antibiotics are working.

Thanks,
Aleet7

[aleet7]

I get TONS of UTIs ... probaly an average of one every 6 weeks non stop. They seem to have gotten worse ater I had two interstim boxes put in which have helped with my frequency a lot and some of my pain. I am a virgin - so i am scarred that when i get married in 3 months i may get more UTIs. any advise?


Alianne,
I'm sorry that you get them so often! I expect that when you get married your do may suggest an antibiotic to take when you have intercourse. I've had a couple doc's suggest I do it because I get them if I don't follow the same precautions(washing and urinating before and after sex, taking pyridium and drinking plenty of water). I hope you can get some relief!!!

Best Wishes,
Aleet7

[KathyNiantic]

Last year I had several UTI's and I did everything I could to prevent them and finally figured out by searching online that my recurrent UTI's probably were the result of the baby wipes I used to keep the area clean. They were suppossedly the no perfume, sensitive type but once I stopped using them the UTI's stopped. UNTIL I began using a highly perfumed body wash.

Now, after the last round of antibiotics finished I went to Southeast Asia for a month, all the time feeling like I had a UTI but unable to be tested. When I got back I got tested and nothing turned up in the culture. Now I'm trying the IC foodplan listed here and it seems to be helping greatly.

[BT2008]

I have had frequency issues since 2002, and was hit with the severe pain of IC nine months ago. But I don't even remember the last time I had a UTI--it has been several decades for sure.

Yeast infections? Yes, a few. But no UTI's...

~Beth

[laconmcarthur]

I get these kidney infections that last for months. I'm allergic to levaquin, cipro, deoxycycline, and almost every other antibiotic..I do ok with macrobid, so I saw my family doctor, hes in town and I had a fever yesterday (its higher today) and I didn't feel like driving 40 minutes to the urologist. My family doctor says my kidney infections have nothing to do with my IC...which frustrates me because I feel like it does. I had one from December 5 until February 11. Was on anitbiotics every single day of that time. It finally just disappeared. I have bad infections, I run at least a 100.1 fever the whole time I have these, and my back hurts, but no painful urination or frequency or anything like that, but I get on antibiotics, then get a yeast infection then start my period and it doesnt stop until I am off of my antibiotics. I just want this to all go away....is there anything that I can do...Its like nothing triggers them or causes them, they just randomly happen and last for months and make me miserable....
:shake: im going to do homework...with my 100.3 fever.

[aleet7]

Hi Lacon,
I'm sorry that you have these infections! I've been in bed for 2 days now with a low grade fever and back pain on my left side. I just got off cipro and I'm sick again. I have no ideal what to do because I have low fevers around 100 degrees also everytime I have an infection and sometimes with no infection. I learned that with IC many of the ladies here run low grade fevers because of the inflammation. I noticed that I did start to feel a little better drinking lots of water.

That's got to be tough being allergic to most antibiotics. I'm sorry that I don't know what you can do to avoid the infections. I recently ordered Cysta Q from here and I've been taking it for a month now. I'm hoping that this will give me some relief. I sure hope that you feel better soon and get to the bottom of why you are getting so many infections.
Best Wishes!
Aleet7

[laconmcarthur]

Thanks, I'm hurting to the point of tears today, but still no burning when urinating or anything like that...my fever has went up and seems to stay between 100.5 and 101.0 :( I hope you get to feeling better to. I would love to hop in the car and go to the ER and get some morphine in my system..but I'm trying to hold out until Monday since I have an appointment with my urologist. I wish he would put me in the hospital so that I could get some rest and get better...my store is supposed to be ready to paint next week and move in the week after, so I know if I'm sitting at home I will be doing things around the house and not resting. Does anyone ever get put in the hospital for kidney infections or flare ups...I'm ready to go that's for sure!

[luvsterriers]

I also get UTI's once a month or once every few months. I thought something was wrong with me. But I read that people with IC are more prone to getting UTI's. The worst fear is that antibiotics can give you yeast infections. I do at times itch. What would be a severe allergic reaction? I'm taking Cipro now but at times I'm scratching my body. It can be the dry environment in the office. I have a fan on, since there's no AC. I think the heater is on in the building, because it's not comfortable at all. It's humid outside too today, in the 60s.

Anna

[aleet7]

Hi Anna,
I get yeast infections everytime I take antibiotics( as if the UTI with IC isn't enough)! I was wondering if you have a rash with the itching. I believe a severe reaction would be rash, swelling, itching problems swallowing etc... If lotion doesn't alleviate your itching you should contact your doc about it.

Good Luck!
Aleet7

[luvsterriers]

I looked all over my body, no redness, no bumps, no rash. Nothing strange going on. Just feel itchy. It could be the weather too. When it is humid out I don't feel comfortable. I also have rosacea which makes it worse. I didn't know that medications (that are not for rosacea) can make rosacea worse.

[nottoc4]

I was getting 5 to 6 UTI's a year so finally my GYN put me on Macrobid ,1 capsule of 100 mg in November of last year. I haven't had a UTI since but have been fighting with yeast.

[aleet7]

I'm sorry that you've been fighting with yeast(yeast infections are no joke)!
My IC and UTI's are ok today but now I have the flu!! If' it's not one thing, it's another.
Best Wishes!!!

[aleet7]

Luvs, I'm sorry that you're dealing with this itchiness. It could be the dry heat. It's unfortunate that some meds can make some things worse. I actually hate taking water pills for my blood pressure especially when I'm in a flare(with urgency and frequency). It seems to make the flare worse for me.

Take Care!!!

[luvsterriers]

Well today it's much cooler in my office. Yesterday my office was like a oven. They had the heater on a full blast, even though it was humid and yucky out yesterday. It's still yucky and rainy today in the 60s. It's humid too which makes it worse. I love the cold weather. My rosacea seems to be better when the weather is cold and crisp. I should just move to Alaska then. Anyone in Alaska here? I love love love cold and snow. I'm going to take the Cipro in evenings instead at home. At least my home is nice and cool, much better than this stinky office. But I did look all over my body again this morning, and no hives or rash. My primary care doc told me to see what happens the next few days. I'm not developing a rash or hives plus I am breathing fine.

Anna

[aleet7]

I'm glad that the office is a tad cooler today. That's awful to feel overheated while trying to work. I'm so totally opposite you on the weather thingy, I love sunny hot days!!! The snow and cold almost depresses me. Dear hubby told me to that when we retire we're taking off for Florida and kissing Ohio goodbye!

Best Wishes!!!
Aleet7

[luvsterriers]

I have visited Ohio before. Cincinnati area in fact. Where in Ohio are you from?

Anna

[athina620]

Hi,
It's been a while since I've actually visited this website..actually right after I was diagnosed with IC back in June 26, 2008. I had an excision surgery for my endo and a cystoscopy with bladder distention to diagnose IC. That put me in a flare for about 2 weeks...I was even wishing I hadn't gone thru with it but turned out that after those 2 weeks were over I still had IC pain but never a really bad flare like the one I am in right now. In regards to UTI's I was in the hospital with pylenophritis for 4 days last year on Memorial Day weekend and before that I had another UTI a month before that and probably every other month before as well...too many to remember. I also started getting yeast infections about every month for the past 2 years; I used to get UTI's but not yeast infections before. After June 26th, I stopped getting yeast infections every month (and sometimes I would get 2 in a month) so I'm not sure why it happened but of course I was sooooooo happy. :smile tee That also happened with my UTI's. I have probably have had only 3 since...but now I'm back to getting yeast infections. This is my 2nd one in 2 weeks. I took Diflucan last week and 2 days ago it came back...used Monistat-1 but I also starting with the flares again. It started about 2 weeks ago when I noticed I was getting low grade fevers again. Now I'm sure of it since I'm back to the back pain, pelvic pain and a feeling of my bladder burning, starting with frequent trips to the bath room and just peeing a little, low grade fevers again and just scared that I'm going to go through all of this again. My gyno prescribed Terazol-3 yesterday and Macrobid for 7 days and if that doesn't work then I'll have to go see him. I called my primary doctor and explained what's going on since I was a regular last year but she won't prescribe any pain meds and couldn't see me until tomorrow...I called yesterday. I'm sorry but with this much pain 2 days is a lot of time to wait especially when she hates prescribing pain meds. I made an appt. with a new urologist and got an appt. for tomorrow at 9:15am..he does instillations and my urologist doesn't. I wanted to know if besides UTI's and yeast infections does anybody else get low grade fevers ....I tend to get them ALMOST every day...and they tend to get worst when I'm in a flare like today. My primary doesn't think anything of it. My temp. today was 99.9 and I also want to know if it's also normal to get that sensation of your bladder being lit on fire. I have used Therma-Care but I'm going to try ice since it already feels hot. My primary doesn't really know much about IC so the way she deals with it is sending me off to specialists which I could do on my own like I'm doing tomorrow since my ins. doesn't need a referral. I have called crying to her office (1/2 a mile from my house...that's why I picked her) and her nurse just calls me back saying to go to the ER or wait until she can see me which won't be that day. Sorry for venting but this is my first real bad flare since my bladder distention and I'm kind of freaking out of having to go thru all of this again. I'm 32 and live by myself and none of my friends really understand this condition. I'm just praying that it goes away by Monday since I'm on spring break and I start teaching on Monday. :pray: Thanks again!!

[aleet7]

Hugs Athina!!
I'm so sorry that you're in a flare right now. One of the best threads I recently read was" secret recipe for flares". It entails drinking lots of water,taking pyridium(Azo Standard OTC) if you don't have a script for Pyridium,heating pads(in your case cold pack, which works best for you) pain meds, rest,a good book or whatever takes your mind off the pain etc...
I too get low grade fevers(at least two days out of the week). When I run out of pain meds I take tylenol and benadryl to ease the pain. I get UTI's once every month and yeast infections with them. It's very taxing on a person to go through that so often. Like you I am trying to do everything possible to avoid them but they keep coming.
I started this thread to see how many battle with UTI's and yeast infections like I do and I was amazed to see how many others are going through the same thing!
I hope you feel better soon Athina!!!!
Best Wishes!
Aleet7

[joy0212]

The last UTI I had was January 2008. I think the one before that was in 2006. I had a couple more since 2001. I was placed in the hospital when I was in 2nd grade for a kidney and badder infection.

I am very blessed that I don't get more UTI's.

[aleet7]

Joy,
I'm sorry that you're having more problems now. I have also decided to avoid trigger foods so that my health can improve. From the time I started this thread I was dealing with another UTI. I now have a kidney infection so I know I need to try something else to avoid these. Thanks so much for sharing your story with me! Everyone has really helped me see that I'm not the only one going through this.
Best Wishes,
Aleet7

[luvsterriers]

I stopped taking the Cipro on April 9th. I was on it since March 31st. The doctor generally gives me a 10 day treatment. I think the UTI came back again. The first few days I was itchy all over my body and thought I had yeast infection so the doctor's nurse prescribed Diflucan. I didn't need to take it. The itchiness went away. I guess my body just needed to adjust to the Cipro. I always have AZO Standard on hand just in case. But I still feel like I have a UTI. I wonder is it common for people with IC to get one or more UTIs a month, even if you follow the diet? I drink water and skim milk. That's all I drink now. I tried the Puroast and it bothered my bladder and the acid reflux plus I didn't care for the taste. I tried low acid OJ, and it bothered me as well.

Anna

[ICNDonna]

If what you are having is true infections confirmed by cultures, you really need to explore with your doctor what might be causing them. While some IC patient do get frequent infections due to being catheterized, infections are not usually caused by foods or drinks.

Donna

[aleet7]

Hi Anna,
I'm seeing that UTI frequency is different for each individual. Some of us get more than others. As Donna said, the infections do come from bacteria not food or drink triggers. We follow the diet to avoid flares but do tend to get UTI's following the use of catheters, intercourse etc.... Most of my UTI's are following intimacy so I have a strict regimen that I have to follow before and after intercourse.
I've not been able to drink any type of orange juice or drinks with orange,lime,or any other kind of citrus fruit. My bladder is just way too sensitive(even when using Prelief)!
One doc told me that she believed IC patients to be more susceptible to Uti's because of the already inflammed bladder. I just know that we need a vacation from these infections!!!
Feel Better soon!!!
Aleet7

[jen74]

I do get UTI's. Before I got IC I would get them occassionly. Now since getting IC I have gotten them alot more. Especially when I was doing the instillations I got them ALL the time. I had one last year that lasted for over 6 months. I would take the antibiotic for two weeks and stop it, then a week later it was back. I finally had to go to a uro and he put me on keflex for 21 days straight and then also has me on it low dose for 6 months. I am actually still on the keflex now at a low dose. My regular PC doc says I should stay on it.
Anyhow, If you are doing instills, you might want to rethink it. My uro said that likely by doing the instills(catheter) caused bacteria to colonize in my bladder and that is why the UTI would not go away. I even started having kidney pain. I have stopped the instills since then. The infections caused by the catheter was making my bladder soooooo much worse. The funny thing is, when I first started doing the instills, I did not get any infection at first. But after doing them for awhile, then it all started. When you catheterize, you push bacteria in your bladder, there is no way to avoid it. Some people are able to clear the bacteria before it can start a infection, but for many women it causes a UTI. I am hoping that the researchers and pharmaceutical companies can come up with something better than the instillations that are so invasive and risky. I thought at first it was just me who got the UTI's from doing the instills, but I talked to several women who also had a problem with UTI's when doing the instills. I talked to a women from the ICA who said she also got a UTI every other week when doing the instills. I guess it does not matter how clean you are either. I used a VERY sterile condition when doing mine, and I still got the infections. My doc said that we naturally all have bacteria in the vagina that it harmless as long as it stays in the vagina. But when get them in the urethra(via catheter), then this is when it becomes a issue with the infections. Anyhow, you are not alone.
Jen

[marysxx]

Glad to read everyones threads. I too get utis often. Usually small # of white cells in urine. IC makes it worse! When I eat too much chocolate I get a terrible flare that turns into a uti. God when will this end?:toilet:

[aleet7]

Mary,
I'm sorry that you're a part of the UTI club also! I tend to have the cells in my urine a lot too. I feel like I have an infection everyday(even when I don't) but that's life, I guess(for an IC patient).

Best Wishes!!!!

[luvsterriers]

So seems like most people with IC get UTI's once or twice a month because of the inflamed bladder. So foods or drinks doesn't cause frequent UTI's then? It just causes flares. I'm constantly going to my primary care or walk in clinic to give urine sample. The sample is normal, but the culture may be different. But antibiotics aren't good for us though. :(

[Dorma]

I have suffered with recurrent UTI's for about 10 years. I understand how painful it is with IC. It was almost every other time I had sex despite the usual preventative measures. It was after I built a resistance to Trimithroprin and then Ciprofloxacin that I finally went private a couple of years ago. I then went on Ofloxacin every day for a 8 months. It was like a new lease of life and the best antibiotic I have ever taken. However it did not get rid of the IC pain (which I only discovered was IC a few months ago). I now still take one tablet after sex but not everday. It has given my bladder time to heal and the IC is not as bad as the recurrent infections I believe caused my IC.

[aleet7]

I'm glad that you found an antibiotic that is giving you good results! It does take time for an inflammed bladder to get better. For a long time I was drinking cranberry juice and living in a flare (out of ignorance) for a long time. Once I got my dx of IC I began to heal. I still struggle with UTI's though.

Best Wishes,
Aleet7

[luvsterriers]

I know this is an old post. My primary care doc is prescribing Macrobid 50MG to take 3-5 days each month. I tend to get UTIs after my period ends. Is this the norm for most women with IC? Getting UTIs every month is very depressing! Macrobid I hear doesn't cause yeast infection like most antibiotics do.

[Chellethinques]

I take that amount of Macrobid every night right now. It was (at first) just right after my period and after intercourse, because those seemed to be triggers for UTI. Then I just kept getting them whenever I was done with the last course of Cipro or Levaquin. (I had a similar run of UTIs in childhood - at one point, I was on abx for about 5 years straight.) All of my UTIs show up in the office and are cultured, so they won't always treat me as a IC patient, even though I also have chronic pain, frequency, urgency...
Anyway, I hope this works for you!