Hi Pokey:

Bladder infections are common with MSers. 

Of course, diet is the first place to look and see if you are ingesting something your body just doesn't like.

For me it is cinnamon/brown sugar products - like chocolate chip cookies; it seemed that when I treated myself to homemade chocolate chip cookies, cheesecake (cinnamon in the crust), or anything that had cinnamon as an ingredient, within 3 days I had a UTI!  It took a long time of eliminating a food per week to figure out that it was cinnamon, so you might want to look at your diet first.

So read your labels, keep a food diary (write down everything!) and see if your trigger is food related. A food diary may be the only way to narrow this down.

Environment is another likely source of bladder infections - wiping from back to front instead of front to back, not wiping at all, scented toilet paper and body sprays and powders.

If you think you are not emptying your bladder each time - i.e. you have to go again shortly after just going or getting up numerous times during the night - then you need to adapt your toilet habits to make sure you are emptying completely.  I have written about this in answer to questions on this forum before.

Assuming your doctor has ruled out other causes for your UTI's (ex: cystitis, kidney diseases, etc.), then here are some suggestions for you.

It may sound silly and look absolutely absurd, but who cares, it works.  I wrote about this on my blog and got positive comments from other MSers.

Relieve yourself in sitting position, as usual. Bend forward to a 45 degree angle and hold position for 60-90 secs.  Let any urine release. 

Now lean to your right side lifting left buttock off the toilet seat.  Hold for 60 seconds and release any urine. Now lean to your left side, lifting up right buttock.  Hold for 60 seconds and release any urine.

Believe me, this works!  Body positioning is key for this to work. You will be good for at least two to three hours because you are empty. 

Try to limit your intake of tea, coffee, juices, alcholic drinks, or energy drinks since they stimulate your bladder moreso.  Stick to water, no more than 3 sixteen ounces spread out over your day.

A reminder to ANYONE who takes bladder medication to deter urine output (not people who take medication to promote urine output - ex: Lasix):  When you get a UTI, the last thing you want to do is restrict urine output. 

I myself stop my Detrol until antibiotics are done.  I want the infection OUT as soon as possible and do not want the urine to stay in.  Consult your doctor first before you make changes in your medication schedule.

I hope you find some useful information here and that you will write back to let us know how you are doing,

Anne

http://disablednotdead-anne3.blogspot.com