There are probiotic pills that may help boost her immune system. Yogurt has one kind of "good bacteria," but the pills (available at health food stores) have many types. Cranberry juice is an old method that has helped many, as well.
You should ask the doctor for guidance as there may be other answers.
Mom responds well to both the acidophilus capsules (we buy them at the health food store - they are refrigerated) and the cranberry juice. Also, a lot of fiber in the diet is good...it "scours" the intestines. We use a flax seed "flour" (we buy it at the grocery store, in the health food aisle, with the other specialty fours) and put it in most of Mom's foods. The problem is getting Mom to maintain the regimin. Once she starts feeling better everything goes out the window. But I agree with Carol, avoiding a UTI is better than curing one.
My mother used to get frequent UTIs. We are now at five months wihtout one. My secret weapon - PediaLyte - give her that instead of juice - 1/2 pedialyte and 1/2 water. That keeps her hydrated. Many times elderly get dehydrated and then get UTIs. By keeping them well hydrated they keep their tract clean (peeing more to put it bluntly) and it has also greatly helped her diabetes. Other stuff did not do a thing for her - yogurt, probiotics, etc were not working. Very simple to use the pedialyte / water mix and for us, MAJOR SUCCESS.
D-Mannose helped my mother tremendously. I pulled some information from the internet for you to read, and I can personally tell you that it helped keep my Mom UTI-free. Of course hydration is also critical and proper hygiene and toilet habits.
D-mannose occurs naturally in many plants, including cranberries, blueberries, peaches, oranges, and apples. But one would have to eat an abundance of these fruits compared to a teaspoon of D-Mannose.
As a supplement, it can be purchased in powder form, which dissolves easily in water or juice and has a pleasant taste. It doesn’t interfere with blood sugar regulation, making it safe even for diabetics.
D-mannose does not kill any bacteria – friendly or unfriendly. It serves as a kind of magnet in the urinary tract, attracting any present E. coli bacteria and keeping it from attaching to the bladder lining (and dislodging any bacteria which are already attached). The bacteria cling to the D-mannose molecules, and are flushed out with the normal urine flow.
The recommended dosage for an ongoing infection is one teaspoon of D-mannose dissolved in liquid every few hours, continued for three days. The curative effects of D-mannose are usually felt within 24 hours – if no change is noticed within 72 hours, a physician should be consulted (it may be that the infection is caused by a bacteria other than E. coli). Of course a culture can be done, should further treatment be necessary.
D-mannose is still relatively unknown, especially in the conventional medical community. There have been many research reports over the years which demonstrate the safety of D-mannose, and its effectiveness against the bacteria E. coli – but the FDA has not approved it as a medical treatment. This is largely because as a naturally-occurring sugar, it is not able to be patented - which means the large drug companies have no incentive to spend the millions of dollars it would take to do the large-scale controlled study which would be required for FDA approval.
D-mannose is starting to become more available at health food stores. Currently, the easiest place to find it is on the Internet – there are several different companies who market it, and it can be purchased at many online supplement stores. (A simple keyword search will bring up many choices – it is worth looking around a bit for the best price.)
I get my D-Mannose from swanson but there are TONS of other websites that have it as well. The Vitaminn shoppe and GNC carry it too, but as a considerable markup. We used it in tea or even juice in the morning and throughout the day, or you can sprinkle it on oatmeal or other foods.
I would considered this as an option too, it will cause no harm and will only help. God Bless.
btw...antibiotics rid the system of all bacteria good and bad...so, in a weird way, overuse of antibiotics actually contribute to UTIs, yeast infections, etc... the probiotics put the good "stuff" back.
7 Answers
Helpful Newest
First Oldest
First
You should ask the doctor for guidance as there may be other answers.
Any more suggestions on the forum?
Carol
The problem is getting Mom to maintain the regimin. Once she starts feeling better everything goes out the window.
But I agree with Carol, avoiding a UTI is better than curing one.
ADVERTISEMENT
D-mannose occurs naturally in many plants, including cranberries, blueberries, peaches, oranges, and apples. But one would have to eat an abundance of these fruits compared to a teaspoon of D-Mannose.
As a supplement, it can be purchased in powder form, which dissolves easily in water or juice and has a pleasant taste. It doesn’t interfere with blood sugar regulation, making it safe even for diabetics.
D-mannose does not kill any bacteria – friendly or unfriendly. It serves as a kind of magnet in the urinary tract, attracting any present E. coli bacteria and keeping it from attaching to the bladder lining (and dislodging any bacteria which are already attached). The bacteria cling to the D-mannose molecules, and are flushed out with the normal urine flow.
The recommended dosage for an ongoing infection is one teaspoon of D-mannose dissolved in liquid every few hours, continued for three days. The curative effects of D-mannose are usually felt within 24 hours – if no change is noticed within 72 hours, a physician should be consulted (it may be that the infection is caused by a bacteria other than E. coli). Of course a culture can be done, should further treatment be necessary.
D-mannose is still relatively unknown, especially in the conventional medical community. There have been many research reports over the years which demonstrate the safety of D-mannose, and its effectiveness against the bacteria E. coli – but the FDA has not approved it as a medical treatment. This is largely because as a naturally-occurring sugar, it is not able to be patented - which means the large drug companies have no incentive to spend the millions of dollars it would take to do the large-scale controlled study which would be required for FDA approval.
D-mannose is starting to become more available at health food stores. Currently, the easiest place to find it is on the Internet – there are several different companies who market it, and it can be purchased at many online supplement stores. (A simple keyword search will bring up many choices – it is worth looking around a bit for the best price.)
I get my D-Mannose from swanson but there are TONS of other websites that have it as well. The Vitaminn shoppe and GNC carry it too, but as a considerable markup. We used it in tea or even juice in the morning and throughout the day, or you can sprinkle it on oatmeal or other foods.
I would considered this as an option too, it will cause no harm and will only help. God Bless.
Have a healthy and calm New Year.