Hope you're feeling better, Sally!

DebbieD, I've used the test sticks for UTIs many times and keep a supply of them around.

They're by no means very accurate but I use them as a guideline. Sometimes when I have symptoms of a UTI and use the test strip and it comes up negative, I decide not to do anything about it and just hope the symptoms will go away. If it comes up positive, I give the doctor a call. The doctor's office will do its own test because doctors don't have much confidence in those home UTI test kits--or at least doctors I've dealt with don't.

For me, the home test is just a way of trying to make sure I'm not calling the doctor needlessly.

UTI all gone..

Because we are suppressing our immune systems with meds we are more prone to the infectious processes than the general poplulation. inculing uti.

Totally unmedicated (DMDs) for years but still get UTIs. I think it's from retaining cause muscles don't squeeze bladder so good anymore. Gotta be. I try to drink water and fully void as often as I can.

You both are right!!

Well, I never got the cranberry supps and my uti came back which is only susceptible to Cipro and Rocephin. The Cipro gave me the tendon problems which no Dr knows why, my guess I say to them is low growth hormone or more red blood cells needed. They don't know so I said to Uro today set me up for Rocephin i.v. whch is infused daily for 10 days.

One dr told me the cranberry supps just lower ph/raise acidity like Vitamin C but I hear that's not true. I heard it keeps the bacteria from sticking around and get's pee'd out. I've taken Vit C 500mg 4x/day for 22 yrs.

Congrats Sally & thanks for help.

I've heard that citric acid/orange juice/Vit C is not good for UTIs at all. And Cipro is not good for PwMS.. But, if Cipro is the only thing that helps, you may have to take the bad with the good.

Good luck, sweety, feel better soon.