UTIs after surgery

I have never had UTIs, even during pregencies. I am 6 weeks post op and having my second severe UTI. Why is this so common after hysterectomy and what are others of you doing to prevent UTIs.

I have had a UTI since surgery, one week postop. I think mine was caused from being catheterized three times in two days. After they removed they cath I could not go. This happened again the next day. I came home with cath ontil four days postop. Went back to DR and still could not go. Taught me to cath myself. This lasted two more days. Then the big UTI. Much worse than any I had before surgery. I had six UTIs fom Aug. until my surgery 11/3. I am very careful now to drink lots of water. I do not drink orange juice because it will irritate. Cran Grape Juice is good to help with UTIs. Hope this helps

My last UTI was 6 weeks pre-op. Two different antibiotics to finally clear it. My surgery was 11/18 and for me to be able to urinate after surgery I had to run warm water under my hand....this lasted for 4-5 days....it helped with not only getting started but was helpful in feeling that my bladder was completely emptied.
Cranberry juice is a great way to help prevent UTI's. If you don't like the taste of it try the different flavors. The cran-rasberry is one of my favorites. Or another thing that I sometimes do is mix half cranberry juice with half water.
It is important that you drink lots of fluids.....which I know is sometimes hard. I have been quilty of that myself...
Good luck to you!!
Sincerely,
softball6

What are the signs of a UTI?
I have a strong pulling down sensation after emptying my bladder. Don't really have any other problems with my bladder.
Chris

Hi Soraya,
My personal experiences when I have a UTI are...heaviness (pressure) feeling in my lower pelvic area, freguency...like you have to go all of the time and don't produce much urine. I describe the feeling like a balloon without any air left in it when I'm done urinating. (if that makes sense)

I know that some people with UTI's complain of burning when urinating. You may also run a fever, complain of back discomfort and you could also have blood in your urine.

I'm not sure when you had surgery but from reading other sisters experiences these symptoms you are having could be related to your surgery. I am 16 days post-op and I do have some feeling of pressure and bladder spasms that are most likely from my surgery.

If this is a new symptom for you that you have never experienced before maybe you could call your Dr. and do a urine sample to be sure that it is not a UTI.

Good Luck to you and I hope that I have been helpful.

softball6

Thanks softball6,
You have been very helpfull. I have my 6 week check on Friday so I will definately be talking to my Dr about it.
I don't have burning, I do have frequency which can be pretty normal for me, and I do pass a fair amount when I go. Probably down to the amount of fluids I drink, mostly coffee
I did feel a lot of strangeness in my bladder at about your time. I thought it was just really losing its freezing around that time, and I was starting to feel like I need to go. Before that it was just a strong fullness and pressure, to indicate "I needed". Could just be that, that you are feeling.
Through my six weeks I think the part you are at was the hardest. The rest has been much easier than I thought it would be. So be carefull and don't over do things. Getting into the car was the hardest thing for me without feeling like I pulled at internal stitches.
Good luck to you and a speedy recovery.
Chris

Being catheterized gave me a UTI too, I also have problems with too much acid in foods like cranberry juice it effects my bladder too so I need to be careful, aggravated bladder can give you the same feelings as a UTI. SO be careful, if the DR says you dont have a UTI but you are having feelings you are it just may be aggravated from foods and drinks with too much acid or sweetners or sugars.. There is a lot of research on it on the web GOOD LUCK